• Registered: 2024-11-25
  • Posts: 4

Topic: Is the first/old Babyface ok for an Audeze MM-500 headphone ?

Hello,

I have the very first version of the RME babyface that I bought in 2013.
It is still working fine, and I'm very happy with it.

I produce with headphone only ( Senheiser HD650) because I can't have a correct room, so I prefer to rely on headphone only.
For this I plan to buy the Audeze mm-500 headphone because of all the good reviex I had on them.

I'm wondering if my old Babyface is ok to work with the headphone or if I should upgrade to another Audio card ?

The only "feature" I use is the Phone output, I never record anything (I only produce "in the box") and almost never use Total mix.
The only thing I want is to hear correctly the Audeze mm-500 headphone, will my old Babyface be ok please ?

  • Registered: 2024-11-25
  • Posts: 4

Re: Is the first/old Babyface ok for an Audeze MM-500 headphone ?

Up smile
Does anyone here own an Audeze Mm 500 with the old Babyface please ?

3 Reply by vinark (edited by vinark 2024-11-29 13:00:41)

  • vinark
  • DAW Mastermind
  • Offline
  • Registered: 2009-06-05
  • Posts: 2,834

Re: Is the first/old Babyface ok for an Audeze MM-500 headphone ?

If your HD650 are loud enough the audeze will probably be okay too, but it is difficult to be sure. I found the BF to be to low in level for live recording, but not for playback with another Sennheiser headphones (like you use).
If you decide to buy the Audeze and the level is to low, it will be easy to buy a not to expensive headphones amp and connect it to the BF.
If you look at the price of these headphones and I am guessing you will buy them for better sound, it might not be a bad idea to invest in a better dac and headphones amp too, like the RME ADI-2 Dac FS.

Me personally I would stick with what you have already, I have no problems producing on my aging HD580, which have the same character as the HD600 and 650 AFAIK.

Vincent, Amsterdam
https://soundcloud.com/thesecretworld
BFpro fs, 2X HDSP9652 ADI-8AE, 2X HDSP9632
  • Registered: 2024-11-25
  • Posts: 4

Re: Is the first/old Babyface ok for an Audeze MM-500 headphone ?

Thanks vinark for you answer smile

I have no volume issue with my HD650 ans i've read that Planar magnetic headphone (as is the Audeze mm-500) have "flat impedance response over frequencies".
So I guess  impedance won't be a problem

On the other hand I've also read that " low-impedence headphones require loads of current, which if not present can limit frequency bandwidth and increase distortion."

So I'm currently mostly wondering about this part, I don't really know wich specs to searchin the babyface manual to know if the power would be enough ?


PS : i've ordered the mm-500 with a black friday deals, it is indeed very expensive so I can't afford right now an expensive DAC as the RME ADI-2 Dac F but i'll keep it in mind.

5 Reply by vinark (edited by vinark 2024-11-29 13:48:12)

  • vinark
  • DAW Mastermind
  • Offline
  • Registered: 2009-06-05
  • Posts: 2,834

Re: Is the first/old Babyface ok for an Audeze MM-500 headphone ?

Let us know how it works, I hope it will!

Vincent, Amsterdam
https://soundcloud.com/thesecretworld
BFpro fs, 2X HDSP9652 ADI-8AE, 2X HDSP9632

6 Reply by fulano (edited by fulano 2024-11-29 23:40:33)

  • Registered: 2024-02-03
  • Posts: 8

Re: Is the first/old Babyface ok for an Audeze MM-500 headphone ?

DamsLMF wrote:

Hello,

I have the very first version of the RME babyface that I bought in 2013.
It is still working fine, and I'm very happy with it.

I produce with headphone only ( Senheiser HD650) because I can't have a correct room, so I prefer to rely on headphone only.
For this I plan to buy the Audeze mm-500 headphone because of all the good reviex I had on them.

I'm wondering if my old Babyface is ok to work with the headphone or if I should upgrade to another Audio card ?

The only "feature" I use is the Phone output, I never record anything (I only produce "in the box") and almost never use Total mix.
The only thing I want is to hear correctly the Audeze mm-500 headphone, will my old Babyface be ok please ?

I am in the same situation. I own the original BBF (which I also bought 11 years ago!) and bought those Audeze mm-500 headphones recently and to be honest, I think they sound 'okay' through the BBF, but not like $1700 headphones!! I was researching that headphone amps make a difference to the sound, especially with high end headphones and so I was considering upgrading the BBF to the BBF Pro fs, since the rme website stated the BBF Pro fs uses the same headphone preamp technology output op-amps as the ADI-2 Pro converter (which are reported to have a really nice headphone amp).   That being said, I don't know if the headphone amps of the BBF Pro FS are 'as good as' the ADI-2 Pro or at least on a similar level.

And tbh, I'm not really in the market for buying an ADI-2 Pro since it includes a bunch of features I will never need (like DSP) and plus it costs more, and I really prefer the small desk footprint and portable nature of the Babyface Pro FS.  I still haven't been able to find a good answer of whether the headphone amp of the BBF Pro FS is similarly as good as the ADI-2 Pro in order to get the 'best' out of my Audeze MM-500 headphones.   For my research online, it seems the headphone amp of the BBF Pro FS is definitely louder and better than the original Babyface, but I don't know if it's going to allow the Audeze headphones to sound their best (or similar to the ADI-2 Pro headphone amp).

Would anyone care to chime into this conversation?

  • Registered: 2024-11-25
  • Posts: 4

Re: Is the first/old Babyface ok for an Audeze MM-500 headphone ?

Thanks fulano for your answer. Sorry to hear that you are disapointed about your new headphone.

I've received my mm-500 yesterday, here are my first impression with them connected to the original/old Babyface :

Only 1/4 of volume is enought to hear it well, I don't thinks my ears would support more than half the volume wheel, so there is no volume issue.

About the sound quality, personnaly it is ok, I see a real difference with my HD650 (even if they were already good). Mm-500 seems to be more precise, I can clearly hear each instruments separately.
I don't know if it would be better with an headphone amp or another audio card, I'll try to find someone to lend me one so I can compare.
This headphone is known to be neutral and analytics, so I indeed don't have a "wow" effect like I would have with a more "Hi-fi" headphone, but it is what I was looking for. (to be honnest I was a little disapointed about the bass, but then I rememebered I didn't bought it to be "bass boosted" but to be precise, and they seems to be).

Maybe I'll change my mind later, or after earing them with another DAC, (if so I'll update here) but hope this first impression helps someone with the same questions.

8 Reply by vinark (edited by vinark 2024-12-03 11:21:41)

  • vinark
  • DAW Mastermind
  • Offline
  • Registered: 2009-06-05
  • Posts: 2,834

Re: Is the first/old Babyface ok for an Audeze MM-500 headphone ?

Great news!
If you have enough volume and no distortion (easy to hear on low bass sounds like a sine) then a better dac and amp wont make much of a difference. Unfortunately it is 1% improvement for 1000% more cash, lol. Law of diminishing returns. The babyface was already designed to be very HQ, its only limitation was running on usb power, which limited the power available for the HP amp, but since it is enough....
Now you made me curious how your new headphones sound...
Oh of topic but I bought these, the Zero2's mentioned here https://forum.rme-audio.de/viewtopic.ph … 25#p223725 and I am impressed.

Vincent, Amsterdam
https://soundcloud.com/thesecretworld
BFpro fs, 2X HDSP9652 ADI-8AE, 2X HDSP9632