Headphone amp vs reciever?

[Ttvetjanu]

I have a quite old reciever at home (think its yamaha) which i use with my computer to power my headphones and easily adjust the volume.

I can't hear a big difference between the headphone out of my shuffle and through my headphone to the reciever and then the ipod. The only large difference is that the bass wont "break" (clip?) on higher volumes while using the reciever. I use SR-80's and MB Quart QP400's (quite good headphones actually).

I tend to listen to quite low volumes, only high enough that I feel like the sound will "overpower" the surrounding, not so it sounds thin and empty.

Now, I'm going to purchase a pair of KCS75s for portable use because the SR80's are slightly too expensive and large to be carried around in my bag 5 hours a day.

To the point.

Will purchasing a amplifier which is MEANT for headphones (not a reciever) make a much larger difference than simply using the reciever headphone out? Or is it all about getting the electricity "from-the-wall". I will be using the shuffle headphone out mostly, or my audigy soundcard on my computer (planning on getting one of those EMU soundcards, if its worth it).

The PA2V2 seems to me like a good choice, built in recharging, warm sound, Gary is nice, etc.

Thanks,
Ttvetjanu.

 

[Ttvetjanu]

bump

 

[Ttvetjanu]

bumpie

 

[Jahn]

Well some receivers hit gold with headphone outs, and some Marantz are known to be like that. If you like the sound, stick with it! You won't need a dedicated portable headphone amp if your portable rig is a shuffle and koss clips - it sort of defeats the purpose of such a small rig. At home, you might want to consider computer as source as you mentioned - again, if your receiver is good you can just plug that right into something like an EMU 0404 and who knows it might give you the mojo you like.

 

[Ttvetjanu]

I might also be using Cdplayer Line out and my SR80's occasionally, depends how much space I have in my bag.

Oh and, the reciever i use with my computer is a sony, but I also have a marantz reciever and a quite good cd player in my home theather system, which I will be using for solid music listning.

So, if i dont hear a huge difference between headphone out and reciever headphone out, then i might not hear a big difference with a headphone amp?

Thanks for the help.