headphone amplifiers?

[fustercluck]

I recently found out about headphone amplifiers...and i want one!...I think. Can anyone here recommend me a good one for under $70? I got some Senheiser HD-555s and an Audigy 2 ZS. I don't need it to be portable and i don't want to have to run it on batteries. If you could tell me where to buy the specified amp that'd be good too, since they're kind of hard to come by.

 

[Viper GTS]

http://www.headphone.com/

If you only have $70 to spend I'd pass on the amp, you'd be better off buying a good pair of cans that can be driven well without an amp (SR-60). I'm not familiar with the HD-555's, I would first look into whether or not you will actually gain anything. (Just checked out what HeadRoom had to say about them, looks like you will likely benefit from an amp.)

If you must have one, & still can spend only $70 you might look into building one.

Viper GTS

 

[imported_Reck]

I really do not think there are any amps that don't run offa batteries for under 70. If you could increase your budget you could get the headsave home vibe.

http://www.headsave.com/index.html

pick up a av710 for music and use your audigy 2 for gaming. adding an amp to an audigy really won't even do anything btw. what's the saying? garbage in garbage out?

 

[Gurck]

The 555s don't really need to be amped. You'd do better to get a sound card which is better for music, such as the $25 Chaintech av710.

 

[Looney]

I got the one from headsave... it's ok, took over 2 weeks for it (and i live in Ontario), but it was cheap (about $100USD)

 

[imported_Reck]

An amp for the 555s is essential they are 120 Ohms. The chaintechs line out cannot drive them very well at all.

 

[Inappropriate4AT]

Cmoy or Mint, head-fi.org is the only place to get em. These things are worthless and overpriced commercial.

 

[Gurck]

Originally posted by: Reck
An amp for the 555s is essential they are 120 Ohms. The chaintechs line out cannot drive them very well at all.

My bad, I thought they and the 595s were 32. BTW the audigy 2 isn't garbage, it just doesn't sound as good as some other cards for music. It has its niche among gamers as well. The main issue I have with it is its price. My PC has both cards in it btw.

 

[James3shin]

check out the Xin amps, such as the supermini, or micro. Very affordable, portable and good performers if your on the go and good enough for casual use.

 

[fustercluck]

Pretty much everywhere i've been people are down on the Audigy 2, so i guess there's some truth to it, but it's really not all that bad. Plus i need it. Is it actually possible to have 2 soundcards installed at a time and be able to switch between them?

It's ok if the specified amp has batteries in it, as long as i can power it with an AC adapter.

Thanks for the replies.

 

[Howard]

As Viper suggested, you could build an amp yourself. $70 worth of DIY amp would probably sound excellent.

 

[cerebusPu]

http://headwize.com/projects/s...php?file=cmoy2_prj.htm

heres a famous DIY amp.

 

[pennylane]

Yeah the cmoy is sufficient. It can be plugged into a wallwart. Check the FS/FT forms at head-fi (linked by somebody else). You may be able to get a pimeta or something for $70.

 

[fustercluck]

Is it real hard to DIY? I doubt i could do it.

I wish there were more headphones amp distributors out there.

 

[Inappropriate4AT]

It's not worth trying to build one yourself. Ordering the materials would be a hassle, and your ability to put it together correctly depends on your skill with a soldering iron. I'd recommend just picking one up 2nd hand from the head-fi.org FS/T forum, or contacting someone like MisterX over at Hard to build you one to your specifications.

 

[IGBT]

I use a Boostaroo headphone amp wit a Sennheiser Dolby Surround headphone DSP Pro device and a pair of HD600's..also have a pair of HD580's. Do a google on Boostaroo and check it out..It'l surprise ya....

 

[Colt45]

A while back i make a 10 minute amp and its decent for the time i put into it

1x 4558
8x random resistors
2x small lytic caps

total cost like $2

 

[MikeMike]

Originally posted by: cerebusPu
http://headwize.com/projects/s...php?file=cmoy2_prj.htm

heres a famous DIY amp.

is there a complete diagram for that? i would love to make one since i think ill be getting the HD280's, just gotta talk to my parents.

MIKE