HELP! Is this an amplifier? (complete noob)
Apr 20, 2015 at 8:03 PM Thread Starter Post #1 of 6

EdBiews

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Hi! I'm just leaving the world of cheap headphones for the first time.
 
I am considering getting the AKG K702s, however, I heard they require an amplifier.
 
I got this free with my laptop a long time ago. It's a Sound Blaster X-FI HD. It supposedly comes with a built in amplifier. I'd like someone to confirm this before I go ahead and purchase the headphones which will require an amp.
 
http://uk.creative.com/p/sound-blaster/sound-blaster-digital-music-premium-hd
 
"High quality headphone amp supports studio-quality headphones (e.g. <=330Ohms) for discerning audiophiles."
 
Apr 21, 2015 at 10:01 AM Post #2 of 6
Any headphone output is technically an amplified output, including for example built-in headphone outputs on any device; it's just a question of how good it is as an amplifier. The problem is that the line quoted from the marketing blurb doesn't really mean anything - it doesn't say how much power and how much total distortion it has at that point (also audible distortion may vary between amplifiers). A headphone has many properties that need to be considered: sensitivity, nominal impedance, whether impedance remains close to the nominal rating, etc. At the same time, some amplifier outputs can have a very high impedance, so when they say it can drive a 300ohm headphone, it doesn't tell you that it may have a 30ohm output impedance and will distort when driving a 56ohm headphone like the K702.
 
Think of it in terms of engines: a 1.3liter Inline4 is an engine, but that doesn't mean you should use it midsize sport sedan or a pickup truck. That said however I tried that or an older version of it, and it wasn't horrible; however nowadays you have a lot of other options for not much more. If anything, what's great about this is that I think it has virtual surround included in ProStudio, but again I have no idea if it's great with the K702.
 
 
 
Apr 21, 2015 at 10:42 AM Post #3 of 6
Thank you very much. I think I will get the K702s and worst case scanario is they won't sound that fantastic. But as long as they are decent then I can put up with it for a while until I get a better amp. The main reason for using this sound card / amp is because I already have it. So it's no expense.
 
Cheers.
 
Apr 21, 2015 at 11:40 AM Post #5 of 6
  Thank you very much. I think I will get the K702s and worst case scanario is they won't sound that fantastic. But as long as they are decent then I can put up with it for a while until I get a better amp. The main reason for using this sound card / amp is because I already have it. So it's no expense.
 
Cheers.

 
If you already have it then might as well use it, but in case you have a newer gaming computer with a red motherboard, compare it to the mobo's audio first.
 
Just note though that it may be free to try it since you have it, but it will be hard to tell if what you'll hear with the K702 is indicative of whether that external soundcard is having trouble with it or if you don't really like the sound of the K702. What's going to happen at that point is you have to decide whether to get an amp (I think that Creative has line outputs) to drive the K702 better, or to just get headphones whose sound you prefer. If you decide to take the first route and realize it's actually the second, you'd have spent a lot more.
 
Either you won't be financially burdened by the purchase of another amp, or make sure first that as best you can tell from reading reviews whether the K702 has the sound you like.
 
 
Apr 21, 2015 at 12:48 PM Post #6 of 6
Hi, Thank you very much for your input! I think the AKG 702's will be more than sufficent for the next couple years. Don't forget I've never had high quality sound before. The best thing I've ever used was some £30 headset for skype haha. I will purchase an amp some time down the road and simply return it if it makes no difference. You've been very helpful thanks.
 
P.S I have read many reviews on the AKG K702s and have compared them with many others. I think they will be very nice.
 

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