Do I need a headphone amp?

[MetalElvis]

Hi!

My first post here. Hope you guys can shed some light for me. This headphone amp thing is a bit mystery for me... hopefully not for long.

I have a little homestudio with Mac Pro ---> Fireface 800 soundcard ---> Presonus Central Station ---> HD600&650 / Genelec 8250. So are the CS headphone outs good enough? Or do I need a headphone amp? Would it improve the sound?

I´ve thought about ordering something from Meier, but don´t know what... Then again my local shop would have Rega Ear for 249 euros or Pro-ject Headbox II for 139e. So I could pick those up home fast. (I´m in a kind of hurry). Would those improve the sound over the CS headphone outs? Or do they just sound "just as good but different". Obviously I don´t want that. I want major improvement to the sound, if I´m gonna buy a headphone amp. Lots of details and tight big bass!

My budjet is about 100-400e. I only need one channel (two at max). And a GOOD volume knob, I tend to use it a lot. I´m wondering will that budjet really be enough for improvement in sound, since the Fireface 800 and Presonus weren´t exactly cheap. So should I need a bigger budjet?

Also what kind of cables do I need from CS ---> to the headphone amp? Something like 1/4 TRS--->RCA cables? What cables would be good quality?

 

[fdhfdy]

Yes, they will improve the sq dramastically. I am using a head amp on my mac, which is really different from the unamped one. Earmax Pro that is a tube amp would be a nice shot for 400 e.

compare to amp, cables bring less surprise in most of time. try cheap one first and then think about updating.

 

[Dominat0r]

600/650 certainly need a good amount to push them to their full potential.

Welcome to Headfi and sorry for your wallet.

 

[Uncle Erik]

No, you don't need to buy another amp.

The amp in the Central Station is, in my opinion, a very good one. Until I went to vinyl/SACD, I used a Central Station fed by a Mac Mini. The CS can even power the K-1000 reasonably well - you don't need to buy anything more.

If you're looking to spend some money, how about a used turntable? It will open up a world of new music to you. They're fun, too.

 

[nikongod]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Uncle Erik /img/forum/go_quote.gif If you're looking to spend some money, how about a used turntable? It will open up a world of new music to you. They're fun, too.

QFT. turntables are excelent fun. there is some new music still pressed, and plenty of old stuff in basements waiting to be bought for $10 a CRATE.

If the RIAA ever comes for me, I will first ask them to justify why the record "coding" standard does not actually match up with any standard resistor or cap values. Then I will tell them to fck themselves, and show them all of my vinyls.

 

[MetalElvis]

Quote:

Yes, they will improve the sq dramastically.

Quote:

600/650 certainly need a good amount to push them to their full potential.

Quote:

No, you don't need to buy another amp.

Argh, heh, this is what I´m talking about.

Always very opposite answers/opinions. I feared this might happen. So thanks, but now you have really confused me even more.

Is there someone with the whole TRUTH about this mystery?

p.s. I don´t like turntables/vinyls or even CDs/CD-players. I like just wavs.

 

[exe163]

You can spend money on an more expansive amp and get better sound out of your phones, but you can also save the money on something else (maybe a sushi dinner?) and you will still be getting good sound because you already own a decent amp.

 

[Nuwidol]

If you are happy with the sound you have now then maybe think about upgrading something else.

If you're not happy with what you're getting then i'd say the best thing to do would be a little browse over the forums about what could make the changes you desire.

 

[Kabeer]

Quote:

Originally Posted by MetalElvis /img/forum/go_quote.gif Argh, heh, this is what I´m talking about. Always very opposite answers/opinions. I feared this might happen. So thanks, but now you have really confused me even more. Is there someone with the whole TRUTH about this mystery?

Well UncleErik seems to be the only one who has experience with the equipment you have, so you should probably take his view more seriously than the others

.

He seems to suggest your equipment already has a powerful amp.

 

[Atchoum]

Quote:

Originally Posted by MetalElvis /img/forum/go_quote.gif My budjet is about 100-400e. I only need one channel (two at max). And a GOOD volume knob, I tend to use it a lot. I´m wondering will that budjet really be enough for improvement in sound, since the Fireface 800 and Presonus weren´t exactly cheap. So should I need a bigger budjet?

My experience with amps & hd650 is that within you budget you won't hear "dramatic" improvement over the CS (which i heard briefly in a shop). I've tried some amps (receivers => yulong mini-dac => project => creek obh 11 => Heed CanAmp => Lavry DA10 built-in => meier opera) and I heard a "big" difference only with the Opera. All the others do have different sounds but not especially better one from the other. And anyhow, to be fully honest the Opera is only 35/40% better than the others to my ears...

So my adivce is : strech your budget up to get better=more expensive amps or keep the CS.

 

[MetalElvis]

Thanks! Guess I´ll be surviving with CS for now...