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64.54.30.10
In Reply to: RE: rewiring for balanced operation worthwhile? posted by flatmap on March 15, 2012 at 14:17:28
I made the switch to balanced. It was worth it to me: better bass, better channel separation, and wider soundstage. This was with HD-650s, a Cardas balanced cable, and a HeadRoom balanced amp. I'm currently using HD-800s with a Cardas balanced cable and the same amp -- I am very, very pleased with the sound. No comment on the cost/benefit ratio, and YMMV.
Follow Ups:
How do you know if the improvement was due to balanced drive, to a different amp, or to the new cable?
I hope you don't mind if I chime in here... Having tried the same headphones (Sennheiser HD600) with the same type of cable (Cardas, both balanced and unbalanced) on two versions of the same model amplifier (DNA Sonett, balanced and unbalanced versions) - I think I can say that balanced drive alone can make a noticeable difference. Read the linked review (posted by me) at the top of this thread for an accurate description of the improvements wrought by balanced headphone drive.
"He was one of those men who live in poverty so that their lines of questioning may continue." - John Steinbeck
Edits: 06/01/12 06/02/12
Ah glad you have experience with this on the HD 650s. Makes me more interested in trying it out. And yes, I hear what you're saying about cost/benefit ratio. It's one of those things, isn't it, where even a subtle change is sometimes worthwhile -- because it is a change you care about?
Thanks!
Well, my headphone setup is my primary audio setup, so it was worth it to me to spend the money on squeezing as much as I could out of it. But, you know, going balanced can be pricey. And I hate to say it, but once you've heard the HD-800s on a balanced setup, there's no going back. :)!
Much better bass was the biggest surprise for me when I tried balanced amplification. All of a sudden, it was as if the headphone drivers became turbo-charged and I could really feel the impact upon my ears in music. Actually, everything became much cleaner and clearer - the "soundstage" exploded out of it's normal boundaries within the earcups and, of course, channel seperation became much better too.
Edits: 09/21/13
Thanks. It's especially in the bass where I'm hoping for something cleaner than I have now. I do like the idea of improved separation -- but I'm especially keen to get more distinct sound.
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