Upgrade

[Dackzy]

Hi guys I am thinking about upgrading my headphones to a pair of HE-400i they cost 520€ and I can see that there are mixed opinions on whether you should get a amp or not for them I would like to hear what you guys think.

I like a tight bass not overwhelming good solid highs, so if you guys know headphones that you think is better please leave a comment. I will max give 550€ for new headphones.

[Dackzy]

@SSL Teach me in the ways of sound

But for real I would love if you could teach me some things about headphones, dacs and amps.

[Guest]

7 hours ago, Dackzy said:

@SSL Teach me in the ways of sound

But for real I would love if you could teach me some things about headphones, dacs and amps.

 

Start with the Audio Reference in my signature if you want to learn more.

 

You'd probably like the HE-400i.

[Dackzy]

25 minutes ago, SSL said:

 

Start with the Audio Reference in my signature if you want to learn more.

 

You'd probably like the HE-400i.

I want to learn more and you seem like the right guy to learn things from.

Do the HE-400i need an amp?

 

[Guest]

Just now, Dackzy said:

I want to learn more and you seem like the right guy to learn things from.

Do the HE-400i need an amp?

 

 

All headphones need an amp. You may find you need a better amp, but I can't say for sure without knowing your listening preferences.

[Dackzy]

Just now, SSL said:

 

All headphones need an amp. You may find you need a better amp, but I can't say for sure without knowing your listening preferences.

Yeah I know that all headphones need an amp. I will try and order the Schiit magni 2 so the HE-400i and the Schiit will be arriving at the same time.

[KaminKevCrew]

Yeah I know that all headphones need an amp. I will try and order the Schiit magni 2 so the HE-400i and the Schiit will be arriving at the same time.

When SSL says that all headphones need an amp, he means that literally all headphones need an amp. DACs don't output audio at a high enough volume (or low enough impedance, for that matter) to make their audio usable at all, not to mention the pack of volume adjustment. He's saying that any device you have ever used with a headphone jack will have an amp in it, because headphones always need an amp.

He isn't really saying that you need something like a schiit Magni. Just saying that all listenable audio needs an amp.

[Dackzy]

3 hours ago, KaminKevCrew said:

When SSL says that all headphones need an amp, he means that literally all headphones need an amp. DACs don't output audio at a high enough volume (or low enough impedance, for that matter) to make their audio usable at all, not to mention the pack of volume adjustment. He's saying that any device you have ever used with a headphone jack will have an amp in it, because headphones always need an amp.

He isn't really saying that you need something like a schiit Magni. Just saying that all listenable audio needs an amp.

I know that but okay. My current amp is the one that is build into my motherboard (Formula VI)

The only reason why I am thinking about getting a magni 2 is because I went and searched online and I found people who said they didn't need an amp, but also people who said they did

[Guest]

22 minutes ago, Dackzy said:

I know that but okay. My current amp is the one that is build into my motherboard (Formula VI)

The only reason why I am thinking about getting a magni 2 is because I went and searched online and I found people who said they didn't need an amp, but also people who said they did

 

Like I said, you may or may not need one. It isn't a bad way to spend $100 either way.

[Dackzy]

6 minutes ago, SSL said:

Like I said, you may or may not need one. It isn't a bad way to spend $100 either way.

Ok then magni 2 it is

[FloRolf]

I got the he400i and i can try them on my onboard audio later today if you want and see if there's a noticeable difference to my o2 combo.

I think they should he loud enough though, as i can drive them at very low volume from my amp.

[Dackzy]

Just now, FloRolf said:

I got the he400i and i can try them on my onboard audio later today if you want and see if there's a noticeable difference to my o2 combo.

I think they should he loud enough though, as i can drive them at very low volume from my amp.

I would love that

[FloRolf]

On 15.2.2016 at 9:53 AM, Dackzy said:

I would love that

Hey dude, sorry i'm late but i'm super sick right now. That's also why i can't comment on sound quality differences between o2Combo and onboard because sickness always kills my ears.

But in terms of raw loudness i'm seriously impressed by onboard.

I always have windows loudness at 100% on the o2 and then o2 at like 10% which is plenty for the HE400i

Well now on onboard i lowered windows to about 15% and it was just as load lol.

So as you can see, amplification is really not a problem with the HE400i.

Which is kinda weird since yeah, impedance is very low but efficiency is also low.

But anyways, works like a charm

 

EDIT: Oh and btw, if you wanna hear my full thoughts about the 400i, you can visit the review i wrote in my sig. New forum totally fucked the layout though so i'm sorry for that lol.

[Dackzy]

2 hours ago, FloRolf said:

Hey dude, sorry i'm late but i'm super sick right now. That's also why i can't comment on sound quality differences between o2Combo and onboard because sickness always kills my ears.

But in terms of raw loudness i'm seriously impressed by onboard.

I always have windows loudness at 100% on the o2 and then o2 at like 10% which is plenty for the HE400i

Well now on onboard i lowered windows to about 15% and it was just as load lol.

So as you can see, amplification is really not a problem with the HE400i.

Which is kinda weird since yeah, impedance is very low but efficiency is also low.

But anyways, works like a charm

 

EDIT: Oh and btw, if you wanna hear my full thoughts about the 400i, you can visit the review i wrote in my sig. New forum totally fucked the layout though so i'm sorry for that lol.

Thanks man

[Dackzy]

2 hours ago, FloRolf said:

Hey dude, sorry i'm late but i'm super sick right now. That's also why i can't comment on sound quality differences between o2Combo and onboard because sickness always kills my ears.

But in terms of raw loudness i'm seriously impressed by onboard.

I always have windows loudness at 100% on the o2 and then o2 at like 10% which is plenty for the HE400i

Well now on onboard i lowered windows to about 15% and it was just as load lol.

So as you can see, amplification is really not a problem with the HE400i.

Which is kinda weird since yeah, impedance is very low but efficiency is also low.

But anyways, works like a charm

 

EDIT: Oh and btw, if you wanna hear my full thoughts about the 400i, you can visit the review i wrote in my sig. New forum totally fucked the layout though so i'm sorry for that lol.

I am going to get them 100% now and just enjoy them for a long time. 

R.I.P. AKG K612 Pro