#Hd6xx schiit stack full#
#Hd6xx schiit stack windows#

The HD650/6XX's main claim to fame is the very accurate frequency response through the mids and highs. But you may also just need to get a different set of headphones. Now one of the signs of your system not having enough power for the HD650/6XX is a woolly, muffled sound with not enough bass punch and clarity overall, so maybe what you need is an amp. The SB-Z (Sound Blaster Z) sound card comes with a separate headphone jack, separate from the 3 analog 5.1 output speaker jacks.Īn amp will give your headphones more punch in the bass, better dynamic range and more clarity overall, but it's not going to change the fundamental character of the headphones. You might try setting the SB-Z to 2.0 channel, Front speaker audio only and plug the HD6XX into the Z-5500's speaker jack, see if there is a different (or improvement), from using the SB-Z's headphone jack.Īlso, for the SB-Z to send a 5.1 digital audio signal, thru S/PDIF (optical or coaxial), it uses compression, which limits the digital audio to 24-bit/48K, I'm guessing the SB-Z speaker analog jacks output 24-bit/192K So with 5.1, use whichever connection sounds better for your ears. With S/PDIF connection, the DAC function is provided by the Z-5500's built in DAC chips. (The SB-Z's headphone jack also gets it's DAC function, from the CS4398). With analog output, the SB-Z's (Cirrus Logic) CS4398 DAC chip, only provides a DAC function, to the Front Speaker jack, the rears and Center/sub-woofer DAC function is provide by the SoundCore3D audio processor. So you have the option of using an analog connection, or a S/PDIF optical connection, between the SB-Z and Z5500, use which ever connection sound good to your ears. I just want to make sure that I got this right and that I can go ahead and buy the Schiit Stack, thanks for taking the time to read my hopefully not so stupid post!Ĭlick to expand.The SB-Z (Sound Blaster Z) sound card comes with a separate headphone jack, separate from the 3 analog 5.1 output speaker jacks. So does that mean that I will keep the Z-5500s plugged into the SBZ as is (with the 3 cables), but instead of plugging the HD 6XX into the headphone jack of my SBZ, I will instead be plugging an optical cable from the SBZ to the Schiit Modi and then that into the Magni (with the R/L cables) which I will be plugging my HD 6XXs into? One part I'm confused about - you see I also have the Logitech Z-5500 which I use occasionally - I still need to use the SBZ to power the Z-5500s because they use the 3 plug (Green, Black, Orange) cables.

Apparently this is a great DAC/AMP combo for $200 USD. After doing much more research it appears that my best bet is to get the Schiit Stack that includes the Modi & Magni. So it looks like I now have to get a DAC/AMP. I understand that the 6XX/650s are supposed to be 'warmer' and more neutral but from my research, I was still expecting a great listening experience.

#Hd6xx schiit stack full#

I have to crank them all the way up to 80-90 to get close to a full body listening experience with them but even then, it just sounds quite. I'm pretty sure they can sound great but I just can't seem to get them there with the SBZ. It took like 2 months but I just recently got them! In a very excited fashion I swapped them out and start listening and. For this reason I never looked into getting a DAC/AMP combo because I was more than happy with the performance of my SBZ.Īfter much research I felt like I could put on my big boy pants and get the 6XX/650s.

#Hd6xx schiit stack windows#

I always could only listen to them at around 20-30 volume in Windows because they would get too loud anything above that. They sounded absolutely fantastic together, super loud, very punchy and clear and etc, if it wasn't for my stupid large head and how they would get uncomfortable after 1-2 hours, I'd still be using them today. My reaction/feelings are mixed - but I think I know why, bear with me.įor the longest time, I was driving my HD 598s with my Sound Blaster Zs. Quick background - I recently upgraded from my Sennheiser HD 598s to the Sennheiser/Massdrop HD 6XX.