Require a headphone amp for PS4/PC

felton1592

felton1592

felton1592

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Mostly it's for PS4 as currently when I have my modded fostex headphones connected through my monitor the sound is weak and not loud, even if I bypass it through some speakers connected to the monitor.

My budget is £80, anyone have a suggestion? :p
 
I know nothing about console connectivity, but would the EPH-O2 for circa £75 work? One of the best amps for a lower budget by quote some margin.
 
If the monitor has a 3.5mm output for audio, then the EPH-O2 would be fine. Not too sure whether linking the site is allowed as OcUK do sell some dac/amps. Search for Epiphany Acoustics., you can buy it from their website.
 
Marsman said:
If the monitor has a 3.5mm output for audio, then the EPH-O2 would be fine. Not too sure whether linking the site is allowed as OcUK do sell some dac/amps. Search for Epiphany Acoustics., you can buy it from their website.
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Thanks. How would I connect my PS4 and PC to it? I'm new to all this headphone amp tech :D
 
Hmm, actually I have a lot of vouchers on Amazon along with a prime membership, so would come tomorrow (I am impatient). What would be the best on there?

(Any mods feel free to warn me over P/M if mentioning a competitor is against the rules. I'm not sure if it complies with headphone amps as you just sell one though)
 
Generally headphone amps have only one input, sometimes two. As the EPH-O2 only has the one, you'd likely require some kind of external switching box. Of what the jungle site has to offer, I'm not sure what to recommend to be honest that is mains powered. There are some battery powered amps from FiiO and the Topping NX1 is very good. Only one input though, so you'll either need to swap cables or get a switch of some kind.
 
Marsman said:
Generally headphone amps have only one input, sometimes two. As the EPH-O2 only has the one, you'd likely require some kind of external switching box. Of what the jungle site has to offer, I'm not sure what to recommend to be honest that is mains powered. There are some battery powered amps from FiiO and the Topping NX1 is very good. Only one input though, so you'll either need to swap cables or get a switch of some kind.
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I'm fine with the one input as after a long session on my PS4, I can switch the cable to my PC.

Sorry for the questions, would the E07k make PS4 audio loud instead of the quiet levels from the headphone jack in my monitor? It's really all I am bothered about. Any additional cables I require for connection? I'll buy it then :D

EDIT: Oh, and my fostex headphones are 50 ohms.
 
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E07K is USB and auxiliary input, whereas the E17 has SPDIF (optical and coaxial). E07K would be fine taking USB from PC and using the auxiliary from PS4, assuming it has an analogue audio output. E17 is the one to go for if it's easier to just use optical from the PS4.

Any of these will be certainly loud enough. The reason why the sound from the monitor is quiet is because the audio output, is there as a convenience, not to provide any real quality. After all, it is a monitor, first and foremost. The components used to output audio from the monitor will be the lowest quality that they could get away with using. A headphone amp's sole purpose is to amplify input audio for headphones. Any headphone amp will be vastly better than connecting headphone directly to the monitor.
 
The best thing you can do is just buy a MIXAMP for your ps4 and a xonar DG for your PC if you want to use voice communications (microphone).

If you absolutely never want to use a mic. Then you want an AMP/DAC which has both optical (for ps4) and USB digital (for PC).

The fiio e17 can do this. But then you cannot use a mic.
 
Marsman said:
E07K is USB and auxiliary input, whereas the E17 has SPDIF (optical and coaxial). E07K would be fine taking USB from PC and using the auxiliary from PS4, assuming it has an analogue audio output. E17 is the one to go for if it's easier to just use optical from the PS4.

Any of these will be certainly loud enough. The reason why the sound from the monitor is quiet is because the audio output, is there as a convenience, not to provide any real quality. After all, it is a monitor, first and foremost. The components used to output audio from the monitor will be the lowest quality that they could get away with using. A headphone amp's sole purpose is to amplify input audio for headphones. Any headphone amp will be vastly better than connecting headphone directly to the monitor.
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It appears the PS4 does have an aux port, so one would need an aux cable?
 
Psycho Sonny said:
The best thing you can do is just buy a MIXAMP for your ps4 and a xonar DG for your PC if you want to use voice communications (microphone).

If you absolutely never want to use a mic. Then you want an AMP/DAC which has both optical (for ps4) and USB digital (for PC).

The fiio e17 can do this. But then you cannot use a mic.
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Not too bothered about mic. When I have money going free again in the future, I'll buy a headset designed for console gaming (to play MP with friends) and keep with an amp/best headphones for sp, etc.
 
Hmm, very much tempted on the E17, however I have found this and has 4.5* reviews.

It's the LINDY Audio DAC Combo (intermediate) and is about £33, has an optical input. Here is a picture: http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41Avj+P7fXL.jpg

I'm just wondering whether it's worth saving like £65 for something that will sound decent and do the job in boosting my audio on PS4. That's ideally what I want it for as like you say, monitors have the lowest audio components. From what I've learned, 50 ohms (my headphones) doesn't need too much power either so I may not see much difference between this and the E17, but my knowledge is limited in this area. Would this be a bad purchase?

I know I did mention a budget, but the E17 does go above it by £20.
 
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Oh wait, I think that LINDY one is just a DAC. The one up from that at £50 is a DAC and an amp:

41kO0LwxT9L.jpg
 
Cookeh said:
Does that just not convert SPDIF/Optical into RCA?
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The first one does (squarish metalic looking one).

The second one with the image posted, Amazon calls it "Lindy USB Digital to Analogue Audio Converter and Headphone Amp" so I assume it's an amp too, especially with a volume dial present. This is an investment for my PS4 really due to the lack of tv in my bedroom (I prefer a high quality monitor), my PC has a Xonar DX sound card.
 
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