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Looking for a cheap headphone amp

post #1 of 2
7/4/11 at 6:19pm
Thread Starter 

I bought a pair of SRH440s, then I read a review on here that said they need an EQ or a headphone amp to sound good (ie not like cheap earbuds). Now, I have my laptop hooked up to a Philips MC235B, but that's not exactly a headphone amp (although it does sort of function as one, I'll admit). I'm looking for a headphone amp that's powered (not battery powered, but AC powered) and costs less than the $100 I paid for the headphones + shipping. It should also do a bit to make the headphones sound better, but that's just one review (and another I read somewhere said they sounded good without an amp). I'll wait until I get the headphones to decide if I do need an amp or not, but I'd like to know some options if it turns out I do.

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post #2 of 2
7/5/11 at 5:53am
Quote:
Originally Posted by demize View Post

I bought a pair of SRH440s, then I read a review on here that said they need an EQ or a headphone amp to sound good (ie not like cheap earbuds). Now, I have my laptop hooked up to a Philips MC235B, but that's not exactly a headphone amp (although it does sort of function as one, I'll admit). I'm looking for a headphone amp that's powered (not battery powered, but AC powered) and costs less than the $100 I paid for the headphones + shipping. It should also do a bit to make the headphones sound better, but that's just one review (and another I read somewhere said they sounded good without an amp). I'll wait until I get the headphones to decide if I do need an amp or not, but I'd like to know some options if it turns out I do.


Heya,

 

It's funny, but basically amps go from basically nothing, ie, not needing it, straight to costing at least $100 for something worth actually buying. Portable amps generally are going to run $60~120 that do enough justice to warrant the cost. You shouldn't spend the same amount on an amp for a pair of $100 headphones. Those headphones are not going to spring to life with a $100 amp. They will change a little, but it may be very little and you'll be out another $100.

 

That said, hunt for a used E7, Vivid V1, E11, iBasso, etc, in the sub-$100 range.

 

Otherwise, I wouldn't really recommend anything until you hit the $130~$170 range. But even then, you need headphones that actually need/use the power. Otherwise, you're just buying a neat thing that uses electricity and looks cool but doesn't do anything for you.

 

I think you'd be better off having a pair of nice $200 headphones, rather than a pair of $100 headphones with a sub$100 amp.

 

Very best,

 

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