I have similar headphones, modified t50rp, so I would think sensitivity is similar too. I don't have any experience with the liquid spark, just got the 887. I find even on gain setting 1, 12 o'clock would be too loud for me for extended listening. I am being very careful with my ears, but I think 12 o'clock and up would be considered properly loud on my setup. My headphones cannot do balanced without another mod, so not getting the extra oomph there. I do have balanced connections from my DAC to the 887.
Good information. Unfortunately the first unit of 887 just stopped working after 2 days and Monoprice sent me the second one as exchange. Should come in 2-3 day and I will test it again. But I agree, it maybe because of the balanced dac. But who knows, currently I have only unbalanced dac, but thinking about topping d10b os something better maybe. I’m pretty sure it’s not the headphones cable fault. The cable is the original one and works w/o any issues with Liquid Spark
the same question is interesting for me. thinking about Topping D10s or maybe I need something else to power up the full potential of 887. but as I read from some forums, balanced dac from balanced input shouldn't increase the loudness of thx 887. currently I'm using it with Fiio K3s(new one), but not sure will I hear any difference from Topping D10b or even from Topping E50/SMSL D-6, etc. Also considering smth like Fiio KA3, it can produce 2.5V thour balanced output. is it even legit to use dongle dac with this beast?
Not sure if balanced will change anything, other than cabling, if the unbalanced has enough output to drive the amp. The nice thing about the D10s/b are that they get their power from the USB cable, and need no other power source. If you get something like a SMSL D6, with a physical output knob, and it has balanced and unbalanced outputs so you can test both. but it uses a power cord. When I think of "dongle"dac, I think of something like the Audioquest USB to 3.5mm tiny DAC/hp amp devices. The D10s/b have nice orange digital displays, and I think come in black or white.the same question is interesting for me. thinking about Topping D10s or maybe I need something else to power up the full potential of 887. but as I read from some forums, balanced dac from balanced input shouldn't increase the loudness of thx 887. currently I'm using it with Fiio K3s(new one), but not sure will I hear any difference from Topping D10b or even from Topping E50/SMSL D-6, etc. Also considering smth like Fiio KA3, it can produce 2.5V thour balanced output. is it even legit to use dongle dac with this beast?
Knowing that the 887 died so quickly, going to guess it was never healthy. I would not change anything and see how the replacement performs. I ran mine unbalanced for a week, noticed no real difference when going to balanced. Just wanted the extra assurance I'd avoid any potential noise.
If there is no difference in sound quality then i'll probably go with topping e30.
Just got the new unit and it performs pretty well, but still the loudness is on the same level with LS.
I think soundwise they will be equal. Powerwise LS has much more power. if believe to audiophonics LS produces 2.4W on 33Ohm and 1.3W on 50Ohm.
I'd keep the A50s it already has a perfectly suitable 4.4mm output.
Yeah, I'm thinking to keep it as well.
It's an amplifier. It amplifies a signal. It delivers (as little as possible) noise and distortion, and (as much as possible) power. It has features like connectors and volume control or a gain selector.
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Fair enoughIt's an amplifier. It amplifies a signal. It delivers (as little as possible) noise and distortion, and (as much as possible) power. It has features like connectors and volume control or a gain selector.
It doesn't have a 'sound'. It has a frequency response which is, as any half-decent amplifier, flat. It doesn't have a soundstage. The closest you can get is something like slope rate (how quickly it can deliver more power), but it won't change your perception in any meaningful way.
Not an attack on you, just trying to help desmystify this stuff
(correct me if I missed anything)
If it gets loud enough, you should be good. From what I can gather it seems like the balanced output van deliver quite a bit more power regardless of input voltage (though I only took a cursory glace at the data...), so if you can find a reasonably priced cable to go with the balanced output it might be worth considering. It's something I'm considering for a mobile DAC+AMP and my rather insensitive Aeon 2 Noires, but desktop and a 660S should be much less tricky.Fair enough
And from a headphone power wiew I suppose I won't fear anything with my little A50S given the headphones I already possess, not even with the HD 660s.
(I know the A50's max power at 4volts it's a gimmick yet it doesn't lack power even with the comon 2 volts)
