Before you buy amp and DAC + recommendations.

[Dackzy]

11 minutes ago, Pineapple Wolf said:

I'll be getting a pair of Audeze LCD-2's soon, I have a maximus ranger vi for onboard audio.

Do you think I'll need a amp and or dac? Might be a bit silly for me to get these headphones and not get as good of an experience as I can for them.

If so could you recommend something for me to get, I live in the UK btw

 

Thanks

Try with onboard of course first, but it will most likely not be able to power them a schiit magni 2 should do the trick.

[Pineapple Wolf]

1 hour ago, Dackzy said:

Try with onboard of course first, but it will most likely not be able to power them a schiit magni 2 should do the trick.

Would that be the amp you recommend? I've been looking at the Schiit stuff but is there anything else? Heard mixed things about schiit

[Dackzy]

5 minutes ago, Pineapple Wolf said:

Would that be the amp you recommend? I've been looking at the Schiit stuff but is there anything else? Heard mixed things about schiit

The schiit magni 2 is really really hard to beat for the price and it even beats amps that cost much more. Schiit is maybe the best value brand with high quality.

Yeah that is the amp I recomend going with. Maybe take the uber version.

[SSL]

I would recommend adding the Syba Sonic DAC: http://www.amazon.com/Syba-SD-DAC63057-Stereo-Headphone-Amplifier/dp/B009WN7QT4

 

SMSL SD793-II should be on here for combo units: http://www.amazon.com/SMSL-SD793-II-PCM1793-DIR9001-Amplifier/dp/B00A2QLPJM

 

SMSL sAp-II is a good option for people who need nothing but a cheap, powerful amp: http://www.amazon.com/SMSL-sApII-TPA6120A2-Headphone-Amplifier/dp/B00J2PJQ0O

[Dackzy]

Just now, SSL said:

I would recommend adding the Syba Sonic DAC: http://www.amazon.com/Syba-SD-DAC63057-Stereo-Headphone-Amplifier/dp/B009WN7QT4

 

SMSL SD793-II should be on here for combo units: http://www.amazon.com/SMSL-SD793-II-PCM1793-DIR9001-Amplifier/dp/B00A2QLPJM

 

SMSL sAp-II is a good option for people who need nothing but a cheap, powerful amp: http://www.amazon.com/SMSL-sApII-TPA6120A2-Headphone-Amplifier/dp/B00J2PJQ0O

God damn. How did I forget about the two SMSL, I will add this  Thanks!

[Dackzy]

15 minutes ago, SSL said:

I would recommend adding the Syba Sonic DAC: http://www.amazon.com/Syba-SD-DAC63057-Stereo-Headphone-Amplifier/dp/B009WN7QT4

 

SMSL SD793-II should be on here for combo units: http://www.amazon.com/SMSL-SD793-II-PCM1793-DIR9001-Amplifier/dp/B00A2QLPJM

 

SMSL sAp-II is a good option for people who need nothing but a cheap, powerful amp: http://www.amazon.com/SMSL-sApII-TPA6120A2-Headphone-Amplifier/dp/B00J2PJQ0O

I just added them and cleaned my post a bit up.

[Tattsyrupmk2]

@Dackzy

 

Hi , I'm currently running a schiit lyr 2 to drive my he 500, and I just wanted to ask your thoughts and that pairing.

 

Thanks

[Dackzy]

25 minutes ago, Tattsyrupmk2 said:

@Dackzy

 

Hi , I'm currently running a schiit lyr 2 to drive my he 500, and I just wanted to ask your thoughts and that pairing.

 

Thanks

It's good

[Pomfinator]

1 hour ago, Tattsyrupmk2 said:

@Dackzy

 

Hi , I'm currently running a schiit lyr 2 to drive my he 500, and I just wanted to ask your thoughts and that pairing.

 

Thanks

A bit overkill, 6W is basically overkill for anything except for HE-6's, but nothings wrong with more power.  I hear the stock tubes are a bit meh though so maybe look to rolling some others in the future.

[Dackzy]

8 minutes ago, Pomfinator said:

A bit overkill, 6W is basically overkill for anything except for HE-6's, but nothings wrong with more power.  I hear the stock tubes are a bit meh though so maybe look to rolling some others in the future.

oh yeah the tubes it comes with are not the best, but that should not be that expensive to change.

[MayflowerElectronics]

On 5/5/2016 at 5:31 PM, SSL said:

I would recommend adding the Syba Sonic DAC: http://www.amazon.com/Syba-SD-DAC63057-Stereo-Headphone-Amplifier/dp/B009WN7QT4

 

SMSL SD793-II should be on here for combo units: http://www.amazon.com/SMSL-SD793-II-PCM1793-DIR9001-Amplifier/dp/B00A2QLPJM

 

SMSL sAp-II is a good option for people who need nothing but a cheap, powerful amp: http://www.amazon.com/SMSL-sApII-TPA6120A2-Headphone-Amplifier/dp/B00J2PJQ0O

The Syba is really bad. It's worse than most onboard stuff. SMSL is OK.

[Dackzy]

7 minutes ago, MayflowerElectronics said:

The Syba is really bad. It's worse than most onboard stuff. SMSL is OK.

Well okay then.

[SSL]

58 minutes ago, MayflowerElectronics said:

The Syba is really bad. It's worse than most onboard stuff. SMSL is OK.

 

Oh shiiiit! ShearMe always recommended it, for the HD 650 no less. I guess his credibility just took a hit.

[GArmyHD]

Is the FiiO E10K good for an entry level DAC/AMP combo (under $100 USD). If not, please help. Z Review doesn't like it, and I am the sort of person that if one person doesn't like it, it makes it very hard for me to get unless someone else convinces me. What do higher end DACs and AMPs do anyway (apart from more power for high impedance headphones). Also, any benefits to getting separate AMPs and DACs or vice-versa? Clutter and space is not an issue, and I think both can look just as good aesthetically.

[Dackzy]

7 minutes ago, GArmyHD said:

Is the FiiO E10K good for an entry level DAC/AMP combo (under $100 USD). If not, please help. Z Review doesn't like it, and I am the sort of person that if one person doesn't like it, it makes it very hard for me to get unless someone else convinces me. What do higher end DACs and AMPs do anyway (apart from more power for high impedance headphones). Also, any benefits to getting separate AMPs and DACs or vice-versa? Clutter and space is not an issue, and I think both can look just as good aesthetically.

Well a combo will most of the time be a bit more expensive than a seperate dac and amp. The E10k is not the best. A DAC is something alot of people wont notice if you upgrade it and so is a amp unless it is to a tube amp or you can't power the headphones. The micca origen is pretty good for the size and price, but that is also about 110$ and so is the Monoprice 111567. Do you really need the dac part?

[GArmyHD]

Don't know yet. Just thinking for upgrade potential.

[SSL]

15 hours ago, GArmyHD said:

Is the FiiO E10K good for an entry level DAC/AMP combo (under $100 USD). If not, please help. Z Review doesn't like it, and I am the sort of person that if one person doesn't like it, it makes it very hard for me to get unless someone else convinces me. What do higher end DACs and AMPs do anyway (apart from more power for high impedance headphones). Also, any benefits to getting separate AMPs and DACs or vice-versa? Clutter and space is not an issue, and I think both can look just as good aesthetically.

 

"Zeos" is a hack shill. I would not put a lot of store in what he does or does not like.

 

What headphones do you have right now, and what are you thinking about upgrading to? In generall I recommend that people who are spending less than $200 not bother with a DAC or amp unless their motherboard is absolutely terrible.

[GArmyHD]

Apple 'EarPods'... I am thinking about getting the K7XXs and I will use them for about a year I think, and then get a DAC and AMP to improve (even if it is slightly) my audio.

[Dackzy]

3 hours ago, GArmyHD said:

Apple 'EarPods'... I am thinking about getting the K7XXs and I will use them for about a year I think, and then get a DAC and AMP to improve (even if it is slightly) my audio.

the best value is a schiit stack(magni2 and modi 2), but I don't think that you need one.

[h264]

How goes it in the audio bunker?  Does head-fi still suck?  I've been out of the loop playing video games too long.  And working.

[Dackzy]

14 minutes ago, h264 said:

How goes it in the audio bunker?  Does head-fi still suck?  I've been out of the loop playing video games too long.  And working.

what?

[SSL]

3 hours ago, h264 said:

How goes it in the audio bunker?  Does head-fi still suck?  I've been out of the loop playing video games too long.  And working.

 

Same old pretty much. Some new faces, but the M50X still gets recommended at least twice a day.

[spwath]

5 hours ago, h264 said:

How goes it in the audio bunker?  Does head-fi still suck?  I've been out of the loop playing video games too long.  And working.

Head fi is still Head fi. So yeah it does.

But there are still (some) educated people who stick around here to fix the masses of people who pretend they know things.

[Dackzy]

7 minutes ago, spwath said:

Head fi is still Head fi. So yeah it does.

But there are still (some) educated people who stick around here to fix the masses of people who pretend they know things.

I expect that you mean me  

[Dackzy]

14 minutes ago, spwath said:

Head fi is still Head fi. So yeah it does.

But there are still (some) educated people who stick around here to fix the masses of people who pretend they know things.

 

7 minutes ago, Dackzy said:

I expect that you mean me  

I am just going to lie down and cry now...

jk