Best DAC/AMP for Sennheiser HD 201 headphones

[Leonell12]

So I got a new pair of HD 201s and after listening to them I don't feel that my iphone or my Asus X550CA laptop is doing them justice in terms of audio performance. So I wanted to know what would be the best ( maybe cheapest) DAC that will provide the audio that they deserve. I don't think an AMP is entirely necessary since these are only 24 ohms I think. So any recommendations are welcome. I want to get the best audio experience these cans can provide. I live on the UK so that's something to consider as well. I want the best audio for the least amount of money. I will be listening to them on my laptop mainly so a portable usb DAC would be nice. listening to them on the iPhone really doesn't matter much to me. I do listen to them, sometimes on the iPad mini as well though.

 

[Cristi72]

now as far as i know the HD 201s are very similar to the 202s so a sound performance increase is bound, right?

Unfortunately no, they are not very similar. Form the specs: 201 has 24 Ohm and 108 dB SPL; 202 has 115 dB SPL and 32 Ohm. Using the same volume, 202's sound will be two times more powerful than 201's (the sound pressure level doubles at every 3 dB). So it is possible that HD 202 sounds good on almost any device (and is more compatible, having 32 Ohm impedance).

 

[RazerZ]

Instead of spending around 50 or more pounds on a dac wouldn't it be better to just get new headphones?

I think with some new headphones he will end up in the same situation, because good passive headphones are hard to drive using an average audio codec as the one from his laptop, and amplified headphones are much more expensive.

I have an Audio Technica ATH m50s and a pair of Panasonic RP HTF600-S. They sound great with my laptop, iPad, and iPhone without the need of an amp or dac.

 

[Leonell12]

From what RazerZ has been saying, it wont be worth it, from what Cristi's been saying driving the onboard audio near their maximum might create distortion in the sound quality but i doubt the HD 201s are good enough to even pick up on that
hmm well then that settles it i guess, i wont be getting an amp/ dac unless i get a better headphone that is sure to take advantage of an external DAC. For the time being, i should be content with the HD 201s and my onboard audio. thanks guys for all your help!

 

[Cristi72]

I have an Audio Technica ATH m50s and a pair of Panasonic RP HTF600-S. They sound great with my laptop, iPad, and iPhone without the need of an amp or dac.

Is the laptop also an Apple one? Because all Apple products are well known for their quality of the output stage (well, except some old MacBooks).

 

[RazerZ]

No, it's a toshiba. Its still sounds decent, but without the eq the apple products do sound better.

Your laptop might sound different compared to mine, but your ipad mini should sound similar to my iphone 4s and ipad 3/4?(The one before the lightning connector came out). I'm definitely satisfied with apple's audio.

 

[RazerZ]

@OP What exactly was the problem... you didn't find them clear enough? Lacking bass? Too quiet?

 

[Leonell12]

@OP What exactly was the problem... you didn't find them clear enough? Lacking bass? Too quiet?

well i already knew that the headphones lack bass, but that is not a problem, infact this is part of the reason i chose these headphones, bassy headphones give me headaches (which is why i dont like the Turtlebeach X12s). Anyways, if you look at the reviews here http/www.amazon.co.uk/Sennheiser-Closed-Dynamic-Stereo-headphones-black/dp/B0007XJSQC/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1407418992&sr=8-1&keywords=HD+201 you would expect for these to sound 'absolutely amazing', but for the matter they dont sound amazing. From the reviews i was expecting really comfy, great sounding headphones that have rich audio fidelity, but they dont sound amazing. I mean before these i was using these earphones http/www.bagsandluggage.co.uk/p/1110187/Travel-Earphones-by-Design-Go-.html?gclid=CJ_Ak5-mgcACFfOhtAodNGsAtA and the HD 201s dont sound much different, they just sound 'bigger'. I would've been happy with that if the headphones were actually comfortable, they're not that comfy. The pleather/ leatherette ear cups are way too thin and pinchy. I guess i cant change the comfort, but getting better audio out of these would've sufficed to compensate. Which is what left me wondering if my laptop/ iphone/ ipad audio is whats letting them down. Do you recommend me burning these in for a night or something? some people say its good for the headphones, others dis agree, what do you think?

 

[RazerZ]

Regarding burn in, I burned in both of my headphones. With the ATH-M50 I heard no difference. With the Panasonic's I think I may of heard a small difference, but it could of just been my ears adjusting to its sound. You can try leaving them on in a burn in ( I used pink noise, but playing random music on a loop would work) and see if anything happens. I wouldn't expect any miracles however.

If you do it properly at the right volume ( slightly above listening level) you have nothing to lose.

The source on your ipad and iphone should sound great, not sure about the laptop however. If you don't like the sound quality coming from the apple products it's the headphones that aren't living up to your expectations.

 

[Cristi72]

you would expect for these to sound 'absolutely amazing', but for the matter they dont sound amazing.

Maybe they do sound amazing, but you must give them a little bit more audio power (if you or your friends have a stand-alone amplifier, receiver or home theatre with headphone output, test your HD201 and I'm positively sure that you will be very pleased).

If you still want to change them, please try to find an audio store where you can test the new headphones next to your HD 201.

 

[Leonell12]

hmm ok ill try burning them in using ''pink noise'' and ill also try them with an amp or something, a friend of mine is a music enthusiast and he's sure to have some amps lying around. I'll give it a go. If i am pleased, then i guess i'll get a new amp/ dac (the Syba seems a good choice) and if im not pleased then ill just save up for a better headphone. Thanks guys for all your help. Really appreciate it.