Very faint buzzing sound in hifiman sundara ?

[RandomGuy01]

I just got a pair of sundaras and they sound fine. Never had a planar before so it's a fun experience to listen to one, But I notixed that if I turn up the volume I can hear a faint buzzing sound when they are playing sound. THis seems fairly normal when taking into consideration how a planar works, but I doubt it's suposed to be audible. I use a sony ta 4650 amp as headphone amplifier and not a dedicated headphone amp, seeing how the sundaras are only 37 ohms and integrated amps aren't really optimal for lower ohm headphones could that be the cause ?

 

[Deceneu808]

It may be the high output impedance of the amp that's making the headphones buzz.

 

[Roseval]

the sundaras are only 37 ohms and integrated amps aren't really optimal for lower ohm headphones could that be the cause ?

Hiss I associate with high sensitivity headphones.

A rule of the thumb is the damping factor should be at least 10.
This would imply the headphone out of the amp should be below 3.7
If not, you will have insufficient damping
https://www.thewelltemperedcomputer.com/HW/Headphone/Damping.htm

You might try a dedicated headphone amp like the JDS Atom
https://www.audiosciencereview.com/...ents-of-new-jds-labs-atom-headphone-amp.5262/

 

[RandomGuy01]

Hiss I associate with high sensitivity headphones.

A rule of the thumb is the damping factor should be at least 10.
This would imply the headphone out of the amp should be below 3.7
If not, you will have insufficient damping
https://www.thewelltemperedcomputer.com/HW/Headphone/Damping.htm

You might try a dedicated headphone amp like the JDS Atom
https://www.audiosciencereview.com/...ents-of-new-jds-labs-atom-headphone-amp.5262/

Ok thank you for your reply. I was already looking at getting a thx 789 but some audio gear is quite a pain to find in Europe. In the meantime can using them with the 4650 so any damage ? If so I'll just hold off from using any low ohm headphones till I get a headphone amplifier.

 

[Roseval]

using them with the 4650 so any damage ?

No, probably a bit bloated bass only.

 

[Roseval]

thx 789 but some audio gear is quite a pain to find in Europe.

Monoprice has a EU website, might be an option for you
https://www.monoprice.eu/products/m...lifier-featuring-thx-aaa-887-technology-eu-uk

 

[pbui44]

Ok thank you for your reply. I was already looking at getting a thx 789 but some audio gear is quite a pain to find in Europe. In the meantime can using them with the 4650 so any damage ? If so I'll just hold off from using any low ohm headphones till I get a headphone amplifier.

You can get these amps shipped from France:

https://www.audiophonics.fr/en/sede...-amplificateur-casque-13w-50-ohm-p-14508.html

https://www.audiophonics.fr/en/sede...hone-amplifier-tpa6120-muses8920-p-14573.html

https://www.audiophonics.fr/en/sede...888-balanced-headphone-amplifier-p-14888.html

 

[RandomGuy01]

Monoprice has a EU website, might be an option for you
https://www.monoprice.eu/products/m...lifier-featuring-thx-aaa-887-technology-eu-uk

Such a shame that they don't have the 789, the 887 is just outside of my price range.

 

[RandomGuy01]

You can get these amps shipped from France:

https://www.audiophonics.fr/en/sede...-amplificateur-casque-13w-50-ohm-p-14508.html

https://www.audiophonics.fr/en/sede...hone-amplifier-tpa6120-muses8920-p-14573.html

https://www.audiophonics.fr/en/sede...888-balanced-headphone-amplifier-p-14888.html

Any specific reason for linking those ones, are those especially good ? I already own a dac so that is not a necessity unless it doesn't hurt the amp performance.

 

[pbui44]

Any specific reason for linking those ones, are those especially good ? I already own a dac so that is not a necessity unless it doesn't hurt the amp performance.

Those amps are great for the money and features. If you want Class-A, look at this one:

https://www.audiophonics.fr/en/sede...ier-class-a-discrete-acss-2500mw-p-14761.html