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mamatthewwind
1
Apr 2, 2015
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Should I need buy a headphone amp?
Apr 2, 2015
A community member
Apr 2, 2015
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mamatthewwindThey're 32 ohms of impedence so no need of amp at all, everything can drive it
Apr 2, 2015
fieryoOo
17
Apr 2, 2015
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I'm not so sure about that. It has a sensitivity of 114 db/V (note that it's not 114 db/mW) meaning that you will probably need an input of at least 1 Volt (which is 31.25 mW on 32 Ohms) for listening to musics with high dynamic range. Most cell phones have way less power than that. It should do fine with cell phones for pop or other low dynamic range musics though.
Apr 2, 2015
DankAssKush
6
Apr 2, 2015
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fieryoOoWhat AMP would go good with these headphones?
Apr 2, 2015
whatup69
92
Apr 3, 2015
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DankAssKushno amp needed
Apr 3, 2015
fieryoOo
17
Apr 3, 2015
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DankAssKushAs I have explained, any DAC with an output level of 1Vrms or above will need no amps at all. Out of phones or low gain players pops are gonna sound just fine. You will need an amp only if you insist that you'd like to listen to wide-dynamic-range musics (say symphonies) out of your phone, which however might not be your best solution.
Apr 3, 2015
travelinjack
55
Apr 3, 2015
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DankAssKushIf you insist on an amp then it needs to have a very low output impedance.
Apr 3, 2015
asrquinn
110
Apr 3, 2015
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DankAssKushI have the Q701s and soon to be these which are both 32ohms. I know jack about electronics but I need an amp for my 701s if I use with them with my iPhone 6+, Sony Xperia Z1 or newish Macbook Air. Without an amp, the volume level just doesn't cut it. "Audiophiles" can spew all the theory they want but the reality is different. I was told the same thing when I first bought the 701s. If you like your music beyond mid volume level then an amp should help. Which one to get is really a matter of buy & try unfortunately. I have found the Fiio E17K to be ok for the price (I'm cheap). It is also going to depend on whether or not you want it portable or for desktop. Anyways, point is that if the Q701's benefit from an amp then these will likely benefit from an amp as well if you are using a source like mine. This is based on reality not data.
Apr 3, 2015
fieryoOo
17
Apr 3, 2015
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asrquinnThe 701s (which by the way, has 62 Ohms) would definitely need an amp, and a good one. Everybody knows that. It's a completely different story here if you know what sensitivity means.
Apr 3, 2015
UnaSalusVictus
58
Apr 3, 2015
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asrquinn@asrquinn the 701's as @travelinjack said are 64ohm's and in my exp, it depends on the set, but for cans, 64ohm's can be the point that you start to need an amp.
if your happen to be outside the US or buy products from outside the US i wont be shocked if you need an amp for many/most devices....
btw, if you want a better amp cheaper the PA2v2 is worth a look, perhaps even suggesting it on massdrop if the guy who makes them is interested in making a large number for a drop.
the Fiio's are decent amps but, there are better amps out there you can get...or if you really wana go all out, build your own so you can roll opamps ;)
Apr 3, 2015
whatup69
92
Apr 3, 2015
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asrquinnIt's not just about impedance even though the Q701s are 62ohm. The Q/K7series drivers despite their relatively low impedance are also very low sensitivity. As such, they really do benefit from additional amping, in particular higher current (mW) output. https://lsirui.wordpress.com/2009/04/15/k701-vs-hd650-electrical-measurement/ This article explains it really well. The Q/K7series all share the same drivers. Even with a e17k, you are still underpowering the Q701 and in practical subjective terms, not achieving the full lower frequency extension that the Q/K7series are capable of.
The K55x series have completely different drivers that are much more sensitive and can be driven very well straight from portable sources without additional external amping. I used to own the K612 and Q701, my close friend used to own the K702 and now owns the K712. I also used to own the K550 and currently own the K7xx massdrop first edition, so my claims are based "on reality", backed by data. The level of misinformation in these massdrop discussion threads are shocking and should be prevented from perpetuating.
Apr 3, 2015
asrquinn
110
Apr 3, 2015
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UnaSalusVictus62 ohms actually as everyone points out ;)
What does living outside the US have to do with anything? I wouldn't think the fact that I live in an Igloo in the arctic climate of downtown Vancouver makes a difference.
Fiio was just an example, of course there are better amps. It's a decent portable option though. BTW, a better amp is sooooo subjective it's ridiculous. For anyone to suggest there is a better amp is purely subjective as well.
When I bought my 701s which I incorrectly noted as 32 ohms, I contacted AKG directly and talked to one of their specialist who advised that they would not require or benefit from an amp. He had no reason to misinform me. I also saw a variety of posts by seemingly knowledgeable people that stated the same thing. The reality is that they did benefit from an amp, end of story.
My point is that all of this is so subjective no matter how many specs are thrown out there. The dude should find a way to try out some amps, dacs or whatever, if he thinks they improve sound levels or quality for that matter, then there's the answer. For someone to tell you that you don't need an amp is really not good advice (not suggesting you are). Just tired of all the opinions based on specs and data. We are not identical machines. At the end of the day it's all trial and error and a fun hobby none the less.
Apr 3, 2015
asrquinn
110
Apr 3, 2015
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whatup69Your opinion is based on your experience. My opinion is based on my experience. As I said before, the experience is subjective, the data is data. If we were all robots with the exact same makeup then I would agree that the reality would be the same for all. But we aren't and it isn't.
Go link some more data to stop the perpetuation of opinions.
Apr 3, 2015
DankAssKush
6
Apr 3, 2015
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whatup69So just to clarify, these headphones sound better then the ath-m50x's? I also heard the ear muffs wear off pretty fast..
Apr 3, 2015
travelinjack
55
Apr 3, 2015
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DankAssKushGood thing they are replaceable on this new version
Apr 3, 2015
whatup69
92
Apr 3, 2015
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asrquinnI had the E10k which has the same power output (200mW@32ohms) as the e17k. I have directly compared the K612, K712 and K7xx from the e10k to my Audio GD NFB-15 and a friends Little Dot Mk3. All the headphones sounded noticeably thin and bass light out of the E10k versus the more powerful amps that can deliver higher current. But if you only had a e10k or a e17k for that matter, you wouldnt know. The K550 which these are based on however, was driven to it's potential from the E10k, as well as straight from a iphone/laptop. You were saying that just because your Q701 benefits from additional amping (which is true), it also means that these will benefit from amping, which is not true (dependent on source). If you haven't done comparisons or have any experience with other amps or headphones, then you shouldnt make blanket statements like the ones you have done. Now if anyone were to use the K553 with portable devices with high output impedance like the older samsung galaxy line, nexus 5 etc then they may experience muddiness or bloom in the lower frequencies that may seem "slower", but that is an entirely different subject in itself. I am not trying to stop the perpetuation of peoples opinions, just misinformation and helping people to prevent spending unnecessary additional costs on what is already a great price:performance headphone in the K553.
Apr 3, 2015
Curiou
17
Apr 3, 2015
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asrquinnIt's great that you are sharing your experience with the crowd. It helps everyone gain insight! I agree that sharing subjective experience is very valuable to a market. Incorrect data combined with experience from a very different product could mislead people though.
Apr 3, 2015
travelinjack
55
Apr 3, 2015
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whatup69If only the Audio GD was 110V/220V switchable, I would own one already.
Apr 3, 2015
kietkat
14
Apr 3, 2015
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whatup69what do you mean by slower?
Apr 3, 2015
whatup69
92
Apr 3, 2015
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travelinjackThey come in 2 different versions! Version 1 is 120v version 2 is 220v. Not sure if there are any switchable products though.... Audio GD are such great products, drives my HE500s so sweetly ;-)
Apr 3, 2015
whatup69
92
Apr 3, 2015
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kietkatHigh output impedance can effect the control of the dynamic driver. In practical subjective terms, say for example you were running cans out of a high output impedance headphone out on a AV receiver. The high frequencies can sound more muffled and the low frequencies can be perceptively bloated, leading to a overall warmer sound. This can have the effect of say, in busy passages of music, the bass bleeding into the rest of the frequency spectrum as the drivers are under-damped and a bit 'loosely' controlled. This may make the instruments sound more 'blended together'. A low output impedance that damps the driver properly has the opposite effect of the aforementioned phenomena, tightening up the bass and perceptively increasing detail. Hope that's easily understandable in lay man's terms. I don't like linking anything to nwavguy as it either paints me out as a objectivist or inevitably brings out subjectivity vs objectivity flaming whereas my personal opinion is there is equal room for both in this hobby. Both sides are just as vital and important and you can't have one without the other. That being said the dude wrote a great blog post about headphone and amp impedance here: http://nwavguy.blogspot.co.nz/2011/02/headphone-amp-impedance.html?m=1
Apr 3, 2015
travelinjack
55
Apr 3, 2015
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whatup69None are switchable though. I asked them. They said I could send it to them if I needed it swtiched from 220V to 110V but completely at my cost. Other than this they are perfect for me.
Apr 3, 2015
MeteoImpact
34
Apr 3, 2015
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kietkatThis article describes a lot of the terms you can run into with regards to hi-fi audio: http://www.head-fi.org/a/describing-sound-a-glossary
Apr 3, 2015
UnaSalusVictus
58
Apr 6, 2015
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asrquinnsince you are clearly very new to this, in the EU they limit the output power/volume of devices to protect peoples hearing, this means that the firmware of EU editions of devices has an artificial limit making it so those who use the firmware ment for their region of the world will endup needing an amp far more so then those in the US.
I have bought EU editions of products 2nd hand and flashed the US or Oceania firmware to gain back output volume/power.
also keep in mind, it depends on the device, the 701's are higher ohm and lower sensitivity, thus to really get them to shine you need am amp in most cases, though the 701's being open backed are far from ideal to run on the go anyway, and a decent soundcard like an xonar should have ZERO need for an amp if you use the front headphone out.
fiio makes decent low cost amps, i have a 2 e3's and 2 e5's that i use at times, depending on what headphones im using, i dont need them for any of my IEM's as they are all easily driven by all my players to their full potential.
and, you dont NEED one, they work without it, and calling the CS line to ask.....kinda a rookie move, the people you get on cs mostly just read scripts and faq tables.....its not like they are actually the ones who design the products....
also, the pa2v2 was just a suggestion, for the money its one of the bet portable amps you can get, if you dont need portible but just wana use it with your desktop computer or the like, the O2 amp/dac would be a good option, its got its flaws though to.....
the zen amp is kickass, and gets over 50hrs battery life on 1 rechargeable 9v battery...(i wana build myself one!!!)
anyway, these cans shouldnt need an amp, if people want one though, http://www.mp4nation.net/fiio-e06-portable-audio-headphone-amplifier
thats a good starter amp, that wont cost alot(anybody reading this).
Fiio make good products, just for the money on their higher end stuff...you can get the same quality or better for less or the same money........look at the x5...neat device but the battery lifes horrible....
Apr 6, 2015
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