[Azure]

I'm 100% sure that I'm going to love the sound quality of the A500s, it's just the fact that I have to buy an amp that will barely increase the sound quality to use them with my PS2 (If the amp made a considerable difference than I wouldn't mind at all).

BTW, I would also have to factor back in the shipping and restocking fee if I returned the A500s.

 

[commando]

Does the PS2 have a line out? If so, can you plug it into the TV/stereo and use a headphone out on that?

 

[Azure]

The PS2 has regular AV out; my TV/VCRs don't have any headphone jacks.

 

[Oddball]

If you want to use any headphones with the PS2, you need a headphone amp to convert the signal to something a headphone can use. Headphones aren't meant to be used with line-outs as the PS2 has. I don't believe that it's an issue exclusive to the A500s.

But I'm not entirely sure I'm understanding you here.

 

[Azure]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Oddball If you want to use any headphones with the PS2, you need a headphone amp to convert the signal to something a headphone can use. Headphones aren't meant to be used with line-outs as the PS2 has. I don't believe that it's an issue exclusive to the A500s. But I'm not entirely sure I'm understanding you here.

I know that that problem isn't exclusive to the A500s; the problem is that the A500s hardly improve with the use of an amp, so buying that amp, which would cost $100+, would be a very big waste since there wouldn't be any noticeable quality change, the only plus would be that I would be able to play my PS2 games with the sound quality that I get when I listen to other non-line in sources without an amp, which isn't worth spending $100+ on.

 

[Azure]

Is there a headphone directory somewhere that I can organize by price? So, upping my budget, are there any good closed cans that can really benefit from an amp (Still sound as good as the A500s without an amp) for under $140?

 

[Azure]

Ok...exactly how little of an increase in sound in the A500s with an amp are we talking about?

 

[Azure]

Oh yeah, I was also wondering, when telling others what audio equipment you are using, what's the format? I always see it like this:

Main Setup: PC (FLAC) -> EMU 1212 -> MisterX PPA -> Triad Diamond Buffer -> A900/Beyer 770-80

But I don't know what each one is supposed to be. This is all I know:
Source -> Something -> Amp -> Something -> Headphone

 

[sigma]

Source -> DAC (in this case, a soundcard) -> Amp -> Buffer (in the amp) -> Cans

Explanation on what buffers do: one, two.

 

[Annihilator]

there seems to be a lot of confusion in this thread. I'll try to clear some things up azure. you CAN hook up your a500's directly to the ps2 if you want(though you need the right adapters). and they'll work, its just that since they're powered pretty crappily by a line-out, things won't sound too great. I've done this before, and its definitely usable, just not optimal.

I think when people say the a500/900 works good ampless they're using ampless to mean a crappy builtin amp, not actually line out(really ampless). in this case, going from just a line out to using an amp should make a sizeable difference.

 

[Azure]

I'm aware that going directly from line out to an amp will make quite a difference, it's just the fact that the difference will only apply to the line out source and that the sound quality coming from the amped A500s using the line out source will sound the same as using them unamped with something like a cd player that bothers me.

 

[Annihilator]

If you're set on closed and at that pricerange I think its best to stick with the a500s. If you're concerned about the benefitting from an amp thing, just get a cheaper amp. the a500s not needing an amp is a GOOD thing when you're talking about <$100 amps.

 

[Azure]

Well, then what's the absolute cheapest amp that will make the A500s sound "normal" from a line-in source?

 

[hentai]

i am curious that whether you azure have considered the hd280?

 

[Azure]

Quote:

Originally Posted by hentai i am curious that whether you azure have considered the hd280?

The thread started with the HD280s and the V6s, I eventually threw them out because the A500s are supposed to be a whole lot better.