Do I need an AMP for my headphones? | Headphone Reviews and Discussion - Head-Fi.org

theuprising · May 10, 2015 at 11:50 PM

Hey guys, I am waiting for some new headphones to arrive and the thought struck me that they might suck without an amp. I'm not sure my specific headphones need them though since they are fairly efficient. I have a KSC75, which I hear does get better with amplification but is obviously just extra, a 32Ω JVC s680, and I'm getting a Takstar Pro 80 clone which is 60Ω but supposedly very efficient.

I'm not sure it would be worth the extra 30+ dollar investment, since I think my laptop drives headphones fairly well, simply because compared to my iphone, the laptops in my house sound 10x better. I'm not sure this is due to the soundcards or voltage output, but even between laptops things sound different. My laptop has a Realtek HD Audio card, bundled with SRS Wow "enhancement" which I turned off. I was wondering if I could theoretically increase the voltage my laptop outputs to my headphones?

PurpleAngel · May 10, 2015 at 11:59 PM

FiiO E10K ($76) or Schiit Fulla ($79), both are USB-DAC-amps.
That is what I think about the most you would want to spend, for trying to improve audio quality, with a laptop.

theuprising · May 11, 2015 at 12:04 AM

purpleangel said:
FiiO E10K ($76) or Schiit Fulla ($79), both are USB-DAC-amps.
That is what I think about the most you would want to spend, for trying to improve audio quality, with a laptop.

How about Fiio e6, which is 30 dollars and I could use it with an iphone as well?

See this is the thing, I'm not sure anything will help the iphones sound quality, it might be a sound card issue.

PurpleAngel · May 11, 2015 at 12:18 AM

theuprising said:
How about Fiio e6, which is 30 dollars and I could use it with an iPhone as well?

See this is the thing, I'm not sure anything will help the iPhones sound quality, it might be a sound card issue.

I bought the FiiO E6 a few years ago, to use with my Sandisk Sansa Clip Zip mp3 player ($40), E6 did not seem to make a noticeable difference.

theuprising · May 11, 2015 at 12:24 AM

purpleangel said:
I bought the FiiO E6 a few years ago, to use with my Sandisk Sansa Clip Zip mp3 player ($40), E6 did not seem to make a noticeable difference.

Guess I should save for the Fiio x3 or some other AMP/portable music player duo.

theuprising · May 11, 2015 at 12:32 AM

Also, if anyone knows what this is, please pitch in:

I swear turning on "Realtek Digital Output" increases sound my sound quality. Isn't that for my mic?? Also I turned my bit depth and sample rate on my audio drivers to the max.

PurpleAngel · May 11, 2015 at 12:36 AM

theuprising said:
Guess I should save for the FiiO X3 or some other AMP/portable music player duo.

The new FiiO X3 Gen II should improve the audio quality of your headphones.
I have the $45 Gemini HSR-1000 (relabeled Takstar Pro 80) and it a great sounding headphone for it's price.

If you need a DAP that can be used with a computer (PC, MAC, laptop, etc) and also to use on it's own, then the X3 Gen II should work well for you.
But if this audio setup is really for just use with the laptop, then your better off getting an $80 USB-DAC-Amp and spending the rest of the money for better headphones.
Like sell off the KSC75, HA-S680 and Takstar clone and put all the cash into one really nice headphone.

theuprising · May 11, 2015 at 1:22 AM

purpleangel said:
The new FiiO X3 Gen II should improve the audio quality of your headphones.
I have the $45 Gemini HSR-1000 (relabeled Takstar Pro 80) and it a great sounding headphone for it's price.

If you need a DAP that can be used with a computer (PC, MAC, laptop, etc) and also to use on it's own, then the X3 Gen II should work well for you.
But if this audio setup is really for just use with the laptop, then your better off getting an $80 USB-DAC-Amp and spending the rest of the money for better headphones.
Like sell off the KSC75, HA-S680 and Takstar clone and put all the cash into one really nice headphone.

Lol, selling these would equate only to like 85 bucks, and from reading your other threads, the Takstar would beat anything near this price range. Heck I've seen people saying you would need to go to the 150+ price range to get straight-up upgrades to the Takstar rather than side-grades.

But yeah I was thinking of getting HM5's for the soundstage, but maybe its a better idea to sell them all one day and get a headphone that conquers them all, like the AKG K550 or something.

Also, anyone know why turning Realtek Digital Audio is increasing my sound quality!? First of all, no freaking google link will give me a straight answer to what this is. Is it due to more voltage allocation? Also its good to note my sound is different if I turn my system volume all the way up and lower it with a media player, than vice versa, is this due to voltage increase?

PurpleAngel · May 11, 2015 at 1:47 AM

theuprising said:
Lol, selling these would equate only to like 85 bucks, and from reading your other threads, the Takstar would beat anything near this price range. Heck I've seen people saying you would need to go to the 150+ price range to get straight-up upgrades to the Takstar rather than side-grades.

But yeah I was thinking of getting HM5's for the sound stage, but maybe its a better idea to sell them all one day and get a headphone that conquers them all, like the AKG K550 or something.

Also, anyone know why turning Realtek Digital Audio is increasing my sound quality!? First of all, no freaking google link will give me a straight answer to what this is. Is it due to more voltage allocation? Also its good to note my sound is different if I turn my system volume all the way up and lower it with a media player, than vice versa, and maybe Realtek Digital Audio allows the voltage allocation be as if the volume was max, all the time? Because my RDA is set to max volume for what that's worth.

I like saying if Sony put their name on the Takstar Pro 80 the headphones would sell close to $150,
(if they were labeled with the name Radio Shack, maybe sell for around $120?).

I bought the HM5 several years ago, they have some good qualities, for their price, but to me not enough bass and I felt they "over griped" my head, so never use them.
The AKG K553 Pros sold thru Massdrop, might be better then the K550s.

theuprising · May 11, 2015 at 5:23 AM

http://www.head-fi.org/t/724961/2-realtek-audio-chip-2000-dac

Hmm it seems everyone in hi-fi audio world fell for the old placebo. So me getting a DAC would really be chasing diminishing returns I'm guessing.

And turning Realtek Digital Output to high made my muddy JVC s680 into something with clear and articulate bass, reminds me of a movie theatre. Like the difference is night and day, am I amping my headphone?

PurpleAngel · May 11, 2015 at 5:50 AM

theuprising said:
http://www.head-fi.org/t/724961/2-realtek-audio-chip-2000-dac

Hmm it seems everyone in hi-fi audio world fell for the old placebo. So me getting a DAC would really be chasing diminishing returns I'm guessing.

And turning Realtek Digital Output to high made my muddy JVC s680 into something with clear and articulate bass, reminds me of a movie theatre. Like the difference is night and day, am I amping my headphone?

I've never really used Realtek much myself, so I'm not sure about the the possible settings in it's audio control panel.

theuprising

100+ Head-Fier

PurpleAngel

Headphoneus Supremus

theuprising

100+ Head-Fier

PurpleAngel

Headphoneus Supremus

theuprising

100+ Head-Fier

theuprising

100+ Head-Fier

PurpleAngel

Headphoneus Supremus

theuprising

100+ Head-Fier

PurpleAngel

Headphoneus Supremus

theuprising

100+ Head-Fier

PurpleAngel

Headphoneus Supremus

Users who are viewing this thread