Quick question for you about impedance and amplification

[JAG87]

Hi all,

My question is simple. Can you use a high impedance headphone like the HD650 with a receiver/amp headphone jack?

I know there are dedicated headphone amps, but how are these different/better than a receiver?

I have JBL towers that I use with my computer, so a receiver is needed anyways. Right now I am using HD280s, but those are 64 ohm, and would work even straight out of my audio card. So I cant really make the call here.

I would like to upgrade to HD650s, any advice?

 

[ericj]

Quote:

Originally Posted by JAG87 /img/forum/go_quote.gif Hi all, My question is simple. Can you use a high impedance headphone like the HD650 with a receiver/amp headphone jack?

Yes.

Quote:

Originally Posted by JAG87 I know there are dedicated headphone amps, but how are these different/better than a receiver?

Depends on the receiver and the headphone amp. They all work on pretty much the same principles.

Quote:

Originally Posted by JAG87 I would like to upgrade to HD650s, any advice?

Yeah. Before buying any top of the line headphone, listen to it, and listen to the competition as well.

 

[JAG87]

Hey eric, thanks for your reply.

I did not have the chance to listen to the HD650s, but its pretty much a toss up between the 650s, the akg 701, or the beyers 880s.

I am choosing the 650s because I like how the look better. I know you should never judge anything related to sound based on aesthetics, but when were that far up on the scale I doubt I would notice any difference between those 3 headphones. perhaps they have different sound signatures, but honestly any one of them is a big step up from my HD280s.

My biggest concern was being able to drive them with my receiver. Another quick question: will the volume need to be a lot higher with the 650s to have the same sound pressure? or will they sound roughly on the same volume level as the 280s?

 

[ericj]

Well, here's the thing.

In the 70's, the headphone jack on the receiver was nearly always hooked up to the speaker amp with some resistors. So the headphone jack on an old VFET amp will drive any modern headphone within an inch of it's life.

In the 80's and 90's, things shifted a bit, and these days, most of the time, the headphone jack has it's own dedicated headphone driver circuit. Which could be good or bad.

Usually, though, if for no better reason than the power supply, it has easily enough voltage swing for high impedance cans.

Whether or not it's better or worse than a given dedicated headphone amp is up to personal taste.

Chances are, you'll have to turn the amp up further to get the same SPL from the hd650.

 

[JAG87]

great info!

I have an 1987 Technics receiver, it sure pumps my HD280s nicely, but the 650s are a different story. You think it will do the job?

Right now I'm using a good quality RCA cable to bring the stereo F/R signal from the Auzentech to the CD input of the Technics. I really like this receiver because it has a 10 band graphic equalizer (which I don't use because it adds hiss) and a bar graph for the 10 bands. If any of the bars rise to high and into the red zone, you know your input is clipping. I find it very helpful, thats why I don't want to get a new receiver. How are new receivers with regards to the headphone jack eric?

Thanks for all your help, I appreciate it!