EPT(I meant the Fiio D3 last time. The one with no headphone outs.)
Headphone enthusiast thread! - Page 107
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Twistacles
Canada1327 Posts
(I meant the Fiio D3 last time. The one with no headphone outs.) | ||
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Myrmidon
United States9452 Posts
On the other hand, I'm not going to guarantee that any of these will be significantly (or at all) better than the ALC889. RMAA sucks bad, but you can do a quick check with that software for a rough idea. Just install it, plug a 3.5mm cable from the line out into the line in, run the software, and read the results. That will give some kind of limited idea of the quality of the output (as well as the input...or rather, the quality of whichever of those two is the limiting factor, which will probably be the input). If the results are decent, I wouldn't bother changing to anything else, especially if you're still using SRH840 and not some really high end stuff. http://audio.rightmark.org/download.shtml | ||
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iMYoonA
Australia462 Posts
The fiio amps to me always looked like no use. | ||
davidohx
United States114 Posts
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Tomazi
United Kingdom158 Posts
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Myrmidon
United States9452 Posts
On November 16 2011 09:24 iMYoonA wrote: Everything benefits from an amp, but to be honest, the order starts with headphones, then once you pass about 200, 250 dollars, thats when I would begin to consider amps, dacs and the like. The fiio amps to me always looked like no use. Well, E5/E6 is about the cheapest amp out there of reasonable quality, and one of the smallest as well. If you're using like multi balanced armature IEMs particularly or something else with low impedance that changes a lot over frequency and don't want the frequency response to be screwed up with a high output impedance source, it's something cheap with very low output impedance. E11 is probably the cheapest portable amp that can output as much power as it does. Dual battery CMoy type designs aren't really sold at retail and are honestly not that safe (for headphones) if something goes wrong like one battery dies before the other or is disconnected. E9 is I think the cheapest desktop amp that can drive 600 ohms Beyerdynamics to above 110 dB SPL, most of the planar magnetics including up to stuff like HiFiMAN HE-5LE to above 110 dB SPL, etc., with reasonably low distortion. Maybe I'm taking you to literally though. For sure, most people don't need this stuff, and should be looking instead at better headphones first. | ||
rotinegg
United States1719 Posts
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Honeybadger
United States821 Posts
Currently I use the Sennheiser hd212 pro's, and I love the sound , and they're just unbelievably rugged (earcups pop off, every part on them is replaceable) but they're unbearably uncomfortable after 45 minutes to an hour, pinching my head and giving me a headache. I picked up a set of corsair HS1A's on a storming newegg deal, with the understanding that my creative X-fi titanium professional could actually handle them. And I was rewarded with phenomenal highs and mids, but the flattest, most awful bass I've ever heard. This is disappointing, because on the comfort and quality front, these things are mind-blowing, with a solid, awesome mic. I'm currently trying to see if I can get the HS1A's to run off of just my on-board realtek, separately from my speakers which use the X-fi. Because I got them to sound -acceptable- with EQ tweaking. That said, is it possible to run both headphones AND speakers from the X-fi titanium pro? I know the HD has a separate jack, but the way I have to have my gigaworks S750 plugged into my sound card (stupid old school 4-3 cable) I lose the ability to use the headphone jack in it. But even then, my sound card is still trying to pump out 7.1 sound, and it's goofy sounding. How do you audiophiles switch between speakers and headphones smoothly? | ||
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HuggyBear
Australia377 Posts
Do you need them to be portable? | ||
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Honeybadger
United States821 Posts
And my sound card doesn't have a headphone out (Creative X-fi fata1ity professional, w/o the front panel component.) They don't need to be portable. I ride my motorcycle everywhere, so I have invested in a high quality pair of klipsch s4 IEM's (extreme comfort, solid build quality, great sound) for portable needs. | ||
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HuggyBear
Australia377 Posts
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Honeybadger
United States821 Posts
I did manage to install the realtek drivers alongside my X-fi ones, which lets me EQ my CS1A's. Paired with windows bass boost and lots of EQ tweaking, I finally got the bass to shine through on the 50mm drivers like it should. It doesn't have the "punch" that I'm expecting, but the actual volume and range is superb, and since it's the most comfortable thing I've ever put on my head, I'll use it for now. | ||
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HuggyBear
Australia377 Posts
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iMYoonA
Australia462 Posts
On November 17 2011 15:40 Honeybadger wrote: I'm looking for something in the $50-100 (cheaper is better) range that's circumaural and will be reasonably rugged and most notably, has good, quality sound. I'm a bit of a basswhore, though, so clean low hits are important. Currently I use the Sennheiser hd212 pro's, and I love the sound , and they're just unbelievably rugged (earcups pop off, every part on them is replaceable) but they're unbearably uncomfortable after 45 minutes to an hour, pinching my head and giving me a headache. I picked up a set of corsair HS1A's on a storming newegg deal, with the understanding that my creative X-fi titanium professional could actually handle them. And I was rewarded with phenomenal highs and mids, but the flattest, most awful bass I've ever heard. This is disappointing, because on the comfort and quality front, these things are mind-blowing, with a solid, awesome mic. I'm currently trying to see if I can get the HS1A's to run off of just my on-board realtek, separately from my speakers which use the X-fi. Because I got them to sound -acceptable- with EQ tweaking. That said, is it possible to run both headphones AND speakers from the X-fi titanium pro? I know the HD has a separate jack, but the way I have to have my gigaworks S750 plugged into my sound card (stupid old school 4-3 cable) I lose the ability to use the headphone jack in it. But even then, my sound card is still trying to pump out 7.1 sound, and it's goofy sounding. How do you audiophiles switch between speakers and headphones smoothly? If you think those are comfortable, I assure you that if you bought a pair of AD700's which are ACTUAL headphones, then the comfort level would be out of this world. To this day the AD700's are still the most comfortable headphone I have owned. I used to be one to buy gaming headsets : I had both the Steelseries 3H and the 5Hv2. Buying a pair of AD700's and giving those away to friends was probably one of the best decisions I have made. On another note: I've started to integrate my DAC into my setup. At the moment, running a xonar dx -> home built modified cyrus 1 amp is working really well with both my headphones, but having tested adding a dedicated DAC (also self built), the sound is rather improved! I'll upload some pics when im done (after im back from korea) | ||
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Vestrel
Canada271 Posts
Will probably pick up a Xonar DG or something for amping purposes later. | ||
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Mario1209
United States1077 Posts
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sua1ty
United States9 Posts
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HuggyBear
Australia377 Posts
On November 17 2011 22:11 iMYoonA wrote: If you think those are comfortable, I assure you that if you bought a pair of AD700's which are ACTUAL headphones, then the comfort level would be out of this world. To this day the AD700's are still the most comfortable headphone I have owned. I used to be one to buy gaming headsets : I had both the Steelseries 3H and the 5Hv2. Buying a pair of AD700's and giving those away to friends was probably one of the best decisions I have made. On another note: I've started to integrate my DAC into my setup. At the moment, running a xonar dx -> home built modified cyrus 1 amp is working really well with both my headphones, but having tested adding a dedicated DAC (also self built), the sound is rather improved! I'll upload some pics when im done (after im back from korea) The AD700's are good, but he did say he was a bit of a basswhore. The AD700's don't have much boom and rumble but they're more nice,clean and precise bass hits | ||
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Jojo131
Brazil1631 Posts
On November 18 2011 18:06 HuggyBear wrote: The AD700's are good, but he did say he was a bit of a basswhore. The AD700's don't have much boom and rumble but they're more nice,clean and precise bass hits I'm currently still in the market for headphones, and these sound like exactly what I'm looking for. Could you maybe share your experiences with the sound leak (since they're open design, right?) and if its a big deal? I usually have my headphones on in the bus going to school, either listening to music or watching movies. I was told that open designs let sounds in and out of the headset, making them less ideal for public usage, but I was wondering if anyone with personal experience can tell me whether or not it's just exaggeration? Also, my uncle is flying from the states shortly after black Friday. I have no experience with the holiday since I dont live in the US, but do headphones go down in price as well during this time? (retail and online stores?) Sorry if its a lot of questions in one post. >< Thanks in advance to anyone who can help out  | ||
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iMYoonA
Australia462 Posts
On November 18 2011 18:18 Jojo131 wrote: I'm currently still in the market for headphones, and these sound like exactly what I'm looking for. Could you maybe share your experiences with the sound leak (since they're open design, right?) and if its a big deal? I usually have my headphones on in the bus going to school, either listening to music or watching movies. I was told that open designs let sounds in and out of the headset, making them less ideal for public usage, but I was wondering if anyone with personal experience can tell me whether or not it's just exaggeration? Also, my uncle is flying from the states shortly after black Friday. I have no experience with the holiday since I dont live in the US, but do headphones go down in price as well during this time? (retail and online stores?) Sorry if its a lot of questions in one post. >< Thanks in advance to anyone who can help out I know you didn't ask me but i'll share my insight anyway. The AD700's have nice mids and highs, and yes, compared to many closed models it will seem extremely bass light. The sound leak is fairly apparently once you reach any semblance of loud volume: If you are in a study room, then anyone in your study room will be able to hear what you're listening to if its at a pretty high volume. You can't use them on the bus - I can hear my computer fans that are about 2 metres away (already as silent as possible) so you won't be able to hear anything on the bus without pissing everyone off. If you're going to travel I'd go with canalphones/ IEMs because you won't disturb anyone, and the sound will be much clearer. In general the AD700's are really really good for the price, but once I moved into higher audio the sound seems a bit coarse to me. However, I still use them on a daily basis because the comfort is unparalleled, and bass is not that important to me: I always prefer clean, tight, accurate bass to bass that drowns everything out. In my car though I have the bass higher... so I don't fall asleep tl,dr: ad700's impossible for public use, you'll look like an idiot as well. That being said, please don't get beats | ||
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