Click to view our Accessibility Statement or contact us with accessibility-related questions
buchie
4
Apr 21, 2020
Guys, noobie question, will there be a big difference on the below set up? and which will be the best? Source is ipad/iphone thru deezer hifi. Amp for consideration the O2 amp
  1. Ipad/Iphone to Amp via 3.5 RCA connetion to HD58X
  2. Ipad/Iphone to Dragonfly black DAC to Amp to HD58X
  3. Ipad/Iphone to Dragonfly red to Amp to HD58X
Thanks!
PeteMtl
444
May 1, 2020
buchieAll of these configurations are valuable and excellent, even the « no amp added » choice requiring the headphone to be plugged into the 3.5mm jack. For my part, I use both the O2 and the Dragonfly Red with my HD58X (and HD6XX and HD600 and HE400i for the matter). I use in alternance my iPhone 11 Pro, my iPad Pro 9,7 (2016) or with my Onkyo stereo receiver (O2 linked to the line out of the receiver, using the Onkyo’s internal AKM DAC). By the way a good alternative to the Dragonfly Red is the Monoprice Monolith USB DAC (which is a full USB DAC and headphone amp in a similar form factor to the Dragonfly), 69.95$ last time I checked, with a full 2,1V output using a similar DAC (ESS9018 for the Monolith versus ESS9016 for the Red) and the exact same digital output amp ESS9601. It’s way cheaper than the Red, even cheaper than the budget Black but with significantly more voltage output, some even compare the sound quality identical of the Monolith to the Dragonfly Cobalt! The only drawback is the plastic cover (compared to alu for the Dragonflies), but all the reviewers I’ve came across on YouTube specify that the plastic covering used is high quality (the Cobalt has had issues with the quality of the output jack, so even an all metal unit may happen to have assembly defects nevertheless...). I am presently tempted to buy the Monolith for a second unit... The HD58X is distinctive from other high fidelity open headphones as it doesn’t « need » an amp, it’s high output sensitivity (even with a 150 ohm impedance) is enough to plug into a iPhone or iPad 0,9 to 1V output without an amp. However, an amp that may rise the output voltage to 2,1V or more will benefit to the sound experience, in particular for loud listening and very dynamic recordings. The Dragonfly Black is not bad at all, but I question the practical benefit of the extra 0,25v it provides over the output of an iPhone or iPad (1.25V versus normal Apple devices output varying between 0,9-1,0v depending on the devices): the upgrade would not be that significant. In other words, if you plan to buy an amp that is worth the difference, I would choose something more powerful that provides over 2V output, either the Dragonfly Red (or the similar form factor Monolith USB DAC) or the O2 (or any other powerful headphone amp as the Schiit Magni 3 or the Monolith/Monoprice Liquid Spark for example), because of the added voltage it provides other the normal output of tour portable device. Note that you may also use the Dragonfly Black as a DAC only, what we call in « DAC mode » with output amping relying on an O2 or similar headphone amp. The Black Is less expensive than the Red, but has the cheaper ESS9010 DAC chip and a cheaper analogue IC output amp, outputting a 1,2V audio signal to your O2. The O2 at high gain would be okay with that, but I would strongly recommend the alternative 69.95$ Monolith USB DAC over the Black, with its better ESS9018 DAC, its better 9601 digital op amp for the output and the 2,1V output, comparable to the Red or to a normal DAC or normal CD player, then you may use your O2 at low gain, producing more effortless sound with less background hiss and distorsion from the high gain op amp in the O2. The O2 provides up to 6,5V useable output at high gain if I’m not mistaken (Technically I may provide over 12v at high gain with a 2,1V input from a DAC but the amp will fully distort at these levels). Bear in mind that the O2 is only an amp and will rely on the DAC in your iPhone (or dongle) or iPad (which are in fact excellent, DACs used in iPhone, iPad or in the Apple lightning to 3.5mm dongle are either made by Wolfson or Cirrus Logic depending on your model. In fact Cirrus Logic acquired Wolfson a few years ago, now same manufacturer). There is a DAC/amp version of the O2 available, although more expensive. As said earlier, you could also use the Monolith USB DAC or one of the Dragonflies in DAC Mode only with your O2. On the other hand the Dragonfly Red (and the Black) are DAC/amps and may also be used with your HD58X without a separate standalone headphone amp like the O2. The Red’s max output however is a full 2,1V (same output voltage for the Monolith USB DAC) well enough to drive the HD58X under 150 ohms with a nice smooth non-fatiguing sound without the need for the O2. The sound fit between the HD58X and the O2 or the Dragonfly Red is excellent, non-fatiguing, balanced, natural, add any positive adjective you may think when an audiophile review is done here, it applies. Considering the relative pricing of the O2 or the Dragonfly Red, they both are great complements to the HD58X, the O2 is more powerful but better used on a living room sound system or desktop computer environment, the Red is less powerful but a great companion everywhere, even when I listen to Spotify or Tidal with my HD58X and my iPhone lying on my living room couch...I’m even trying out Deezer Hi-Fi at the moment on a free one month try out. I prefer it to Tidal, no MQA but I don’t care, there is a nice UI and extended music library equivalent to Spotify... but not as good as Spotify for predicting my music tastes, and big issue: no gapless playback (essential to listen to albums such as Pink Floyd’s Dark side of the moon or many of Buddha Bar or similar music compilations that use gapless transition between tracks... There you have it. You have many possible options. Again, an amp is probably better, but if you are on a budget the HD58X may be well driven with the Apple dongle or the 3.5mm jack from your iPhone or iPad and the sound quality isn’t short of excellent. The Wolfson/Cirrus Logic DACs Found inside Apple devices (Including iPhone, iPad, Dongles, Macbooks etc.) are simply excellent, no need for external DAC in my opinion (I wouldn’t say the same for most Android devices or PC’s). But it’s your call if you want to spend more for an equivalent sounding external DAC or If you want to increase the sound output of your HD58x with a louder output provided by a headphone amp. Just my opinion, you may think otherwise.
(Edited)
PRODUCTS YOU MAY LIKE
Trending Posts in Audiophile