Audiophile Thread!

[fetzhola]

I'm more of an HT guy and never ventured into headphones before.
For me a headphone is just a headphone. Plug it into a 3.5mm jack and you got nice sound coming through the headphone. Not until now that it sparked my interest.

When you say depends on the headphones, do you mean the frequency response or the headphone itself (brand, price, etc.)

I assume you plugged the E10 into the USB jack? How would you compare plugging it into the 3.5mm headphone jack. Is the difference say night and day?

This would be easy for you since HT set-ups seem more complicated right? you even have to consider the room.

Basically 2 things to take note sa specs sa headphone are sensitivity and impedance. Because some do not really benefit much with amps especially the easy to drive ones. Usually mga headphones kanang naa daw sensitivity below <100 and impedance is more than >50 daw kay must need an amp...I just read that somewhere pod, just sharing.

Yep sa USB. sa DAC nga side it's quite a huge difference, easiest to tell is the bass then the highs.. the mids hmmm medyo dli kaau ko ka pin-point...but nonetheless for the lack of description I can say the external DAC just simply improves overall resolution on any headphone/earphone coming from my laptop also from my desktop too. Had a hissing problem previously and was gone after having the external DAC. But take note nga basic onboard soundcards rjud ni akong laptop and desktop PC. There are better soundcards for sure, E10 is entry level..but it's really good enough for a cheapo like me.hehe

[fetzhola]

lol im waiting for boss fetzhola to form a club. pa member ko ani.

hahaha on the same page with boss C'thulhu, I was waiting for you boss maybe we can start with meets then let's see what happens..hehe

[korg17]

kinsay ganahan ug audiophile meet? hehe if we have maybe at least 8-10, pwed na siguro na, we can talk about it and make plans.

1. korg17
2.
3.
4.
......

[lespaulibanez]

oh so you're a HT guy/videophile. welcome to the audiophile world hehe. although this is an audiophile thread we discuss mostly headphones and headphone amps, and not much on vinyls, phonos, loudspeakers, bookshelfs, etc.

with your question, hardcore purists would actually get a separate dac and amp, so they can chose what they prefer, do mix and match and get the best possible sound, but that is mostly very expensive, the more popular (and cheaper) option is to get the dac-amp combo which is actually good enough. Fiio has good amp-dac combos both desktop and portable which wont break the bank. fetzhola is an official dealer, you can ask him

Tks for the welcome.
I seem having difficulty locating a DAC for the config: Source (computer) - DAC - Amp - Headphone.
Much easier a DAC/Amp for the config: Source (computer) -DAC/Amp-Headphone. or DAP - Amp - Headphone.
Unsay brand naay separate DAC kanang medyo barato lang. Fiio does not have one.

Welcome to the hobby, this can be addicting and expensive

Source, dac, amp, headphones. Mix and match to your desired preference.

Good to see this is gaining interest here, maybe one day korg can form a club so we can go on meets.

Thanks sa welcome.
You are quite right. addicting and expensive.
I have to be careful these time. Been there and than that on other hobbies of mine.
hinay hinay nata ug mas maayo usahon nalang. para dili sige ilis
What DAC are you using?

This would be easy for you since HT set-ups seem more complicated right? you even have to consider the room.

Basically 2 things to take note sa specs sa headphone are sensitivity and impedance. Because some do not really benefit much with amps especially the easy to drive ones. Usually mga headphones kanang naa daw sensitivity below <100 and impedance is more than >50 daw kay must need an amp...I just read that somewhere pod, just sharing.

Yep sa USB. sa DAC nga side it's quite a huge difference, easiest to tell is the bass then the highs.. the mids hmmm medyo dli kaau ko ka pin-point...but nonetheless for the lack of description I can say the external DAC just simply improves overall resolution on any headphone/earphone coming from my laptop also from my desktop too. Had a hissing problem previously and was gone after having the external DAC. But take note nga basic onboard soundcards rjud ni akong laptop and desktop PC. There are better soundcards for sure, E10 is entry level..but it's really good enough for a cheapo like me.hehe

Ah okay thats a good info.
I'm thinking of getting the Philips Fedelio L1 or the Fedelio X1 ( nindot ni ipares sa Fiio X3. Unsa kaha naay product nga X2 noh para makumpleto na X1 X2 X3
These headphone have low impedance (26 ohms) and Sensitivity (105db). I may not need an amp on these perhaps? Mao diay ni reason why some reviewers of the units were saying an amp is not really necessary.

Query kay medyo libog ko.
Say for the Fiio units, DAP/AMP or AMP/DAC (reference 32Ω impedance) to headphone Philips Fedelio L1 or Philips Fedelio X1 26Ω impedance/max power input 200mw).
X3 - Output Power > 270 mW@32Ω
E06 - Output Power > 100 mW@32Ω
E12 - Output Power > 880mW@32Ω
E07K - Output Power > 220 mW@32Ω
E17 - Output Power > 220 mW@32Ω

I cannot chose the E06 or E07K or E17 since the X3/DAP has output power of >270 mW while the mentioned amps, amp/dac has a lower output and the headphone has max input power of 220 mW? So that leaves the E12 as my only option (for Fiio brand) but the headphone say max power output 200 mW.? So E12 is an overkill for the subject headphone?

If computer is the source, what DAC is suitable?
Or does that leave me with E17, E07K as the option as E12 is overkill?

[C'thulhu]

kinsay ganahan ug audiophile meet? hehe if we have maybe at least 8-10, pwed na siguro na, we can talk about it and make plans.

1. korg17
2. C'thulhu
3.
4.
......

Count me in.

[C'thulhu]

Thanks sa welcome.
You are quite right. addicting and expensive.
I have to be careful these time. Been there and than that on other hobbies of mine.
hinay hinay nata ug mas maayo usahon nalang. para dili sige ilis
What DAC are you using?

I'm currently using a Fiio E17 coupled with iPod to drive the HD25-1 and M80 although the iPod could drive them with enough volume, the sound is much detailed and controlled with the E17.

On my notebook, I use the E17 as an external dac/amp to drive the pro700mk2, again I can hear the difference with better resolution than using the notebook headphone out.

Theoretically, with your choice of headphones, the X3 will have no problems driving it, for computer use, an external dac will make a difference. Or you can go E17+E09K for your desktop needs.

I'm still contemplating on my desktop setup, I may not use it much as I tend to travel around a lot so this minimal mobile setup of mine more suitable for me.

I think bro fetzhola is selling JDS Labs products... They have the Odac which has good reviews...

[shryock]

Istorya.net Audiophile Thread Lurker's Meet

1. korg17
2. C'thulhu
3. shryock
4.

[lespaulibanez]

About Frequency Response

Got a question guys.
If the DAP or DAC freg response is 10 to 20 kHz and the headphone freg response is 10 to 35kHz, would that mean that the upper freqs 20.01 KHz to 35 kHz will not be heard/come out of the headphone as the DAC/DAP has a lower upper freq ceiling?

Assume that the amps used has a wide freq range (ex. 10Hz~500KHz or 10 Hz ~ 100KHz).

[lespaulibanez]

I'm currently using a Fiio E17 coupled with iPod to drive the HD25-1 and M80 although the iPod could drive them with enough volume, the sound is much detailed and controlled with the E17.

On my notebook, I use the E17 as an external dac/amp to drive the pro700mk2, again I can hear the difference with better resolution than using the notebook headphone out.

Theoretically, with your choice of headphones, the X3 will have no problems driving it, for computer use, an external dac will make a difference.

I'm still contemplating on my desktop setup, I may not use it much as I tend to travel around a lot so this minimal mobile setup of mine more suitable for me.

I think bro fetzhola is selling JDS Labs products... They have the Odac which has good reviews...

Daghana na diay imo headphone collection bro C'thulhu.
Asa diay dapit ang shop ni bro fetzhola.

[C'thulhu]

About Frequency Response

Got a question guys.
If the DAP or DAC freg response is 10 to 20 kHz and the headphone freg response is 10 to 35kHz, would that mean that the upper freqs 20.01 KHz to 35 kHz will not be heard/come out of the headphone as the DAC/DAP has a lower upper freq ceiling?

Assume that the amps used has a wide freq range (ex. 10Hz~500KHz or 10 Hz ~ 100KHz).

In theory yes, since the output frequency is limited by the source, even if the amp or headphone can render a wider range, it will not produce it because of the limited output. Besides, human hearing on average does not reach up to the 20khz level I think...

- - - Updated - - -

Daghana na diay imo headphone collection bro C'thulhu.
Asa diay dapit ang shop ni bro fetzhola.

Nope, I only have a few cans and some IEMs, none of which are true audiophile quality stuff...