Massdrop Objective 2 Headphone Amp: Desktop Edition Discussions | Drop

Massdrop Objective 2 Headphone Amp: Desktop Edition

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Mar 21, 2019

hello everyone im new to this audiophile thing and am confused about something. i currently only listen to music on my phone from spotify on this O2 AMP my question is do i need a DAC? i was looking into getting the massdrop x grace design standard DAC but im looking at the back of both devices and im confused of how to hook it up and listen threw my phone? i could really use some help with this thanks.

Mar 21, 2019

yeauhpJust a brief intro to some parts. Audio in computers are in digital form. 1 and 0. Not audible by humans. So we use a DAC to convert them to an analog signal which can be heard by humans (Digital to Analog Converter). But that sound is weak and quiet, so an amp is used to boost it up to comfortable hearing. Now your phone already has a dac and amp built in. That's how your phone's headphone jack works. It does the converting and amplifying inside the phone components and outputs the sound to the headphone jack. So, why would you want an external solution then? Most mobile solutions should be "good enough." Are you using heavy impedence headphones? Anyways, if you want to use a seperate dac and amp unit, you would need to use the phones USB port. You would connect your phone to a dac using a otg cable, then connect the dac to the amp using rca, and finally, connect your iem/ headphone to the amp's headphone jack. Phone -> OTG Cable -> Dac -> RCA Cable -> Amp -> Headphone Example: Sony Xperia XZ1 -> OTG Cable -> Khadas Tone Board -> RCA Cable -> JDS Atom -> AKG 7XX Another option would be to get a dac amp combo (these units contain both a dac and an amp), such as the Topping dx3 pro, there is a version of this amp/ drop with the grace dac in it. I don't suggest it though... Phone -> OTG Cable -> Dac/ Amp combo-> Headphone Example: HTC m8 -> Topping Ds7x -> Sennheiser 6XX

(Edited)

Mar 22, 2019

dwang040Thanks man I really appreciate all that information I was really confused about how to hook up the O2 headphone amplifier to the grace standard DAC, although they show them in pictures together they never show the back side and how it's hooked up or setup so I wasn't sure if I even needed it play music from my phone but I see what you're saying now I have one of those cables so I should have no problems all I need now is those short RCA to RCA cables to hook up the headphone amp to the DAC and that's it for now until the thx AAA 789 drops again but yea as far as my headphones I currently only use the 58x jubilee it's my first headphone in the audiophile space and was really impressed by these, also have a pair of hifiman 4-xx coming in can't wait for those! Thanks again man appreciate the help!

Mar 22, 2019

yeauhpNo problem. If your looking for an amp, I actually suggest the jds atom. It's around the same price but better than the o2 (it's newer than the o2, has better measurements aka less distortion and cleaner output). The Atom is probably the best option/ closest to the thx 789. The main difference is that the thx 789 will have more power and has balanced outputs. As for dacs, the topping d30 or the topping d50 is a good choice (should the sdac not be on drop). The combo unit I mentioned earlier, the topping dx3 pro is an amazing unit as well, if you don't want to deal with rca cables. Just note that combo units will not allow you to upgrade the dac and amp seperately. One more note, I don't know if it's an issue any more but I know when I was looking at using my phone's usb port to outout music, I needed an app that supported usb output. Make sure your phone or your music has the capability to do that or get a music app that does support USB output. Might not be a problem anymore though...

HIFI778

652

Mar 30, 2019

yeauhpIt also depends at what level of details you want to listen you music. Most phones have a pretty average dacs aside from few particular models like the LG V20 and LG V30 which have "Quad" DAC/Amps and drive headphones very decently up to 300ohms roughly (even if LG stated 600max). The level of details and quality is pretty outstanding with these 2 models straight out of the headphone jack. I have many headphones including HD58X, HD6XX, Sony Z7 amd many more... All pretty sound phenomenal with my LG V20. If u dont have one of these phones using an Amp may give u more volume but not necessarily more details as they mostly are DAC dependent and also music source dependent. To start I would have a decent DAC/Amp combo that supports optical imput and usb for home to be used for example with a google music chromecast via optical so u can send music from spotify with ur phone or use the combo with ur PC. For portable I would buy a refurbished LG V20 off ebay which new were 800USD now u can find them for like 200 if u look carefully. The V20 has removable swappable battery and if u out often all day it is extremelly useful. The V30 lost this feature.

Mar 31, 2019

HIFI778Thank you for the help man I appreciate it! Need to fine one now! Haha

DarrylG

Apr 1, 2019

yeauhpWhat headphones do you have?

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Apr 1, 2019

DarrylGI have the 58x and 4xx.

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Jakob

378

Jun 12, 2019

yeauhpIf you intend to just use your phone to listen to music, you might want to look into dac/amp combos designed specifically for android or iPhones. These will be much easier to deal with compatibility wise and ease of use wise. Something like my Fiio Kunlun or something newer will greatly improve sound... Or do what I did and just get an LG Vseries phone. I found it a pita to have to haul around multiple devices and the cable/connections tend to fail easily from just carrying them. Just my experience for anyone interested.

Jun 13, 2019

JakobI do believe support for external audio is widely available now. A simple otg cable should be able to solve any phone to external dac/ amp issues. Well, a portable battery powered combo doesn't hurt the least but if you wanted a wall powered setup, it could still work just fine.

Interceptor69

Jul 9, 2019

HIFI778I've heard a lot of good reviews of the LG V series phones. My question is: Is there a difference in the quad dac's and/or amplification internals between the V20 and later models?

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HIFI778

652

Jul 9, 2019

Interceptor69The V20 has the same exact quad Dac/Amps as the newer models but it has removable battery so u can use it for many years without the need to throw it away once the battery its gone. I am still using the same V20 bought 4 years ago roughly. Changed just the battery once. Still love it and I still think is the best phone for audio via a headphone out there.

(Edited)

yardleyjeff

Jul 25, 2019

dwang040I am totally new at this stuff, so I appreciate someone explaining things to me in the simplest terms, so Thank You Dwang. So my new balanced headphones (not the Sennheisers, still waiting for delivery)... but my other 100 $ ones, I LOVE, I am hearing so much more. Someone told me I shouldn't be able to hear a difference, only over very long balanced cords in a studio for example. I am wondering, am I just enjoying the fact that there is more power going to the headphones from a more amplified jack? I used a rechargeable Bluetooth headphone amp last night... and it was really good as well! Maybe I just needed a good headphone amp? Any thoughts on this would be appreciated Thanks :)

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Jul 26, 2019

yardleyjeffIt is possible. An amp providing more power can help open up a headphone a bit more. This becomes a bit more apparent in heavy ohm headphones, playing it through your phone's jack vs a powered amp there can be sound quality differences due to the different power output of both devices. Of course there is the argument that it could he placebo. The only real way to tell is to do an a/b test between the two items, but let's be real, if you're enjoying the music, the that's all that matters. If you feel that $1000 cables make your music sound better then go for it (even though I would advise against that xd). And speaking of power, balanced cables do provide slightly more power than your typical 3.5/ 6.5mm jack. There is roughly a 5-10db chance between balanced and single end (aka non balanced). So people have reported that balanced cables sound better than their SE (Single Ended/ Non-balanced) counter parts. I was just curious, are the cables you bought balanced or are they SE? This would bring into the question, do you want a balanced audio setup or not.

yardleyjeff

Jul 27, 2019

dwang040The cables that came with the IEMs, and the cables I bought from Amazon, and the custom ones I bought for the Sennheisers (that I'm still waiting on) are all balanced. But this little rechargeable headphone amp I bought from Auris has me rethinking everything... it really makes a lot of my headphones sound better. But I think the balanced cables with the more powerful output on the Hiby R3 are really rocking my world right now :)

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