Braveheart
New Head-Fier
- Joined
- Oct 19, 2013
- Posts
- 9
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I play wav files from Windows 7 computer with a Vantec UGT-S110 soundcard. I'm using Toslink to a Yamaha RX-V800 AV receiver. The receiver is setup in 2 channel stereo mode and sounded fantastic playing on my speakers, until the cops came. After that I figured I had better get some headphones.
I decided on Sennheiser HD 558 since they were $130 compared to the HD 598's at $249 (of course they're $199 now, three weeks later). I sat the headphones down playing for 12 hours to burn 'em in. I was a little disappointed when i first tried the phones plugged into the receiver. I figured even those these high efficient phones are easy to drive maybe a dedicated HP amp would give me the sound I wanted.
Decided on the Schiit Asgard 2 since it was made in USA and had a gain switch I believed the the HD 558's would need. I figured when funds would permit I would pair this amp with a Bifrost. In the meantime I figured I could run the A2 off of the RX-V800. Little did I know at the time that analog only comes out if analog goes in (same with digital). So the only way to use the A2 with the receiver is through the headphone jack.
When the A2 is connected through the receiver headphone jack the entire soundstage is gone (sounds like I've got a mono headphone on). This is also the case when connecting the A2 to the computer headphone jack. On the same day that the A2 arrived I got a new glass Toslink cable to replace the old, whatever those cheap ones are made of cable. Now the receiver HP jack sounds great. I don't know whether this has to do with the new cable or hearing how bad the A2 sounded.
My questions are;
1) Is there something wrong with my Asgard 2 amp? Or is it just unable to to distinguish the different channels due to a headphone jack using a common ground.
2) If anyone here has connected an A2 this way, did you experience the same issue?
3) If I get a DAC will the issue be resolved (someone answering question 2 may be able to tell me this)?
If there is a problem with the amp I got, I'd like to be able to return it in time.
Thank you,
Jim
I decided on Sennheiser HD 558 since they were $130 compared to the HD 598's at $249 (of course they're $199 now, three weeks later). I sat the headphones down playing for 12 hours to burn 'em in. I was a little disappointed when i first tried the phones plugged into the receiver. I figured even those these high efficient phones are easy to drive maybe a dedicated HP amp would give me the sound I wanted.
Decided on the Schiit Asgard 2 since it was made in USA and had a gain switch I believed the the HD 558's would need. I figured when funds would permit I would pair this amp with a Bifrost. In the meantime I figured I could run the A2 off of the RX-V800. Little did I know at the time that analog only comes out if analog goes in (same with digital). So the only way to use the A2 with the receiver is through the headphone jack.
When the A2 is connected through the receiver headphone jack the entire soundstage is gone (sounds like I've got a mono headphone on). This is also the case when connecting the A2 to the computer headphone jack. On the same day that the A2 arrived I got a new glass Toslink cable to replace the old, whatever those cheap ones are made of cable. Now the receiver HP jack sounds great. I don't know whether this has to do with the new cable or hearing how bad the A2 sounded.
My questions are;
1) Is there something wrong with my Asgard 2 amp? Or is it just unable to to distinguish the different channels due to a headphone jack using a common ground.
2) If anyone here has connected an A2 this way, did you experience the same issue?
3) If I get a DAC will the issue be resolved (someone answering question 2 may be able to tell me this)?
If there is a problem with the amp I got, I'd like to be able to return it in time.
Thank you,
Jim