Hello, first time poster here.
I recently realized music sounded "better" through my tv (less fatiguing at matched higher volume, and more engaging - probably better bass), and with headphones (MDR-1AM2) which I didn't "get" before, or like. This made me super motivated to get a proper amp, maybe I am mislead somehow - but it felt like music was heaps more fun to listen to (and of a genre I should like but dont really enjoy anymore) and in general, that I may have been missing something before.
My daily driver is a pair of MDR-F1 and they are said to benefit from a proper pre amp (I believe they have some kind of special circuitry so the impedance is misleading? Quite esoteric headphones, maybe someone here is familiar with them who knows..), but otherwise they are 12 Ohm and the 1AM2s are 16 Ohm, and my last pair are DT-770 80 Ohms.
Because of my headphones being low impedance I had half kinda shrugged it off as well as it being hard to know what is what in these matters (and I am not knowledgeable or experienced) as with the MDR-F1s which otherwise was a reason to get into it, but not knowing what to commit to I just dabbled and got a Hifime Sabre USB DAC which I dont feel made much difference to the onboard.
And basically I liked whatever the tv is (there is a background hiss etc., but what the music sounded like). My initial reaction was - I just need proper power of some kind.
Because of price (ie "just power of some kind") +occasional mobile use, +it being handy in how I have my desktop setup, was looking at the FiiO Q1 Mark II and in general mobile amps+dacs. Reading the review of that here on Audio Science Review, it is good but the Topping is the better choice probably for future proofed general desktop use. But then there is the low volume channel imbalance. And it leaves me unsure what I should go with.
In summary my headphones are: Sony MDR-F1 (12 Ohms), Sony MDR-1AM2 (16 Ohms), BeyerDynamic DT-770 80ohms. So all low impedance but with modification. I am guessing they all need the volume knob turned down with the Topping.
Anyway any thoughts would be appreciated! Or other recommendations.