rimisrandma
Head-Fier
- Joined
- May 1, 2013
- Posts
- 53
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- 10
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First post here, so don't hold back.
headphones are the final stage in the chain. You have your source files, your player, your DAC, your amp, your headphones, in that order (generally speaking).
Each of these elements will add it's own 'flavour' to the end sound. Just the same as two different headphones will sound different, so to will two different amps.
The amp isn't just used for volume (though it is effective used this way), it's main use is to present the music to the headphones in the most suitable way, to complement the headphones, and to 'spread' the sound so it's clear, precise, and detailed, rather than loud and lumpy.
I'm struggling for words, but when you put the two methods side by side (amp v ampless), with decent equipment (and that's not high $$ stuff either, just good quality) you'll notice the difference. It just makes things better.
Headphones, like speakers, need power to run. An under driven speaker sounds like muck. Headphones are similar. An amp will provide enough power to make the speakers inside your headphones work the way they were designed to work - to drive them properly.
That is a very good first post, welcome.
Well said Brendo, you explained well.
well done Brendo!
Electrically speaking, all an amplifier does is boost a signal. It should not add or subtract anything (that would be distortion). Modern amplifiers have gotten to the point that distortion is so low, it can be argued that the human ear is incapable of discerning the differences. This has been proven many times by blind testing. The reason for adding an amplifier is that the amplifier in most source hardware is fairly low capacity. When amplifiers are over driven, they clip and distort a signal. This can even happen at relatively low volume levels depending on the dynamic content. By adding a booster amp, the source amp is not overtaxed so distortion is minimized.
Yep, I was thinking more along the line of portables that lack a line out.