sphinxvc
Headphoneus Supremus
- Joined
- May 28, 2010
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The D100 is known for being a better DAC than an amp, ditto for the NFB-12 -- why not a real amp?
comparing LD MKIII to bottlehead crack+speed ball,
are there big difference between two?
I am rubbish at DIY.
Because whenever I ask for a real amp, everyone always suggests tubes. I don't want tubes, period. I don't want to have to replace them, and even if they lasted 20 years I don't want to have the feeling that every day it will sound very slightly different. I want solid state, consistent performance.
Because whenever I ask for a real amp, everyone always suggests tubes. I don't want tubes, period. I don't want to have to replace them, and even if they lasted 20 years I don't want to have the feeling that every day it will sound very slightly different. I want solid state, consistent performance.
Also, I hope the NFB12 DAC is good enough for "real amps"? But if the NFB12 amp is so powerful, then why do I need to upgrade at all?
The NFB12 works just great to run my Shure SRH940, and I hear a vast improvement across the spectrum with the SRH940 out of the NFB12 versus a macbook, even though the SRH940 is low impedance. Counter intuitively though, my HD650 doesn't seem to have much of the veil lifted when I amp it versus straight out of a macbook! Bass improves vastly of course... but not really much improvement to treble that I can hear.
Normally I'd just conclude that the HD650 has mediocre treble, but with all the hype surrounding it I thought it might be the NFB12 failing to power it or something.
Budget <=$500, and even then it's a stretch. If I had $1000 I'd get an LCD2 or T1 or HD800.
Budget <=$500, and even then it's a stretch. If I had $1000 I'd get an LCD2 or T1 or HD800.
From a design standpoint - as relatively efficient, high impedance cans, the HD650's pair beautifully with OTL tube amps - a topology that generally delivers ample voltage swing but not a lot of current. Inefficient low impedance headphones, by contrast, need lots of current - which is easy to get out of solid state and/or hybrid designs. This is why you don't want to try and drive planars, or even K701's for that matter, out of *most* OTL tube amps.
Based on the time I've spent lurking on head-fi over the past several years, my sense has been that the majority seem to prefer sennheisers via tubes, but I've never counted. Certainly, there are plenty of satisfied listeners on both sides of the aisle. A well designed amp from either camp should get the job done, but if you have a chance to attend a meet and do some listening for yourself, I'd strongly encourage you to do so.
Hughkk: with a budget of $350 - I'll definitely join twinster and captouch in recommending the crack. I've been to CanJam and listened to a huge number of amps, and it is definitely the best value with the HD650's and 800's that I'm aware of. If you have a chance, take a look at the comments/excerpts on the BH site from numerous head-fiers, as well as highly respected pros like Tyll and Steve Gutenberg: http://www.bottlehead.com/store.php?crn=224&rn=442&action=show_detail
> there is a reason why HD650 are considered "dark headphones". Your only solution is to either use EQ, try a silver cable, and/or go balanced. I prefer the latter 2.
I'm talking about actual quality of treble, not quantity. I've equalized my HD650s, but the mids and treble quality are still blurry compared to my SRH940s.
Also how does going balanced help? Having two isolated amplifiers doesn't seem like it would really change much? Maybe I don't understand what balanced is.
I want solid state, consistent performance.
Because whenever I ask for a real amp, everyone always suggests tubes. I don't want tubes, period. I don't want to have to replace them, and even if they lasted 20 years I don't want to have the feeling that every day it will sound very slightly different. I want solid state, consistent performance.
Also, I hope the NFB12 DAC is good enough for "real amps"? But if the NFB12 amp is so powerful, then why do I need to upgrade at all?
The NFB12 works just great to run my Shure SRH940, and I hear a vast improvement across the spectrum with the SRH940 out of the NFB12 versus a macbook, even though the SRH940 is low impedance. Counter intuitively though, my HD650 doesn't seem to have much of the veil lifted when I amp it versus straight out of a macbook! Bass improves vastly of course... but not really much improvement to treble that I can hear.
Normally I'd just conclude that the HD650 has mediocre treble, but with all the hype surrounding it I thought it might be the NFB12 failing to power it or something.
This. Is. Why. I. Love. My. Vallhalla. And. More. Than. Likely. Will. Love. The. WA6. When. It. Arrives.
Fair enough. Why not try your hand at an O2 or, if you want aim a little higher, "the wire" (see: http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/headphone-systems/179298-wire-ultra-high-performance-headphone-amplifier-pcbs.html ). DIY amps with measurements like these two should perform as well as any solid state you can buy. The BOM's for both of them are less than or equal to $100.
I actually just ordered the parts for an O2 - although a few are presently back ordered. Should be fun to compare and contrast with my crack.