ReadNLearn
New Head-Fier
- Joined
- Feb 20, 2009
- Posts
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My apologies if this info is out there already, but I haven't found it.
I'm currently researching headphones, specifically considering the SennHeiser 595s. In quite a few places online there ends up being mini-debates where someone recommends getting a headphone amp for the 595s and then someone else says no it absolutely is not needed. Then someone else will say it isn't strictly required but it will sound much better. So then someone usually says, ok what do I buy and what should I expect it to do for me? Then someone says go ask at Head-fi.org, they know everything and are helpful and approachable. So... prove it.
I enjoy exceptional sound, but I don't understand any of the terms you guys use on this site. With all the brand names, acronyms, scientific terms, etc. rolling around in the threads it is quite difficult to figure out where to start. Really going from ground 0 here.
So, here are some questions (really for general consumption, so I've phrased them in a way that is not specific to my specific needs for future readers):
1. What is the benefit of an amp? Why will it make my headphones sound better than if they were plugged straight into an IPod, or my computer, or a CD player, etc.
2. What is the benefit of a DAC? Is this needed in all cases? For example, if someone is listening to music on a PC, isn't it already digital?
3. For headphones that are "easy to drive", I've read they don't need amps but can benefit from them. As I understand it this means they have low impedance (nope, don't know what that actually means) which is measured in Ohms. Looking at 50Ohm Sennheiser 555s, there seems to be a consensus that an amp won't provide much benefit. For the Sennheiser 595s though, there seems to be a much stronger contingent of people saying an amp is a very good idea to get the most out of them. Both are 50Ohm, so I don't get it.
4. For home use (as opposed to portable) is there any benefit to a "headphone amp" vs. a regular audio receiver?
Ok, getting specific to my situation here now. I have an old Yamaha RXV-1000 receiver collecting dust since I replaced it with a new Denon AVR-3808CI for my home theater setup. Can the Yamaha receiver be used for as good effect as a headphone-specific amp, such as the Headroom Micro Amp? For my particular situation I'd be attaching this to my home computer from which I play lossless music WAV files, as well as for gaming. I'm assuming for the receiver I'd run an optical audio cable from the optical out on the soundcard (yep, confirmed I have one) to the optical in on the receiver, plug in the headphones to the receiver and I'd be good to go. Is this a good or bad idea, and why? Aside from the monstrous size of the receiver since we'll pretend for the moment that it doesn't matter. Would setup for a headphone amp be basically the same? Does the receiver include a DAC, and does that even matter?
Thanks in advance for all the forthcoming friendly, helpful replies that I will no doubt be inundated with.
I'm currently researching headphones, specifically considering the SennHeiser 595s. In quite a few places online there ends up being mini-debates where someone recommends getting a headphone amp for the 595s and then someone else says no it absolutely is not needed. Then someone else will say it isn't strictly required but it will sound much better. So then someone usually says, ok what do I buy and what should I expect it to do for me? Then someone says go ask at Head-fi.org, they know everything and are helpful and approachable. So... prove it.
I enjoy exceptional sound, but I don't understand any of the terms you guys use on this site. With all the brand names, acronyms, scientific terms, etc. rolling around in the threads it is quite difficult to figure out where to start. Really going from ground 0 here.
So, here are some questions (really for general consumption, so I've phrased them in a way that is not specific to my specific needs for future readers):
1. What is the benefit of an amp? Why will it make my headphones sound better than if they were plugged straight into an IPod, or my computer, or a CD player, etc.
2. What is the benefit of a DAC? Is this needed in all cases? For example, if someone is listening to music on a PC, isn't it already digital?
3. For headphones that are "easy to drive", I've read they don't need amps but can benefit from them. As I understand it this means they have low impedance (nope, don't know what that actually means) which is measured in Ohms. Looking at 50Ohm Sennheiser 555s, there seems to be a consensus that an amp won't provide much benefit. For the Sennheiser 595s though, there seems to be a much stronger contingent of people saying an amp is a very good idea to get the most out of them. Both are 50Ohm, so I don't get it.
4. For home use (as opposed to portable) is there any benefit to a "headphone amp" vs. a regular audio receiver?
Ok, getting specific to my situation here now. I have an old Yamaha RXV-1000 receiver collecting dust since I replaced it with a new Denon AVR-3808CI for my home theater setup. Can the Yamaha receiver be used for as good effect as a headphone-specific amp, such as the Headroom Micro Amp? For my particular situation I'd be attaching this to my home computer from which I play lossless music WAV files, as well as for gaming. I'm assuming for the receiver I'd run an optical audio cable from the optical out on the soundcard (yep, confirmed I have one) to the optical in on the receiver, plug in the headphones to the receiver and I'd be good to go. Is this a good or bad idea, and why? Aside from the monstrous size of the receiver since we'll pretend for the moment that it doesn't matter. Would setup for a headphone amp be basically the same? Does the receiver include a DAC, and does that even matter?
Thanks in advance for all the forthcoming friendly, helpful replies that I will no doubt be inundated with.