Amp or DAC/Amp recommend

[coinbasecustomerservice]

Hi

I have a Cambridge Audio MXN10 streamer and it has I believe a moderately acceptable DAC in it. I am no longer using it in my main system and I want to take it into the living room to use with my Sennheiser HD650 headphones only. I am sort of looking at the Fiio K11R2R which is available at a reasonable price at the moment, but I wonder if I really would notice much difference between the DACs these two have - and I suspect not.

Should I go for a headphone amp only and use the DAC in my MXN10 or is it really not cost - effective and should I just go with something like the Fii0/

Also, is there a better match for my MXN10 and headphones? I am not changing either of these.

Thank you for your help

 

[Integralista]

Hi, first of all, you have very good headphones. Sennheiser HD650 are best in class. But...with source like CA MXN10 you hear their sonic potential for 30-40%. Academic debate, if Fiio is here better, I think not. CAMXN10 is again classleader. But still my message is, such headphones deserve a full class better streamer and amplifier. E.g. Naim Audio Atom or similar. If anything try to go into some good hifi shop with your headphones and listen some other amps, streamers...by yourself. This is the best you can do. BR.

 

[PieterG]

I just ordered a K11 R2R. What it does have, is a good headphone amplifier with different gain settings depending on the needs of your headphones. The R2R sound will probably make your HD650 sound a bit warmer and thicker, so less neutral/analytical, which is a matter of taste.

The Fiio DAC might not be better, just different. It comes down to which DAC you prefer. In terms of cost, a good headphone amp is probably in the same price range as the Fiio anyway. Your headphones do deserve a good amp.

 

[RoA]

I use a Sennheiser HD58X Jubilee amongst others with FiiO's K11 (non R2R version). I had both here but found the R2R too diffuse and soft. The K11 bettered the internal headphone sections of all my integrated amplifiers.

 

[Jasonovich]

It really depends on how much you wish to put aside for a headphone amp. Greater budget means wider choice.

Tube amp like the XDUOO TA-66 (£250 with original tubes) would add a touch of warmness to your Sennheiser's, which isn't a bad thing, if you listen to mainly vocals, Jazz, Blues etc.
If it's contemporary stuff, that's fine also. If it's rock and electronic music, perhaps solid state is better suited.

If you're on a tighter budget, check out the iFi Zen CAN 3 or Pro-Ject Head Box S2 Headphone Amplifiers, these are excellent value.

 

[RTHerringbone]

Hi, first of all, you have very good headphones. Sennheiser HD650 are best in class. But...with source like CA MXN10 you hear their sonic potential for 30-40%. Academic debate, if Fiio is here better, I think not. CAMXN10 is again classleader. But still my message is, such headphones deserve a full class better streamer and amplifier. E.g. Naim Audio Atom or similar. If anything try to go into some good hifi shop with your headphones and listen some other amps, streamers...by yourself. This is the best you can do. BR.

I personally wouldn't recommend a near £2,000 Naim solution when the OP proposed a spend of about £150 on a more modest alternative. I know this hobby spirals out of control, but really......

 

[Gray]

The R2R sound will probably make your HD650 sound a bit warmer and thicker, so less neutral/analytical, which is a matter of taste.

...but found the R2R too diffuse and soft.

Tube amp like the XDUOO TA-66 (£250 with original tubes) would add a touch of warmness to your Sennheiser's, which isn't a bad thing, if you listen to mainly vocals, Jazz, Blues etc.

I wouldn't want to be adding any more 'warmness' or 'softness' to the 650, than it already has.
(But those are qualities I go out of my way not to add to anything).

 

[GSV Ethics Gradient]

Hi

I have a Cambridge Audio MXN10 streamer and it has I believe a moderately acceptable DAC in it. I am no longer using it in my main system and I want to take it into the living room to use with my Sennheiser HD650 headphones only. I am sort of looking at the Fiio K11R2R which is available at a reasonable price at the moment, but I wonder if I really would notice much difference between the DACs these two have - and I suspect not.

Should I go for a headphone amp only and use the DAC in my MXN10 or is it really not cost - effective and should I just go with something like the Fii0/

Also, is there a better match for my MXN10 and headphones? I am not changing either of these.

Thank you for your help

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