[punkmanmatthew]

I've never used a headphone amp before so I'm not sure if something like the focusrite forte will be similar or the same?
 
I would like to get it for recording because I used to own one but never tried headphones in it when I had it long ago. Only
used monitors. I wanted to just buy that and not spend even more money on a headphone amp.
 
Would the focusrite forte work as a headphone amp?
 
Thanks and sorry if that's a dumb questions just very very new to the headphone world.

 

[PurpleAngel]

The Focusrite Forte comes with a headphone jack, so you can plug headphones into it.

 

[ProtegeManiac]

  I've never used a headphone amp before so I'm not sure if something like the focusrite forte will be similar or the same?
 
I would like to get it for recording because I used to own one but never tried headphones in it when I had it long ago. Only
used monitors. I wanted to just buy that and not spend even more money on a headphone amp.
 
Would the focusrite forte work as a headphone amp?
 
Thanks and sorry if that's a dumb questions just very very new to the headphone world.

 
Make sure any headphone you use is well over 64ohms, the output impedance according to the websit is "<8ohms." You need roughly a 1:8 output impedance to load impedance ratio.

 

[punkmanmatthew]

So it wouldn't work well as a headphone amp? Just as a preamp for recording I guess

 

[cel4145]

It has a headphone amp. It's just not optimum for low impedance headphones. It also has these power ratings:

Maximum Power into 150ohms 30 mW
Maximum Power into 32ohms 27 mW

So not great for difficult to drive (low sensitivity) headphone either. Just pick headphones that are not too low in impedance (like Protege Maniac said) and ones that are fairly sensitive.

What headphones do you own?

 

[ProtegeManiac]

So it wouldn't work well as a headphone amp? Just as a preamp for recording I guess

 

Likely not with the K7xx series; I'd normally say the HD600 is the safe alternative at the cost of a narrower soundstage, but given the quoted power specs on that unit it's more likely that the output gets lower at higher impedance, and if you're starting at that low rating, the distortion could be too high you'd just have a different kind of distortion problem with the HD600.

 

The K612 will likely work better though - its impedance is 120ohms, high enough to be safe for that Focusrite, and its sensitivity (note this is not max SPL) is still an IEM-like 101dB (just 4dB lower than the K701, but you wont have issues with the damping factor). Even with just 10mW of output with no audible distortion can destroy your eardrums without you noticing it immediately.

 

Scratch that, the AKGs are rated at dB/v, not dB/mW.

 

You might as well just get a good headphone amplifier with a preamp, or at least a bypass output, that way you can just rout a signal to the monitors through it if you don't want to use splitter cables. That said you can easily get the Schiit Asgard2 for $249 which comes with a preamp. Just set the Focusrite to output a fixed output signal if it can do that.

 

 

 

[cel4145]

Likely not with the K7xx series; I'd normally say the HD600 is the safe alternative at the cost of a narrower soundstage, but given the quoted power specs on that unit it's more likely that the output gets lower at higher impedance, and if you're starting at that low rating, the distortion could be too high you'd just have a different kind of distortion problem with the HD600.

The K612 will likely work better though - its impedance is 120ohms, high enough to be safe for that Focusrite, and its sensitivity (note this is not max SPL) is an IEM-like 101dB. Even with just 10mW of output with no audible distortion can destroy your eardrums without you noticing it immediately.

K612's sensitivity is 101db/V, not mw. So not like an IEM which is usually rated in mw. They are fairly difficult to drive.

 

[ProtegeManiac]

K612's sensitivity is 101db/V, not mw. So not like an IEM which is usually rated in mw. They are fairly difficult to drive.

 
Ah crap wasn't looking at the more detailed specs list in the AKG website, just checked it too. Scratch the K612. (Edited prior post)

 

[Armaegis]

I have a Focusrite Saffire6 and an Echo Audio Echo2usb. Their headphone outputs aren't superb, but they get the job done. The Forte should be in the same boat. The power output should be adequate for most uses.
 
The impedance interactions are not quite as bad as people make it out to be. There are a couple specific cases that create large deviations in frequency response, but for the most part it'll only result in a mild boost in the midbass. For recording, no biggie. For mastering, well that's a whole 'nuther ballgame.
 
The safest bet would be a closed back planar, like the Oppo PM-3 or one of the many Fostex mods out there. You won't get to earsplitting levels, but it'll be serviceable for the most part, and planar headphones don't really care about output impedance.
 
I consider the AKG K612 overall a better choice than the K7## series, and it would be a better match for the Forte.
 
Avoid the Sennheiser HD5xx series and any Beyer DT##0 unless it's 250ohm or up. These headphones have very large impedance curves which will result in mucked up output.

 

[MrEnormous]

The Focusrite Forte works well with easytodrive headphones like B&W P7.. I can testify to that fact. It's absolutely horrible with Grado's though. 

 

[PaganDL]

Hi,

Agree with Armaegis on both counts,

punkmanmatthew, go with the PM 3 for headphones for your needs & get a dedicated head amp, Presonus HP4 or RNHP would recommend there.

For recording, I consider other usb or firewire audio interfaces like the really old but still good Lexicon Alpha which actually has a good head out for headphones of any kind or an audio interface from ESI pro or Presonus. Any of those has good record options, apparently ESI pro will have new units coming out in US spring time.

Hope this helps.