Anyone able to recommend a cheap, starter headphone amp? I would be connecting it to my Asus Zonar DX2 sound card. I would like to spend less than $100 if possible.
What headphones do you have?
Going sub $100 on an amp is usually pointless because your source now is probably as good.
The "Fiio E5" is kind of cool if you want something for the portability and placebo effect.
Going sub $100 on an amp is usually pointless because your source now is probably as good.
The "Fiio E5" is kind of cool if you want something for the portability and placebo effect.
I have Sennheiser 280s, might upgrade to 595s soon. So, what is the cheapest amp you can suggest?
YOyoYOhowsDAjello
Moderator<br>A/V & Home Theater<br>Elite member
- Aug 6, 2001
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I am not a headphone expert, but I have 280s and 580s. I don't think the 280s really need an amp, nor do they really handle much extra power either? I have a very basic portable amp that I bought since my portable player basically had to be a maximum volume with the 580s to be a reasonable volume. With the 280s it hasn't been a problem, nor do I notice a benefit of my very basic portable amp with the 280s.
If you're worried about your budget, it would be dangerous to head over to headfi.org, but that IS a great place for headphone info.
If I remember correctly, the 595s don't really need an amp as much as the 580s/600s either?
If you're worried about your budget, it would be dangerous to head over to headfi.org, but that IS a great place for headphone info.
If I remember correctly, the 595s don't really need an amp as much as the 580s/600s either?
I don't know about the 595, but if it's impedence profile is anywhere similar to that of the 555, it may benefit from an amplifier as the impedence climbs over 200ohms in magnitude around 80hz from it's 50ohm nominal. Something like a portable music player may not be able to supply enough voltage at louder listening volumes to keep 80hz bass from becoming compressed or distorted.
The sound card might be alright, certainly the headphone out of a receiver was fine in my experience.
Certainly, the HD600 is a much tougher load with the same impedence shape as the 555, but at a much higher magnitude.
The sound card might be alright, certainly the headphone out of a receiver was fine in my experience.
Certainly, the HD600 is a much tougher load with the same impedence shape as the 555, but at a much higher magnitude.
YOyoYOhowsDAjello
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Hmm, OP, you're kinda in a bit of a bad place I'd say. Personally, I think you should spend the money towards upgrading your headphones, but if you do that, you're probably going to end up with something that'll benefit a lot more from an amp which might leave you regretting your purchase.
My recommendation would be to maybe go for a Denon D2000. It'll sound good stock and offer you nice improvements in whatever way you upgrade (source, amp, modding them).
Something I see a lot on Head-Fi is people dabbling in a lot of low-mid fi stuff and even though they end up spending enough to move up to some of the really good stuff they don't and so I feel like they're missing out. For instance, I sold A900Tis and my DAC/amp and got a used pair of W5000s for less money and there's no doubt the W5000s even straight out of my computers/CD player was in a completely different league. I later found out they also happen to scale a lot with better quality stuff (and have since sworn off of them until I can provide them with such).
I wouldn't recommend the Fiio. Its ok for cheap stuff, but I personally didn't find it to be any better than straight out of a DAP, its just a change in sound (and actually does limit details). I might would consider recommending a Mini3 as the very few people I've seen willing to compare it to the "brand" name stuff say it compares to $200-300 portables (but I've also seen some of these same people say portable amps aren't worth it in the first place and to not bother with them at all).
My recommendation would be to maybe go for a Denon D2000. It'll sound good stock and offer you nice improvements in whatever way you upgrade (source, amp, modding them).
Something I see a lot on Head-Fi is people dabbling in a lot of low-mid fi stuff and even though they end up spending enough to move up to some of the really good stuff they don't and so I feel like they're missing out. For instance, I sold A900Tis and my DAC/amp and got a used pair of W5000s for less money and there's no doubt the W5000s even straight out of my computers/CD player was in a completely different league. I later found out they also happen to scale a lot with better quality stuff (and have since sworn off of them until I can provide them with such).
I wouldn't recommend the Fiio. Its ok for cheap stuff, but I personally didn't find it to be any better than straight out of a DAP, its just a change in sound (and actually does limit details). I might would consider recommending a Mini3 as the very few people I've seen willing to compare it to the "brand" name stuff say it compares to $200-300 portables (but I've also seen some of these same people say portable amps aren't worth it in the first place and to not bother with them at all).
Hmm I am gonna go with the Senn 595s and then maybe upgrade them with a ~200 amp if I find myself using them a lot.
Headroom Total Airhead -- $99 + power supply. I suspect that this is not the final word in headphone amp quality, but it can give you portability and an improvement over many built-in headphone outputs.
I use an earlier version for watching TV late at night, computer audio, and also for taking advantage of the better quality line output from some portable devices instead of using their headphone output (with a pair of HD 600's).
moonboy403
Golden Member
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I'm in the camp that says "throw as much money as you can on a headphone and upgrade your amp later" as headphone makes the single most improvement in the chain.
Also, do not buy headphones new as you can often find used headphones for cheap on head-fi.
If you have a speaker amp of some sort already, then I suggest getting the Stax SR-Lambda and adaptor combo on head-fi as they only cost around $300 used, come up from time to time on head-fi, AND is impossible to be matched by its dynamics coutnerpart on overall performance.
On the other hand, I would suggest getting the AKG K501 if you're going for a dyanmics rig. It also comes up from time to time for around $150 used. I might as well call it a poor man's W5000. It's got a magical midrange.
Also, do not buy headphones new as you can often find used headphones for cheap on head-fi.
If you have a speaker amp of some sort already, then I suggest getting the Stax SR-Lambda and adaptor combo on head-fi as they only cost around $300 used, come up from time to time on head-fi, AND is impossible to be matched by its dynamics coutnerpart on overall performance.
On the other hand, I would suggest getting the AKG K501 if you're going for a dyanmics rig. It also comes up from time to time for around $150 used. I might as well call it a poor man's W5000. It's got a magical midrange.
I have to admit, used headphones aint my idea of a good time.
Too many images of a grease head or some guy watching porn with it.. heh.
I went ahead and got the Senn 595s.
Too many images of a grease head or some guy watching porn with it.. heh.
I went ahead and got the Senn 595s.
moonboy403
Golden Member
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You would be surprised how well people keep their gear on head-fi. In fact, some of the best headphones in the world are already out of production and you can only find them used. That certainly didn't keep people from shelling out 4 and 5 figures for them. I once bought my Stax which was about 30 years old and that pair was as good as new. :thumbsup:
Do enjoy your HD595 though. Congrats.
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Don Vito Corleone
Elite
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If you're interested I have a brand-new AV123 X-Head that I would sell for $100 + shipping (say $110 total). I got it as part of a speaker package and have never used it. It is the newest production model, and was produced after AV123 fixed all issues with the earliest units. These sell for $200 + shipping new from AV123. You can read a review of the unit in the latest issue of Tone Audio magazine.
PM me if interested. Good luck with whatever you decide to get!
PM me if interested. Good luck with whatever you decide to get!
Just a warning to anyone who wants to buy Sennheiser headphones they are very uncomfortable after long hours of use. I have a small skull too. If you don't mine that then go ahead. I know, I know you can get rid of the clamping affect by extending them over a set of books for a day or two but that doesn't really work. Plus whats the point of having really good headphones if you have to do that?
just curious which senn you have? i had the 480 (i think, 4got the model), only complain is that it gets warm but it never clamp.
Thump553
Lifer
- Jun 2, 2000
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I also have a small head (I prefer the term concentrated) but I have found my Senn 600's to be the most comfortable headphones I have ever used, by a long shot. I wear them for hours at a stretch.
That does go to show that it is critically important to physically try out ANY headphones before buying them, though.
I use to have the Sennheiser HD280 Pro but threw them away after many years of use. I will never buy another pair of Sennheiser headphones again. Sure they had good sound quality but they were very uncomfortable to wear for long periods of time. I now own one of the best headphones known to man the Denon AHD2000 headphones! Best comfort you can get out of headphones. Sound quality is purely awesome! My priority from now on is comfort, sound quality, and looks in that order. Never thought headphones could be so uncomfortable like Sennheiser headphones. Won't even risk trying the Sennheiser HD500 pros because I hear the same problems with comfort with them. Not like you can try headphones in a store for 2 hours or more.
I think your discomfort is a rarity. Most people don't find many Senn's all that uncomfortable. I have a large head and my 650's are fine. I have really big ear lobes though so 99% of headphones clamp on those but I doubt other people have this problem.
He doesn't need a portable one but most under $100 tend to be. Anyways he spent the money on better headphones so it doesn't matter now.
I personally don't think going all out on headphones is the best use of the money but this is more for headphones that are $300 + etc.
I mean why have something like the HD800 running out of your onboard sound. You become increasingly limited by your source/amplification the more you move up the headphone chain primarily because your trying to squeeze out that last 5% of sound quality anyways at that point.
Just like home theater a well balanced system that doesn't bottleneck itself is always a good plan.
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