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Post by dabrown on Mar 5, 2017 15:02:48 GMT -5
Would the Stealth DC-1 be adequate for powering the Sennheiser HD 600 300 ohms and the HD 700 150 ohms?
Thanks!
Also any recommendations for a closed headphone for everyday listening on a iphone 6/7?
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Post by Axis on Mar 5, 2017 15:14:36 GMT -5
Would the Stealth DC-1 be adequate for powering the Sennheiser HD 600 300 ohms and the HD 700 150 ohms?
Thanks!
Also any recommendations for a closed headphone for everyday listening on a iphone 6/7? More than adequate. Better would be the more powerful BasX A-100 headphone amp. End game better !
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Post by garbulky on Mar 5, 2017 15:28:24 GMT -5
I have this combo. DC-1, HD600. I am a bit picky. I wouldn't say it's a great match but it is an adequate match. It'll get loud and sound good and clear. But you can hear that it isn't controlled quite as well as it could be. The HD600 is simply quite a good headphone but its real cost is from the upstream electronics it needs to sound good. Don't get me wrong ....if you are looking to just get the HD600, pop it i nthe DC-1 and listen, you are going to enjoy the result. I use it all the time. Just not as much as you could.
The HD600 can benefit from way more power. Like Axis said the X-100 is a low cost very powerful option which I think you'd be very happy with - though I haven't heard it. The Schiit Jotunheim is also a high power, low cost - though more than the A-100 - balanced dedicated headphone amp option for the HD600. I have heard it with a Geek Pulse Infinity DAC where it sounded really nice. The Geek Pulse Infinity DAC has a VERY powerful headphone amp section. I also heard it with a Mac tube preamp where it also sounded very spacious. But the mac preamp didn't have enough power for louder than normal volumes producing audible clipping , though for what it had sounded great.
So my recommendations are the A-100 or the Jotunheim. The difference would be a larger head space or more spacious sound, and instruments sounding bigger and more weightier. The DC-1 as a DAC is really quite nice and I love it. A really nice value which competed without being embarassed against a Schiit Gungnir Multibit.
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Post by dabrown on Mar 5, 2017 16:31:40 GMT -5
Say with the X-100 and HD 700 would you use the direct option for coupling to the headphone output?
Wouldn't the Stealth DC-1 do better with HD 700 rather than the HD 600 since the 700s impedance is one-half that of the 600s?
Thanks for all your wisdom, much appreciated!!!
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Post by sahmen on Mar 5, 2017 16:46:10 GMT -5
I am familiar with the DC-1 + Mini x A-100 pairing used with the HD700, Hd650, and the HD600. In each case the Mini-x A-100 outputs its sound to the headphone via a speaker tap adapter (with banana plugs, as pictured below). All of the HPs, including the HD700 sound better this way, than when connected directly to the DC-1. The DC-1 on its own sounds just adequate as a headphone amplifier in most cases, but it is mostly as a standalone DAC that its powers are best harnessed in my opinion. Attaching an external Amp to it, really enhances its power for many headphone applications, in my opinion. I have also used the same combo of DC-1 + external amp with the Hifiman He-6, He-500, He-1000, and the Sennheiser HD800, and it has always performed excellently when hooked up in this fashion (although, I have sometimes used an alternative speaker amp in these latter cases, the Bryston 2B LP)
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Post by dabrown on Mar 5, 2017 16:55:07 GMT -5
Possibly I'm confused, but can't you achieve the same (direct from speaker outputs to the headphone jack) by changing the jumpers on the A-100?
From the A-100 features product page:
A pair of internal jumpers allows you to bypass the dropping resistors and route the amplifier outputs of the A-100 directly to the headphone output – and avoid the need for messy external adapter cables.
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Post by Axis on Mar 5, 2017 17:12:06 GMT -5
Possibly I'm confused, but can't you achieve the same (direct from speaker outputs to the headphone jack) by changing the jumpers on the A-100?
From the A-100 features product page:
A pair of internal jumpers allows you to bypass the dropping resistors and route the amplifier outputs of the A-100 directly to the headphone output – and avoid the need for messy external adapter cables. sahmen is talking about the old Mini X A-100. You are correct that the new BasX A-100 has a headphone jack on the front that the old Mini X did not and the BasX has jumpers to go from normally restricted to full throttle. With the old Mini X you just tapped the speaker terminals and it is full throttle. He was tying to tell you that the A-100 is better for the Senn HD 700. It is better even with the new BasX with jumpers normal and limited output.
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Post by sahmen on Mar 5, 2017 17:33:17 GMT -5
Possibly I'm confused, but can't you achieve the same (direct from speaker outputs to the headphone jack) by changing the jumpers on the A-100?
From the A-100 features product page:
A pair of internal jumpers allows you to bypass the dropping resistors and route the amplifier outputs of the A-100 directly to the headphone output – and avoid the need for messy external adapter cables. sahmen is talking about the old Mini X A-100. You are correct that the new BasX A-100 has a headphone jack on the front that the old Mini X did not and the BasX has jumpers to go from normally restricted to full throttle. With the old Mini X you just tapped the speaker terminals and it is full throttle. He was tying to tell you that the A-100 is better for the Senn HD 700. It is better even with the new BasX with jumpers normal and limited output. +1
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Post by dabrown on Mar 5, 2017 17:51:30 GMT -5
Got it! Thanks for all your advice! Great forums! Maybe the HD700 is too much for the DC-1 and for me, really don't want to create another system since all my inputs and outputs are pretty much tied to the DC-1.
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Post by garbulky on Mar 5, 2017 17:53:48 GMT -5
Say with the X-100 and HD 700 would you use the direct option for coupling to the headphone output?
Wouldn't the Stealth DC-1 do better with HD 700 rather than the HD 600 since the 700s impedance is one-half that of the 600s?
Thanks for all your wisdom, much appreciated!!! I haven't heard the HD700. But I have heard it sounds better than the HD 600. Half the impedance should mean better drivability. But then again, I haven't heard it. So it's just theoretical. The DC-1 is a pretty capable headphone amp. At 150 ohms it's giving quite a large amount of power. Probably clsoe to 430 miliwatts of power.
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Post by garbulky on Mar 5, 2017 17:57:15 GMT -5
Got it! Thanks for all your advice! Great forums! Maybe the HD700 is too much for the DC-1 and for me, really don't want to create another system since all my inputs and outputs are pretty much tied to the DC-1. Well the nice thing is the DC-1 and the mini-x are the same width. So they sit on top of each other. The mini-x is deeper though. Like I was saying you still would enjoy the HD600 or 700 with a DC-1 only. But the real value comes with getting say a mini-x with it. If you like you could get the HD700 and then see what you think about it. Then later save $200 for the mini-x.
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Post by garbulky on Mar 5, 2017 18:27:53 GMT -5
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Post by dabrown on Mar 5, 2017 19:29:17 GMT -5
Just heard of these from Monoprice from another post on this forum. Sounds interesting! Maybe I'll give the 700s a try (419$) with the DC-1 and go from there. Again, thanks for the honest and kind advice!!!
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Post by Axis on Mar 5, 2017 19:46:11 GMT -5
I recommend the HD-600 or 650 and BasX A-100 over the HD-700 and DC-1 for sound quality,
Price does not matter here.
Synergy is more important.
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Post by vcautokid on Mar 6, 2017 0:15:10 GMT -5
An important note on the BAS-X A100. You don't need adapter cables for listening with headphones. An excerpt from the Web page.
The BasX A-100 also includes a front panel Volume Control and a front panel headphone output. Fans of vintage equipment will especially love the sound of the headphone output on the A-100, which is derived directly from the main amplifier outputs through precision dropping resistors – like the great sounding headphone outputs on high-quality vintage gear. If you’ve found the sound of the headphone outputs on other modern equipment lacking, then you need to check out the A-100. Another special feature of the headphone outputs on the BasX A-100 is their ability to drive even the lowest efficiency planar headphones with ease. A pair of internal jumpers allows you to bypass the dropping resistors and route the amplifier outputs of the A-100 directly to the headphone output – and avoid the need for messy external adapter cables. The super quiet amplifier circuitry in the A-100 ensures a low noise floor, even with the direct connection.So getting the most from the A-100 for Headphone listening is quite easy.
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Post by dabrown on Mar 8, 2017 0:38:46 GMT -5
Ok! You guys must be or should be working on a commission. Got the Sennheiser HD 700s and ordered BasX A-100.
Three questions: 1. Should I run the A-100 direct by altering the jumpers? Would be easier to do before I hook everything up.
2. I'm connecting the A-100 using 2 y-cables coming off my DC-1's analog RCA outputs? Since these outputs were already going to a sub. Ok?
3. Any problem setting the A-100 on top of my ERC-3?
Thanks again!!!
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Post by beardedalbatross on Mar 8, 2017 0:46:19 GMT -5
Ok! You guys must be or should be working on a commission. Got the Sennheiser HD 700s and ordered BasX A-100. Three questions: 1. Should I run the A-100 direct by altering the jumpers? Would be easier to do before I hook everything up. 2. I'm connecting the A-100 using 2 y-cables coming off my DC-1's analog RCA outputs? Since these outputs were already going to a sub. Ok? 3. Any problem setting the A-100 on top of my ERC-3? Thanks again!!! 1. No, the A-100 will pump out crazy power. This is pretty much only for something like HiFiMan HE6 Headphones. 2. That's fine. Alternatively you can use XLR to RCA cables from the second output of the DC-1. 3. I don't see any problem with this, but maybe someone else can chime in if there is some audiophile mumbo jumbo I'm not aware of that makes this not kosher.
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Post by garbulky on Mar 8, 2017 15:13:58 GMT -5
Ok! You guys must be or should be working on a commission. Got the Sennheiser HD 700s and ordered BasX A-100. Three questions: 1. Should I run the A-100 direct by altering the jumpers? Would be easier to do before I hook everything up. 2. I'm connecting the A-100 using 2 y-cables coming off my DC-1's analog RCA outputs? Since these outputs were already going to a sub. Ok? 3. Any problem setting the A-100 on top of my ERC-3? Thanks again!!! All this should be fine. The y cables may split the signal between the subs and the headphones halving the volume. That's not really a problem. However...you will use the gain knob on your subwoofer to get the volume to match evenly with whatever speakers you are using. Some subs have an auto on feature or something and too low of a signal (caused by splitting the signal) may cause them not to turn on. If so, you will need some sort of booster circuit. Costs about $40-60. To amplify the signal. What I probably would do instead of what you are doing is just have a splitter selector. www.amazon.com/Optimal-Switch-Selector-Splitter-Recorder/dp/B00J6W8D0C/ref=sr_1_2?s=aht&ie=UTF8&qid=1489003924&sr=1-2&keywords=rca+switch+boxThen the RCA out goes in to the box. Then you use a set of RCA's from one output to your subs, and another set of RCA to your minix. The splitter box is passive. So it "shouldn't" cause a degradation in quality. Will it....I couldn't say, probably be fine. This way, you won't have to reach around to turn off the subwoofers when you want to listen to your headphones. However...just a question...how are you getting sound to your speakers?
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Post by dabrown on Mar 8, 2017 15:25:39 GMT -5
Thanks! DC1 xlrs to 2 pair of Stealth 8s.
Do you think I need to use the direct mode with A-100 for HD 700s?
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LCSeminole
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Post by LCSeminole on Mar 8, 2017 18:58:38 GMT -5
I've personally leave the jumpers in, effectively leaving my A-100 in "Direct Output". Just make sure you don't leave the volume turned up and accidentally turn on the A-100 to ear-bleeding levels. I exclusively run my Sennheiser HD600's with an A-100/DC-1 pairing and couldn't be happier.
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