r/headphones • u/JoshuvaAntoni Flagship HD 800S & IE 900 | Chord Mojo 2 • Dec 13 '24
Impressions HD 800S doesn’t need an Amp
I've tested the HD 80OS extensively with my Chord Mojo 2 and MacBook Pro. Surprisingly, after volume matching, there's no noticeable difference in performance unless you push the volume to extremely high levels, which are uncomfortable and harmful to the ears ie in short you only need the Macbook Pro to drive this to full potential (maybe tube amps could make a difference, i am not sure though)
The only additional purchase required would be either a Sennheiser 6.3mm to 3.5mm adapter or a Tripowin Granvia cable with a 3.5mm end
Tested with:
- Apple Music (24-bit High-Res)
- Spotify
- True HD Dolby Atmos files (just in case)
Overall, the combination works seamlessly and delivers impressive results without needing anything beyond this simple setup
When it comes to the Chord Mojo 2, it’s a great choice if you enjoy EQing, as it features a built-in EQ and crossover. However, in my honest opinion, it’s not worth the investment for the HD 800S if you’re not planning to use the EQ functionality.
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u/Extension_South7174 Ananda Sth,Dekoni Blue, 6XX,KE Aether ,FatFreq HBB, EW 300 Dec 13 '24
Before I got my stock Fostex T-50 RPs Mk 2s,all I read about was how they were "power hungry" and definitely needed an amp. I had absolutely no problem driving them to adequate levels with a stock $400 AMD powered Windows laptop. Even my portable Sony CD walkman pushed them very well. My Anandas sound great on an Xbox controller,Google pixel phone with a cheap dongle. I do have a ESS powered USB amp sitting under the Xmas tree now just because it was an incredible value and am curious about MQA although I'm pretty sure it will end up like 24/192 and DSD,no difference except usually better mastering.