[DavidA]

  And it works surprisingly well with the HD650. I know some people call it bright, but to my ears it's more like "wire with gain," which is perfect for a little pocket amplification solution. I've yet to run into any headphones that don't sound great with them. 

I was just answering the poster above, haven't tried it since I have no need for portable amps as my X3 and X3ii are more than enough for the headphones I travel with.  But if I were to get a portable DAC/amp then it will probably a Hugo/2 if I ever decide I want to take the HD650, HE560, HD800 on my travels, highly unlikely but never say never.

 

[SomeGuyDude]

  I was just answering the poster above, haven't tried it since I have no need for portable amps as my X3 and X3ii are more than enough for the headphones I travel with.  But if I were to get a portable DAC/amp then it will probably a Hugo/2 if I ever decide I want to take the HD650, HE560, HD800 on my travels, highly unlikely but never say never.

 
Considering the DFR is literally 1/10th the price of the Hugo 2 I'd definitely wager most would rather go DFR for portability.

 

[DavidA]

   
Considering the DFR is literally 1/10th the price of the Hugo 2 I'd definitely wager most would rather go DFR for portability.

agree with the issue of price but after hearing the Hugo with the HE560 and HD800 the price is well worth it IMO, better than most desktop systems under $2k, for the HD650 its over kill and I wouldn't even bother with the DFR since the X3 or X3ii will drive them quite well and I never travel with a device that I can connect the DFR directly to so its a moot point.

 

[JWolf]

  agree with the issue of price but after hearing the Hugo with the HE560 and HD800 the price is well worth it IMO, better than most desktop systems under $2k, for the HD650 its over kill and I wouldn't even bother with the DFR since the X3 or X3ii will drive them quite well and I never travel with a device that I can connect the DFR directly to so its a moot point.

 
No, the X3II does not drive the HD650 well enough. I have both.

 

[RickB]

   
No, the X3II does not drive the HD650 well enough. I have both.

Off topic, does the X3II work well connected via coax to a desktop DAC (like a Mimby)? 

 

[DavidA]

   
No, the X3II does not drive the HD650 well enough. I have both.

difference of opinion of what is "well enough"
 

  Off topic, does the X3II work well connected via coax to a desktop DAC (like a Mimby)? 

it works okay

 

[RickB]

  difference of opinion of what is "well enough"
 
it works okay

Would you say it sounds better than USB from a PC? 
 
Edit: misquoted; I'm referring to using an X3II as a source for a DAC.

 

[DavidA]

  Would you say it sounds better than USB from a PC? 
 
Edit: misquoted; I'm referring to using an X3II as a source for a DAC.

sending a PM before the "off-topic" police get upset

 

[JWolf]

The X3II does not work well enough (without an external amp) with the HD 650. It just doesn't have enough OOMPH!
 
As for using the X3II as a transport, yes,that works well.

 

[Tuneslover]

  Off topic, does the X3II work well connected via coax to a desktop DAC (like a Mimby)? 

It does.  I use my X5ii as a storage/transport to Mimby.

 

[RickB]

  It does.  I use my X5ii as a storage/transport to Mimby.

Thanks.

 

[SomeGuyDude]

agree with the issue of price but after hearing the Hugo with the HE560 and HD800 the price is well worth it IMO, better than most desktop systems under $2k, for the HD650 its over kill and I wouldn't even bother with the DFR since the X3 or X3ii will drive them quite well and I never travel with a device that I can connect the DFR directly to so its a moot point.

 


Not gonna lie, I went to Music to my Ear out in Pittsburgh to sample a few headphones and they have some serious horsepower in their equipment, including the Hugo. One of the sets I tested was the HD800s. It sounded pretty dang good, but I wasn't really there to focus on the amps, just get a feel for the headphones. Well, just for the hell of it, he stuck the 800S into the Elemental Watson (a $250 tube amp). To my ears, it blew the Hugo out of the water. The Hugo left it sounding clinical, the Watson sounded alive. I was there just to window shop some headphones, walked out with a new amp.

So now I use the Watson with my 650s and it sounds so effing good I'm getting dangerously close to end-game. Or at least "constantly reliable game."

 

[Faber65]

Has anyone tried out the Supreme Sound (Burson) Lycan with the HD650s? Many thanks!

I have, and I love the match.
IMHO, the Lycan is a brilliant, very transparent and fast amp, and it gives the kick to the HD650.
I recommend the match to all the ones that think that the HD650 are "veiled".

 

[LazyListener]

   
Considering the DFR is literally 1/10th the price of the Hugo 2 I'd definitely wager most would rather go DFR for portability.

Does the DFR/650 combo provide enough bass?  How does it compare to DF 1.2/650 combo (if you've tried it)?

 

[SomeGuyDude]

 
Does the DFR/650 combo provide enough bass?  How does it compare to DF 1.2/650 combo (if you've tried it)?

 
The 1.2 is a little warmer, but honestly the DFR provides enough. I consider the DFR "wire with gain" as opposed to any kind of colored amplifier. All depends on what you need it for. I used my DFR to have in my pocket for going to work and I love it to pieces for that. The Elemental Watson is the same price, but you'd need a separate DAC to go into it.