HD 650 with an Amplifier ?

[RaymondFromThePyrénéés]

Thank you

 

[davmol]

If you want something portable with EQ then my personal choice would be a Qudelix 5k. You can run it as a USB dac or can run it using Bluetooth LDAC and then built in battery. The EQ has lots of selectable profiles, so it's quite easy to choose one you like and then just tweak a little if needed. It gets plenty loud enough for me!

 

[Redacted]

Raymond - what are you playing on your phone when travelling?
I mean, is the music from files stored locally on the phone or do you use mobile data or WiFi to access network streaming from say, Tidal or whatever?

Second question - given the HD650 phones or whatever you are now looking at are not 'inexpensive' why not consider buying phones for travelling that are 'good enough' but cheaper, so if they get lost/broken/stolen it won't matter? By all means, have costly phones for using at home.

Third question - IEMs can sound superb and will work well with any phone (may need a dongle if you phone does not a have 3.5mm socket). They are super-compact, and very cheap - can you wear such things?

 

[RaymondFromThePyrénéés]

Thank you.

I just bought the HD 6XX for 180€ still under warranty. Will get it in a week.

I use Qobuz and stored files on the phone.

It is not for travelling but for use when I work away from home, 10 weeks per year. I wanted to have music during the evenings so I am not moving around.

The Qudelix 5k is difficult to find used,
but there is the Fiio readily available.
And perhaps with a battery in case I move around a bit.

 

[Redacted]

Well, at least €180 is not crazy money!

For stored files on the phone, note that many media players have tons of features - like FB2K with 18-band EQ and all sorts of gain and normalization settings if you need it. More useful if you are "in transit" though, rather than just "being away".

 

[solderdude]

JM 20 MAX is all you need, use your phone/laptop as music player. If you don't need it to play impressively loud...

JCALLY JM20 MAX Headphone Dongle Review

This is a review and detailed measurements of the JCALLY JM20MAX DAC and portable headphone amplifier. It was sent to me by Crinacle. Cost is anywhere from US $22 to $65 :eek:. The dongle has a bit of style to it with that logo and such. Otherwise it is well, a dongle. :) Key thing is how it...

www.audiosciencereview.com

 

[RaymondFromThePyrénéés]

Thank you. I will see, hear, what it can deliver without amp first. JM20 Max seems a good choice if I need any amp since I will not listen in places with noises around.

 

[RaymondFromThePyrénéés]

If i understand it right, the JM 20 improves the power a bit for quiet listenings and need no external power. Amazing with its size !

 

[Redacted]

If i understand it right, the JM 20 improves the power a bit for quiet listenings and need no external power. Amazing with its size !

If you listen 'quietly', you may not need extra power, if using the headphone socket on a phone - BUT phones vary in terms of the power out of that socket.

If you want 'louder' you may need a dongle. Some phones no longer have the socket at all. The USB C connector can usually provide quite a bit of power, but it's then down to how efficient the dongle is, and what kind of spec it has - they vary.

If I were you, try your new phones with your phone first. If not loud enough, try the dongle mentioned above (Jcally - there are many similar ones) - the thing is cheap enough to buy just to test what it's like.

 

[RaymondFromThePyrénéés]

Yes, thank you so much.

 

[Milenial44]

In my experience, an amp helps the HD 650 more with volume headroom than sound quality.


They'll play from a smartphone, but depending on the phone they can sound a bit underpowered. A decent amp can make them feel more effortless and dynamic, but I wouldn't expect a night-and-day difference in detail or tuning. The HD 650 already sounds great on its own.

 

[Redacted]

Well, it's clearly true that any headphone (or speaker) will lack bass and treble if set to low volume (it's how the ear works). But EQ can help without getting too loud, as in using EQ as a loudness control, which can usually deployed as an EQ preset.

 

[Henryk]

I have the HD 650's and - in my experience - they need the extra voltage from an amplifier to sound lively and dynamic.
Otherwise they sound thin and anemic, even at the same volume level.

 

[RaymondFromThePyrénéés]

I will test and let you know of my impressions. Thank you

 

[RaymondFromThePyrénéés]

Hallo everybody. Just came back home to test my new Sennheiser HD 6XX.
Bœuf.
Some 40 years ago I had a pair of Stax.
I recall a much more open sound.
These Sennheiser sounds muffled, as if the artists have been put into a box.
I will use them on my next trip but I will also search for something better to use during my working weeks away from home.
Bless my home stereo

 

[RaymondFromThePyrénéés]

I doubt that these headphones can be bettered with an amp or.... lucky I got them used for 170€, easy to resell.

 

[LTig]

Hallo everybody. Just came back home to test my new Sennheiser HD 6XX.
Bœuf.
Some 40 years ago I had a pair of Stax.

Those were electrostatics, with a rather bright sound signature, if I recall correctly.

I recall a much more open sound.

And your ears were much better regarding high frequencies 40 years ago. You can't trust your memory.

These Sennheiser sounds muffled, as if the artists have been put into a box.

Try an old AKG K500 or a HD800. Or use EQ, e.g. with a Qudelix 5k.

Edit: see my comment regarding Sennheiser and AKG in 1994 here:

No love for high end Audio Technica headphones?

The ER4 SR is a superb product, I love mine. That said, the deep fit isn't for everyone. I use them for flying as aside from their very good, neutral sound quality they have tremendous passive noise isolation. I replaced some Sony 1000X wireless noise cancelling headphones with the Etymotics and...

www.audiosciencereview.com

 

[RaymondFromThePyrénéés]

Thank you. Yes staw were on the bright side but I am not talking about the high frequencies but about the overall sound. When listening to my speakers, no comparison.

 

[RaymondFromThePyrénéés]

I will try a HD800, used are found for 600€. Thank you

 

[Redacted]

Raymond - try some 'phones from Amazon.
You can get free returns if they don't meet expectations.
'Phones are very personal and the measured specs for "standard ears" can be misleading.
You don't need to spend a lot on a fancy brand* for occasional listening - you're not a studio pro spending 8 hours a day with them.
Lots of choice - why not try these? I have some AA's (the cheapest X15's) and they are good value, but there are lots of AA models:
.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Austrian-Audio-Hi-X20-Headphones-Professional-Black/dp/B0DJH4JYLY?sbo=RZvfv//HxDF+O5021pAnSA==

Nearly all are made in China, probably at headphone factory #17 or factory #4. Probably quite a lot of common drivers being used too