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low impedance headphones + amp = any point?

post #1 of 19
7/8/08 at 8:33am
Thread Starter 
Is there any point of having an amp with low impedance headphones?

I'm looking to invest in a decent cMoy or a PA2V2 and I was just wondering is there any point doing so since I got AD700's and Head-Direct RE2's, both of which are 32 ohms.

The Cowon D2, which I use with the RE2's, are rated at 37 mW = better than most internal DAP amps in terms of powering if that figure is to be believed.

I was just wondering if it would really make a significant difference SQ wise or would it be an overpriced volume enhancer with the low impedance?

TIA.
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post #2 of 19
7/8/08 at 9:17am
I am completely satisfied using ER-6i's out of the headphone jack of my my Cowon X5L. Also, an amp adds to the bulk of a portable setup. My opinion is to save your money and spend it on a quality home headphone system or upgrade to a top-tier IEM that will benefit from amplification.

I, too, bought a PA2V2 as my first headphone amp. While a very good unit, it was sold within a year. It really did not enhance my listening experience with a low impedance IEM.
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post #3 of 19
7/8/08 at 9:26am
why not?

there are headphones that are low in impedance and there is a whole market of amps for low impedance phones.

i just don't think it is that essential for in-ears though... as it makes the whole kit bulkier
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post #4 of 19
7/8/08 at 9:30am
Low impedance headphones do need an amp to push those big amounts of current they need. Not all amps are intended for that purpose - mainly they're SS or hybrid with SS output stage.
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post #5 of 19
7/8/08 at 10:04am
Quote:
Originally Posted by majkel View Post
Low impedance headphones do need an amp to push those big amounts of current they need.
How much current? 6ma, 12ma, 50ma, 250ma?

It requires a VERY loud sound level to get more than a few ma through a headphone.
Quote:
Not all amps are intended for that purpose - mainly they're SS or hybrid with SS output stage.
If you are implying that it needs to stay class-a to be adequate, you should say discrete output. Just because a given output buffer can pump 125ma into a straight piece of wire dosnt mean its staying class-a, or ever even was anything better than class-AB. This confusion stems from the fact that the INSTANT most of the tube amp designs used in headphone amps drop from class-a they clip hard (very few proper push-pull amps, and SEPP behaves like single ended when dropping from class-a), where SS amps can run class-ab all day and sound acceptable.
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post #6 of 19
7/8/08 at 10:21am
Grados are low impendence, but my Darkvoice 336i brings them to a new level. The Amp brings everything into focus, gives a good recording texture, like your not just on stage, but playing an instrument too. Maybe thats an exageration, but a well matched amp makes the headphones they are paird with sound better at what they do best.
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post #7 of 19
7/8/08 at 10:57am
a good amp really brings everything out from the headphone,

wider soundstage, better separations, more realistic imaging, more detailed mids, tighter bass, etc... depending on the various presentation of the particular 'style' of the amp
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post #8 of 19
7/8/08 at 12:16pm
I too use a couple of low impedance headphones, namely the MDR-V6 and AKG 271S (people say the 271 is actually hard to drive..maybe because it needs more current?). I have used both with many sources, but, especially the AKG, I feel is nowhere near the quality people say it has, and I think it is because I don't have a good high current amp. How can one decipher all the different amps out there and whether or not they are "high current?" Many commercial amps don't have a output current in their specs...
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post #9 of 19
7/8/08 at 12:28pm
You, sir, are correct.

That AKG 271S needs an amp - and it will scale up with a good amp and a good source.
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post #10 of 19
7/8/08 at 12:51pm
errr. who's correct?

audiofreak, go look for an amp with high current output,

generally, if it is good for senns, it's not for you... cause senns mates with high voltage output
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post #11 of 19
7/8/08 at 12:57pm
Ok, this has been repeated enough. Power requirement or efficiency has nothing to do with headphone impedance. AKG K271 and K701 are 55 ohms and their effciency are not even close to the 50 ohms Sleek Audio SA6.
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post #12 of 19
7/8/08 at 1:08pm

Absolutely!

Quote:
Originally Posted by chinesekiwi View Post
Is there any point of having an amp with low impedance headphones?

I'm looking to invest in a decent cMoy or a PA2V2 and I was just wondering is there any point doing so since I got AD700's and Head-Direct RE2's, both of which are 32 ohms.

The Cowon D2, which I use with the RE2's, are rated at 37 mW = better than most internal DAP amps in terms of powering if that figure is to be believed.

I was just wondering if it would really make a significant difference SQ wise or would it be an overpriced volume enhancer with the low impedance?

TIA.
Don't know about these phones... but... with phones like the D2000/5000s - a low impedance amp makes all the difference! I wouldn't own them without one.
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post #13 of 19
7/8/08 at 5:13pm
Thread Starter 
So what's a good value entry-level low impedance amp?

Also anyone care to answer my question originally?
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post #14 of 19
7/8/08 at 7:19pm
My Grado SR60's took off like crazy when i connected them to the LD amp. I was using the integrated amp in my Marantz cdp previously and got good results. Driving low impendance phones directly from an ipod or similar get you loud listening levels but the SQ improves with an amp.
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post #15 of 19
7/8/08 at 7:22pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by chinesekiwi View Post
So what's a good value entry-level low impedance amp?
Portable amps are not my area of interest so cannot help you there...
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