How come in ear headphones don't need a amp or dac ?

[max2]

I am curious.

 

[Dulalala]

They do, whatever device you're using has an amp and DAC in it. A DAC is a Digital to Analog converter, it turns the digital signal into an analog signal which the headphone/earphone driver turns into movement which then produces sounds. A DAC is supposed to put out a line level signal and have an amp control the output power but most modern DAC have built in amps now anyways to control the volume.

 

[Law87]

They do, whatever device you're using has an amp and DAC in it. A DAC is a Digital to Analog converter, it turns the digital signal into an analog signal which the headphone/earphone driver turns into movement which then produces sounds. A DAC is supposed to put out a line level signal and have an amp control the output power but most modern DAC have built in amps now anyways to control the volume.

what he really meant is why dont they need a dedicated AMP/DAC

 

[max2]

what he really meant is why dont they need a dedicated AMP/DAC

Yes. Thank you!

 

[Dulalala]

what he really meant is why dont they need a dedicated AMP/DAC

Ah ok, well it's mostly because a lot of dedicated DAC/Amp have a much high power output than whatever is built in to most devices. Of course, IEM will benefit from having a better DAC/Amp but it is not necessary because most IEM have quite a high sensitivity which means less power is required.

 

[max2]

Ah ok, well it's mostly because a lot of dedicated DAC/Amp have a much high power output than whatever is built in to most devices. Of course, IEM will benefit from having a better DAC/Amp but it is not necessary because most IEM have quite a high sensitivity which means less power is required.

Thanks!

 

[Currawong]

There also may be a problem with more expensive, multi-driver IEMs if used with a phone which has an output impedance above about 2 Ohms, as it will change the frequency response. Usually you lose bass as the lower-frequency drivers will have a different impedance to the higher ones.

Also, some very expensive (ie: >$1000) dynamic-driver IEMs simply sound like crap out of a phone compared to with a good DAP/DAC/amp.

 

[ProtegeManiac]

I am curious.

Dedicated HPamps are used when more power is required, and DACs to send a line out signal to that HPamp (in some cases they'd be built into the same box/circuit).

IEMs have very high sensitivity/efficiency, and typically do not have a high enough impedance to stress the audio chips on mainstream devices. That said, in some cases the circuits utilizing such audio chips can have a high output impedance, which can EQ the sound on low impedance dynamic driver IEMs, so in that case you'd benefit from an external DAC-HPamp, but for the low output impedance rather than higher (and cleaner) output.

Think of it this way: the Lotus Seven doesn't need a turbocharger to run circles around a Subaru WRX (this is like the high sensitivity), just don't challenge the WRX on an uphill race like at Pikes Peak (this is the output impedance issue).