Reddit mentions of Magni Headphone Amplifier

I do use both a DAC and an Amp.
I use the Magni amp, and the Modi DAC by Schiit.

Magni: http://www.amazon.com/Schiit-SCH-07-Magni-Headphone-Amplifier/dp/B00CICPMA6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1395407907&sr=8-1&keywords=schiit

Modi: http://www.amazon.com/Modi-USB-Digital-Analog-Convertor/dp/B00CICPN0K/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1395407907&sr=8-2&keywords=schiit

My wife loves me but not HD650 love :X
and would something like this work Magni Headphone Amplifier + Modi USB Digital/Analog Convertor?

Have you looked into Shiit amplifiers? You can get an amp and a USB DAC, which works plug-and-play with the PS4, for like $200.

If this sounds like an option, definitely look around at other amp/DAC combos. Just be ready to overthink it until your head explodes...

I use a pair of Beyerdynamic DT-990 Pro 250ohms coupled with Schiit Magni and Modi for my headphone amp and digital/analog converter combo. The magni/modi combo is great for flat sound i.e doesn't add any extra sound qualities in the conversion or amplification (pro for some, con for others) and they power the 250ohm version of the DT-990 pros wonderfully. The DT-990 pros themselves are great metal headphones in my opinion. First off, they are the most comfortable headphones I've ever put on, I've worn them 8 hours a day for the past 2 months and sometimes forget they're even on. The soft velour earpads are fucking superb. Sound quality wise they're amazing as well. Massive soundstage, when I got them one of the first songs I played was Inside the Particle Storm- Dark Tranquillity and I was motherfucking blown away, and it doesn't hurt that they're good for FPS gaming as well. Amazing, punchy bass, but not overdone at all like you find in some DJ headphones. Good mids and nice highs. Some people find the treble on the dt-990s to be fatiguing but I've yet to come across that and even if I did I could get rid of the problem through the equalizer.

I prefer Sound Blaster Z/ZxR's surround to Dolby. Dolby tends to sound like a tin can where the Z/ZxR sounds more natural in a gaming situation. Altho since I've gotten better gear and developed a more sensitive ear I might just look into some type of crossover system that basically combines the Left and Right channels by a small percent to remove the hard left/right panning when gaming. That is basically all Dolby Headphone and Sound Blaster Surround does is just combine the two channels and throw the effects in a way that sounds more spacious.


If you're going with such a nice pair of cans like the K702's I'd go this route:

Sound Blaster Z

Schiit Modi Optical

Shiit Magni


You're going to spend $200 on the ZxR why not just get the Z a amp/dac that will last you for decades. A Schiit stack looks amazing, sounds amazing, is made in the US and has a 5 year warranty + 15 day satisfaction. The Modi Optical isn't in stock but I asked their CS the other day and they are shipped some to Amazon so they should be in stock very soon.


Your setup will look like this with the Z and Schiit amp/dac:



Sound Blaster Z > Optical cable > Modi > RCA's > Magni > Headphones.


If you go that route you get all of the benefits of the Z sound card (surround, EQ, etc) but get to bypass their lower quality amp/dac and use your own which will last much longer and sound much better.

Thanks man, but I am not familiar with your nomenclature there. What do you mean as Dac? Is that another amp?

And I am really impressed at the 60$ you're throwing at me. They're cheap for the quality you seem to express.

The schiit Magni is 99$, is it this one?

EDIT: Oh, DAC (Digital to Analog) converter?

Gaming is a totally different story from what the people here are buying their headphones for (mostly). Personally, if you just want a solid pair of headphones, I like and always recommend the Audio Technica ATH M50. Now, these will plug just fine into your pc BUT if you want some proper listening gear use the rest of that money and a bit more to get the Schiit Magni headphone amp and the Modi DAC. If they're gaming headphones though, you really don't need that.

• Budget - ~$200 - $300. Getting a headphone amp, if applicable, would factor into the price.
  
• Source - ASUS Xonar DS Sound Card. Mostly FLAC and MP3 320 CBR.
  
• Requirements for Isolation - None, there's little ambient noise around me, and what noise there is I don't mind seeping in.
  
• Preferred Type of Headphone - Full-sized, Over-Ear/Circumaural. I'll be wearing them most of my waking day so I'd like for them to be comfortable for the long term.
  
• Preferred tonal balance - As balanced/neutral as is possible, I do listen to a lot of bass heavy music, but that doesn't mean I want it to overpower the mids and highs.
  
• Past headphones - Sennheiser HD595, Shure E2, Ultimate Ears Super.Fi 5 Pro
  
• Preferred music - Electronica (IDM, Hardcore, Ambient, Chiptunes), Acoustic (Classical, Romance, Piano), Occasionally Rock or Folk (Tuvan throat singing because, why not?).
  
  A few headphones that have piqued my interest are:
  
  
• Beyerdynamic DT 990 Pro 250 Ohm - A few concerns are the need for a headphone amp and the curled cord. Also, it's reported to favor highs and lows. Great price though.
  
• Beyerdynamic DT 880 Pro 250 Ohm/32 Ohm - The 32 Ohm version according to the reviews doesn't sound as good as the 250 Ohm versions.
  
• AKG K 701
  
  I don't want to replace my HD 595s with the newer HD 598s as the design flaws, and cheap plastic, still seem to be an issue. After about 7-8 years of daily but gentle use my 595s have cracked on both sides (not my picture, but similar damage) and now are only held together with duct tape =). Also, I wouldn't mind an upgrade - as long as it lasts a decade or longer.
  
  For the headphone amp, I was considering the Schiit Magni, but I'm open to suggestions.
  
  Thanks!

Is THIS the amp in question? The magni can drive the 600s well? I've heard some mixed reviews on it. Would I just be wasting my money? Would there be a significant sound difference over the HD598s with no amp? Enough to justify the $250 price difference? That could be within my price range considering I found the HD600s for $300, and the amp for $80.

OK...so you really only need an amp then.

http://www.amazon.com/Schiit-SCH-07-Magni-Headphone-Amplifier/dp/B00CICPMA6/ref=sr_1_10?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1418235112&sr=1-10&keywords=headphone+amp

There ya go. Right in budget and awesome.

Is there a, non-portable version of the Fiio E11? I have been considering the Magni Headphone Amplifier

It's not necessary but I would recommend one. Plenty of options here but you'll want to budget around $100. Schiit Magni is hard to beat at this price range: LINK

Out of everything you have listed I think you should get these instead.

DT 990 Premium (250ohm):

http://www.amazon.com/Beyerdynamic-DT-990-Pro-250-Professional-Acoustically-Applications/dp/B0011UB9CQ/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1396410317&sr=1-1

ATH-M50x:

http://www.amazon.com/Audio-Technica-ATH-M50x-Professional-Headphones/dp/B00HVLUR86/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1396410360&sr=8-1&keywords=ath-m50

As for Amp/DACS:

Schiit Magni/Modi:

http://www.amazon.com/Schiit-SCH-07-Magni-Headphone-Amplifier/dp/B00CICPMA6/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1396410429&sr=1-1

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00CICPN0K/ref=s9_simh_gw_p23_d0_i3?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=center-2&pf_rd_r=042YMDTAE4G9HN1Q9AF0&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=1688200382&pf_rd_i=507846

You'll need an amp to drive those. I'd recommend an O2 or a Schiit Magni.

You need a headphone amp. The RCA line outs could be extended to where you sit. You would then add the Headphone amp. Presumably you want cheap so something like This FiiO will work and you will just need to get a 3.5mm adapter for your end. OR if you just want strait RCA's and a bit more robust-ness you can add something like the Schiit Magni