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Should I use my integrated amp to drive headphones? (First Post)
Apr 20, 2016 at 10:13 AM Thread Starter Post #1 of 58
billysteventay

billysteventay

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Hello there! My name is Billy, and this is my first post on Head-Fi. I have been looking at the Sennheiser HD800 for quite a while now, and have been deciding whether I should make such an investment. I tried them out in a store, and I absolutely fell in love with them. However, at that time, they where plugged into Sennheiser's DAC/Amp, the HDVD 800. I have an integrated amplifier at home, the Rotel RA-980-BX which I use mainly for my turntable and CD player. The headphone output supports 8 ohms - 2000 ohms. There is certainly enough power to drive them, but my main concern is the sound quality. Should I get an external headphone amp? I am also currently looking at a Schiit Magni if my Rotel can't deliver the sonic goods. I look forward to your advice!
 
Apr 20, 2016 at 11:12 AM Post #2 of 58
Quote:
Originally Posted by billysteventay /img/forum/go_quote.gif
The headphone output supports 8 ohms - 2000 ohms. There is certainly enough power to drive them, but my main concern is the sound quality. 
Click to expand...

 
First off...that doesn't really tell you anything. I can take a Ferrari V8 engine and tell people that they can tow a boat with it because the max torque isn't far off from what practically any other V8 does, only for them to find out it's pretty useless for that below 5000rpm because that's where the torque really starts to come in and it's actually more dependent on RPM than torque to begin with.
 
Likewise that amplifier tells you it can support 8ohms to 2000ohms, but how much power in mW? At what level of THD and noise? Also the sensitivity of the headphone (same as with speakers) will make each headphone need a different amount of power to achieve a given SPL. And then there's impedance - the output impedance of the amplifier typically needs to be lower than the nominal impedance of the headphone. In the case of the HD800 the sensitivity and impedance are high enough that it might not have any problems, but you never know.
 
 
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by billysteventay /img/forum/go_quote.gif
Should I get an external headphone amp?
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Can't you bring the amplifier over to that store? I mean you're lucky enough you can buy it there, compared to how many people have to buy everything deaf (ie "blind") online. If you liked the sound of the HDV800 and your CDP and integrated amp don't sound as good, then get an amplifier. See what else they have in the store that you can afford and try those out before looking into what you can order online. If there's any that's good enough value compared to the HDVD800 then get that one if you can afford it.
 
Apr 20, 2016 at 12:13 PM Post #3 of 58
billysteventay said:
  Hello there! My name is Billy, and this is my first post on Head-Fi. I have been looking at the Sennheiser HD800 for quite a while now, and have been deciding whether I should make such an investment. I tried them out in a store, and I absolutely fell in love with them. However, at that time, they where plugged into Sennheiser's DAC/Amp, the HDVD 800. I have an integrated amplifier at home, the Rotel RA-980-BX which I use mainly for my turntable and CD player. The headphone output supports 8 ohms - 2000 ohms. There is certainly enough power to drive them, but my main concern is the sound quality. Should I get an external headphone amp? I am also currently looking at a Schiit Magni if my Rotel can't deliver the sonic goods. I look forward to your advice!
Click to expand...

 
I'm going to guess(?) the Rotel RA-980-BX will do a fairly decent job of driving the 300-Ohm Sennheiser HD800.
 
If you were going to get a dedicated headphone amplifier, then I think you would really want to spend more then what a Magni costs, to make it worthwhile.
Like this DarkVoice 336SE OTL Headphone Amplifier, normally around $320, but selling on Massdrop for $220.
https://www.massdrop.com/buy/dark-voice-366se
 
Apr 20, 2016 at 3:14 PM Post #4 of 58
purpleangel said:
   
I'm going to guess(?) the Rotel RA-980-BX will do a fairly decent job of driving the 300-Ohm Sennheiser HD800.
 
If you were going to get a dedicated headphone amplifier, then I think you would really want to spend more then what a Magni costs, to make it worthwhile.
Like this DarkVoice 336SE OTL Headphone Amplifier, normally around $320, but selling on Massdrop for $220.
https://www.massdrop.com/buy/dark-voice-366se
Click to expand...

 
Yea I second the DarkVoice, although jumping right into tubes might be a little overwhelming. Perhaps start with solid state first?
 
Either way, I always recommend spending the same price or more on your amp/dac as the headphones you are using them on (unless obviously its a portable/low impedance headphone).. but that's not always the best recommendation, just a good rule of thumb.
 
I do think you should get an amp along with your purchase though, the HD800's demand decent power and are very unforgiving with below average gear.
 
Apr 20, 2016 at 3:41 PM Post #7 of 58
hifimad said:
  try the grado PS1000e they are the best headphones you can get.i have them myself getting the sugden amp soon
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I think "they are the best headphones you can get" might be more opinion than fact! haha
 
But I do think the PS1000e are fine headphones. I would just suggest to demo as much in your price range as possible and decide based on what you liked best.
 
Headphone meets or conventions are the best ways for that if you don't have a good local shop.
 
Apr 20, 2016 at 4:17 PM Post #8 of 58
They are the best I have heard every headphone on the market from 100 pounds to over 5 grand. More dynamic more detailed easy to drive 32ohms can run them of a iPod with fantastic results also they are not fussy about headphone amps . All other brands are 300ohms to 600ohms very hard to drive them .
 
Apr 20, 2016 at 4:24 PM Post #10 of 58
hifimad said:
They are the best I have heard every headphone on the market from 100 pounds to over 5 grand. More dynamic more detailed easy to drive 32ohms can run them of a iPod with fantastic results also they are not fussy about headphone amps . All other brands are 300ohms to 600ohms very hard to drive them .
Click to expand...


But isn't "the best" subjective?
 
I mean what even defines best and how can you say those are the ones?
 
Are you looking at frequency response or your own taste or what?
 
What you like isn't always going to be what someone else likes.
 
Apr 21, 2016 at 11:43 AM Post #14 of 58
Quote:
billysteventay said:


I have been looking at other headphone amps, mostly integrated ones. I have been interested in the Schiit Asgard. Any opinions on this?
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The Asgard is not an "integrated" amp in the sense that there is no such classification of "integrated" vs "pure power" amps when it comes to headphones - all of them have the preamp and power amp in one case. Even one that doesn't still comes as one package from the manufacturer and in all other cases the separate unit is the power supply - too large to be a power brick and yet they want the transformer away from the circuit board.
 
As for the sound, again, can't you try bringing your Rotel amp to that store? You're already lucky enough to be able to try things out locally instead of buying online and shipping them back. Take the Rotel to the store and listen vs the HDVD800 - if the sound is mostly identical to your ears then you just saved money on an amplifier.
 
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