The Hifiman HE1000se are my daily drivers and known for not being too power hungry. I have two chains in which I listen to them:
- Living Room: Marantz DAC-1 -> Schiit Asgard2
- Desk: Schiit Bifrost2 -> Schiit Lyr3
I wonder whether the HE1000se benefit much from better amps, and if so, what price range we are talking about… Are amps like the Feliks Audio Euforia or the Flux Labs Volot a complete overkill? Is there something worthwhile in between? Or is even the DAC the better component to tackle here?
If we’re talking about correctly implemented DACs and well-designed, low output impedance solid state amplifiers with enough power to reach the required loudness while preserving dynamic range, then no.
Of course, there are other products like tube amps that may produce a different sound signature that may be pleasant to the listener. If you’re interested in that sort of thing, you could give it a try!