Headphone Amp powered by USB?

[Temi_D]

Hi all. After following advice from the forums, I decided to buy the Goldring NS1000 and apparently I'm going to need a dedicated amp for that. It is mainly going to be used with my PC so I am after a (preferably) usb powered one. Any advice?
Also the headphone amps I've been looking at are quite expensive (£100+) are there any decent ones that can be recommended for say ~ £40? Thanks

 

[Shamrock]

I don't know if it will be sufficient to drive the NS1000, but a FiiO E5 might do. It is usb powered and costs about £20.

 

[Cutshaw]

If it has to be USB powered and around £40, I think the E5 is the best bet. I've never used it, but I think I remember someone on the forums saying it done the job with NS1000s.

Have you tried running them with the noise cancelling on? You get a light hum, but it's only audible during silence and if you like the sound you could skip the amp.


Stretching the budget.. well, more tearing into pieces, you could look at a Total Bithead from headphone.com. I had the Airhead and it was excellent, the Bithead similar with a DAC onboard and it's usb.

 

[Marsman]

Hi all. After following advice from the forums, I decided to buy the Goldring NS1000 and apparently I'm going to need a dedicated amp for that. It is mainly going to be used with my PC so I am after a (preferably) usb powered one. Any advice?
Also the headphone amps I've been looking at are quite expensive (£100+) are there any decent ones that can be recommended for say ~ £40? Thanks

There is no need to buy an amp. As Cutshaw mentioned, when used with the NC on, no amp is needed. The NC circuitry acts as an amp, so when it is turned off, an amp is required to give them the power the need to run effectively.

All is needed is a new battery every so often.

 

[Temi_D]

I havent received the headphones yet, I just wanted to be 'prepared' incase I needed to get an amp for it