Are amps necessary?
Oct 7, 2015 at 1:06 PM Thread Starter Post #1 of 11

LunaTikEDM

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Are amps necessary with headphones and do they improve the sound quality greatly on say, something like the ATH-MSR7?
 
 
If they do really improve the sound quality, could you recommend me some cheap and good amps I could check out I'd appreciate it, thanks!
 
Oct 7, 2015 at 1:26 PM Post #2 of 11
  Are amps necessary with headphones and do they improve the sound quality greatly on say, something like the ATH-MSR7?
 
 
If they do really improve the sound quality, could you recommend me some cheap and good amps I could check out I'd appreciate it, thanks!

 
Your headphones are very efficient and are designed to be used with or without an amp.
 
Here is a listing of some of the amps currently used with your HPs.
 
http://www.audiobot9000.com/audio-technica/h/ath-msr7gm
 
Yes, you need to listen to a few amps yourself and decide if you hear an improvement.
 
Oct 7, 2015 at 2:47 PM Post #3 of 11
   
Your headphones are very efficient and are designed to be used with or without an amp.
 
Here is a listing of some of the amps currently used with your HPs.
 
http://www.audiobot9000.com/audio-technica/h/ath-msr7gm
 
Yes, you need to listen to a few amps yourself and decide if you hear an improvement.

 
I agree with all of this ^
 
If possible you should visit a Hi-Fi store or show where they let you audition all sorts of headphones.  Grab a Sennheiser HD 800 or HiFiMan HE-6 or any really high end headphone, and try running them out of your phone (they usually include a 1/4" to 1/8" adapter).  Then try it out of the amp they have there.  
wink.gif

 
Oct 7, 2015 at 3:03 PM Post #4 of 11
Every single headphone requires an amp. However, many headphones are efficient enough to work when powered by the integrated amps in phones, PCs, etc.

A dedicated amp will have more components and can provide more/better power for inefficient models (like the HD800 and HE-6 Rhamnetin mentioned). But as Mr. Rick said, your headphones are pretty efficient, and you would have to listen to some amps to find out if things sound better.
 
Oct 7, 2015 at 9:31 PM Post #5 of 11
Your headphones are very efficient and are designed to be used with or without an amp.

Here is a listing of some of the amps currently used with your HPs.

http://www.audiobot9000.com/audio-technica/h/ath-msr7gm

Yes, you need to listen to a few amps yourself and decide if you hear an improvement.


Thanks! I'll have to search around to find amps to test, singapore doesn't really have too much audio equipment you can test.

I agree with all of this ^

If possible you should visit a Hi-Fi store or show where they let you audition all sorts of headphones.  Grab a Sennheiser HD 800 or HiFiMan HE-6 or any really high end headphone, and try running them out of your phone (they usually include a 1/4" to 1/8" adapter).  Then try it out of the amp they have there.  :wink:


I went to one yesterday and they let me try the HE1000 with an amp which was amazing but I couldn't run it out of my phone as their amp didn't have a 3.5mm connector.

Every single headphone requires an amp. However, many headphones are efficient enough to work when powered by the integrated amps in phones, PCs, etc.

A dedicated amp will have more components and can provide more/better power for inefficient models (like the HD800 and HE-6 Rhamnetin mentioned). But as Mr. Rick said, your headphones are pretty efficient, and you would have to listen to some amps to find out if things sound better.


Thanks! But again, I'd probably struggle to find and test out amps.
 
Oct 7, 2015 at 10:24 PM Post #6 of 11
What do you guys think about the Emotiva xda2 ($299), Objective 2 + DAC ($200) or the headamp pico ($300) or are there audio interfaces you'd recommend? The amps/DACs I mentioned are pretty much secondhand/used and prices are in SGD. What do you think? Would it just be better if I get cheaper amps/audio interfaces? Thanks!
 
Oct 7, 2015 at 10:46 PM Post #8 of 11
I wouldn't bet on a Creative product being comparable to the others you listed for sound quality.  You do have many options; to name some more, there's also the Schiit Modi 2 + Magni 2 (and the uber versions), and the Audio-GD NFB-15.  These and the ODAC+O2 amp are probably in the same ball park.  The Modi 2 Uber + Magni 2 Uber and NFB-15 have the most functionality, the NFB-15's amp provides the most current, and the O2 amp probably has the cleanest measurements, but any of them is a great starting point.
 
Oct 7, 2015 at 11:13 PM Post #9 of 11
  I wouldn't bet on a Creative product being comparable to the others you listed for sound quality.  You do have many options; to name some more, there's also the Schiit Modi 2 + Magni 2 (and the uber versions), and the Audio-GD NFB-15.  These and the ODAC+O2 amp are probably in the same ball park.  The Modi 2 Uber + Magni 2 Uber and NFB-15 have the most functionality, the NFB-15's amp provides the most current, and the O2 amp probably has the cleanest measurements, but any of them is a great starting point.

Thanks! There's a tube amp on massdrop ending soon, is it any good? https://www.massdrop.com/buy/appj-1502a-tube-headphone-amplifier
 
Oct 8, 2015 at 8:59 AM Post #11 of 11
FiiO stuff is meant for portability really, I doubt it would be on the same level as the ODAC+O2, Modi 2 + Magni 2, or NFB-15.  I know nothing about that tube amp however.  A budget friendly tube amp that is well known is the Little Dot 1+, and then there's also the Schiit Vali.
 

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