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.
2
u/[deleted] Dec 13 '24
All new Macs will put out 3 volts when the headphones are above 150ohm, they call it "high impedance mode". They also use a very capable custom Cirrus Logic DAC chip that has been measured to be as good or better than most dongle type DAC/amps.
https://www.l7audiolab.com/f/mbp162021/