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After failing to keep the laptop computer's speaker system portable (sounding nice, but now too big), I've decided to hear what a headphone setup could do. At the very least, I was pretty sure I could realistically maintain easy portability. Having already spent more than I planned on to improve the speaker/amp system for this laptop, I intend to keep the cost of the headphone system reasonably low. Ironically, I've already spent more on a pair of Sennheiser HD600 headphones than I did on all the speakers in my main music system! (must admit though, that I got *ridiculously good deals* on those used speakers).Of course, I wanted decent enough headphones, so after initially purchasing a used pair of Sennheiser HD555 (and mistakenly assuming I'd not be upgrading that choice anytime soon), I've now ended up with a very nice pair of HD600 (has made a very positive improvement - especially with regards to the two DAC/headphone amps I'm evaluating at the moment. This nearly new, mint pair came with an HD650 cable upgrade as well).
So then - two DAC/headphone amps, retailing for the same price ($169 USD)...
I spent a bit more on the HiFiMan EF2A--an additional $45 on a pair of highly recommended NOS tubes to replace the stock tubes. Still awaiting delivery of these replacement tubes.
The first to arrive was the Audioengine D1, which I've been listening to for ten days now. The HiFiMan EF2A arrived just three days ago. Yesterday, the HD600 arrived to replace the HD555 headphones.
Since I wouldn't have a chance to hear either of these DAC/amps before purchasing, I read as much about them as I could before deciding. Ultimately, I couldn't decide between the two, so I got one of each! :) The Audioengine seemed to receive more consistent praise, but for some reason, I couldn't shake my curiosity about the tube equipped HiFiMan. I'm glad I decided to take this chance on the latter.
First, a few "little things"...
Fit and Finish:
Audioengine D1 has a slight advantage here. No doubt its sheer physical/aesthetic simplicity contributes to the ease of consistent production values. I love its simple, functional, understated design.
The particular HiFiMan unit I have has just one obvious physical/aesthetic issue - the "face plate metal veneer" isn't placed with an exact fit over the "face plate backing" (shifted just a bit to one side), and it looks like if I were to attempt a realignment, it may disturb how the holes for source selector, volume knob, and headphone socket line up. This is a very minor quibble, but I felt I should mention it anyway. The overall aesthetic of the HiFiMan is altogether different than the Audioengine, but I also like the somewhat "retro" look of the tubes, and of the unit in general.
Portability:
Here, the Audioengine is the clear winner, though I'm already formulating ideas of how to make a good, relatively compact carrying case for the HiFiMan along with its wall-wart/cord and the fairly bulky headphones.
The Audioengine is quite a bit smaller, and since it gets its power via the USB connection, it requires no external power supply/cord. HiFiMan has a relatively hefty "wall wart" power supply.
The Audioengine's headphone socket is 3.5mm (as opposed to HiFiMan's 1/4" "normal sized" socket), so I had to get an adapter - a very nice Grado adapter that takes into account stress on the little socket, so includes a bit of an extension cable beyond the actual adapter connection (so that there isn't a heavy weight hanging directly off the socket itself).
Well within a quart size ziplock bag, I can fit the Audioengine D1, the Grado adapter, and the DH labs digital USB cable. There are already so many "little accessories" packed thusly into my laptop bag, this DAC/amp fits nicely along with all the other crap in the bag's accessories pouch. No way would the HiFiMan fit in this. It will need its own little carrying case.
Features/Options:
Audioengine D1: DAC, headphone amp, stereo analog output, both USB and Toslink inputs, powered via USB connection (if Toslink input is used, USB must also still be attached for power).
HiFiMan EF2A: DAC, headphone amp, one pair stereo line level input, USB only for digital input, Wall-wart power supply. And of course, tubes!
Finally -- the sound:
[Quick preliminary comments: Both units, with their DACs, represent a worthwhile improvement over the analog output of this laptop. Both units offer "gobs of gain" - I'm not yet convinced by the wisdom of this - we'll see (hear)] Okay - moving on...
Please bear in mind that I'm new to dedicated headphone DAC and/or amplification, so my experience is limited. I'm also not trying to create an "audiophile headphone system" for regular, everyday listening. While at home, I always prefer listening to speakers, so listening via headphones will only happen when it's truly necessary.
I've thus far spent much more time with the Audioengine than with the HiFiMan, so I'll start there...
Along with its easy portability, I feel it's entirely possible that a person could be happy with this cute little DAC/amp, and look no further (no doubt this means nothing to nutter audiophiles, but a fair number of normal people might be able to relate). It even offers more than just a headphone amp - as it also has a pair of stereo analog outputs. Perhaps Audioengine was thinking of their powered speakers as well during the D1 design process. In any event, I'm not interested in using this DAC with external amp/speakers--just headphones--so I haven't bothered to try the analog outputs.
The Audioengine D1 produces what I'd call a "polite" sound, regardless of source (my laptop based sources include FLAC, MP3, and CD from the optical drive). Mostly FLAC/MP3, since I rip onto the computer every new CD I acquire, I only use the optical drive for CDs I haven't ripped. The sound is pretty refined, and pleasant. However...
Remember that I mentioned my limited experience with dedicated headphone setups (and headphones in general, for that matter)? Well, at first, I just sort of took for granted that headphone sound was expected to be a bit "congested" as compared to my usual speaker listening experience (and indeed, it was), but it wasn't until two things happened after several days that showed me there could be lesser degrees of "headphone congestion":
1) Switching from Sennheiser HD555 to HD600
2) Switching to HiFiMan hybrid tube/ss DAC/amp
Yes, and here we come to my experience with the still-breaking-in HiFiMan EF2A tube/ss hybrid DAC/headphone amp...
Even with fresh, supposedly inferior tubes, I straightaway noticed the "air" opening up when I first listened through this HiFiMan unit. There's relief in breathing more open air. Instrumental timbre is more realistic, if a bit less "polite" than it is heard through the Audioengine D1. That's a good thing, actually. I'm really listening forward to hearing what it will sound like when I receive the recommended NOS tube upgrade for this unit.
It should be noted that even more so with the HiFiMan than with the Audioengine, the switch from HD555 to HD600 made a major, and very important improvement. In addition to other sonic benefits of the HD600, the rather "extreme gain" of the HiFiMan is "toned down" a bit by these headphones, so there's a bit more "breathing room" here as well. While I'm thinking about the "gain" aspect of these little amps...
In general, the Audioengine's volume control seems a bit more even than that of the HiFiMan's - at least at the low end of the volume spectrum.
With the HiFiMan, here's what I experience:
"Zero" volume is at about 7 o'clock. From this "zero" volume setting, I can hear faint sound coming from the left channel. Nothing at this point from the right channel (truth be told, at supposed "zero" volume, I'd rather not hear anything from any channel).
It's not until just before 8 o'clock that the right channel is fully balanced with the left. By 9 o'clock, it's already quite loud (almost unbearably so with the HD555, yet noticeably better with the HD600). With the HD600 headphones, "quiet listening" through the HiFiMan is much easier.
The Audioengine volume seems more "even handed" with regards to left/right channel balance at the lowest volume levels. Still, this unit also has much more gain than one could ever want via headphone listening (unless one is simply into an accelerated hearing loss experience).
In both cases, there's lots of unused potential on the volume control dials from 9-10 o'clock onward.
In about a week, I should be receiving the NOS Raytheon 6AK5 tubes for the HiFiMan, so after some tube burn-in time with those, perhaps I'll come back and offer further impressions of the HiFiMan sound. Until then, here are my "preliminary conclusions" concerning Audioengine D1 vs. HiFiMan EF2A:
I'm going to keep both, as each will have its place in my portable kit.
Overall, I prefer the sound of the HiFiMan EF2A, and so of the two, this will be my primary [portable] headphone DAC/amp. On those "quick trips" when I don't want to bother with the bulkier, AC dependent HiFiMan, I can live with the Audioengine D1.
Finally, even though just over a week ago I wasn't planning on "upgrading" from the HD555 headphones, I'm very glad to have not listened to myself, and to have gone ahead with the upgrade to the HD600. This upgrade alone has happily enhanced the listening experience with both of these DAC/amp units.
Edits: 06/30/12 06/30/12 06/30/12 06/30/12 06/30/12Follow Ups:
I saw that you got another amp. I thought I would just let you know that
The 6AK5 vacuum tube is a miniature 7-pin sharp-cutoff pentode used as RF or IF amplifier especially in high-frequency wide-band applications at frequencies up to 400 MHz. A lot of mfrs are using R/F tubes in these Applications latley they are cheaper and easily obtainable and using a 'Starved plate low voltage desighn ' I have to wonder if an old School 12AX7 at full plate volts being a triode might sound better unless of course and likely they are running the pentode in
triode mode .
Edits: 08/21/12
Your second sentence:
"I thought I would just let you know that
The 6AK5 vacuum tube is a miniature 7-pin sharp-cutoff pentode used as RF or IF amplifier especially in high-frequency wide-band applications at frequencies up to 400 MHz. "
From Wikipedia's first sentence on 6AK5 tubes:
"The 6AK5 vacuum tube is a miniature 7-pin sharp-cutoff pentode used as RF or IF amplifier especially in high-frequency wide-band applications at frequencies up to 400 MHz."
In any event...
Being not very well versed in the finer points (or even blunt points) of electronic circuitry, most of your post just flew right by with nary a hint of comprehension on my part. So much of this is just "magic" to me, so I'll admit that primarily, I listen to the music, and if it sounds good to me, then it's good. I should mention here that no matter how much magic is going on in these electronic devices, and no matter how much I appreciate what they can do (indeed, I appreciate it a great deal), they'll never perfectly reproduce live performance in lovely acoustic spaces in my home, so "sounds good" is a relative matter, and I'm not willing to make a hobby of trying to perfect something that will not be perfected.
That said, I'm interested in your mention of "old school 12AX7". My main system's preamp uses 12AX7 tubes, but they have nine pins (and they're larger overall), whereas the smaller 6AK5 tubes I'm using (in both my HiFi Man EF2A DAC/headphone amp and Maverick Audio TubeMagic A1 desktop integrated amp) have only seven pins. Obviously, not a direct replacement possible here. Is there some sort of "old school 12AX7" that's smaller, and with only seven pins?
When I was researching both the EF2A and TubeMagic A1, both came "stock" with 6J1 tubes, and everything I read seemed to recommend replacing those with the 6AK5 tubes for better sound. My first EF2A (defective, and returned) had only the original 6J1 tubes. Sounded pretty good, but when I got my replacement EF2A, I put a pair of 6AK5 tubes in it, and it sounded even better. When I later purchased the TubeMagic A1, I ordered it with the 6AK5 tube option (paid a bit extra for this "upgrade"), so I don't know how this amp would have sounded with the 6J1 tubes.
The original EF2A I had did turn out to be defective, so I sent it back to Audio Advisor for a refund. In the meanwhile, I found a used one at the Head-Fi classified ads, and that replacement arrived today (got a nice discount from new price, and it's in mint condition).
When I purchased my first one, I had already read about the recommended tube upgrade (from stock Chinese 6J1 to NOS Raytheon 6AK5), so I ordered a matched pair of the Raytheon tubes (from Maverick Audio - same tubes as are in my TubeMagic A1). So, when the replacement EF2A arrived today, I put these Raytheon tubes in, and we're back in business! :) The tubes need some time to burn in, but it's already sounding fine, and there are no problems as there were with the previous unit.
Even with fresh, not yet burned in tubes, the difference between this DAC/amp and my other one, the Audioengine D1, is striking. First obvious impression is this: EF2A is "3D" compared to Audioengine's "2D". The overall sound quality of the Audioengine is nice, but the sound does become more congested as music becomes more complex. This can be a bit fatiguing -- and claustrophobic. The EF2A, on the other hand, doesn't seem to have this problem. Sound is "open/airy", and overall, simply more pleasant to my ears.
I will also mention this:
When I had the first EF2A, I was in the process of switching from Sennheiser HD555 to HD600 headphones. Even with that first EF2A, the improvement in sound going from the HD555 to the HD600 was pleasantly noticeable. I'm now listening only with the HD600, and I can again confirm, they're a fine match with this particular DAC/amp.
Below is a copy of a message I just posted at Head-Fi:
My post at Head-Fi
I thought I should mention it here as well, considering yesterday's pronouncement that I had chosen the HiFiMan EF2A as my primary portable DAC/headphone amp (I do still prefer the sound, but must now solve this problem before I can feel good about recommending it).
So, here's a copy of the post:
After trying a couple of inexpensive DAC/headphone amp combos, I decided I liked the sound of the HiFiMan EF2A, and wanted to make it my primary portable DAC/amp for the moment. Unfortunately, it seems to be causing a very disturbing problem. Now and then, the sound will either stop entirely, or worse, a loud static will suddenly begin.
1) If the sound simply stops entirely, in order to restore any sound at all, I have to unplug the USB cable, reinsert it, then restart playback. Until it happens again.
2) If the static thing happens (instead of silence), I can stop what's currently playing and restart it without unplugging the USB cable, but if I don't unplug/reinsert the USB cable, there will be some level of background static during resumed playback.
This doesn't happen when I'm playing music through the speakers (in this case, USB digital output to Schiit Bifrost DAC, then to amp), or with my other portable DAC/amp, an Audioengine D1. Only seems to happen with the HiFiMan EF2A. This is really unfortunate, because this was my preferred choice in terms of sound quality for the portable headphone kit.
I'm currently using Foobar 2000 for playback on Windows 7. Just to be sure it wasn't Foobar, I tried it on WinAmp as well, and the same thing happened. In any event, I'm not sure I have all the correct settings in either Foobar or Windows "Sound" (control panel), but this problem does seem to happen only when using the EF2A.
Has anyone experienced this issue with this particular DAC/amp? Any suggestions?
If I were you I would contact the manufacturer. Hopefully, the problem has something to do with your computer settings and is easily fixable...
"He was one of those men who live in poverty so that their lines of questioning may continue." - John Steinbeck
Tonight, I continued my troubleshooting efforts, and I'm still pretty much unable to point to anything but the EF2A unit itself as the primary suspect.
Here's a copy of my last post this evening over at Head-Fi:
Okay, further unhappy news...
Switched USB cable: same problem
Switched USB ports (tried both of the other ports - a 2.0 and a 3.0 port): same problem
After all this, here's what I seem to know at the moment:
1) Cables are not the issue.
2) It happens regardless of which USB port is used.
3) It happens with or without any other USB port being occupied at the same time.
4) It only happens with the HiFiMan EF2A (just now happened again - sudden silence now). This problem has never happened with the Audioengine D1, nor has it ever happened with the Schiit Bifrost DAC.
5) Considering all the above, I also doubt it's "the computer's fault" (or could it still be a particular driver issue--even after the driver uninstall/reinstall?)
6) This makes me sad, because the sound of the EF2A is so much more "3D" than that of the Audioengine D1 (which really does feel two dimensional and rather lifeless in comparison).
7) If I can't solve this problem with the EF2A, can anyone recommend a reliable, brilliant sounding portable tube DAC/amp that won't make me miss the EF2A too badly?
8) I've had enough for the night. :(
.., it almost seems like the unit was being sold *for a reason*. Truth be told, I tend to be more wary when buying used electronics than I am buying used headphones or loudspeakers. Maybe the seller will offer some sort of refund.
"He was one of those men who live in poverty so that their lines of questioning may continue." - John Steinbeck
The bit of sloppiness in external build quality of the EF2A may be an indicator of the potential for internal quality control issues as well. If the problem can't be solved with the particular unit I have, I will be considering a return or replacement.
nt
It is obvious to me that you've made some wise choices all around. The HD600s are still one of the better headphones out there, IMO. If you ever want a pair of "sealed" headphones with much better in/out noise isolation, check out the excellent new AKG K550s which are full-sized, yet more portable and easier to drive than the HD600s are.
"He was one of those men who live in poverty so that their lines of questioning may continue." - John Steinbeck
Edits: 06/30/12
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