XMC-1 headphones amp and Sennheiser HD600 or 650?

[frenchyfranky]

Anybody using Sennheiser HD600 or HD650 with his XMC-1's integrated headphones amp?

I'm looking to buy a set of HD600 or 650 and I wonder how the XMC-1 inside headphones amp could handle this 300 ohms cans because I found my actual 32 ohms Sennheiser HD280 very thought to drive, I have to crank the volume very high and it missing a bit of dynamic.

[restless]

I have both, plus the HD700. Internal amp has no problem with the headphone. Also use the internal amp on the XDA-2.

[Axis]

frenchyfranky, I have the HD 600's. High impedance(300ohms) headphones need more voltage than is usually supplied from the headphone output on a receiver. I do not no what the headphone specs are for the XMC-1 or USP-1. There are four headphone outputs in my living room that I use the HD 600's with. The Emotiva DC-1,Onkyo TX-LR552 AV receiver, USP-1 and a Yamaha mixing console.

Of those four the USP-1 does the best job with the HD 600's. It takes turning the volume high but sounds good. I am still trying to figure out what dedicated headphone amp with the proper output for my HD 600's. For the life of me, I do not know why I have not ordered the Bottlehead Crack with speedball and got my solder iron out. It constantly gets the most thumbs up for the amp to pair with the 300 to 600 ohm Sennheiser's.

There are so many headphones out there to choose from and some great new stuff out but the Sennheiser HD 600's and 650's are always a buy. They sound great and they will sound very good with the XMC-1 output. You buy the Sennheiser's because they are proven winners. It's is a no brainer on them and then you wonder what else you get. DYohn likes the Mr Speakers and the more I have learned about them the more I lean toward them. I bought the HD 600's used on Amazons warehouse. I just bought some Shure SRH840's closed for my guitar and keyboard use. The next pair will be high dollar like the top of the line Mr Speakers or the new Sennheiser HD 800 s.

The other headphone amps that go well with the HD 600 / 650 are the Woo Audio WA3 for $599, the Schiit Valhalla 2 for $349, the Schiit Lyr 2 for $449. The Bottlehead Crack with speedball is $414.

Take note that they are all Tube and the WA3, Valhalla 2 and Bottlehead Crack are Output transformerless (OTL) tube amps. There are some very good solid state amps that go good with the Sennheiser's and I will be glad to get you the names of those if you wish.

If the XMC-1 is the same or better as my USP-1 you will satisfied with how they drive the Sennheiser's and once you have them and get an amp that pairs with them well you will be more than happy from all the reports I hear online. Bottlehead Crack with speedball with them are reported to blow all but the most expensive systems away.

[LCSeminole]

I have HD600's that I've used with the XMC-1, and while it adequately drives them at low to mid levels, it sounds like it strains a bit at fairly loud levels. The DC-1 does a better job at driving them, but when I really want to drive them at higher volumes I use my NAD C162 pre-amp.

[Axis]

Feb 11, 2016 16:10:01 GMT -5 LCSeminole said:

I have HD600's that I've used with the XMC-1, and while it adequately drives them at low to mid levels, it sounds like it strains a bit at fairly loud levels. The DC-1 does a better job at driving them, but when I really want to drive them at higher volumes I use my NAD C162 pre-amp.

Wow, just the opposite for me. Go figure. Maybe the USP-1 has a different headphone amp. I would have thought they would be close or the XMC-1 would have more output. I can not get the same amount of low frequency output from the DC-1 as the USP-1. They both go to high volumes without problems. I have tried both headphone jumper settings on the DC-1 and I get more authority in the low frequencies with the USP-1.

No doubt LCSeminole that you need a good amp to make the HD's shine. Have you thought about any of the OTL amps I posted ?

[monkumonku]

Feb 11, 2016 12:30:33 GMT -5 frenchyfranky said:

Anybody using Sennheiser HD600 or HD650 with his XMC-1's integrated headphones amp?

I'm looking to buy a set of HD600 or 650 and I wonder how the XMC-1 inside headphones amp could handle this 300 ohms cans because I found my actual 32 ohms Sennheiser HD280 very thought to drive, I have to crank the volume very high and it missing a bit of dynamic.

My opinion, I have the 650's and feel they need an amp to drive them properly, rather than the XMC-1's headphone output. I am using a Schiit Valhalla 2 and also Oppo HA-1, both of which work well. Prior to those I had a Schitt Vali that also worked well with the 650's even though it is a small, relatively inexpensive amp. It still seemed to drive the 650's more effortlessly than using the XMC-1.

[garbulky]

I second the need for an amp with balls to drive the HD600s or 650s.

[LCSeminole]

Feb 11, 2016 16:20:05 GMT -5 Axis said:

Feb 11, 2016 16:10:01 GMT -5 LCSeminole said:

I have HD600's that I've used with the XMC-1, and while it adequately drives them at low to mid levels, it sounds like it strains a bit at fairly loud levels. The DC-1 does a better job at driving them, but when I really want to drive them at higher volumes I use my NAD C162 pre-amp.

Wow, just the opposite for me. Go figure. Maybe the USP-1 has a different headphone amp. I would have thought they would be close or the XMC-1 would have more output. I can not get the same amount of low frequency output from the DC-1 as the USP-1. They both go to high volumes without problems. I have tried both headphone jumper settings on the DC-1 and I get more authority in the low frequencies with the USP-1.

No doubt LCSeminole that you need a good amp to make the HD's shine. Have you thought about any of the OTL amps I posted ?

It's been a while since I've had a USP-1 but I do remember that the headphones output was quite robust. To be fair, I never expected the XMC-1 to perform any better than I've heard with my HD600's, than with a dedicated headphone amp or quality two channel pre-amp. I normally use my two channel setup to listen to my headphones, so my usage of the XMC-1 headphone output was never going to be on a regular basis. I now use, and am quite pleased, an NAD C162 pre/amp with an Audio Control C-101 series III equalizer in the processor loop to listen to the HD600's and couldn't be more happier.

[LCSeminole]

Feb 11, 2016 16:20:26 GMT -5 monkumonku said:

Feb 11, 2016 12:30:33 GMT -5 frenchyfranky said:

Anybody using Sennheiser HD600 or HD650 with his XMC-1's integrated headphones amp?

I'm looking to buy a set of HD600 or 650 and I wonder how the XMC-1 inside headphones amp could handle this 300 ohms cans because I found my actual 32 ohms Sennheiser HD280 very thought to drive, I have to crank the volume very high and it missing a bit of dynamic.

My opinion, I have the 650's and feel they need an amp to drive them properly, rather than the XMC-1's headphone output. I am using a Schiit Valhalla 2 and also Oppo HA-1, both of which work well. Prior to those I had a Schitt Vali that also worked well with the 650's even though it is a small, relatively inexpensive amp. It still seemed to drive the 650's more effortlessly than using the XMC-1.

Completely agree here. I have a local friend with an HA-1, and yes IMO it is completely capable at any levels, but at $1199 new, it should be.

[autiger]

I did the DIY mod to a mini-x A 100 (emotiva) really easy and so far it drives my Sony Mdr's (63 ohms) easily. If you go this route you may have to play with the resistors, but they are cheap and the amp should have plenty of power.

[LCSeminole]

Feb 11, 2016 18:02:42 GMT -5 autiger said:

I did the DIY mod to a mini-x A 100 (emotiva) really easy and so far it drives my Sony Mdr's (63 ohms) easily. If you go this route you may have to play with the resistors, but they are cheap and the amp should have plenty of power.

I saw that mod over on Head-Fi I believe, and was tempted at one point, but I lucked into the NAD pre-amp I'm now using, at an estate sale, and I've been pleased ever since. From what I understand, the Mini-X A100 is quite the headphone amp once modded.

[Axis]

Feb 11, 2016 18:05:06 GMT -5 LCSeminole said:

Feb 11, 2016 18:02:42 GMT -5 autiger said:

I did the DIY mod to a mini-x A 100 (emotiva) really easy and so far it drives my Sony Mdr's (63 ohms) easily. If you go this route you may have to play with the resistors, but they are cheap and the amp should have plenty of power.

I saw that mod over on Head-Fi I believe, and was tempted at one point, but I lucked into the NAD pre-amp I'm now using, at an estate sale, and I've been pleased ever since. From what I understand, the Mini-X A100 is quite the headphone amp once modded.

I remember when someone from Head-Fi posted instructions for the DIY Mod here. Someone ask if Emotiva would do a version of the Mini-X for use as a headphone amp. Lonnie chimed in and said that if you guys want a headphone amp I can build you one. I think what he was saying is that he never intended for the Mini-X to be used for headphones and he could do much better. Not that it does not sound good with power hungry headphones.


lonnie, please build us a headphone amp for all the Sennheiser HD600's here.

[LCSeminole]

Feb 11, 2016 18:15:57 GMT -5 Axis said:

Feb 11, 2016 18:05:06 GMT -5 LCSeminole said:

I saw that mod over on Head-Fi I believe, and was tempted at one point, but I lucked into the NAD pre-amp I'm now using, at an estate sale, and I've been pleased ever since. From what I understand, the Mini-X A100 is quite the headphone amp once modded.

I remember when someone from Head-Fi posted instructions for the DIY Mod here. Someone ask if Emotiva would do a version of the Mini-X for use as a headphone amp. Lonnie chimed in and said that if you guys want a headphone amp I can build you one. I think what he was saying is that he never intended for the Mini-X to be used for headphones and he could do much better. Not that it does not sound good with power hungry headphones.


lonnie, please build us a headphone amp for all the Sennheiser HD600's here.

I think Lonnie could design us a headphone amp in his sleep. I do think it's just a matter of Dan and Lonnie putting it in their que of things to do! Who knows, maybe that's one of their upcoming surprise products?

[frenchyfranky]

Feb 11, 2016 18:35:16 GMT -5 LCSeminole said:

Feb 11, 2016 18:15:57 GMT -5 Axis said:

I remember when someone from Head-Fi posted instructions for the DIY Mod here. Someone ask if Emotiva would do a version of the Mini-X for use as a headphone amp. Lonnie chimed in and said that if you guys want a headphone amp I can build you one. I think what he was saying is that he never intended for the Mini-X to be used for headphones and he could do much better. Not that it does not sound good with power hungry headphones.


lonnie, please build us a headphone amp for all the Sennheiser HD600's here.

I think Lonnie could design us a headphone amp in his sleep. I do think it's just a matter of Dan and Lonnie putting it in their que of things to do! Who knows, maybe that's one of their upcoming surprise products?

I really hope for that.

[frenchyfranky]

Thanks everyone for the feedback.