Headphone DAC/AMP for dad.

[VaderDSL]

Will be buying a new TV for my dad come November, figured I'd upgrade his audio as well. Currently he has an £8 pair of headphones plugged into a 5 meter extension cable into the 3.5mm socket on the TV. It does not work well.

I am struggling to decide on the best option.

He is hard of hearing, which is why he uses headphones. He watches Sky HD only, he doesn't have a DVD player etc. The priority is clarity at higher sound levels.

The option I am thinking (if they even work?) is:

• Either optical or rca from the new TV into an amp/dac under the TV, then running a headphone extension cable in the pre existing trunking which comes out next to where he sits. Then he can plug the headphone in and not have the cable trailing on the floor.

Daft question time, using optical out I have to go into a DAC yes? do I need a DAC if I use the RCA cables? Or can I skip DAC and go straight to an AMP?

Anyone have any suggestions? Budget around £100 - 150

If I don't need a DAC, I assume something like a Schiit Magni3 would do the job and would there be any notable slightly cheaper options?

I know nothing about audio stuff sadly.

Cheers.

 

[VaderDSL]

Are you planning to spend up to £150 in total, or is that just for the headphones?

I don't usually recommend wireless headphones, but given your fathers usage it might be better to just get him a nice set of blu-tooth headphones. I've heard good things about the Sennheiser Momentum 2.0 (wireless), and I really liked the wired versions when I used them. They should be around £150-200 depending on whether you go for the on or over ear versions. Something like that should sync directly up to the TV, and you're looking at around 20 hours listening time between charges, so no worries of them running out half way through a movie or something.

Apologies, just for the amp, I'd buy him a new set of Sennheiser 599s probably. Basically just want to spend enough so he is comfortable, has sufficient volume, and clarity.

We have tried bluetooth before, but they just weren't loud enough. The TVs we have and would buy don't have bluetooth in them anyhow sadly. Cheers for the suggestion, we were looking at the 2.4ghz versions of the sennheiser stuff. But figured wired would get us more comfort and more volume.

 

[VaderDSL]

That's potentially true as far as the volume goes, but I'd recommend perhaps checking into it a little further. If you've a Richer Sounds near to you, they usually allow you to audition headphones in store, so it could be worth popping along. Even if the TV itself doesn't have blu-tooth, you can buy fairly cheap USB dongles that will plug into the back of pretty much any modern TV.

Failing that, Sennheiser over ear headphones are in generally probably the most comfortable I've ever used, from the HD598, HD650, HD700, and HD800's, which is definitely a very important factor for long periods of use.

If you do go for a wired option, something like the FiiO E10K should work fine and offer plenty of volume for around £50-60.

Cheers! Yeah I had bought a bluetooth dongle previously, which is what we used with a pair of bluetooth sennheisers, just wasn't loud enough for my dad, so I bought them off him to use on the train

I've had a pair of HD580s a long time ago, and the comfort is why I'm probably going to go with Sennheiser again. How would I connect the E10K to the TV? it seems it's a USB dac/amp? with no optical or rca input afaik, unless I'm missing something.

 

[VaderDSL]

I don't think the E10K will work with a TV. It's USB audio in only and I don't think TVs output audio via USB. That's normally for other uses.

SMSL SD793II would be a better choice, as it has optical input.

Cheers, I had seen these. For the price, might be worth a look! Will there be any difference in how they sound for example? At higher volume levels for films, tv, sports is there anything to be said for the cheaper ones providing worse performance?

 

[VaderDSL]

Cheers for all the advice, helped loads!

My dad is stubborn, as parents can often be when it comes to technology. I managed to convince him to try my pair of Sennheiser PC360, he tried them without his hearing aid and with it. Previously he had only tried cheap on ear headphones which is where he developed the idea that hearing aid + headphones don't work.

He really liked the fit, he loved the fact they were comfortable and he could keep his hearing aid in. He was happy with the sound quality and volume so I've ordered him a pair of Sennheiser 599s for their lightness and comfort. Hopefully, all this will be put to bed once he gets used to them

The next thing to sort for him however is he is using my 8? year old 32" Samsung TV and recently it has started dropping out signal on the HDMI ports

So it'll be a new process of trying to convince him to change, I'll wait till Black Friday and try to suggest he get a new 43" TV.

 

[VaderDSL]

what's wrong with wireless headphones? i'd hate to have a wire when i'm trying to relax.

He doesn’t like them, he doesn’t mind the cable, etc.

 

[VaderDSL]

Some of the new hearing aids now have bluetooth (eg. resound quattro), so was investigating that for aforementioned relation , you can have android or iphones speak directly too them ... but I don't yet know if a bluetooth codec in an a/v device will communicate with aids - afaik this would be the rolls royce solution.

also fiio e17 used to have spdif input + tone controls - 2nd hand ?

I’m not sure what type has has, but good idea! I’ll have him discuss with the audiologist? next time he goes. I’ve ordered him a new Tv now as well, the old one no longer switches back to speakers when the headphones are unplugged anyhow, I guess after 8 years it’s done its job!