headphone amps?
- Thread starter Elitemav
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Bob_in_OKC
Addicted Member
Using an external headphone amp would allow you to upgrade the sound quality of that particular component beyond what you already may have in a receiver.
Elitemav
Super Member
how do they hook up? would I hook it up to my receiver and then plug the headphones into the amp?
Permanent Waves
Digital Man
It is my opinion (based off my experience) that no matter how easy your cans are to drive, an external headphone amp will make them sound better than any receiver/integrated amp out.
I've tried all the cans I have (and one I borrowed from a friend) with my various receiver outs (and my integrated amp out) as well as on some friend's "high end" receiver/amp outs and my cans all sounded better with my external headphone amps (this was also my friend's conclusions and they have gone on to buy external amps for their headphones).
But that's jmo. Some claim they can't tell a difference. So it's up to you whether you want to spend about $200+ for a good new or used headphone amp. If you don't listen to headphones that much it might not be worth it to you. But you could always try one and sell it back if you thought it wasn't worth it with little loss. For my part I'm glad I tried an external headphone amp and went on to get two others, the last being as good as I need (or perhaps ever need) right now (Matrix M-Stage).
You can see all my receivers/amps and headphones/amps in my user albums btw tp know what I have been comparing (except for my friend's amps/receivers of course):
http://www.audiokarma.org/forums/album.php?u=19707
I've tried all the cans I have (and one I borrowed from a friend) with my various receiver outs (and my integrated amp out) as well as on some friend's "high end" receiver/amp outs and my cans all sounded better with my external headphone amps (this was also my friend's conclusions and they have gone on to buy external amps for their headphones).
But that's jmo. Some claim they can't tell a difference. So it's up to you whether you want to spend about $200+ for a good new or used headphone amp. If you don't listen to headphones that much it might not be worth it to you. But you could always try one and sell it back if you thought it wasn't worth it with little loss. For my part I'm glad I tried an external headphone amp and went on to get two others, the last being as good as I need (or perhaps ever need) right now (Matrix M-Stage).
You can see all my receivers/amps and headphones/amps in my user albums btw tp know what I have been comparing (except for my friend's amps/receivers of course):
http://www.audiokarma.org/forums/album.php?u=19707
HiFiGuy528
Super Member
A good headphones amp will allow you to get the BEST listening experience from the source, i.e. SACD players.
Rex Aeterna
Gigolo of Gigolos
that depends. a lot of vintage receivers have a pretty hefty output impedance between the power amp and headphone out section. depends on the resistor used from what i understand to determine how much power is driven from the receivers power amp section.
JimmyNeutron
Super Member
I recently recieved my Little Dot MKIII tube headphone amp and paired it with my AKG K601 headphones. The improvement in "quality" is undeniable. I have both my Denon DVD-2900 SACD player and my PC's music ( in FLAC ) going to the amp and I would not go back to listen without an amp. It's worth the investment to get the most sound out of your headphones.
Jimmy
Jimmy
33&athird
Turn on & Tune in
Exactly, just run a rca from the headphone amp's inputs to the "Tape out" of a receiver, then headphones plug into the amp. This allows the reciever to control the signal (so you can listen to radio, etc), but the headphone amp does the work.
I've found that my headphones sound much better through a headphone amp than through a receiver. No doubt there are certainly some units out there that would do headphones justice, but I think a dedicated unit is a good idea, especially if you have pretty nice 'phones.
The other kinda-benefit is that most headphone amps are small, efficent, and not too expensive, considering the sound quality.
egg_on_toast
Active Member
I am going to disagree with most of the previous posts and say they are a complete waste of money. If you have a good Hi-Fi amp with a headphone out it is going to be driven straight off the power amp via dropper resistors. It will sound as good as any dedicated headphone amp. It may be a different story if the headphone output is a separate circuit and driven by op-amps but the last 40 odd amps I have serviced/repaired have not had this so they are far and few between.
However if you only have a cd player or laptop etc with headphone outputs you would benefit greatly from using a dedicated headphone amplifier. Something else headphone amps have going for them is they look pretty when you post pictures on forums so you look like a true head-fier
However if you only have a cd player or laptop etc with headphone outputs you would benefit greatly from using a dedicated headphone amplifier. Something else headphone amps have going for them is they look pretty when you post pictures on forums so you look like a true head-fier
JarredCrowe
AK's drunk troublemaker
I'm using a rather unexceptional receiver for my headphone amp. A yamaha R7 I picked up at GW for real cheap. It uses the main power amp section and includes a phono preamp. How many headphone amps have that too? (not many I've seen).
Downsides? I'd say the gain is a bit too high for my low impedance phones, I'm getting amp noise and even though It vanishes as soon as music plays it still drives me crazy.
I have toyed with the notion of getting a headphone amp to see if there is a difference but till I can try one I'll stick with my R7. Especially if I can find a way to get it to play with no noise.
Downsides? I'd say the gain is a bit too high for my low impedance phones, I'm getting amp noise and even though It vanishes as soon as music plays it still drives me crazy.
I have toyed with the notion of getting a headphone amp to see if there is a difference but till I can try one I'll stick with my R7. Especially if I can find a way to get it to play with no noise.
HiFiGuy528
Super Member
My Marantz AV8003 has a really really good headphones amp.
JimmyNeutron
Super Member
I'm pretty sure he's never heard a set of phones thru a dedicated headphone amp. I have both to compare to and can say without a doubt a dedicated amp is better. And yes....they do look pretty.
JimmyNeutron
Super Member
All the more reason to get a dedicated amp if you're having noise and impeadance issues. I would file this under "why a dedicated headphone amp is better than not".
Jimmy
Permanent Waves
Digital Man
Hey Jimmy, I'm curious as to whether you have heard the K701/02's and, if so, what you think of them compared to the K601. I've heard some say that the K601 is actually better than the newer K701/02.
I also am never going back to listening without an external amp. My Cambridge Azur 640a v2 integrated amp is supposed to have a "quality" headphone out, but any of my external HA amps are noticeably better, much better. And it has the best out of any of my receivers/amps that I have (though not of every one I have heard, such as some very expensive amps/receivers some of my friends have, which, as I have said, my external HA still sounded better imo and several others opinion--though not everyone agreed, although most did and went on to buy external HA's).
I'm not so sure. As I said before I have always noticed a discernible difference between an external HA and a built in one, but not all agree, including a few I know who are "audiophiles" with much more expensive gear than I am willing to buy. But then most of them aren't big headphone listeners in any case and a few think their expensive integrated amps HAVE to do everything better than my "cheap" headphone amps I brought along.
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JimmyNeutron
Super Member
When I was looking to purchase my headphones I wanted the K240's because the majority of people over at Head-fi gave them excellent kudos. I went to my local Guitar Center and heard them and was very impressed by how neutral and open they sound. They wanted $199.99 for them and would not budge on the price. When I came home and got on Amazon to search for a better price I came across the K601's for $189.99! I bought them without even hearing them just on great reviews I read on the net. The K701/702's were $50.00 more and I had already spent $250.00 on the amp that I just did not want to pony up the difference. The reviews I read comparing the 601's to the 701/702's were that the difference was at best a tad more soundstage and maybe a bit more bass. Many people agreed that the 601's were the sleeper headphones, expecially for the price. So that's what I bought. I've never heard the K701/702's to make an honest opinion, but man do I love my K601's. I know it's cliche' to say things like "I'm hearing things I've never heard before", and "it sounds like I'm right there with the artist". But you know what? I have to say those things are very true. It's probably because the headphones are so close to your ears that you can hear micro details that are often not heard on big speakers in an open room. I don't know really, except that I truely love these phones/amp combo and have literally been rediscovering my music all over again. The Little Dot MKIII is also my first headphone amp that I've owned. I was on the wall for a few months as I was studying headphone amps. All the reviews also were glowing about the Little Dot line of amps. I sprung for the MKIII and have also fallen in love with it's dead silent background and very silky smooth tube sound. The pairing of my K601's and MKIII are just soooo smooth, full, wide, and rich that I'm so completely happy with the investment.
Jimmy
Rex Aeterna
Gigolo of Gigolos
that's matter of opinion tho. there should be no argument going on over receiver/integrates vs. headphone amps. matter of preference. if you like dedicated headphone amps or receivers it shouldn't matter. just enjoy your music. that's what it's about right? also only one that can determine if they're doing their headphones justice is the person them-self cause all our ears are different. all we should do is just answer op question reason behind using headphone amp not worry about someones preference.
