Objective2, ObjectiveDAC: What should you expect?

[Hyydrah]

In what ways should the O2+ODAC improve upon Realtek ALC892 onboard audio (ASUS Rampage IV Formula), using Sennheiser HD 600s?

 

If you haven't tried the O2+ODAC, what do internal/external DACs/amps typically improve upon compared to onboard audio?

[ShearMe]

[Youbetternot]

MayflowerElectronics will answer that for you

[ShearMe]

MayflowerElectronics will answer that for you

 

When in doubt, call in the salesman? Seems legit.

Overall, Dave, I don't think there'll be much of a difference - there's practically none between my DAC/tube amp stack and my Maximus V Gene. Overall, there'll be an improvement in most of the specs, but nothing earth-shattering. The biggest difference you'd be likely to hear is the lower noise floor on the ODAC.

[MayflowerElectronics]

My flight is delayed, I'll answer when I land in Chicago. What headphones do you have?

[Hyydrah]

My flight is delayed, I'll answer when I land in Chicago. What headphones do you have?

Sennheiser HD 600s. I said in the post. 

[Hyydrah]

When in doubt, call in the salesman? Seems legit.

Overall, Dave, I don't think there'll be much of a difference - there's practically none between my DAC/tube amp stack and my Maximus V Gene. Overall, there'll be an improvement in most of the specs, but nothing earth-shattering. The biggest difference you'd be likely to hear is the lower noise floor on the ODAC.

What does a lower noise floor sound like, in your experience?

[Youbetternot]

When in doubt, call in the salesman? Seems legit.

Overall, Dave, I don't think there'll be much of a difference - there's practically none between my DAC/tube amp stack and my Maximus V Gene. Overall, there'll be an improvement in most of the specs, but nothing earth-shattering. The biggest difference you'd be likely to hear is the lower noise floor on the ODAC.

Well umm why not

[Hyydrah]

Well umm why not

Youbetternot be serious...

[ShearMe]

What does a lower noise floor sound like, in your experience?

 

A noise floor is just staticy buzzy hissy type stuff - when you turn up the volume while no sound is playing, you can usually hear something. A lower noise floor means more music and less hiss, though usually the dither in the music is louder than the noise floor of your equipment.

 

It's nice to have a good external amp, there's just something magical about analog volume controls that makes you want to blow out your ear drums. In my experience, adding an external DAC decreases ground loop issues, which is just another source of staticky buzzy hissy type stuff. 

[Hyydrah]

A noise floor is just staticy buzzy hissy type stuff - when you turn up the volume while no sound is playing, you can usually hear something. A lower noise floor means more music and less hiss, though usually the dither in the music is louder than the noise floor of your equipment.

 

It's nice to have a good external amp, there's just something magical about analog volume controls that makes you want to blow out your ear drums. In my experience, adding an external DAC decreases ground loop issues, which is just another source of staticky buzzy hissy type stuff. 

Ah, I see, though I can't notice any static with my current motherboard (there was a lot on some of the laptops I've tried, though).

[h264]

More volume.  That's important for you.  The amp also delivers power more efficiently than most amps in it's price range (low output impedance), but that doesn't matter much for HD600s. 

 

There will be reduced stereo crosstalk but I doubt you (or I) would notice it. 

 

Less jitter, not that you'd notice that either. 

 

Less hiss, but most onboard don't have really bad hiss. 

You'd need a soundcard to know what I was talking about with hiss. 

 

Onboard is pretty good until you start getting fancy headphones like the HD600 then the power requirements really start to go up.

[MayflowerElectronics]

When in doubt, call in the salesman? Seems legit.

Overall, Dave, I don't think there'll be much of a difference - there's practically none between my DAC/tube amp stack and my Maximus V Gene. Overall, there'll be an improvement in most of the specs, but nothing earth-shattering. The biggest difference you'd be likely to hear is the lower noise floor on the ODAC.

I'm not a salesman. And yes, there will be a noticeable difference. He has a 300 ohm headphone, he'll need the power.

[Rhizo]

Having tried the HD580 (same drivers as the hd600) with and without suitable amping, I can say it will benefit the audio experience greatly. This is assuming your audio files are of sufficient quality though.

[Hyydrah]

Having tried the HD580 (same drivers as the hd600) with and without suitable amping, I can say it will benefit the audio experience greatly. This is assuming your audio files are of sufficient quality though.

In what ways was it beneficial? This was both with the Objective2 and ObjectiveDAC, I assume?

[ShearMe]

I'm not a salesman. And yes, there will be a noticeable difference. He has a 300 ohm headphone, he'll need the power.

 

>power

 

They're actually pretty sensitive and don't need much amping.

[MayflowerElectronics]

>power

They're actually pretty sensitive and don't need much amping.

What? Yes they do?

[ShearMe]

What? Yes they do?

 

Nah, the get plenty loud even on my phone.

[Rhizo]

>power

 

They're actually pretty sensitive and don't need much amping.

Sensitivity and ohms both indicate how much amping they require, but some headphones react differently to more power than others. The HD600's definitely benefit from decent amping. 

[ShearMe]

Sensitivity and ohms both indicate how much amping they require, but some headphones react differently to more power than others. The HD600's definitely benefit from decent amping. 

 

Headphones draw power from a circuit when a voltage is applied, but they don't "react" to power. Different amps don't even provide different power levels at the same volume; I think you misunderstand what an amp is and does.

[Rhizo]

Headphones draw power from a circuit when a voltage is applied, but they don't "react" to power. Different amps don't even provide different power levels at the same volume; I think you misunderstand what an amp is and does.

This is not about the science behind amping, this is about my perception. I know there is a ton of snake oil associated with higher end audio amps and the likes, and perhaps it's just a placebo effect, but still, when I compared my e10 to a schiit bifrost and asgard while using the hd580, I noticed a definite benefit in terms of sound quality. In particular the soundstage seemed to be wider and the mids seemed to 'open up'. Combined with the classic sennheiser warmth, songs were incredibly moving. What I am saying is based off of a personal experience, not what science dictates.

[ShearMe]

This is not about the science behind amping, this is about my perception.

 

K.

[h264]

>power

They're actually pretty sensitive and don't need much amping.

The impedance almost doubles in the low frequency range.

[ShearMe]

The impedance almost doubles in the low frequency range.

 

Hmm... it's not so dramatic on the 650's which may be why I never noticed. My apologies, @Rhizo.

[h264]

Hmm... it's not so dramatic on the 650's which may be why I never noticed. My apologies, @Rhizo.

 

That's why they sound good on tube amps.  You couldn't kill the bass on them with a high output impedance if you tried.