Valve-based high-definition headphone amplifier system

High definition headphone amplifier system. Source is Apple-format lossless music in iTunes on a PC which feeds a Beresford TC-7510 D/A converter which, in turn, feeds a valve-based headphones amplifier (Little Dot Mk III). The output of the Little Dot MK III feeds a pair of Sennheiser HD-595 headphones. The result is outstanding audio fidelity.

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• Beresford
• TC-7510
• Little
• Dot
• MK
• III
• Sennheiser
• HD-595

[s0Ez3]

"D to A Converter", why don't you just say DAC?

[RumbaTaz]

@s0Ez3 Some people may not know what a DAC is!

[hikinguphigh]

We're do you get your lossless music from and how do you get it into iTunes. I have tonnes of FLAC music but that doesn't work in iTunes does it?

Kind regards

[RumbaTaz]

@hikinguphigh I imported my entire CD collection into iTunes and ripped the CDs into Apple Lossless format. iTunes is actually ideal for this - just feed it CDs all day long and it rips them fairly quickly. If you have FLAC then you'll need to convert to Apple Lossless using a third-party app and then add the resulting Apple Lossless files into your iTunes library.

[tripleraven]

has an amp, Uses itunes. i laughed.

[RumbaTaz]

@tripleraven The music is lossless (just like it would be if it was in FLAC format, for example). It is sent to the outboard DAC as a lossless bitstream so iTunes does not actually do any audio processing whatsoever. iTunes is simply used to manage the music files.

[Aizura77]

Your system is way overkill for your headphones. Personally I find the HD595 not nearly high end, and they don't need an amp at all. I have the HD555 which I modded into HD595 and it doesn't sound nearly as good as my HD600 (which does need an amp). I use the Schiit Asgard BTW. I recommend upgradeing your headphones, or you kinda wasted your money on the DAC and amp.

[ronnieneo]

Can the ld mk3 be plugged straight into a cd player/av system without the need for amything else? (apart from headphones) ?

[DeathToTheseWalls]

Re-watching this video with HD650 headphones. I never noticed the high-pitched hum before. o.o

[energeez]

i don't agree with anything written on this page.

[SkinnedLynryd]

All of that with anything under 600 series is way overkill. As long as you have a decent soundcard you can get brilliant sound on any Sennheiser up to the 598. Im sure what you have sounds great but you would have an even better result with higher senns or k702 / dt770 or higher

[sralmy]

Great review. Thanks. Quick question...Just got a deal on some Sennhieser HD650s for only $348.00 (46% off from Amazon), and got the FiiO-11 portable headphone amp for my smartphone and ipad to go along w/ it. But I was wondering your opinion on a Class A headphone amp for inhouse use with my SACD player/xbox/ computer.. Been looking at the Qinpu - A-6000 MKII, but its only being offered by a guy with 0% customer satisfaction lol Also, I've been looking at the Bellari HA 540. Any suggestions?

[AnDaTeSa]

why apple, why not just flac?

[BadButNotSad]

@Aizura77 That's what I wanted to write :-(

^^

@RumbaTaz You could sell your amp and the HD 595 and then buy the HD 600, the AKG K 701 or whatever and then use it through the Beresford opamp, => much better sound!

The headphone makes about 80% of the sound, the amp about 15% and the DAC about 5%.

Of course you shouldn't use it through your PC onboard soundcard, but a "real" headphone amplifier isn't necessary at the beginning.

[someawsomeguy]

I've never heard of audiophiles not using FLAC

[VerymightyHands]

@MindSeeR666 Why would school teach you about audio?

[MindSeeR666]

I don't understand any of of this.. Tehe.. Shows how good British schools are and i'm at college -.-