Headphone Amp ?

foster grant · 6 Dec 2017 at 10:09

OK do I need a headphone amp ? I got myself a set of DT 770 Pro Headphones and when I got them I was told " you might need a headphone amp with those , even though I'm running the headphones through my sound card ( specs below ) ?

Yaayuh! · 6 Dec 2017 at 10:13

You have an Essence STX, you'll be fine. It's one hell of a card, so much so I've still got mine and I've gone through a variety of external DACs and Headphone amps. The headphone amp in the STX is lovely IMO.

foster grant · 6 Dec 2017 at 10:56

OK thanks Rossi

...I might just get a little M-Audio one for my Laptop though

Marsman · 6 Dec 2017 at 10:58

Fancy having a sound card with a good headphone amp and not knowing it has one.

Gamer's; they can tell you about the specs of the motherboard, GPU, RAM and CPU they are going to buy, but when it comes to sound cards, it's just a printed circuit board with some components on it that is used for sound.....

I'm just pulling you leg of course.

foster grant · 6 Dec 2017 at 11:00

I knew that lol....I nearly made a different comment lol

I'm gonna be using my AKG Headphones on the lappy

mistersprinkles · 6 Dec 2017 at 21:16

I always found the headphone amp in the STX very cold sounding and lacking any kind of emotion. But it definitely has enough power for 770s.

bledd · 12 Dec 2017 at 10:54

Get this.

http://www.schiit.com/products/fulla-2

Recently ditched my Asus soundcard, never looking back!

It has a line out for Desktop speakers (don't need to disconnect headphones for it to work). I just turn the volume knob down on the headphone amp and turn my speakers on

foster grant · 15 Dec 2017 at 11:23

It's for use with a laptop so it needs to be not...a desktop amp

Mercutio · 19 Dec 2017 at 11:35

foster grant said:
It's for use with a laptop so it needs to be not...a desktop amp

Just gaffer tape it to your laptop lid. Job done!

foster grant · 19 Dec 2017 at 11:39

Nah it's ok I gave the laptop away to someone on my FB in the end

bledd · 19 Dec 2017 at 16:24

The Fulla 2 is small, uses 2x USB cables (not mains) to supply it with data and power.

mistersprinkles · 23 Dec 2017 at 03:16

If you're using a desktop machine get Schiit's Modi/Magni stack through a UK distributor. I have them they are quite nice.

Noxia · 28 Dec 2017 at 21:17

I needed a cheap one for work so I go an SMSL M3 dac/amp. Should be ok for the price (£40)

mistersprinkles · 28 Dec 2017 at 23:00

foster grant said:
It's for use with a laptop so it needs to be not...a desktop amp

Most compact thing you're going to find is a Dragonfly. get the red version you need the extra power for those headphones. It's the size of a thumb drive, but it's a DAC amp. Obviously a full size plug-in style amp is better but if space is limited and you can't use mains it's what you want.

smogsy · 29 Dec 2017 at 16:58

foster grant said:
It's for use with a laptop so it needs to be not...a desktop amp

just a thought Chord Mojo dac+amp. i bought mine today its pretty decent & sounds as good if not better than my old combo which was much more expensive

Noxia · 29 Dec 2017 at 18:35

mistersprinkles said:
Most compact thing you're going to find is a Dragonfly. get the red version you need the extra power for those headphones. It's the size of a thumb drive, but it's a DAC amp. Obviously a full size plug-in style amp is better but if space is limited and you can't use mains it's what you want.

Always wondered about this. If you can fit it all in something so small, why make such massive amps like some of the Schiit stuff? Is it to command a higher price and give the user a sense of buying a premium item?

mistersprinkles · 29 Dec 2017 at 20:10

Noxia said:
Always wondered about this. If you can fit it all in something so small, why make such massive amps like some of the Schiit stuff? Is it to command a higher price and give the user a sense of buying a premium item?

No, the bigger amps are actually better. The Dragonfly is a compromise product where you sacrifice amplifier quality for size and portability. The cost of the schiit stack (entry level modi/magni) vs a dragonfly red is similar, and the schiit stack outperforms significantly. It has much higher output power. The DAC quality is similar. But you can't put a schiit stack in your pocket hooked up to your iphone or break it out on an airplane. I mean I suppose you could break it out on an airplane if the plane had power ports and you had a small power strip but it would be weird.

foster grant · 29 Dec 2017 at 21:44

OK so I got this one

https://www.musicstore.de/en_GB/GBP/Behringer-HA400-Microamp-/art-REC0003581-000

I know its not top of the line....but its not too bad at all..using it with my PC...but I do at some point want to get a small one for my lappy

mistersprinkles · 29 Dec 2017 at 22:59

You're definitely not an audiophile lol

foster grant · 30 Dec 2017 at 00:37

I never claimed to be