[username1]

Hello!
 
Can anyone please recommend me a cheaper headphone amp ($100) for these lower ohm phones? I'm sure the COP itself doesn't require amp that much, but aiming more for the DT770.
I'm using a separate USB X-Fi 5.1 Surround pro dac with my laptop, so it would be great to use amp which connects to the X-FI 5.1 Pro, but it's not a necessity per se.
 
I've read about the Fiio K5, but it seems to feature non-compatible power supply cable for the EU market. Or maybe they now feature it in the package?
 
Thanks for reommending!

 

[PurpleAngel]

So you do not own the COPS or DT770 and are trying to decide between them?
 
Cave you check out the 32-Ohm Soundmagic HP150 headphones?

 

[username1]

I already have the mentioned headphones. I'm just wondering whether amping them does anything besides allowing them to go louder?

 

[PurpleAngel]

  I already have the mentioned headphones. I'm just wondering whether amping them does anything besides allowing them to go louder?

 
A FiiO A3 (E11K) headphone amplifier ($60) would work well with both headphones.
Should be a better headphone amplifier, then whatever is built into the X-Fi.

 

[username1]

Hmm, okay.
 
Is the E11K just an amp or also dac? I mean it seems to connect by USB. So it doesn't need to be connected to an onboard and/or external soundcard?

 

[PurpleAngel]

  Hmm, okay.
 
Is the E11K just an amp or also dac? I mean it seems to connect by USB. So it doesn't need to be connected to an on-board and/or external sound card?

 
The A3 (E11K) is amplifier only, no DAC function.
It uses USB for power only.
 
You would run a cable from your X-Fi's RCA (Left/Right) jacks to the 3.5mm line-input on the A3, for the audio signal.
But connect a USB cable from your computer's USB port, to the USB port on the A3, for power.
The A3 also comes with a built in battery, so it can also be used as a portable headphone amplifier.

 

[username1]

Thank you for the clarification.
 
But the amp itself doesn't come with the necessary RCA cables, right? Have to get them separately?
 
It's actually a bit bad that it needs to connect via USB, because my external soundcard already connects via USB and i have an older laptop with only 3 USB ports which are all in use unfortunately.
 
Can you name is some other <$100 amp that doesn't require USB connection? Maybe the FiiO K5? Though i'm not sure whether the K5 itself needs a connection to the soundcard or not. Also it seems from youtube videos that the K5 comes with non-EU compatible power supply. Though i'm not sure whether it's the case anymore.

 

[liquidzoo]

It doesn't have to connect via USB to your computer. Plug it in to an iPhone charging brick, or Android, or any one of a number of other devices. It doesn't really even need to be plugged in while you're using it, just to charge.

 

[username1]

Okay. Anyway i ordered the A3. I'm not sure whether it's the best solution for stationary use as i won't be moving it anywhere, but the supposed purpose of this particular amp is portability.
 
But we'll see!