Power Output on a WiiM Pro Plus > Schiit Midgard > Hifiman Edition XS

I need some help understanding the fundamentals in my audio chain. I tend to crank my volume all the way up, but don't know how loud I'm actually listening at--whether I'm damaging my hearing, gear, or both.

My WiiM Pro Plus Line Out Level is set to 2Vrms

My Schiit Midgard has a Maximum Power Output of 5.5W per channel at 16 ohms

My Hifiman Edition XS is rated at 18 ohms with a sensitivity of 92dB/mw

I tend to crank my Midgard between 80% and 95% on a regular basis. I can go all the way to 100% and I'm not sure if I hear any clipping, but I am able to listen for some length of time at this level.

(My reasoning for listening so loud is due to the addictive level of sub-bass that comes through)

Anyhow... if the Midgard is on High Gain at 100% volume, do I calculate the dB SPL from 4V output? Or is it limited to 2V output from the WiiM?

If at 2V, then perhaps I'm getting a maximum of around 121 dB SPL output at 100% volume.

My apologies in advance if this should be more straightforward--again, I'm looking to prevent damage to both my hearing and gear. I can upgrade my amp or headphone if it will suit my listening needs better.

 

If we assume your digital volume is maxed out and the WiiM is outputting the full 2V
Then it goes through the Midgard high gain of x5 so effective output of 10V
Power = V^2/R = 10^2/18 = 5.55W which is a smidge higher than the rating of the Midgard at 16ohm (and the Edition X is 18 ohms which is close enough, the Midgard probably tops out at roughly 5.4W whatever, it's academic at that point).
Let's round down and say the Midgard is outputting 4.096W for... reasons that we'll get to in just a moment.

So you're just barely clipping at that point, I'd suspect the output of the WiiM would be clipping first anyhow if you've got it maxed.

If the Edition XS sensitivity is 92 dB @ 1mW, then after 12 doublings of power we we are at 4096 mW (or 4.096 W).
Every doubling of power is +3 dB
12*3 = +36dB

Add that to the base and you're at 92+36 = 128 dB

Now let's take a brief diversion and look at the OSHA recommendations for noise exposure levels:



Whoops, you've exceeded the table entirely. It doesn't even matter which weighting scale you use.

Chances are, you are already well on your way to permanent hearing loss. Which... is perhaps why you keep feeling the need to turn it up.

 

Oops... just to clarify, I usually listen at around 80% max volume. Not sure if the output is linear. But yeah either way, it sounds like I'm pushing it

Jeez, I never knew the high gain is x5, I can't seem to find that referenced in the specs.

EDIT: found a free hearing test online to do a little checkup, I seem to be alright at the moment

 

Get your hearing checked out by a professional.

 

But there's an app for that.

 

Censor your email please. Also I don't know how this app is supposed to have been calibrated but while you can still have good intelligibility of the test material... I feel unsure of how absolute SPLs are determined here? Could be this only works at higher volumes than typical.

 

Sounds like I don't need more power, rather a slightly different sound signature than the XS can offer. I've already tinkered with PEQ settings for the XS, and I like them. However, for me the bass shines in the 120 dB+ range and that's just not sustainable.

From what I've read about them, I'm thinking the LCD-X would respond better to EQ of the bass and suit me better at lower listening volume.

Mainly listen to Rock, Metal, EDM, Hip-Hop.

No worries, it's a disposable email that I'll never use again

App for what now? Oh nevermind, I missed the snarky

 

If you're that much of a basshead... in the same price range as the XS, I'd look at something like the Beyerdynamic DT770 family. Closed headphones in general will give you a lot more bass response. Or just get a signal splitter and feed into a subwoofer that you sit on.

Are you certain you're actually pushing volume into the 120 dB range? Seriously dude, that's into pain threshold levels.

 

More lovingly chiding...

 

I actually am not certain, hence why I created this thread. I know I'm listening loud, though no way to currently quantify the level other than through some number crunching and best guesses.

When I bought the Midgard, I wanted to be able to sufficiently power nearly every headphone I threw at it. When I bought the XS, I knew it was moderately difficult to drive, however the Midgard should be more than capable of driving it.

I also own the JM Audio XTC2 Open and E-MU Teak. I can get more bass from these cans, however at the expense of speed, precision, texture... I think I really enjoy Planars more for the type of bass they can deliver.

I have considered something like a subwoofer, like tactile transducers to place under my chair. However, my chair design is very difficult to accommodate something like this.



Then there's the Subpac, which from what I gather is amazing, however they seem to be quite rare these days.

 

the taper on pots for audio is basically never linear, schiit's pots are all an audio taper which is a log - the output on the wiim is also probably 2v on full sine, it is probably not sitting at 2v all the time on an audio signal and would depend on how loud your music files are. It would probably be difficult to guess what the power output in your real world usage is, you would probably have an easier time just finding some way to probe it with a multimeter if you wanted a definitive answer.

You can also find the gain spec on the specs page on the schiit website, not sure if you may have been looking somewhere else

 

Gotcha so yeah without a digital display, a best guestimate will be all I have. I’ve since dropped the WiiM output to 1 Vrms. I think most of my listening would fall between 110 and 115 dB. Still probably too loud, and so my journey to upgrade begins.

About the gain, I do see that there, alright. It wasn’t clear to me as a laymen what the 5 gain actually meant, but it makes sense now.

 

Despite all my snark, welcome! This place has a treasure trove of useful people and knowledge, not me, but others! There is a lot to gleen if you dig even a little!

 

The XS is such a great value HP to me, and is much more enjoyable to me than my other two. It was the cheapest buy, as well.

The soundstage and imaging is amazing, the resolution is also up there. The bass hits fast and tight with great extension… however, does not pack enough quantity for me to fully enjoy—even with an 8dB bass shelf. Anything above that starts getting muddy. To compensate, any excessive volume increases have been made in poor judgment.

Getting slightly off topic on this thread, may open a new one soon.