Who here has had or still has the Benchmark DAC3 HGC headphone amp? I wanted to know how it compares to other high end Headphone amplifiers. I have the Benchmark DAC3 B which was dumb that I didn’t get the HGC for the headphone amp. A lot of people say Benchmark sounds flat. I don’t find...

The only thing I messed up on is I got the DAC3 B and not the HGC . I should have got the HGC for the headphone amp. How is the headphone amp on the HGC compared to other high end headphone amps? I tried the RME headphone amp and didn’t quite like it. But then again I didn’t like the RME...

The DAC3 is sorta amazing. I mean it’s amazing but it’s just a DAC. Lol. It doesn’t cure cancer. I don’t find it at all surprising that you like it more than the Holo May. Lots of hype around those products. In the end benchmark really knows good accurate sound.

Ha, thanks man! Ok that makes more sense to me now. I agree that the ears are much more odd than eyes. More quirky but sophisticated. I was wondering since listening for differences between a headphone amp that doesn’t measure that well vs one that does is easier. But listening to two...

It sucks that the connectors to the headphones aren’t the industry standard ones so we can make our own cables. It’s not even the Senheiser Jack. Why oh why couldn’t they just make it a 3 or 4 pin mini XLR?? 🤦‍♂️ Ugh

How good can a headphone amp get? Legit question. Is there a noticeable difference let’s say between the RME headphone amp and the ZAHL? Could you pass a blind test? Not trying to be snarky. I never tried such an expensive headphone amp. I do have benchmark gear but not the HPA4. I have...

Would a better volume pot make an audible difference ? Or only on very low volume settings? Thanks Thor !

Yeah that would be great if there was a volume control pot that was more accurate or an attenuator that would fit. Cheers

He is good no doubt. Just saying that we also can’t be naive. It’s their job. Cheers

Not to by snarky, but who really cares what he thinks ? Most of these ‘ reviewers’ influencers anyway. I mean I like the guys personality and style, dont get me wrong. But they get paid to do reviews. So I wouldn’t put too much stock into what people say. I would trust peoples opinions...

And?

Is there a good potentiometer replacement I can put on mine which is better quality for better channel matching? It would make it easier if you told me the specs if that is possible. Much appreciated. I do like the Zen Can Sig a lot. Any improvement would be awesome

Our hearing memory is pretty bad. That said, our hearing is also influenced a ton by circumstances. Since it’s not only our ears which hear but moreso our ear/brain. I’ve had that happen before. Heard a new piece of gear in a certain mood and was surprised. Then listened again and didn’t...

Yeah I wouldn’t have heard it either if I wasn’t bored and doing a mini project making headphone cables. Lol I never noticed it before. But I made a few cables and after not being able to hear a diff between wire, I heard a diff between two and couldn’t figure it out except the adaptor...

No, it’s the same with other adaptors I’ve tried. 2 to be exact. Yeah I measured resistance and capacitance both with and without the adaptor and it was negligible. Someone told me Tyll Herstens said the adaptor adds a bit of crossfeed. This was after I told him what I heard. Dunno...

Good question. Perhaps I wasn’t clear. Pardon for that. I have two cables made with the same wire. One cable has Neutrik mini XLR and a Neutrik 1/8” plug and adaptor to 1/4” The other has a Neutrik mini XLR and Neutrik 1/4” plug All connectors are made of the same material. So the...

My zen can Signature as an amp, benchmark DAC3 from laptop. It’s the same with my Marantz headphone amp as well. It’s super obvious. You can hear it easily. I can’t tell a difference between the different cables I used though. Nothing there.

Here’s an odd one. Lol Been making a few headphone cables just cause I’m bored and wanted to see if there are audible differences between different cable. What I did find is that the biggest audible difference is using a 1/8” to 1/4” stereo jack adaptor. I measured resistance and...

Did you definitely notice a difference with the ‘ better’ wire in your headphones? The lengths of cable are super short. But I have seen crazier things in audio. legit question btw I do need to try some more Planars as the only ones I tried were the Hifiman XS and didn’t like them. Maybe I...

Ha , yeah I don’t know much about headphone amps. Cheers

Do they sell Beyer ear pads from the US since it costs as much for shipping ear pads from Europe as the pads? Cheers

Couldn’t find specs on that amp for THD and noise floor. I guess you are more of a tube guy when it comes to headphones?

Dang, that’s quite the collection of headphones and amps you have. Top 5 of both amps and headphones ? Cheers

Maybe in the near future to get a more robust wire put in my Beyerdynamic 1990 since this might not hold up well And it’s good to know since I haven’t seen anyone have a good mid shop like custom cans in the UK Cheers man.

Anyone know of a good headphone modifier in North America? I don’t need anything crazy done. I know there is custom cans in the UK. But I haven’t seen anyone good here in the US Cheers