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Which headphone amp?

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noni View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote noni Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Topic: Which headphone amp?
    Posted: April 05 2018 at 22:59
Looking into Headphone amps..  Seems FiiO sounds good,  but which one ? E 11 or E 12?

Just bought the HiFiMan 400i headphones!!!  

Any clues!!....Smile


Edited by noni - April 05 2018 at 23:02
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Larkstongue41 View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Larkstongue41 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 05 2018 at 23:11
Hey I have been using the HE400I for the last few months. I am pairing it with the SMSL M3 which does a very neat job. FiiO E10k and Schiit Fulla 2 were other options.


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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Larkstongue41 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 05 2018 at 23:18
You chose a great time to get the Hifimans. I just checked and saw they dropped about half the price from when I bought them last summer. Ouch!
"Larks' tongues. Wrens' livers. Chaffinch brains. Jaguars' earlobes. Wolf nipple chips. Get 'em while they're hot. They're lovely. Dromedary pretzels, only half a denar."
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noni View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote noni Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 06 2018 at 00:33
I need clues on the amplifier.   Smile My headphones arrives on Wednesday!!!

Edited by noni - April 06 2018 at 00:33
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Frenetic Zetetic Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 06 2018 at 02:04
I've used BEHRINGER amps for a long time for a lot of applications, but you can't go wrong with the E12 dude.

"I am so prog, I listen to concept albums on shuffle." -KMac2021
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Manuel Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 06 2018 at 05:49
Originally posted by Frenetic Zetetic Frenetic Zetetic wrote:

I've used BEHRINGER amps for a long time for a lot of applications, but you can't go wrong with the E12 dude.
Yes, the E12 is an excellent option.
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noni View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote noni Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 06 2018 at 09:55
Thanks guys!! Big smile
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote noni Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 06 2018 at 14:07
Originally posted by Larkstongue41 Larkstongue41 wrote:

You chose a great time to get the Hifimans. I just checked and saw they dropped about half the price from when I bought them last summer. Ouch!

I was concidering buying them last year but failed....  I'm currently using a cheapo Sennheiser HD 206 at moment.  Hifiman went down as much as $250 Canadian $...  Got these for $314 with tax and shipment.  I also have the Bose Q25 Quiet headphones..
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (1) Thanks(1)   Quote Catcher10 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 06 2018 at 16:06
Get this one...It's only US$4,500.00 (includes a DAC) Big smile

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Quinino Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 06 2018 at 16:25
Originally posted by Catcher10 Catcher10 wrote:

... (includes a DAC) 


It does, indeed (I received one for Christmas) but it comes in parts - I had to mount it by myself, and soldering can be a pain - so I wouldn't recommend it for beginners
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote noni Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 06 2018 at 16:51
Originally posted by Quinino Quinino wrote:

Originally posted by Catcher10 Catcher10 wrote:

... (includes a DAC) 


It does, indeed (I received one for Christmas) but it comes in parts - I had to mount it by myself, and soldering can be a pain - so I wouldn't recommend it for beginners

^

LOL LOL LOL
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote noni Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 06 2018 at 16:53
Originally posted by Catcher10 Catcher10 wrote:

Get this one...It's only US$4,500.00 (includes a DAC) Big smile

 Can you stick this your pocket then?   Smile
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote noni Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 06 2018 at 16:55
Ordered the E12   Smile
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Catcher10 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 06 2018 at 17:58
Originally posted by noni noni wrote:

Originally posted by Catcher10 Catcher10 wrote:

Get this one...It's only US$4,500.00 (includes a DAC) Big smile

 Can you stick this your pocket then?   Smile

Yes, buy big pants......
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote dr wu23 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 10 2018 at 09:18
Ok...I'm not that up on stereo stuff...but why does a headphone need an amp? I have owned many over the years including my current Shure H440.,,,granted a basic inexpensive one.
?
One does nothing yet nothing is left undone.
Haquin
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (1) Thanks(1)   Quote Larkstongue41 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 10 2018 at 09:31
^ Most high-end headphones (generally open ones) simply need more power than what your average power source (laptop, cellphone, etc.) can provide. So not only do you lack volume without an amp but the balance of the sound is also disrupted (you'll only hear the mids and highs for instance and have nearly non-existent bass).

Edited by Larkstongue41 - April 10 2018 at 09:34
"Larks' tongues. Wrens' livers. Chaffinch brains. Jaguars' earlobes. Wolf nipple chips. Get 'em while they're hot. They're lovely. Dromedary pretzels, only half a denar."
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (1) Thanks(1)   Quote Quinino Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 10 2018 at 13:54
^ Exactly - one has to check its specifications on what respects Sensitivity

Headphone Model

Voltage Sensitivity

(dB SPL at 1 Vrms)

Impedance

(Ohms)

Power Sensitivity

(dB SPL @ 1 mW) 

Sennheiser HD 650 112 300 107
Sennheiser HD 600 112 300 107
Audeze LCD-X 112.5 22 96
Grado SR325 113 32 98
PSB M4U 1 117 32 102
Sony MDR-V6 118 63 106
Sony MDR-V600 119.5 45 106

 

The first four headphones are only marginally loud enough to work with my portable device. The last three are a better match for the limited output voltage provided by portable devices.

Please note that two of the first four headphones are low-impedance designs but they have the same voltage sensitivity as the high-impedance Sennheiser headphones. The Audeze LCD-X and Grado SR325 are inefficient designs that require both high voltage and high current, making them somewhat unsuitable for portable applications.

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Jzrk Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April 28 2018 at 19:10
Has anyone heard of Electric Avenues pocket amps
Small company and I had been thinking about getting one and this guy seems to have a good product not made by a big company

Edited by Jzrk - April 28 2018 at 19:10
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote PureViewer Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: November 09 2018 at 03:01
Originally posted by noni noni wrote:

Ordered the E12   Smile

Do you have a proper DAC?
If not, you can add a FiiO E10K to your setup. Very nice little device.
If you want something portable with a built-in battery to connect to your phone, you can try iFi Nano iDSD Black Label.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Davesax1965 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: November 09 2018 at 04:37
I'm vaguely considering building some valve based headphone amps for sale. Time's taken up building the modular, though ! 

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