Oh boy, I think this question is going to get me a flame! But here goes... I (honestly) want to know what a headphone amp does for the sound. Obviously, it's dependant on the quality of the headphones, but what 'extra' does a specific amp contribute? I'm looking into headphones / setup at the moment, so am interested in the knowledge you guys have on the best setup... Cheers, SouperAndy
A solid state amp should contribute nothing to the sound (except the increased power being sent down the wire). A tube amp will (depending on the tubes you use) increase the volume of the lower and upper frequencies and reduce the mid-frequencies. This leads to a somewhat warmer sound.
For on the go, Sennheiser CX-300 II: Did have some CX-400's, but they broke Moovies, Steelseries Siberia: And for gaming, just wish they had more bass, Gamecom 367s:
Thanks Ramble, A solid state amp is purely digital, so will just boost output levels. Whereas, a tube (expensive?!) amp has a non-linear response and exaggerates / blends certain frequency ranges, is this correct? So (here I go again), what is the point of the solid state headphone amps? Surely is it's all about volume, most current sources would provide more than enough? Cheers, SouperAndy
Some headphones have a very high impedance and you wont be able to drive them properly without some form of amp.
Pretty much but there are other concerns like output impedance you have to worry about. For example if you're lukcy enough to own a pair of beyerdynamic dt880s at 600ohms then you need (want) an amp with a high output impedance simply because your volume will be very low from other devices. If you have some AKG k701s then you want the opposite. This is a low impedance phone (and low sensitivity) and you want a lot more current running through otherwise the drivers will be somewhat more lifeless. Of course this is all taken with a pinch of salt and some amps do nothing for certain headphones and you might not be able to even hear a difference.
If any of it were true these days. Firstly, solid state is not neccessarily a digital / switching amplifier, in fact most of them aren't. Ditto, you can get solid state amps that sound very warm and valve amps that don't. In times past, the difference was far more marked. The answer to what a headphone amp does is something that you'd need to listen to really. Hi fi reviewers will use words like 'clarity' and 'presence' and they kind of fit, but describing the change in sound is actually very difficult because the language is so subjective. In the same way as with normal "hi fi", a more expensive amp is not simply about louder volume, the sound does change between them. A more meaty amp gives it more control over what it's driving. In much the same way it's not a great idea to run a car at full speed (speedlimits aside) or a computer heavily overclocked, the same applies to amps. At the end of the day, go listen to one, and see what you think. If you think the sound improvement is worth it, great, if not, don't buy it.
Ahhh, got you... So, you really need to match headphones to the amp... Much like matching speakers to a full-size receiver (which makes sense, obviously)... So it's usually best to search for a good set of headphones and then match the amp, or the other way around? Thanks for the info, SouperAndy
Aye you are correct but you are more likely to get away with not amping a low impedance headphone. Really I'd recommend heading over to head-fi if you want to get into detail (just hide your wallet somewhere so you can't buy anything on impulse).
Don't do that! I have a very weak grip on my wallet The reason I'm asking these (probably total noob) questions is that I have a diverse range in music taste, from Prokofiev thru to Slipknot. I currently have a set of Razer Piranhas (uncomfortable for long periods) that I use on my computer, but I also have a pair of Sennheiser RS120 (wireless) that I bought for the missus. Looks like I'll have to find a storefront that will allow testing of equipment, which seems hard to find in Melbourne, unfortunately... Cheers, SouperAndy
I have loads of trouble find places to audition audio gear in the UK so you aren't alone. What you'll find some people do is order several ones they want to listen to then return all but the one they like (you spend a bit more on postage and have to float the cost of the headphones...) but this requires a store that has a good return policy. So what sort of thing are you looking and what sort of price range?
Generally the wisdom is to buy the amp first and then get your collection of headphones but I disagree with that. Headphones make the biggest changes in sound while amps will make a tiny change - find the headphones you enjoy first. What's your budget and what sort of sound do you like? Detailed and harsh, warm, neutral, fast or relaxing, etc.
I just use my iPhone headphones. It's only while I'm at work, after all. The rest of the time I have speakers.
& Thanks for the help Guys, Regarding price range, I don't mind spending a bit as long as it makes an appreciable difference... Probably AU$500 - $1,000 (300 - 600 pounds) in total would be the range I'd be prepared to pay. I have actually found a good web store http://headphones.com.au that I'm going to investigate (like the looks of these ) Amp-wise, I'd probably go for a solid-state, as it seems the valve amps are generally a lot more expensive... Being analogue, I would assume the quality of the components has more effect on the sound?! Thanks again, SouperAndy
On the PC for movies, tv & music: Sennheiser HD485's. Via a simple 3.5mm 3 channel (2 line's plus mic) switcher, I can have that signal switched to my hi-fi which is a JVC UX-DM9DB with oblique cone speakers. Via an additional switch of the same type, I can switch the main line out from the PC to my Speedlink Medusa Progamer headset, for gaming. I also use a set of 485's with my Xbox, and for quiet guitar sessions, there's a pair of Senn HD595's hanging on my bass amp. On the move, I use either a pair of Apple in ear buds or CX400's. I have Sonix 3's as well but rarely use them. I was a bit disappointed with the sound quality in the low end considering they're such a well made and nicely designed set of buds. I'm told I must have a bad pair but I don't know if there's any truth in that. Last but not least, there's a cheapy pair of Sennheiser HD150's in the workshop for me to wear when I'm working at the bench for long periods (sleeving, soldering, drawing, paperwork and other precision work) and a 150W Sharp hi-fi for when I want to be a little louder down there
Audio-gd Compass dac/headphone amp and a pair of Shure SRH840's. I had a pair of Sennheiser hd650's but being open back meant I spent too long listening to the environmental noise around me as the noise floor in my house is sadly rather high, so I sold them and got the Shure's, however, I'm absolutely blown away by how good they are. Check out head-fi for a some reviews and opinions other than my own. Sorry about the quality of the picture, my camera was stolen yesterday.
+1 on the Koss PortaPro's, they've been in production for 25 years and other than a few minor revisions they've hardly changed at all. Really great headphone for the price. http://www.headphone.com/selection-guide/koss-porta-pro.php
