Senn. HD 598 + IPod classic (6th gen.) --> DAC/Amp vs new DAP for better sound improvement?

[HPLobster]

 


Hi there,


 


 


I´m far far away from being an expert on audio and headphones and stuff and besides I am German and know my English isn´t perfect so please be indulgent 

 


So far, after wasting many years on listening to music via my IPod Classics (5th and 6th gen) in combination with bad (very bad) in-ears, I finally made a move in the right direction in 2014 and purchased the Sennheiser IE 80s and was amazed at the improvement and the impact they had on my listening-experiences. Later on in 2015 I bought – since I am a semi-professional piano-player- my first fully digital piano, the Roland LX 17e, so I decided it was time to take the next step and buy some appropiate on-/over-ears, not only to use them with the piano but also to improve my listening-sessions at home. After I did my research I decided to pick the Sennheiser HD 598.


 


So far, so good: After trying the 598s at home and in quiet atmosphere (of course I already did that and compared them in store), I was literally blown away by the sound-improvement I had listening to my music-library. HOWEVER, I really could only enjoy the headphones if I turned the IPod-Volume up to >85%, otherwise it couldn´t be denied that the SQ began to cease in getting more and more „blurry“ and not that nuanced. I read that for a fact, despite the issue of „driving“ the headphones better (yet 50 ohm don´t seem THAT high), there is room for improvement regarding the listening-experience in general and the IPod classic doesn´t exhaust the 598´s quality at all…


 


------> Now my question: What should I do to improve the sound overall? Should I decide for a new DAP (having the Fiio X3 II in mind, I only read great feedback about it) or keep the IPod classic and upgrade my „rig“ with a DAC/Amp (maybe also Fiio, maybe Shiit – what exactly would be reasonable matching-wise?). Which of the possibilities gives the better result/makes more difference?


I am aware of the fact, that these kind of questions have been asked many times before and I read multiple of them, still every time there seemed to be other kind of circumstances, mostly the fact that the asking person was listening to music over a notebook/PC, and I never (literally NEVER) hear music directly over my notebook. The responses also often are extremely contradictory (some people telling that an Amp ONLY improves the volume and nothing else – others telling that the SQ-improvement was massive). I´m starting this thread because I need to know the defintive answer 

 


 


Some additional information that might help:


 - If you suggest getting a certain DAC/Amp I would appreciate it IMMENSELY if you´d also tell me why I should get this exact type and no other one, because I often read about some kind of recommandation in other threads thinking „alright, this is what you were looking for“, just to realize that actually using the suggested device would only make sense if one was listening directly via notebook…


- I often read about the iBasso (DX50 or DX90) as a good alternative recommandation – yet sadly for  reasons which escape me, they are nearly impossible to get in Germany right now


- Maybe I should add that I for sure am going to expand my newly discovered hobby over time and it is certainly possible that there are other –„better“- headphones I am going to purchase during the next few years step by step, still I am aware of the fact that most devices are unavoidably going to be „overkill“ fort he 598s or on the other side simply won´t play in the same league as e.g. a HE 400 or a HD 650 AND since I also have other commitments (having a baby-daughter that just turned 4 month old) money is kind of an issue after all….


- If it helps, here are some examples of music I enjoy listening to the most: Caribou, Tool, Arcade Fire, Brian Eno, Brad Mehldau, Miles Davis, Radiohead, Pink Floyd, Porcupine Tree/Steven Wilson, Boards of Canada, Foo Fighters, Björk, Genesis, Darkside, Sbtrkt, Underworld, Marvin Gaye, Nick Cave, various orchestral movie soundtracks, piano music in general. I only (at least I try) listen to lossless music and never stream.


 


I apologize for the long post and I thank you very much for taking the time to read through all this messy first post of mine

I´m looking forward to and appreciate any response you can provide,


 


Michael

 

[HPLobster]

Please guys, any suggestions? Anyone?
 
Maybe my post was a bit over the top 

 
Here is a more condensed one: Which combination delivers the better improvement in sound-quality? (compared to just Ipod classic + HD 598 and considering that I never use my laptop for listening):
 
1) IPod classic + HD 598 + Fiio E17k (or maybe the Fiio Q1 = E07k-successor? OR maybe just the Amp-Version E12?)
 
OR
 
2) Fiio X3 II + HD 598 without further devices (for now

)
 
OR 
 
3) ANY other suggestions involving devices I didn´t mention
 
 
Your help would be greatly appreciated since I literally just learned what "DAC" means just two days ago.... 

 

[RRod]

I'm fine with the 598s and my Classic 6g, and regularly have to have the volume up high for classical tracks. They're pretty easy-to-drive cans. You might be picking up distortion at higher volumes, or you could just be reading this site too much. Have you tried the 598s out on any other sources?

 

[HPLobster]

Thank you very much for your response and your honest input!
 
Quote:

  (...)or you could just be reading this site too much(...) 

 
 
-->you are DEFINITELY right on this one 

 
For me personally the headphones have a phenomenal sound but for my „newbie-zeal“ it´s hard to ignore all the dozens of recommendations I read on my journey of picking the right cans, that kept spelling „use a DAC/Amp if you want the full package“ out for HD598-owners…
 
If you had to choose between the two main-options, what would YOU choose?
Or otherwise, if you are defintely of the opinion that there will not be a noticeable improvement, then I´ll acknowledge it and note that down in my tally...
 
Anyway…. although I have to admit that my initial-post-wording regarding the SQ on lower volume was exaggerated after two more days of intense listening, I am still of the opinion that the window of impeccable sound is fairly narrow, as it loses „power“ from a certain volume (around 80-85%) downwards quite unproportionaly.
 

 Have you tried the 598s out on any other sources?

I tried them on my mentioned digital piano (btw a Roland 15e, not 17) and they work perfectly fine even on minimum volume-levels. I am going to try them with my PS4 later today and watch the „Porcupine Tree – Anesthetize“-Blu-Ray…, I have been pretty focused on exploring my known IPod-tracks until now

 
 
Thank you again  very much for your response, RRod!
 
Is there maybe also someone who had a positive experience after upgrading one of the above-mentioned options (or maybe also a negative one)? I appreciate every input very much!

 

[RRod]

The solution would depend upon how much you like the feature set of your Classic (I have mine Rockboxed). If you like it, then a nice portable amp (40mW into 50ohm should blow your ears pretty well away) will do the trick. Even if the amp isn't the issue, the mental ease you can get from the added gear can be useful for actually chilling out and enjoying music. If you aren't keen on your Classic, then another DAP that has a bit more output power might suit you.

 

[darilon]

I recently picked up 598's and concur that you need the volume turned up fairly high on both portable devices and motherboard sound output on computers.  What I find is the biggest down side to lower volumes is the bass drops off very quickly and looking at an impedance graph for the 598's explains this fairly well.  I don't mind having the volume up fairly high, however as it's not terribly 'loud' at those higher volumes and brings out pretty full sound.  I might consider headphone amps like the A3 (E11k), CMOY or Schiit.  I'm not sure a dac is a requirement, but am keeping an open mind.  Of the two choices you present, I'd reluctantly agree with e17k, unless money is no object, in which case get em all and then do a big write up to tell us what you like the best!

 

[HPLobster]

Thank you both very much for your helpful posts, much appreciated!
 
After further consideration and research I came to the conclusion that buying a new DAP wouldn´t be the right thing to do value-wise regarding the SQ.
AND I just realized that external DACs can´t override the IPod-DAC (which indeed should be pretty decent) anyway! Which makes considering a DAC, since I don´t use my Ultrabook for listening to music, obsolete.
 
So, I decided to buy an amplifier after all. And since I found out that the debate if a HD 598 needs an amp at all or which of them is the perfect match has been going on since the invention oft he light bulb, I decided to take the jump and order the JDLabs CMOY BB, the JDLabs C 5, the Fiio A3 and the Fiio E12 in the near future (unless someone will scream DON´T DO IT, BECAUSE….) and –of course- write a field report.
 
Meanwhile I WILL take the best advice so far and... 
 
Quote:

  (...) chill out and enjoy music.