[I3eyond]

Current setup is PC>Musical Fidelity V-DAC>Matrix M-Stage.
 
I have the HD650s, and I love my setup quite a bit. 
 
Curious, however, if my source/amp components are doing me justice, and of course if I can try out new cans with confidence such as AKG 701s, DT880s, 325i or better, etc.

 

[GreatDane]

I've not used the M-Stage but I've read plenty about it(almost bought one). I'm fairly certain that your chain will do any dynamic driver headphone justice. I'm a PC > V-DAC > amp guy too.
 
...and IMO, the 650 is better than those 3 you list.

 

[I3eyond]

Quote:

I've not used the M-Stage but I've read plenty about it(almost bought one). I'm fairly certain that your chain will do any dynamic driver headphone justice. I'm a PC > V-DAC > amp guy too.
 
...and IMO, the 650 is better than those 3 you list.

I guess sometimes you just get curious.  I'd really like to hear some high end Grados on my system, and I really want to try out AKG headphones.  Finally, I want a set of "basshead" cans, and the DT770s certainly weren't cans that I liked.

 

[Graphicism]

That's a good question.
 
I've heard a few op-amp based DAC's from expensive soundcards to hybrid Chinese DACs like the much loved yulong d100 and concluded they all sounded pretty much the same -- given that they shared the same op-amp. It wasn't until I heard a W4S and PLIII discrete DACs that really changed my idea of sound quality. Having heard a couple dozen headphones on my various op-amp DAC's I wish now that I could go back and hear them all again. Therefore my opinion would be it is important to get a good DAC, all music starts at the source.
 
Then theres amps; The 600 Ohm DT880 doesn't do much for me on the likes of the d100, Zero and other solid-state amps, a high powered OTL tube amp and it's another story. I believe strongly in amp synergy, pairing the headphones up with the right amp is essential, it can make or break them. Ultimately a headphone will keep it's sound signature even driven from an iPod, but in the likes of the DT880 moving from solid-state to tube, the mids fill out, the bass has brilliant extension and impact, and the highs are now lush and listenable.
 
You don't have a bad setup by any means and could happily move onto any headphone you desire, the question is will the pairing be to your liking.

 

[eclipes]

a taste of (almost)high end with a lot of bass without breaking the bank are the Sr325i... your setup will be pretty good with it. my most loved headphones before upgrading to RS1s

 

[Gwarmi]

 
Specifications Matrix M-Stage
 
Output Power: 200 mW / 300 Ω, 400 mW / 60 Ω
Input Impedance: 47 kΩ
Output Impedance: Line out 60 Ω, headphone out 5 Ω
Frequency Response: 10 Hz (-0.3dB) - 35 KHz (-1 dB)
Signal / Noise Ratio: >95 dB @ 0 dB
Distortion: <0.001 % (6 mW / 300 Ω)
 

Looks like the Matrix M-Stage has a gob of power down low to provide hungry current
headphones like the Grado 325i's. 

 

[eclipes]

yeah its not bad for the price. But if you think about the Little Dot I+ at almost half of mstages price, it does 800mW @ 32ohms (omg)

 
Quote:

 
Specifications Matrix M-Stage
 
Output Power: 200 mW / 300 Ω, 400 mW / 60 Ω
Input Impedance: 47 kΩ
Output Impedance: Line out 60 Ω, headphone out 5 Ω
Frequency Response: 10 Hz (-0.3dB) - 35 KHz (-1 dB)
Signal / Noise Ratio: >95 dB @ 0 dB
Distortion: <0.001 % (6 mW / 300 Ω)
 

Looks like the Matrix M-Stage has a gob of power down low to provide hungry current
headphones like the Grado 325i's. 

 

 

[Gwarmi]

 
Or The Violetric V90 with
 
 

Output Power in 32 Ohms​

1300 mW

 
 

 

[eclipes]

oh wow... i really need to invest in the Violetric series.

 
Quote:

 
Or The Violetric V90 with
 
 

Output Power in 32 Ohms​

1300 mW

 
 

 

 

[Gwarmi]

 
The whole Violectric solid state range is absolutely beastly for the price :- Here's the full specs sheet for all current models
 
Balanced inputs too for the V100, V181 and V200, they're on their own at the moment in the market at this price range,
 
(Sorry about the alignment with the cut and paste)
 
 

HPA V90 HPA V100 HPA V181      HPA V200 Unbalanced Inputs​ 2 2 2 2 Balanced Inputs​ 0 (2) (2) (2) Impedance​ 10 kOhms 10 kOhms 10 kOhms 10 kOhms Unbalanced Outputs​ 2 (2) (2) (2) Balanced Outputs​ 0 0 0 0 Number of Channels​ 2 2 2 2 Nominal Input Level​ +6 dBu +6 dBu +6 dBu +6 dBu Amplifier Gain​ 8 dB 8 dB 8 dB 8 dB ... with Pre-Gain​ -4/+2/+8/+14/+20 dB -4/+2/+8/+14/+20 dB -4/+2/+8/+14/+20 dB -4/+2/+8/+14/+20 dB Frequency Range (-0,5 dB)​ 5 Hz - 60 kHz 5 Hz - 60 kHz 5 Hz - 60 kHz 5 Hz - 60 kHz Damping Factor (in 50 Ohm Load)​ 300 400 250 800 Dynamic Range (A-wtd)​ 126 dB 128 dB 128 dB 128 dB Noise (A-wtd)​ -102 dB -100 dB -100 dB -100 dB THD+N @ 10V / 100 Ohms (1W)​ -108 dB -109 dB -108 dB -110 dB THD+N @ 4V / 32 Ohms (0,5W)​ -102 dB -103 dB -109 dB -103 dB Crosstalk @ 1 kHz​ -110 dB -115 dB -115 dB -110 dB Crosstalk @ 15 kHz​ -90 dB -95 dB -100 dB -95 dB Output Voltage in 600 Ohms​ 20,9 V 19,6 V 20,2 V 18,5 V Output Power in 600 Ohms​ 730 mW 640 mW 680 mW 570 mW Output Voltage in 100 Ohms​ 15,2 V 14,5 V 16,6 V 14,8 V Output Power in 100 Ohms​ 2300 mW 2100 mW 2700 mW 2200 mW Output Voltage in 50 Ohms​ 9,4 V 10,5 V 10,2 V 11,6 V Output Power in 50 Ohms​ 1780 mW 2200 mW 2100 mW 2700 mW Output Voltage in 32 Ohms​ 6,4 V 7,4 V 7,9 V 8,0 Veff Output Power in 32 Ohms​ 1300 mW 1700 mW 1950 mW 2000 mW Output Voltage in 16 Ohms​ 3,0 V 3,5 V 4,5 V 4 Veff Output Power in 16 Ohms​ 550 mW 780 mW 1250 mW 1000 mW Number of Outputs​ 2 2 2 / 1 2 Power Supply​ 230 / 115 V 230 / 115 V 230 / 115 V 230 / 115 V Power Consumption​ 7 VA 10 VA 10 VA 10 VA Dimensions (WxHxD) mm​ 170x49x126 170x49x225 170x49x225 170x49x225

 
 

 

[Graphicism]

Quote:

yeah its not bad for the price. But if you think about the Little Dot I+ at almost half of mstages price, it does 800mW @ 32ohms (omg)

 

It still means very little, the LDI and LDIII cannot power a 600 Ohm Beyer and don't sound overly great with lower impedance either.
 
Looking at specs is a little like looking at a headphone and saying "20hz - 20khz, should be awesome with rock music"

 

[eclipes]

I guess but based on experience and comparision with others. 800mw into 32ohms is pretty darn good

 
Quote:

It still means very little, the LDI and LDIII cannot power a 600 Ohm Beyer and don't sound overly great with lower impedance either.
 
Looking at specs is a little like looking at a headphone and saying "20hz - 20khz, should be awesome with rock music"

 

 

[Graphicism]

Quote:

I guess but based on experience and comparision with others. 800mw into 32ohms is pretty darn good
 

On paper maybe. It could say 3,000mw into 32 ohms, it doesn't mean anything at all.