[gustav29]

I'm about to buy the Pico but have been reading a lot that the Fiio E9 drives the K702s really well...Should I even be comparing these two?  The Pico is about $250 more.  I also will be using this to drive my other cans, AKG K272s, Beyer DT-831s and Sens HD580.
 
So like I stated I'm ready to buy the Pico - just got doubted a bit after reading abou the Fiio E9 and its ability to drive the K702.
Convince me that the Pico is the way to go please.  
 
Thanks

 

[cifani090]

Its whatever sounds best to your ears

 

 

[gustav29]

I agree, it is what's best to ears.  Just hoping to get some good insight before I purchase, since I don't have anyway to test these amps out before purchasing.

 

[gustav29]

Decided in the end to go with the Matrix M-Stage. Felt the M-Stage was going to deliver the most power to the K702s over the pico and E9.  

 

[estreeter]

Quote:

Decided in the end to go with the Matrix M-Stage. Felt the M-Stage was going to deliver the most power to the K702s over the pico and E9.  

I hope you enjoy it. My personal philosophy is to stick with easily-driven-cans-that-do-benefit-from-amping over hard-to-drive-cans-that-demand-a-big-amp. My first serious purchase was the K601 - it was only when I bought the MS1 that I could see the error of my ways.
 

 

[OPrwtos]

Hey gustav29! i am stuck between the E9 and the matrix M-stage to power the akg K702's!  So as you have bought the matrix, can i ask how it performs? is it better/worse than you expected?
thank you  im also planning to connect the e9 or the matrix m-stage to the Cambridge Audio DacMagic.
 
 

 

[OPrwtos]

And btw im confused... i know the cambridge dac connects to my pc by USB, would i then connect the m-stage amp to the cambridge dac with rca to rca (phono cables).
 
so dac to amp with phono cables right?
 
thanks,
chris

 

[gustav29]

I went with the Matrix and am very happy.  I think the K702s benefit very well by this mid line desk amp.  I use at home as a portable.  Bring it from 1 room to another for listening sometimes, just make sure there a cord lying around for me to plug it in.  Sound stage is wider for me than what I had before. At first I didn't really notice this - its not like you plug it in and are blown away by a massive sound difference.  But after a week of using the M-stage and then going back to my older portable amp I noticed a wider sound stage, a bit warmer presence and I love the fact that I don't have to really crank the volume up to get a  lot of detail.  Its all there at lower levels.  If you go with the m-stage just check the thread and apply the recommended gain levels for it and you'll be happy. 
 
 
Thanks

 

[OPrwtos]

thx i also read on another forum it goes very well with the k702, so i will get this.
 
thx

 

[novacav]

been rocking the q701 with the e9 for a few months now, it's a fantastic combo