Sennheiser PC37X randomly goes bad after disconnecting the cable ?
Greetings, Yesterday I was using my headset like normal with my macbook, just listening to music and on a call with people like usual, and the headset was perfectly fine. The stock wire that came with the headset is extremely long and yesterday it annoyed me very much that it kept getting tangled with itself, so I decided to see if the cable is replaceable. I pulled out the cable from the headset and saw the adapter, and looked online for a replacement. Upon plugging it back in, the audio sounded extremely muffled and washed out. Im not sure what I did wrong to make it mess up like that as I've always taken good care of it, ive had it for about 2 years and its always just been chilling on my desk, but anywho I thought the cable just went bad and ordered a replacement. The replacement came, and the issue is still persistant, so I am not sure what the issue is I've tried multiple different headsets and the issue is not with the port, and I also tried it with my windows laptop and...
Apr 23, 2024
It has two micro-USB ports: one for the source only (like a PC or smartphone) and the other for charging only. With your PC as the source, the NX4's battery will still be depleted. To avoid stoppages in operation (after each charging cycle), you will need to plug the NX4 into a power source using its second USB port. While you can use the device while charging, power will be still be drawn from its battery - not your USB power source. When the device's battery finally dies (from maximum charging cycles), the NX4 will not function. This would be a deal-breaker for me. Unless you have a good use for the NX4's portability, I recommend getting a true desktop solution instead, which would likely yield superior performance, especially if you could run the Sundara balanced. I also would advise against getting a 2.5 year-old DAC/amp when a successor is sure be released in the near future. Perhaps a similar device already exists without that battery-depletion 'feature'. I took a gamble recommending Schiit. Oh well. All the best to you.
Balanced connections may have been developed to minimize distortion for longer cables runs, but that is not the extent of their benefits over single-ended connections. (For more on this, please read my last message to Salada.) As he noted, looks and features are often a product's primary draw over raw performance. And that's before you've heard it with your other gear. In that respect, entire books could be written on the audible affects of various DAC/amp/headphone/cable/earpad combinations on the final sound... or you could listen for yourself and decide what you hear and prefer. I hope this helped. All the best.
It will power it, because the Sundara has no impedance spikes, and 293 mW, even taking into account that it will be less on the Sundara's increased impedance, will be enough to take the Sundara to above 110 dB SPL (simple math). Unless you have some proof that lower frequencies on the Sundara result increased power requirements, you are mistaken and this point is mute. Regarding the NX4 measurements, I never said they were great, the user who purchased it said it measured well, and I did not go out of my way to argue with him. Whether it has a decent SINAD rating and other important measurements, I do not know, but I never claimed that anyway. It could be laughably bad, but the user, Kohlerm, said it's good, and I did not agree or disagree with him on that. "You've convinced yourself that you - or humans, in general - can't hear a difference... without presenting any evidence." I've provided some evidence in this comment, more than enough to help people who have never looked into it themselves get a head start (e.g. the IF article, written by an audio engineer, is a good place to start if you dont want to delve into scientific papers). This are not ludicrous claims however, human hearing is one of the worst in the animal kingdom. We all know dogs, cats, etc., all hear much better than us. We're not giving these amps to animals, however. My comments regarding our hearing are mostly just highschool biology. More to the point, where is your proof?
"I say that it would be wiser to initially purchase superior (balanced-capable) gear and then upgrade cables, as needed/desired. "... by trying equipment where they can and purchase in their price range" people will spend unnecessarily and will remain ignorant and inexperienced. They simply don't know what they're missing... due to assumption, popular opinion, and/or pride." There's no evidence to suggest that, and you certainly have not provided it yourself. Subjective experiences, e.g. your own, is not ample to say that this is fact. Your beliefs and biases effect even your hearing. Some might prefer listening from single ended tube amp and find it more resolving, that's just their preference, and while in this case the audible change is probably more apparent, it does not mean they are correct in saying that it is 'more resolving', it is just their subjective experience, most of which happens in the brain and is perhaps little to do with what they are actually hearing. "You also claimed that certain 'good enough' specifications are beyond the hearing of human ears but didn't note what is 'good enough'. "baseless claims"? I'm "misinformed"? It's ironic." Again, not rocket science to know that 100+ SINAD is way overkill for our human ears. Again refer to the IF article, else show me some proof of studies that conclude that humans are capable of hearing such minute noise and distortion levels. Still waiting on the proof that shows that the Sundara requires 1 Watt into 32 ohm capable amplifiers to sound its best (which contradict's Hifiman's marketing anyway, even though that means very little in the first place).
"... but telling others to purchase something because you had a subjective experience that makes you believe it to be the case is not grounds to tell them they are wrong, especially if you do not have the facts to back it up (stop citing marketing as proof)." By obsessing over HIFIMAN's mentioning of their own DAC/amp - as an example of a device more powerful than a "mobile phone" - to dismiss their statement that 'more power yields greater audio performance', is quite a pathetic and desperate attempt to discredit HIFIMAN... and me. I wonder if you truly think they're lying. Or perhaps you're just upset that I won't link you an article that proves me right. It doesn't matter. You're still wrong. Claiming that this is a "subjective experience" is akin to you saying that a Ferrari with Toyota Corolla tires and low-octane fuel would result in approximately the same time around a track than the same model Ferrari with performance tires and high-octane fuel. You may get around the track with the lesser tires and fuel, but you lost the race. With an efficiency of 94 dB/mW, the Sundara should be able to 'get loud enough' with any amp, right? Now let's imagine an amp with specifications identical to the approx. 1 Watt/37 Ohms Geshilli Labs Erish, except for power (Wattage). This imaginary amp provides only 250 mW into 37 Ohms. Sourced from the same DAC, do you think both amps would produce identical sound with the Sundara? If you refuse to answer this simple question, I will take it that you think both amps would result in the same sound with the Sundara. You would be wrong. But the reality is, nothing you've said in this thread would contradict this assumption. While I'd like you to answer all of the follow-up questions I've asked you in my previous post and this one, I want you to answer the last one (bolded). Then I will read the rest of your previous post and respond further, should I feel the desire. But the reality is, you are wrong on so many counts that I'm loosing count, taking considerable time to call you out on your ignorance, false statements, and assumptions on topics of which you are unaware and experiences you lack with the products in question.
Sourced from the same DAC, do you think both amps would produce identical sound with the Sundara?." Yes, they would, for a few reasons: because lower frequencies do not require more power, especially in a planar of all things; because you would use less than 250 mW to achieve desirable volume. Extra power means nothing if the headphone will not use it, which the Sundara will not. There are no spikes in required power for lower frequencies. Feel free to cite scientific evidence otherwise. Now, I'm done because I've wasted my time talking to you about this when you are so flamboyantly arrogant about it. Enjoy your sound, just don't try to make it fact for others.
My bolding was for emphasis. And how bold of you to call me "such a child" when you're the one espousing falsities left and right. I find it hard to believe how someone can be so wrong on factual matters - but take so much time to keep repeating provable lies. It's really you who are as stubborn as a child. Yes, "frequencies are a measurement separate from power". But that is irrelevant to the fact that producing bass frequencies requires more power from an amplifier. The better the amp and headphones, the more cleanly bass can be re-produced, especially at higher volumes. Did you ever wonder why a speaker amplifier - or A/V receiver - gets so hot when handling sub-bass... but runs cooler when the bass is redirected to a powered subwoofer? Answer: The bass takes more power from the amps to reproduce. (Check out solderdude's post here, which should get you intrigued enough to research further.) Generally speaking, channel separation is superior on balanced amps. It's simply inherent in their engineering. At least 1 W into 32 ohms is the generally-accepted amplifier power spec for those looking to power planars properly. Ask any audio engineer or professional. Ask anyone who tested planars on low-powered amp or your phone. Since you have a Sundara, test this yourself. You might hear high-frequency distortion... but the lifeless, bass-less sound is unmistakable. There's your proof.
I never claimed that balanced audio results in increased "dynamics, imaging, soundstage, etc." I said that a more powerful amp would result in those sound characteristics. No, you were wrong by claiming that the 'NX4 would power the Sundara absolutely fine'. The little Topping device will get them plenty loud, but a more-powerful amp (Watts and Amps) would yield superior results. Factual evidence exists based on the technology of planars and their electrical resistance, but the differences can be easily heard. (Again, try this yourself.) Yes, HIFIMAN mentioned a product they make as an example of a more-powerful device than a "mobile phone". But that doesn't invalidate the 'more power yields greater audio performance' statement from the Sundara's official Owner's Guide. What I don't believe are the lengths you're going in desperation to discredit me... and HIFIMAN. "I'm just trying to present a more objective, factual side to your subjective opinions on people purchasing more expensive equipment." The irony here is simply incredible. Measure the bass output from the Sundara on a very low-powered amp (like a phone) and a higher-powered one. Or, ya know, just listen for yourself.
"Yes, they would..." Oh my. True, one might "use less than 250 mW to achieve desirable volume" with the Sundara. Then the audio signal hits with high levels of bass, which requires more power from both amplifiers. The weaker amp can't keep up and will distort, unable to send a clean, strong signal to the headphones. The stronger amp gets though that difficult passage due to having the power reserves. At least I am 'flamboyant' and correct. My claims be corroborated with engineering and mathematical data measurements and formulas. On the other hand, the vast majority of your claims are factually wrong. I'd like to believe that you were one of the most persistent trolls I've ever encountered. But I suspect you're just a stubborn person who knows so much that just isn't true.
Oh, I will 'enjoy my sound' in my (subjective) opinion. But that doesn't change the facts of these technologies, which apply to everything and everyone using them, even stubborn ignoramuses like yourself.
So more power allows for more impressive sound/bass without it turning 'nasty' When upgrading do this by buying an amp with 5x to 10x more power." In short, what he said: To achieve 'more audible bass that is more impressive', more power is required. He also said that more power avoids amp clipping, which causes "grungy mids and coarser treble". This sentiment was also stated by nwavguy in his More Power? article - quite an informative read. Note the sections that mention power, peaks, and clipping. Someone quoted an email from the planar magnetic headphone company Audeze:
"Extra power is not to play loud all the time but to preserve the power for high dynamics in music." (Since it was not posted by Audeze, I realize this quote can be taken with a grain of salt. But there's no reason doubt this person.) In the world of personal audio, it's practically common knowledge that HIFIMAN HE-6 planar magnetic headphones require serious power to achieve their maximum sound potential. Some people even use a speaker amplifier -to- headphone plug converter. Again, this is an example of planar magnetic headphones scaling (improving) with more power. At least 1 Watt per channel into 32 Ohms is a commonly-accepted specification to look for when looking to power planar magnetic headphones well. More power, voltage, and current is always welcome. I merely used the 'speaker amplifier' example to demonstrate that by removing the sub-bass frequencies, an amp generates less heat because less power is used. For the last time... In that context, the Sundara Owner's Manual is not (exclusively) marketing. Unsurprisingly, HIFIMAN named a device they make in order to provide a concrete example of a device that provides more power than a "mobile phone". This does not invalidate their 'the headphones scale with more power' factual statement. I was not looking or hoping for "respect" from anyone. I was merely reporting facts. In that regard, I have (finally) posted links that corroborate my previous claims. I appreciate you admitting your initial mistake regarding my 'two differently-powered amps' question. I hope you also realize your many other misstatements and misunderstandings. In reality, it was actually you that "have quite a ways to go."