Jeff Guidry
Headphoneus Supremus
- Joined
- Apr 6, 2002
- Posts
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I am posting these observations to clarify what I think is an unfortunate lapse in correct usage of terminology. It is fairly small, and doubtless some of you with think it is petty of me to mention it. No matter. I hope newbies will find this post and gain enlightenment...
Often, we say of low impedance headphones that 'they don't need an amplifier' or of high impedance headphones 'you really need an amplifier with these'. Well, in truth, ALL headphones need amplification above and beyond the voltage and current provided by the line level signal to reach a satisfying volume. Virtually all portable devices and some home devices include an amplifier that you plug your headphones into that is designed to add gain to the line level signal.
Often, it is the amount of gain that this on-board amplifier provides that is called into question with higher impedance headphones. With most modern portables, their rated output is very low, and does not provide sufficient current and voltage to drive high impedance headphones to satisfying volume levels. Also, since high impedance headphones have much higher current demands than low impedance headphones, even if you get enough SPL from them from the on-board amplifier, the sound will often not be satisfactory, because you are driving the on-board amplifier to the limits that it was designed to operate at, perhaps even beyond.
Plus, on-board amplifiers on most portable equipment and sound cards, etc. are not designed to reproduce high-fidelity audio, and lack in overall sound quality.
Adding an out-board headphone amplifier does several things to improve the sound. First, it takes the power burden away from the small and underpowered on-board amplifier and devotes it solely to operating the cdp, md, etc. allowing it to better do it's job. Second, the out-board amplifier will in virtually all cases have much better circuitry and fewer compromises in the design, along with a much more plentiful power supply, so the out-board amplifier can do an overall better job, because that is the only job it was designed to do.
The reason I want to make sure newbies recoginze the distinction is so they are less confused when we say "the V6's don't need an amplifier". They do. Because they are a low impedance headphone, it is not necessary to add an outboard amplifier to get satisfying levels out of them. But, because of the reasons listed above, you can make them sound better, sometimes MUCH better, if you get an outboard amplifier for them. Likewise, when we say "the HD600 need an amplifier" you are simply stating the obvious. Of course they need an amplifier, all headphones do. But again, because of the reasons stated above, if you want to get the best sound out of them, you will want to get an out-board headphone amplifier.
I hope I have enlightened the newbies, and I hope I have not bored the veterans too much.
Often, we say of low impedance headphones that 'they don't need an amplifier' or of high impedance headphones 'you really need an amplifier with these'. Well, in truth, ALL headphones need amplification above and beyond the voltage and current provided by the line level signal to reach a satisfying volume. Virtually all portable devices and some home devices include an amplifier that you plug your headphones into that is designed to add gain to the line level signal.
Often, it is the amount of gain that this on-board amplifier provides that is called into question with higher impedance headphones. With most modern portables, their rated output is very low, and does not provide sufficient current and voltage to drive high impedance headphones to satisfying volume levels. Also, since high impedance headphones have much higher current demands than low impedance headphones, even if you get enough SPL from them from the on-board amplifier, the sound will often not be satisfactory, because you are driving the on-board amplifier to the limits that it was designed to operate at, perhaps even beyond.
Plus, on-board amplifiers on most portable equipment and sound cards, etc. are not designed to reproduce high-fidelity audio, and lack in overall sound quality.
Adding an out-board headphone amplifier does several things to improve the sound. First, it takes the power burden away from the small and underpowered on-board amplifier and devotes it solely to operating the cdp, md, etc. allowing it to better do it's job. Second, the out-board amplifier will in virtually all cases have much better circuitry and fewer compromises in the design, along with a much more plentiful power supply, so the out-board amplifier can do an overall better job, because that is the only job it was designed to do.
The reason I want to make sure newbies recoginze the distinction is so they are less confused when we say "the V6's don't need an amplifier". They do. Because they are a low impedance headphone, it is not necessary to add an outboard amplifier to get satisfying levels out of them. But, because of the reasons listed above, you can make them sound better, sometimes MUCH better, if you get an outboard amplifier for them. Likewise, when we say "the HD600 need an amplifier" you are simply stating the obvious. Of course they need an amplifier, all headphones do. But again, because of the reasons stated above, if you want to get the best sound out of them, you will want to get an out-board headphone amplifier.
I hope I have enlightened the newbies, and I hope I have not bored the veterans too much.