[shampoosuicide]

Hello!

Disclaimer: Please pardon my ignorance, I'm kind of a noob.

I hear terms being thrown around here such as "amp" and "source", which I believe refer to amplifiers and DACs/external sound cards, respectively. However, I am uncertain as to the role of each in a sound system.

I own an iMac, which utilizes Intel High Definition Audio, accompanied by a Sennheiser HD 595 (soon to be replaced with a Grado SR80). I hear that I am doing great disservice to my headphones by running them out of that source. Hence, I'm looking to upgrade the other components of my system. Between buying an amp and buying a USB DAC/external soundcard, which would you recommend?

What is a good and affordable (<$150) amp I could get for my system? I'm still in high school, so my budget runs really tight.

What is the general consensus around here regarding the HeadRoom Total Bithead?

Thanks!

 

[shampoosuicide]

No one? :X

 

[vcoheda]

it's such a general question. at that price i think a total bithead is something worth looking into.

 

[kamal007]

to my understanding:

source : convert digital to analog

amp: amplify the sound

but theyre variety of choices and combination for you. tell us your budget and that'll make life easier

 

[SysteX]

Quote:

Originally Posted by kamal007 /img/forum/go_quote.gif source : convert digital to analog

I'd say more like: provide an analog audio signal.
This may involve a conversion from digital to analog if the original format is digital (CD, DVD, computer, etc.), but the original format may be analog (vinyl) in which case no conversion is performed.

 

[003]

Source has a huge impact on the sound, second only to the actual headphones or speakers, amp has the least impact on the sound, and the impact it does have is far smaller in magnitude than the source or transducers on top of it.

 

[oicdn]

IMO, the order of precedence is Headphones -> Source -> Amp

Your headphones will give you most of the sound you're after. Regardless of the source. The headphones also reveal what the source is putting out. You can have a million dollar source, but it will still make cheap headphones, sound cheap. It won't transform anything. Since you already have HD595s, that helps out alot.

Your source is your iMac. Who cares what your soundcard is called "high definition"...it's all bunk. Yeah it may sound better than other laptops, but it's still for the most part...blah. But, mainly, since it has a fairly large hard drive, it can store lossless, or high bitrate MP3's or since you have a Mac, conveniently, itunes. So, you're off to a good start on having a good "source" for your storage.

Amp...I think this is what makes "the chase towards the ideal sound" since the several offerings out there add thier own "signature" to the sound. But the headphones still hold the key for the "sound you're after", as far as the majority of that pie is concerned. Since you mentioned total bithead....get it. It is a great option to replace your crappy soundcard with an amp AND dac. It sounds great and is very neutral. If you can splurge a little more($85 shipped more), get a Corda Move as it has a better dac and MOST DEFINITLY a better amp and never look back.

There you go...short and sweet. IMO anyways...

 

[Asr]

Source = transport + DAC

In computer-based setups like yours, the computer acts as the transport, and your sound card as the DAC. The transport can be boiled down as the "playback mechanism" and on a computer, that's essentially the hard drive. The DAC is the Digital-Analog Converter, which is a single microelectronic chip that converts the digital signal to an analog one for output to speakers or headphones, and on a computer, that's one of the main tasks of a sound card.

Most sound cards also have an amplifier, which does exactly what that implies - boosting volume. Onboard amps on sound cards are used for headphones, never for speakers (because external speakers have their own internal amps and require a "line out" signal).

Most sound cards are cheap, mass-market components so sound quality on the DAC is rarely a focus, which is why Head-Fiers bypass them by adding USB DACs. External DACs also put the conversion process outside the computer instead of inside, where it's susceptible to EMI and all the other "noise" inside the computer chassis.

 

[krmathis]

Short description.
Source -> Provide analog audio signal (CD player, turntable, computer, etc.).
Amplifier -> Provide gain, amplify, to the audio signal. Giving it enough power to drive headphones or speakers.

A combined USB DAC/amplifier would be ideal. Not sure you find one for $150 though...

 

[khbaur330162]

Quote:

Originally Posted by shampoosuicide /img/forum/go_quote.gif What is a good and affordable (<$150) amp I could get for my system? I'm still in high school, so my budget runs really tight. What is the general consensus around here regarding the HeadRoom Total Bithead? Thanks!

Definitely heading in the right direction with that budget. But don't sell off the Senn's 'til you hear the SR-60's!

 

[Chris_Himself]

keep the HD595s, the comfort of the SR80s will have you crawling back to the HD's. they sound dramatically different. unless you are unhappy i wouldnt recommend a switch.

i would recommend a Meier Move. its a solid amp/DAC for 235. its the best thing within its price range you could possibly buy.

for reference, read skylab's review. the bithead is great, its the airhead amp plus a DAC.

the move may be the only amp/dac/portable amp you may ever have to buy.

 

[ataraxia]

I agree with the above advice on saving that $80 you would've spent on the SR80 and putting it into your amp budget so you can buy the Corda MOVE.