What is Headphone AMP for?

[Rhezuss]

Quick question concernaning the headphone AMP on soundcards...does it work with any type of headphones or do you need a specific pro headset to take advantage of the AMP?

I have the Razer Orca as my gaming headset, would I benefit from the headphone AMP?

 

[Viper GTS]

A headphone amp is used to boost a line level signal (or just a weak signal) into something capable of properly driving headphones. It's exactly the same idea as a speaker amp, just on a smaller scale.

As long as your headphones use the connection output by the dedicated headphone port (probably 1/8" mini) then yes you should see a benefit. That benefit depends largely on the impedance of those headphones, it could range from virtually none to quite large. Typically amps are used on high impedance audiophile type headphones which need a lot more power to drive than a typical portable device or sound card can provide. In some situations there will be a substantial quality improvement with an amp but a "headphone amp" on a sound card is not likely to provide a huge increase in quality.

Viper GTS

 

[mnewsham]

^^ :thumbsup:

If you are using headphones that sound fine already odds are they aren't high impedance (above 32ohms is where an amp might affect you)

 

[Rhezuss]

Ok thanks guys. The Orcas have an impedance of 32ohms at 1kHz...if that means anything lol.

http://store.razerzone.com/store/ra...parentCategoryID.35096300/categoryId.48266200

So I would not really benefit of having an AMP on a soundcard...I'm asking simply because i'm looking for a new soundcard and speakers and was debating if I have to restrain my search with headphone AMP cars only.

This will help me a lot, thanks again.

 

[mnewsham]

If you were rocking some bad ass senns or Grado's then an amp would help but you are usually talking $250+ headphones for that.

 

[Zap]

a "headphone amp" on a sound card is not likely to provide a huge increase in quality.

Some do exist. I have an Auzentech Bravura that has a 1/4" headphone jack and dedicated amplifier circuitry for it.

Otherwise, it would be easier to just buy a dedicated headphone amp. That way it can be used with anything, not just the computer. They start under $20 and I'd imagine some of the expensive ones might even get audiophile approval. Maybe.

 

[Viper GTS]

You can get pretty respectable headphone amps for not a ton of money.

http://cgi.ebay.com/SHANLING-PH100-HEADPHONE-AMPLIFIER-PH-100-HEAD-AMP-/220554411981

That's what I'm running at home. Quite nice for the price.

For work I use one of these:

http://www.nuforce.com/hp/products/iconudac/

Viper GTS

 

[mfenn]

Otherwise, it would be easier to just buy a dedicated headphone amp. That way it can be used with anything, not just the computer. They start under $20 and I'd imagine some of the expensive ones might even get audiophile approval. Maybe.

:thumbsup: A dedicated headphone amp is the only way to go for true audiophile approval! Remember, the more boxes, the better!

But seriously, I would only consider outboard headphone amps because they aren't tied to a bus interface, driver support, etc. Buy a quality one and it should last you 10+ years.