Headphone random conversation

[Colif]

I have only used headphones the once since getting them (to play games in) and it was my bathys for a few hours. I only stopped as a sound effect in one game was driving me mad.
I might try my IEM attached to a DAC that in turn is attached to PC via USB, next time to play a game. They don't squeeze head as much as some headphones might.
I got side tracked... one day I might buy a gaming headset but right now I don't really need to.

I have had my DAP a month now. It was meant to have 100 hours burn in, its probably added up to that in the last few weeks. Try to listen to music sometime in the day, for a few hours. The last few times its been to keep me awake.

I can't tell if it sounds any different as I have also been using new headphones that weren't great at blocking external noise themselves until last week, and that greatly effects the amount of bass you get. I swapped the eartips to a bigger size - I originally thought I had largest on.. instead I had smallest lol. They sound much better now... I should wear other IEM occasionally too. Only one set of ears and 3 new sets of headphones in the last 6 months... I blame @anort3 (since CT not here).

I haven't felt need to alter its sound signature at all. Which is funny as it has so many ways to do it. One reason I chose it was for one of them. Guess headphones don't really need it.

 

[Colif]

@anort3

So there are still (many countless) things I don't understand...

I don't know why these headphones

are easier to drive than these ones

Is it the frequency response? Or fact 2nd ones are planars?

and if my dap:

can run these: (focal hadensys- comes with 3.5 and 6.5mm connectors - No balanced)

as if they can't I just buy something else in a few months. No point if they going to be underpowered.
BTR7 might be able to run them but I bought dap for a reason.

 

[Colif]

or I just buy one of these to make sure I can run it. And everything else I am likely to buy

Desktop DAC and Amplifier K7/K7 BT

The K7/K7 BT has a six-stage audio circuit with truly balanced analog and digital sections – which helps to reduce crosstalk and reproduce music to a great extent, allowing you to better enjoy the purity of your music.

www.fiio.com

 

[anort3]

You have to look at both impedance and sensitivity when looking at how 'hard' something is to drive. Lower impedance is easier to drive and 16 ohms is very low. Higher sensitivity is easier to drive. So the 109db set would get louder with the same power than the 101db pair.

 

[anort3]

You should be fine with your DAP. Can't it run a Sennheiser HD600 or 650? Those are 300ohm headphones and WAY harder to drive than just about any IEM.

Some planars really need power though. More than their specs would suggest.

 

[anort3]

The Fiio is nice though.......

 

[Colif]

If I get the Bluetooth version of the K7 I can attach it to dap via BT and at least be able to use the dap as a source. That way i might be able to listen to music longer than I can if I just use DAP in class A High Gain mode. Some days I want to listen longer than a charge lasts. I expect it doesn't use as much power in Bluetooth mode.

Or I get a 3.5mm line out to RCA cable and attach DAP via line out and get actual Hi Res music as opposed to the compressed version over BT. DAP doesn't use AMP in line out mode so should last longer than it does when using them. It could be charging while it runs (though I do hear a hum on headphones if I charge them using DAP now)

It can only receive BT, it can't send. Can't use as base station for BT headphones as such. The Non BT version is cheaper but the BT one might be more useful later... who knows. I have bought everything in the wrong order all year.

So SPL = Sensitivity? So the focals are 105. They are in between the two IEM I have, and its impedence is 26 which is higher than the others but still classified as low (divide is 50) since headphones can be up to 600.

Headphone Impedance and Sensitivity Explained

Everything you always wanted to know about your headphones but were afraid to ask.

www.howtogeek.com

I am not buying anything now. Just research.

 

[Colif]

 

[Colif]

I was saving towards a future pair of headphones but one thing led to another and I bought a pair of these tonight.

HD 600 | Sennheiser Australia

Sennheiser's over-ear HD 600 headphones offer optimum stereo sound for your home entertainment. Discover all its features now!

www.sennheiser-hearing.com

Mainly as they are $220 less than normal and I didn't really want to miss the discount. They were cheap enough it won't stop me buying something else later on, just slow me down a little. It was a pair I wanted to listen to, just to see if I like their sound. Still working out what I like.

If DAP can't run them well, I know my BTR7 can. It might make sense to use it anyway attached to PC. It comes with a 3 metre cable so its not exactly designed for mobile use. Open back not ideal for keeping noise out. Or in.

 

[Colif]

I found the box for the PXC550 a few days back, so I put the old ones back in there. '

I had watched reviews of the HD600 and all the reviewers got a bigger box than I did... not amused. they got a storage box, I just got a plastic bag.

My DAP needs all its power to run these, my dongle seems to do it better.

I just pick one of these up in a few weeks to drive them and anything I might buy later.

Desktop DAC and Amplifier K7/K7 BT

The K7/K7 BT has a six-stage audio circuit with truly balanced analog and digital sections – which helps to reduce crosstalk and reproduce music to a great extent, allowing you to better enjoy the purity of your music.

www.fiio.com

Then I should really stop for a while.

 

[Colif]

HD600 Headphones didn't grab me. I find myself getting bored listening to them, I don't think DAP is pushing them hard enough to wake them up. Went back to using the 1st set of IEM I bought, which don't need to be run as hard to be way louder. Hd600 needs High gain, these IEM are happy on low but i normally use medium gain to get about same level volume. This was to be expected but I don't want to run DAP at 100% volume so I will buy a desktop combo to fix that problem. Use IEM on DAP and wired headphones on something more capable.

Spoiler

I am not getting A K7, I hadn't really looked at alternatives and now I am stuck between either a
Topping A30 Pro Amp & D30 pro DAC Stack

or
Topping L70 Amp & E70 Dac Stack

The two Amplifiers sound different, and A30 Pro isn't a balanced Amp whereas L70 is.
A30 seems better suited to IEM as it has a low gain mode. Nevermind, they both do
So I will grab it unless it disappears from the store I can see both packages on.
I can get the E/L70 stack on two websites so not concerned about it. Both combos at most a year old so shouldn't randomly disappear. The A30/D30 combo isn't showing on the Topping website so there is that.

Both will have more than enough power to wake the HD600 up as well as a pair of Planar IEM I have that just seem too quiet on my DAP.
They can run almost anything I am likely to buy, its only headphones I can't afford that it can't run.

I only have one balanced cable, rest of headphones are single ended, so even one difference really doesn't matter to me. The main difference seems to be sound then

A30 Pro is an older model that used to cost the same when it was launched. In a typical Topping fashion, it’s also a powerhouse. But these two amps do sound slightly different. A30 Pro has a more laid-back midrange with thinner vocals that are further away from you. L70 sounds fuller and warmer in the midrange, all tones feel fuller and the vocals are bigger and closer. This also means that the A30 Pro develops a slightly more spacious soundstage.

Topping L70 Review - Head-Amp With Full-bodied Sound

Topping L70 headphone amplifier comes with plenty of power and a full-bodied sound signature. These are my impressions and comparisons.

iiwireviews.com

A30 Pro doesn't have a remote, but it can be controlled with the DAC which has a remote.
Both E70 & L70 have remotes which seems excessive. Would make more sense to have one... but nope.

It seems one difference is these can use a switch on the back to allow both units to be turned off at same time.

ask me tomorrow and it probably changed again.
Hifiman EF400 current choice.