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LedZeppole
6
Mar 5, 2015
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The only downside to the Schiit Vali is what they refer to as an issue of "microphonics," which refers to a brief but-- apparently irritating to some-- ringing noise that is heard through your cans when there is a strong tap to the unit. Such as when you plug your headphones in. This is from a slight vibration in the filament of the tubes themselves. Is this a real issue? No. It's an awesome sounding, American made $120 tube amp that can compete with amps that cost five times as much. No-brainer. I only bought it because of what I'm saving on these K7XXs. Get a Modi 2 Uber if you have an Apple Macbook or MacBook Pro. It supports optical Toslink cables and all MacBooks have an optical port, believe it or not. The 3.5 mm port on all of them is actually a combo optical port. The cable itself is about $4.00 instead of paying $20 for a high quality USB or RCA cable. Look under the 'Guides' section of the Schiit website if you have no idea what you are doing-- they explain it all-- Amps, DACs, connecting them, etc. I chose Schiit over Little Dot because the Vali is plug and play. Little Dot ships with nightmare-tubes so you have to go and blow even more $ on antique Russian tubes and go fumbling around to get them to sound right. I'd rather just enjoy my tunes and not bother with a Chinese-made moneyhole.
Mar 5, 2015
Yeahididthat
10
Mar 6, 2015
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LedZeppolety so much for responding!!!
Mar 6, 2015
Yeahididthat
10
Mar 6, 2015
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LedZeppoleLed, I hope you don't mind asking some more questions. You seem to know a lot more than me about this and you have been very helpful already . I have a Maximus vii impact motherboard which is said to have go on board sound. Do you think I should get a modi 2 dac over my onboard sound .. Ty gain for all your help!
Mar 6, 2015
LedZeppole
6
Mar 7, 2015
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YeahididthatI think these phones need a little more power than what most integrated sound chips can provide-- you might be able to get away with a really good and expensive dedicated sound card but it would cost at least as much as a good entry-level amp/dac combo.
I, being the obsessive type when it comes to making purchases like this, did plenty of research on this one. I've always wanted to build a respectable audiophile setup since I had my turntable in high school and I remember looking at tube amps online then (mid-00's), and things were extremely expensive. It was hard to get into really high-quality sound because it was such a financial commitment. Best you could do was a kit. About a decade later, it looks like there has been a real resurgence in the market for hifi and i'm seeing a unique opportunity where the price for the hardware is far beyond reasonable, and the technology is actually much, much better.
So the way I look at it, if I dish out what I'm saving on these headphones on another great deal (amp/dac) to power them, I will maximize my enjoyment of them and still get a kickass hifi setup for about $400 (if you go Schiit route). I seriously think sound quality like this wasn't even half this affordable five years ago. From what I have read, this is the best and most cost effective pairing, but I have yet to be able to listen.... so I could be full of Schiit.
You could always try the phones with your motherboard sound chip and decide on dac/amp later, but I have a feeling that if you put back in what you save here on another ridiculous deal, it's the all-around best savings & enjoyment combo, and I think that's all it really comes down to in the end.
Mar 7, 2015
Yeahididthat
10
Mar 7, 2015
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LedZeppoleThe thing is I have a FiiO E12 Mont Blanc Portable Headphone Amplifier.. But not sure if a dac like the Modi 2 would provide me with better sound than my motherboard which is "Maximus vii impact ... And if the vail would be better than my current FiiO E12 Mont Blanc Portable Headphone Amplifier ...
Mar 7, 2015
travelinjack
55
Mar 7, 2015
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YeahididthatAccording to reviews and specs the E12 is a powerful little amp that punches way above it's price. Try it with your soundcard if you have a line out. If not try it with a free standing DAC.
Mar 7, 2015
Yeahididthat
10
Mar 7, 2015
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travelinjackOk. Ty jack.. My motherboard Maximus vii impact is said to have good sound ... Am I way off in thinking that a dac like the modi 2 would provide different sound.. Or is that not how it works.. Ty for your time and help with. This.. And to be clear I should plug it in the line out and not the front headphone slot.. I currently have "Audio Technica ATHAG1 " but in the front headphone slot..am I doing it wrong? I feel dumb when it comes to getting good sound geez again Ty
Mar 7, 2015
travelinjack
55
Mar 8, 2015
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YeahididthatThe E12 is designed so it can work off the headphone out on a phone so it should be OK to use the headphone out on the computer but you should get a cleaner signal from the line out. The Modi 2 would likely sound a little better but it might sound the same or a lot better. No idea.
Mar 8, 2015
Yeahididthat
10
Mar 8, 2015
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travelinjackTy jack...think I'm going to play it safe and order modi 2 Dac and the vali... Just to be safe ! Now only if I knew when these amg k7xx were getting to me so I could have it around the same time..
Mar 8, 2015
Yurio
56
Mar 9, 2015
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YeahididthatSMSL is also a great choice. It drives my k702s very well
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Mar 9, 2015
travelinjack
55
Mar 9, 2015
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YurioNice combo. I like that DAC.
Mar 9, 2015
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