[rde1911]

I am new to the world of listening to music through headphones and IEM's.
Can you please explain what the difference is between a headphone DAC amplifier and a headphone amplifier.
At this time I am using two manufactures headphones. An Audio-Technica ATH-M50x and the other is a Hifiman HE-400s. Both have high impedance saying that they are easily driven by smart phone, Hifiman HM-700, hand held MP3 players and so on.
Would I hear any benefits using a headphone amplifier? What would be the best one to purchase if there is a benefit?
Thanks for helping me understand the difference between the two types of amplifiers. 
Thanks for any recommendations.

 

[obobskivich]

I am new to the world of listening to music through headphones and IEM's.
Can you please explain what the difference is between a headphone DAC amplifier and a headphone amplifier.
At this time I am using two manufactures headphones. An Audio-Technica ATH-M50x and the other is a Hifiman HE-400s. Both have high impedance saying that they are easily driven by smart phone, Hifiman HM-700, hand held MP3 players and so on.
Would I hear any benefits using a headphone amplifier? What would be the best one to purchase if there is a benefit?
Thanks for helping me understand the difference between the two types of amplifiers. 
Thanks for any recommendations.

Headphone amplifier is just an amplifier for headphones - it takes an analog audio signal in (e.g. the output of a CD player or FM tuner) and amplifies that for your headphones.

Headphone DAC/amplifier contains a DAC (Digital to Analog Converter) as well, so it can take a digital audio signal in (e.g. the digital output of some CD players, the output of Xbox One, etc) and then provide headphone amplifier as above.

The M50X and HE-400 are not high impedance either.

As far as "would you benefit" - that's a much larger discussion that can come down along preference and budget lines.

 

[rde1911]

I received an email from Hifiman answering the same question I posted, they recommended the Hifiman EF2A. There is very little information about the amp.
There are a lot of headphone amps on the market to choose from I know that they recommended their EF2a amp, They are in the $170.00 price range. Are there better option than this one .
Am I just wasting money looking for an amp for the high impedance headphones I have? If not do you have a recommendation for another brand amp under $200.00.
The other option is they have this amp on sale at the largest internet retailer for $112.00 with the same return policy. It would be free to try it.
Thanks for the help.

 

[obobskivich]

I'm guessing HiFiMan cannot recommend any other products - a lot of mfgrs will not talk about competitor's products to prevent getting into hot water, legally speaking. I don't know anything about the EF2a but it does appear to be a DAC/amp (since it looks like it takes digital in, via USB).

Again, you don't have high impedance headphones - you have fairly low impedance headphones. I haven't heard M50X, but M50 were/are ridiculously easy to drive, so I'm not sure I'd pursue an amplifier solely for those. It then comes down to whether or not you want an amplifier for the HE-400 (and which revision of the HE-400 you have), and that's probably where you'll get into more opinion splits esp depending on what you previously had/have and its output capabilities. IOW what you have may be perfectly capable, but some people may feel that the EF2 (or some other amplifier) provides better synergy/pairing with your cans, and ultimately you have to make the choice as to whether or not that is true for you.

The easiest advice would be to pick something you can afford and buy it from a retailer with a good return policy (like Amazon) and see what it does (or doesn't do) for you. As far as other mfgrs than HiFiMan to consider, I'd look at Musical Fidelity and FiiO.

 

[jodgey4]

The HE-400 is the only headphone I've heard big benefits from amping. Common DACs and amps udner $200 could be the O2/ODAC, or Schiit Magni and Modi. There are plenty of other options if you look around .

 

[ProtegeManiac]

Quote:

Originally Posted by rde1911 /img/forum/go_quote.gif

I received an email from Hifiman answering the same question I posted, they recommended the Hifiman EF2A. There is very little information about the amp.

 

Found these using the search function in this forum:

http://www.head-fi.org/t/433150/review-head-direct-com-hifiman-ef2-tube-hybrid-amp-with-usb-dac

http://www.head-fi.org/t/647654/hifiman-ef2a-usb-dac-amp-appreciation-thread

http://www.head-fi.org/t/629687/gain-issues-on-hifiman-ef2a

http://www.head-fi.org/t/512922/hifiman-ef2a-gain

 

Quote:

Originally Posted by rde1911 /img/forum/go_quote.gif

 

Am I just wasting money looking for an amp for the high impedance headphones I have?

 

Your headphones are at 38ohms and 22ohms nominal. That's low impedance (and arguably 22ohms is much lower than the more common 32ohms). High impedance is like Sennheisers at 300ohms and some Beyerdynamics and older AKGs at 600ohms.