Sennheiser HD 560S headphones dac/amp

2024-05-26 18:01:30

Hi,

I am looking to do a dream upgrade to the best headphones I have ever heard and got a chance at feeling them in a store, The Meze Elite. But, in the meantime, before I have the money for them, I want to upgrade my equipment that I am using to run my current headphones, the HD 560S. Right now, I have an android smartphone, Galaxy A53 5G, a desktop with a MSI B550 Tomahawk motherboard with onboard audio - ALC1200 or 1220P codec, I don't know which variant of the codec, because it doesn't say and a Acer Predator Helios 300 PH-317-53 laptop from 2019. And I also have a Fiio KA1 dongle that was recommended to me by the guys in the store, the Meze 99 Classics. I didn't like those headphones and I decided to return them, but I kept the dongle, as I thought it was good to use it for my android device that doesn't have a 3.5mm jack, only usb-c. So I got that to use it to listen with my headphones when I'm outside or at work. But, I don't think I made a good decision, as that dongle is not enough to drive my hd 560s on the android device. I am almost max volume when watching a twitch streamer on my android device, so I don't think it's that good. The volume is plenty enough on both my desktop and laptop, though, which I don't understand why. Perhaps because the dongle just amplifies whatever internal dac components you have, wherever it's plugged. But Fiio KA1 market it to have ES Sabre DAC. So, why on earth is this happening, why isn't the internal DAC bypassed on my android device and the one in the Fiio KA1 is not getting used outside USB Audio Player Pro? Is it because android limitation? On my desktop and laptop with the HD 560S, I get to keep it at 6-8 volume, as going louder will hurt my ears. So, the DAC is getting used correctly in my desktop and laptop. Anyways, I do feel that the sound quality can be improved, on all of my devices, especially the mobile phone, outside USB Audio Player Pro. Because in that app, the sound quality is very good. But on twitch, youtube and other stuff, it's just worse.

I have listened to other DACs in a store, particularly the Fiio K7, the chord mojo 2 and ifi zen dac v2 and I liked the mojo 2 the most. Would that be a good purchase?

I have Tidal and Roon subscriptions and I have noticed a big step up in sound quality compared to when I listened to music through youtube, on my desktop and laptop devices.

But I still feel the sound quality on my desktop and laptops can be improved. I would like something portable, so that's why I am considering the mojo 2, but I know it's quite expensive. In my country, it's around $520. If I get a dac/amp, I think on my android device, outside usb audio player pro, it will still sound quite bad, because of the android limitation using the internal dac and bypassing any external dac that's being plugged in, right? So, my only choice would be to sell this phone and get the LG v60, which has a quad dac, amazing sound quality. What are your thoughts, recommendations?

Re: Sennheiser HD 560S headphones dac/amp

Reply #1 – 2024-05-26 21:09:22

FiiO KA17
https://www.fiio.com/KA17

Plus:
Balanced Cable for Sennheiser HD598・HD558・HD560
Android FiiO Control APP

Re: Sennheiser HD 560S headphones dac/amp

Reply #2 – 2024-06-04 21:02:49

I would like more details, a.k.a. technical facts. Why have you chosen this dac/amp over everything that I mentioned?

Any other opinions are greatly appreciated! Thanks!

Re: Sennheiser HD 560S headphones dac/amp

Reply #3 – 2024-06-04 22:14:43

・FiiO DAC Driver for Windows is stable.
・Supports 4.4mm balanced cables.
・Sennheiser HD560 balanced cables are plentiful and reasonably priced

For technical details please read the link
FiiO KA17
https://www.fiio.com/KA17

Re: Sennheiser HD 560S headphones dac/amp

Reply #4 – 2024-06-09 09:34:54

Hi,

I wasn't clear enough. My bad. Anyways, I will mark this as solved and I will relate to you my experience. I went to a hifi store and tested a few headphones that I intend to buy to upgrade my HD 560S and also a few dacs with amps all in one combo with those headphones, to hear the actual difference and what I like and I dislike. I have tested mojo 2, fiio k7 and fiio K9 pro. Turns out I like the K9 pro the most. The headphones that I tested were HD 600, HD 660S2, Edition XS and Ananda Nano. The headphone that I liked the most was the Ananda Nano and the dac/amp that I liked the most, was the K9 Pro. But, at first, I will be upgrading the headphones, then the dac. Cause headphones come before dac/amp.

Re: Sennheiser HD 560S headphones dac/amp

Reply #5 – 2024-06-09 11:28:05

I use FiiO K9. I like the combination with SHURE SRH1840 (Balanced cables XLR / I made it myself).

What if you saved money instead of wasting it?　
---
This is cost-effective.
iBasso DC04Pro
https://www.amazon.com/iBasso-Portable-Headphone-Single-Ended-High-Resolution/dp/B0BXFQK9HR

DC04Pro Driver for Windows
https://ibasso.com/dc0304pro/

iBasso UAC
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.ibasso.volume&hl=en

Re: Sennheiser HD 560S headphones dac/amp

Reply #6 – 2024-06-19 08:19:03

Thanks so much! I looked up and I gotta say the ibasso is pretty interesting, great technical product. It's even developed in-house with FPGA, which sounds amazing. It has balanced output, so I can use the balanced output on the Ananda nano, when I will purchase them. The price is very cheap for what you are getting, I think it's comparable to the mojo 2. The difference is that the mojo is entirely made in UK, which costs a lot, chord paid whathifi a lot of money to advertise it's mojo 2 as the best dac, chord pays a lot to promote their products, probably and that justifies it's high cost of $550. Now it makes sense. But, let me ask you this. I hope you have the ibasso that you are recommending me.

Let me ask you to do me a favor, if I may.

Would you do a blind test with your fiio K9 and ibasso dac04pro and listen to the song one of my turns by Pink Floyd on tidal, and tell me if you are able to hear a difference? But, tell me what headphones do you have, first, because that's the most important thing and not use EQ at all!

Re: Sennheiser HD 560S headphones dac/amp

Reply #7 – 2024-06-19 09:09:23

I am using iBasso DC04Pro in the following environment.

-iBasso DC04Pro + SONY MDR-1AM2 (4.4mm Balanced Cable)

I also use the iBasso DC04Pro as a portable device (Android Tablet TypeC) to take outside.
The iBasso DC04Pro has the functionality to be used as both a portable and a stationary DAC.

However, when listening with the FiiO K9, it is immediately clear that the mid-range model is by far the higher quality.
It's clearer, deeper, more immersive. Anyone with decent headphones can hear the difference.

-FiiO K9 (K7) + SONY MDR-1AM2 (4.4mm Balanced Cable)

Re: Sennheiser HD 560S headphones dac/amp

Reply #8 – 2024-06-19 09:29:38

By mid range model, you are referring to the K9?

Re: Sennheiser HD 560S headphones dac/amp

Reply #9 – 2024-06-19 09:32:23

Yes, FiiO K9.
----
In Japan, the SENNHEISER HD 620S was released in mid-June. I was late in buying it and it's currently out of stock. I've reserved it. I can't wait for it to arrive.

Re: Sennheiser HD 560S headphones dac/amp

Reply #10 – 2024-06-19 14:13:31

Okay. So there are differences. But the price for K9 is much higher. I don't think it justifies the price going for it, especially since it's way out of my budget. Not to mention that I have to get the ananda nano. But that is up to me, of course.

Those recommendations that you gave me apply to almost any headphones? Or just for the HD 560S? I am talking about Fiio KA17 and iBasso DC04Pro.

Do they sinergize well with hifiman Ananda nano, which is a planar magnetic headphone with a sensitivity of 94 dB and an impedance of just 14 ohms?

Re: Sennheiser HD 560S headphones dac/amp

Reply #11 – 2024-06-19 14:29:20

Both the iBasso DC04Pro and FiiO K9 have a simple sound with no quirks, so they're fine.
Both the HIFIMAN Edition XS and SENNHEISER HD 660S2 produce good sound.

It is best to choose based on your own preference.

Re: Sennheiser HD 560S headphones dac/amp

Reply #12 – 2024-06-19 15:21:20

The reason that I am asking is that if I decide for the iBasso DC04Pro, I would have to blind buy it and if I don't like it, I'm not sure I can return it. The store is online only and it's based outside my country. But I trust you and the product, because I can tell and feel it's a very high quality product and you get double the price that you are paying, from what I can see. Also, it has everything I need.

Re: Sennheiser HD 560S headphones dac/amp

Reply #13 – 2024-06-19 15:31:35

Please purchase the iBasso DC04Pro for portable use. It can also be used as a stationary device.
It also supports ASIO Driver, so you won't regret buying it.

This product is also popular in Japan.
I love new things, so I bought it straight away.

When it comes to audio equipment, it's difficult to strike a balance between taking good care of it and using it for a long time, and trying out new things.

Re: Sennheiser HD 560S headphones dac/amp

Reply #14 – 2024-06-19 16:13:05

Yes, I have seen that the iBasso DC04Pro won in the summer of 2023 VGP award as well as in 2024 gold award by a prestigious japanese company. If the japanese awarded this little dac, then it must mean something. The japanese are very strict, from what I know.