Should I Get a Dedicated Headphone Amp for Audeze MM-500 with Apollo Twin X?

[mixedbykrx]

Hi everyone,

I'm a new user of Audeze MM-500 headphones and currently have them EQ'd in Peace software following the Harman Curve with some slight gain adjustments. Because of significant bass boosts, my preamp gain is set to around -8.6dB.

I’m using an Apollo Twin X USB interface, which still has two free DAC outputs (if I’m getting the terminology right). I’ve been considering buying the Topping L30 II headphone amplifier, as I don’t want to spend a fortune on this upgrade.

I have two main questions:

1. Is it worth getting a separate headphone amp like the Topping L30 II in this case, or is the Apollo Twin X sufficient? I mainly mix music, and at times, I push the signal on the interface almost to 100% (before the limiter), partly due to the aforementioned -8.6dB preamp adjustment.
2. What kind of difference in sound can I realistically expect? Will it be noticeable, or is this more of a marginal improvement?

The Topping L30 II isn’t the most expensive option, but it seems highly regarded based on reviews and tests.

Lastly, would I need anything else besides the amp and cables to set it up? I’m pretty new to this topic, so I’d really appreciate any advice!

Thanks a lot in advance!

 

[DVDdoug]

I push the signal on the interface almost to 100% (before the limiter), partly due to the aforementioned -8.6dB preamp adjustment.

The digital levels?

If it's going loud enough without clipping the analog amplifier, more analog headroom doesn't gain you anything.

 

[mixedbykrx]

I mean, I'm not even talking strictly about the power reserve itself, but more about the overall effect - does it make sense to change to Topping L 30 II?

The digital levels?

If it's going loud enough without clipping the analog amplifier, more analog headroom doesn't gain you anything.

 

[kemmler3D]

the overall effect - does it make sense to change to Topping L 30 II?

It won't sound any different in all likelihood, maybe louder, possibly lower noise floor.

 

[Mherwolf]

I have the same set-up. Yes, get the headphone amp. Couple reasons... 1- even though the mm-500 might get loud enough, the apollo doesn't have enough current to really push the dynamics and low end the mm-500 are capable of ( it will sound cleaner, more punchy, and slightly more detailed. 2 - I like having a separate amp so that I can have my headphone cable out of my way (I have mine off to the side so that it's not directly hanging around me). If you want to go one step further on the Topping amps, you can get the a50iii (which is what I have) and run the mm-500 balanced. You'll need to buy a balanced cable (around $30 on amazon), but the mm-500 becomes more open sounding, slightly wider and more depth - which I feel it lacks by nature.

 

[Mherwolf]

and a warning - lol. I've gone though a dozen headphone amps and the a50iii is a great clean analytical amp, especially for the price. However now im down the rabbit hole of constantly looking for different amps. I just ordered a Schiit Jotunheim 2. even thought the Topping is great, it can get a little stale for producing (for mixing/mastering its great). So I'm hoping the Jot 2 will give me a more fun experience to produce with, then switch over the to a50iii to do the final mixing/mastering on.

 

[Mherwolf]

Oh, and one more thing, the MONITOR output on the Apollo is the cleaner/better sounding output (vs the LINE OUT), so use that on whatever will be your most important monitoring.

 

[Svend P]

and a warning - lol. I've gone though a dozen headphone amps and the a50iii is a great clean analytical amp, especially for the price. However now im down the rabbit hole of constantly looking for different amps. I just ordered a Schiit Jotunheim 2. even thought the Topping is great, it can get a little stale for producing (for mixing/mastering its great). So I'm hoping the Jot 2 will give me a more fun experience to produce with, then switch over the to a50iii to do the final mixing/mastering on.

All well designed amplifiers sound the same when not driven to distortion. You are chasing ghosts.

 

[Mherwolf]

All well designed amplifiers sound the same when not driven to distortion. You are chasing ghosts.

Hey Svend, I appreciate your opinion, but in my experience there are definitely differences, albeit sometimes minor. I will admit I have very sensitive ears and have trained them for many years to look for those subtile differences!

 

[Svend P]

It not an opinion.

Do all amplifiers sound the same? Level matched listening test

Do all amplifiers sound the same? Level matched listening test One more to this neverending discussion. Two very different amplifiers are tested, however both with very flat frequency response in the audio band. The test level is set such that 0dBFS of digital data corresponds to THD = 0.9% for...

www.audiosciencereview.com

All amplifiers do not sound the same

Who even came up with this bullshit?? And why was there no backtalk?? Why was this allowed to stand??? Objective?? Objective would be "all amplifiers which reach sufficient thresholds in key parameters will sound the same." Done. This stupid Dunning-Kruger inaccurate pseudo objectivist bullshit...

www.audiosciencereview.com

 

[Mherwolf]

Everything is an opinion! I make my living trusting my ears (earning multiple gold/platinum records, with over 1 billion people have heard my work), so I REALLY trust my ears. Having said that, humans (and the brains that live in them) are strange beasts...so who knows

 

[Svend P]

Everything is an opinion! I make my living trusting my ears (earning multiple gold/platinum records, with over 1 billion people have heard my work), so I REALLY trust my ears. Having said that, humans (and the brains that live in them) are strange beasts...so who knows

If you trusted only your ears, you would test level matched and blind. And then all your perceived differences would disappear.

Here are some good links as an introduction to ASR and the science of audio:

Audio Science Review FAQ #1

This is the first in a series of FAQs for Audio Science Review. 1. Who created Audio Science Review? The founder is Amir Majidimehr. You can find out more about me by clicking on my background link in my signature. Briefly, I have had a long career in computing, audio, video and imaging...

www.audiosciencereview.com

Audio Blind Testing - You Are Doing It Wrong! (Video)

Just uploaded a video on the basics of performing controlled tests in audio. It was motivated by saving myself text in having to write all of this down when telling someone who to do these tests right. And as a counter to a few online personalities to keep saying they do "blind" tests yet when...

www.audiosciencereview.com

How can DAC's have a SOUND SIGNATURE if they measure as transparent?

I know there are people out there that think cables affect sound, which is much worse, but there really is no response to something like that, but just to smile and nod. But what about people who talk about DACS as if they were headphone drivers or speakers, and talk about the SOUNDSTAGE...

www.audiosciencereview.com

 

[Mherwolf]

If you trusted only your ears, you would test level matched and blind. And then all your perceived differences would disappear.

Here are some good links as an introduction to ASR and the science of audio:

Audio Science Review FAQ #1

This is the first in a series of FAQs for Audio Science Review. 1. Who created Audio Science Review? The founder is Amir Majidimehr. You can find out more about me by clicking on my background link in my signature. Briefly, I have had a long career in computing, audio, video and imaging...

www.audiosciencereview.com

Audio Blind Testing - You Are Doing It Wrong! (Video)

Just uploaded a video on the basics of performing controlled tests in audio. It was motivated by saving myself text in having to write all of this down when telling someone who to do these tests right. And as a counter to a few online personalities to keep saying they do "blind" tests yet when...

www.audiosciencereview.com

How can DAC's have a SOUND SIGNATURE if they measure as transparent?

I know there are people out there that think cables affect sound, which is much worse, but there really is no response to something like that, but just to smile and nod. But what about people who talk about DACS as if they were headphone drivers or speakers, and talk about the SOUNDSTAGE...

www.audiosciencereview.com

Thanks, I’ll take look!

 

[Postlan]

I used the MM-500 with an Apogee Symphony (rack) for over a year, but I recently got the A50III and its low end is way tighter. I don't know much about UAD, but if its headphone out has high impedance, I'd definitely recommend buying one.