@fxxr what terminations did you get? If you have an amp that has an option for balanced, you should generally use the balanced for more power, which the sundaras wants. so in theory it should perform better on balanced
Wellā¦ on my set up the balanced connection has a whole lot more wattage, so thereās the whole volume matching issue. I perceive differences that may just be up to that. Also the way I am set up the SE is a Liquid Spark, so thereās that difference ā¦
But I am going to go out on a limb and say no. ;-). I mean, power difference is there, but I donāt think the headphone output being balanced or not matters with these in other ways. Or matters with almost anything (separate discussion for iems and maybe some outliers).
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interesting view. I keep hearing that Iām missing out on not having them hooked up balanced. But neither my amp of dac has balanced outputs, and the starting price for balanced amps and dacs, besides the ifi zen is usually significantly higher.
If the difference is only a volume thing then the problem is more or less solved with having a powerful enough amp with SE output to begin withā¦IF the volume thing is the only difference,
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People disagree with meā¦ I was browbeaten to confess that thereās a huge difference in the Verums (on a less gentle forum)ā¦ even though there isnātā¦ so youāll find people to contradict me absolutely. I think theyāre wrong, is all.
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It just depends on the amp really, and balanced amps tend to be higher priced and generally better sound improvement depending on headphones, but your paying moreā¦the asgard3 at $200 is probably the best bang for your buck with the sundaras and most people wouldnt need to go higher after spending $300 + for a headphone.
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great. I guess this is why even some very serious amp manufacturers, or artisans, such as Feliks-Audio in Poland donāt even bother with balanced outputs for headphones. They have more than enough power that I suppose they figure that balancing outputs isnāt necessary. Especially since theyāre not a cost-cutting company either. I think even their flagship Euphoria amp doesnāt have balanced headphone output.
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I think there is a good reason for balanced inputs, ājust in caseā for ground loops. Especially if you have an electronically-crowded desk, but maybe anyway with computers. Certainly there are amps , single ended only, that are more high end than I will ever have; but it might be true that on a given amp, like this Monolith, the balanced (which is kinda balanced, really) is more āhigh endā or better-implemented than its single ended connection. Seems to me thatās a vanishingly small difference next to the power differential, with this particular amp anyway.
But then, if I had a Feliks or some such and no ground loop noiseā¦ Iād lose zero sleep over it.
And I could sort of see the ābrowbeatersāā point on the Verums since they impedance is so absurdly lowā¦ theyāre moving toward iem territoryā¦ but thatās another kettle of fish for a Verum thread. I donāt think it matters for Sundaras;, and even the Verums are more complicated than a simple no or yesā¦ maybe.
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Yea for the sundarasā¦if you have an amp that has a balanced input, use itā¦but dont go searching for a balanced amp to make much difference than an asgard3, however the Erish does offer a bit of a different sound than the asgard3 for the sundaras, but they are the same price, and you need to buy a cableā¦ so whatever the preference isā¦and on my hip dac, the balanced input does sound better than the single ended,but it doesnt sound better than the asgard3 or erish
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Iām likeā¦ I got a balanced output, Iām gonna use it. I like the versatility of the power. Even if it does cost a bit more on cables. Butā¦ in several cases, Iām getting new cables anyway, so itās not like the price difference in terminations is huge (or the cost of a Hart adapter, either). But the difference isnāt really whether the headphone output is balancedā¦
Erish looks sweet. I want one.
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I feel the Erish has lots of potential with higher end headphonesā¦and for how good it sounds on the sundaras compared with the asgard3, its worth it to have it imo.
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On the headphone side, I got the mini XLR (gonna wire my 770s for it!), the Sennheiser one and a normal 3.5mm TRS. On the amp side, I got 2.5mm TRRS, 3.5mm TRS, 1/4" TRS and XLR.
I believe you. The only balanced output I have is the BTR5, and I suspect that if itās gonna be any better, itāll be because of the significantly higher power output. Iāve ordered a balanced cable for the 6XX as well, just because I was curious to see if I can actually hear any differences.
So far, I have to say that the only thing that makes any difference to the sound for me is different headphones (and EQ, obviously). Between all of the stuff below, I havenāt managed to hear any difference using the same pair of headphones.
Good Motherboard Audio Out
BTR5 AAC / LDAC / USB-C (SE)
Schiit Hel
iPad Pro / iPhone 11 Pro / Pixel 4 w/ the Apple USB-C dongle
One thing I do like about the Hel is that it has so much power I can EQ the shit out of anything and itāll still sound good.
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Are the Hifiman sundara or the he 560 v2 an upgrade over the DT 880 250 Ohms? I have a Dt 880 250 ohms and I had the idea of buying my first planar magnetics. Are they an upgrade? I use to game on pc abd listen a bit of everything (punk rock, metal, funk, edm etc)
Sundaras are more of a sidegrade to the dt 880s if anything. Generally same sound signature. Build quality is better on 880s in my opinion as is comfort.
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I havenāt heard DT880 yet. But the Sundara should be a upgrade in at least detail and speedāespecially if youāre going from the 250 ohm
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i am certainly very tempted by the sundaraā¦ for reasons of
- trying out a planar
- seems like a decent semi upgrade from my 58X
- more speed and dynamics which i really want so fast and intense music is more powerful but the slow stuff can still be nice
but i still kinda wonder about stuff like how these leak like monsters from what i know, and how they are a little bit more bright when i overall like the warmer sound of my 58xā¦ these are definitely one of my future possibilities, though others have reccommended the sendy aiva or focal clear
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They would be brighter than what you are used to on the 58x but it wouldnt be harsh. It would take a little brain burn in at first like i experienced. I donāt find them bright at all anymore but kinda did at first. They are pretty neutral. You would get better soundstage too. But be sure to have the right amp with it though, like an Asgard3
i was going to get an xduoo XD05 plus or an ifi hip dacā¦ probably the former
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No experience with the xduoo but I have the hip dac. Imo itās not the best with the Sundaras, does ok and bass boost is nice with it. But too much warmth and takes away the details. But its ok when Iām just chilling on the couch.
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I am using a jds atomā¦just fine for my Sundaras.
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+1. Atom here too and it sounds amazing. But I am curious about trying it out on more powerful amps somedayā¦
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