Head-Fi.org › Forums › Equipment Forums › Headphone Amps (full-size) › Should I bother with full-sized amps?
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:

Should I bother with full-sized amps?

post #1 of 4
1/20/12 at 6:20am
Thread Starter 

I've been doing quite a bit of reading regarding full-sized amps, but I find it hard to locate any sources of information that clarify anything regarding my specific needs.

 

I only own IEMs. Currently I have a JH16, a TF10 and a few other low-tier IEMs. Heir Audio 8.A CIEM on it's way.

 

Should I bother with full-sized amps, given that I won't need any substantial amount of power? Would I be just as well off buying a good portable amp and using it as a stationary?

 

I rarely find myself bothering to use amps when I'm out and about anymore, as I don't feel the need to do so. I no longer spend long hours at the library trying to drown out the sound of chatter with music - and I think I'll be fine without an amp during my 15 minute walk to the university or when I'm at the gym hence the lack of need for a portable amplifier.

 

But would I be gaining anything by getting a 500+$ full-size rather than just going with a Alo Rx Mk2 and having it sitting on my desk permanently?

 

Any insights are welcomed! etysmile.gif

Reply
post #2 of 4
1/20/12 at 9:14am

sensitive iem require less V than any DAP puts out so you are always using attenuation - don't "need" amplification

 

the potential difference with an external amp is the bottom octave or 2 of bass response -  very low impedance iem give a high-pass filter with the typical DAP's output coupling Caps that is in the audible region

 

since there is so much extra drive V available you can in principle EQ the bass roll-off of the coupling C - but the frequency changes with each different Z headphone you plug in

 

some portable and most desktop amps will either be DC coupled or have much bigger output caps and can drive the low Z iem to lower frequency

 

but since they generally do have Voltage Amplification you can actually add hiss from the amp's own input noise

 

I haven't seen any "iem" amp designs that really attack the problem of delivering lower output V without adding too much noise

 

 

"hiss buster" output "power" resistor dividers or step down transformers can help both the low frequency roll-off and give better noise performance

 

but there is a tendency for few to really examine the idea that you really don't need an amp, but something else entirely


Edited by jcx - 1/20/12 at 9:19am
Reply
post #3 of 4
1/20/12 at 1:15pm
Thread Starter 

You're probably right. I might need to look into a better source/DAC rather than an amp at this point. 

Reply
post #4 of 4
1/20/12 at 7:24pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Staal View Post

You're probably right. I might need to look into a better source/DAC rather than an amp at this point. 



+1

Reply
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:
  Return Home
  Back to Forum: Headphone Amps (full-size)
Head-Fi.org › Forums › Equipment Forums › Headphone Amps (full-size) › Should I bother with full-sized amps?