ATTENTION Q701 OWNERS = Could you lend a rookie some specific advice?
warning -- > noobage has arrived
Wow. Awesome thread. I bought the black Q701's on ebay the other day, they should be here by next week. This is my first post on head-fi... ever. I joined a second ago just because of the knowledge I've come across on this website tonight. Specifically, the things I've read about the Q's.
Honesty time- I'm a music producer (hip hop, specifically)- the Quincy's will be my 1st pair of "audiophile" phones. What attracted me to these headphones is their self proclaimed "accuracy".
Pride is not a virtue/Let's get real - I know nothing about headphone amp's. I won't lie, when I saw I had to spend another 2, $300 for an amp to actually power the phones, I realized I needed guidance. (I then got incredibly excited because I realized ... if something has to be powered, then it's going to be outstanding.
Since the Quincy's are on the way, it's now ASAP time to buy the amp for them. I didn't even know if my "computer" had a built in amp.
H E L P - T I M E
Let me tell you what I will be using the Q701's with MOST of the time... just so that I don't mislead anyone with my setup. After that, I'm all ears, and I'll need guidance best suited to my situation.
Main usage... 1) Q701's + Open Labs NEKO (TSE- Timbaland Special Edition) --> (it's a PC, and it has a Presonus FIREBOX- this is usually where I plug my headphone jack into...) here is a link-please scroll down & check out the features (if you need to), it describes the Presonus FIREBOX ...
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/keyboards-midi/open-labs-neko-tse-special-edition-keyboard-production-station
Other uses... 2) Q701's + Macbook/Stereo Systems/anything? Hypothetically, if the NEKO does have it's own headphone amplifier, I still will want to buy an amp so I can use the Q701's with a macbook (when we run protools & other DAW's) out of my home studio. So I can use the Q701's with ANYTHING. I simply want to be able to maximize these headphone's. I'm not able to spend $400.00 on an amp. Honestly, spending $100.00 to $200.00 would be PREFERRED. BUT, If you guys lead me to believe that spending $300.00 will be a SIGNIFICANT UPGRADE in the performance & authenticity in sound of the Q701's, then please... tell me to spend $300.
After all, I bought the headphone's for $200.00. I guess I can pay $300.00 for an amp if needed.
3) MStage USB Model? I've been reading about an MStage that features a USB input? I'm still just trying to figure out how this fits everything that I'm doing. I don't know if I need the USB or if I need the original model. I'm not sure how the DAC/Soundcard discussion fits what I'm doing. I'm a mess.
I just wanted to check and see with you guys if I could somehow use the firebox or anything else coming from the neko to act as an amp for my Q701's. If not, I'll be buying the best sounding/realistic to my budget amplifier.
I've researched the Matrix M-Stage but I haven't been able to find a product called the "Micro Amp." If someone could link me to that exact product, that'd be greatly appreciated. I just now started checking out the thread titled "Matrix M-Stage amp review: simple, cheap, and excellent."
thanks so much for your time, and forgive for ranting when I could have easily said all that in a paragraph or two.
C