I’m not not taking the advice given here… borrowed the o2 odac… just curious if this is bypassing the onboarding audio? USB connecting laptop to dac/amp.
Yes if you are using usb, it will use the dac and amp of the o2. What are your thoughts on using an amp?
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This setup actually is pretty nice… not too intrusive and just sitting on an end table… barely started listening but I like it… clean up some chords and yeah I could live with this 
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The 9500s sound like two completely different sets of cans … bass is less muddy and a tad more recessed and the vocals are a tad more forward but somehow less fatiguing… maybe its placebo but I dont think so… that’s my first impression… treble sounds more natural too (that’s timbre right?).
Vocal more forward or clear… one of the two
Same thing with the x2s… less bass impact but it’s less muddy and vocals are brought up again… @M0N is there a reason this amp isn’t recommended? Old design and new ones are just better?
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Pretty much nailed it. It is still a respectable amp, but for your price range I think there are better options, just want to maximize your bang for buck. Wanting 100 bucks for that amp is kinda high imo
Yeah he said he spent 200+ for it new
It was a good amp for that price when it came out, but it has kinda been beat out by stuff like an atom + d10 stack or stuff like the fiio k5 pro for that price. Also I think you said you wanted something you can use on your phone, so you can look into portables
I was yeah lol researching both now
The atom gets alot of praise… it gives you the headphones as they are is what I’ve read? Not colouring the sound? That’s a benefit for me to begin with at least … the headphones themselves are already different enough
Can a dac change the sound as well?
Yeah the atom is pretty uncolored and leans a bit towards the analytical side. A dac can defently improve the sound too. The odac dac is somewhat older at this point and I think the d10 is just a better dac now, so that can improve sound quality as well (the d10 is also fairly uncolored too)
So many rabbit holes … spending money hasn’t been this fun in years
Lol I can agree with that one, you can just go deeper and deeper for more enjoyment lol
I saw your profile and realize how deep you’ve gone lol I’m stopping at $200 items… for now 
Now that’s the way to think 
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How well would the d10 serve me moving up the amp chain?
It would work pretty well imo, I think you could move up a step and still be just fine
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Liquid spark a good option? I ask because it’s on amazon… I hear it colours the sound but I don’t think I’d mind (and maybe prefer) if it’s to the warmer and or darker side of things
The liquid spark is great and I can highly recommend it if you don’t mind what it does to the sound
What it mainly does is add a little more meat to the low end and is a bit wider sounding, and a bit smoother throughout the range, but it’s not in your face and is somewhat subtle with this
I’m sold. And will probably get the atom down the road too and continue playing in the pretty rewarding budget segment of headphones
Well hopefully you enjoy what you have and have coming (and the stuff you decide on in the future lol)