[nukeyboy]

RIght now, I'm most likely gonna get the ath-a500 (still weighing the differences between the a55 and a500) and have been sending PM's to a few people (thanks dohminator for the reply) and asking them about these headphones. I was wondering, what is the difference between plugging headphones into the soundcard and plugging them in the speaker headphone jack? In my PM I mentioned that I'm gonna be using these headphones connected to my computer: Phillips Acoustic Edge soundcard/Logitech Z-560 speakers' headphone jack. But in his reply, dohminator recommend skipping the speaker headphone jack and just plugging them into the sound card if possible.
I'm guessing that the speakers must add something to the sound that isn't good? Is there an easier to connect the headphones and speakers to the soundcard instead of always unplugging and plugging? One of those Y-splitters perhaps?

 

[dohminator]

You're welcome.

The problem with the speaker jack is that it is extra wiring and more points of contact that the sound must go through. The more contacts it goes through, the more likely it is that sound quality will be lost. If your sound card software allows you to switch between headphones and speakers easily while allowing you headphones to be plugged in, then it really isn't too much of a hassle to leave them plugged in all the time.

The best bet would probably to try it out and see if you can tell a difference between the two.

If you use your soundcard for listening, then they will be plugged in there most of the time anyways, so it really isn't a pain in the ass to have to unplug them.

 

[Joe Bloggs]

Does this particular soundcard have a well-amplified output stage though? Coz most soundcards don't.

 

[wallijonn]

if the headphone jack on the Z560 is after the amplifier, then the sound will be more balanced because of impedance matching (what's the output impedance of the soundcard? and what is the impedance input of the Z506? chances the former is 30K ohms and the latter is 100K ohms). the Z506 will therefore be acting as a headphone amp.

me, I connected my computer SB soundcard to the "tuner" input on my Technics receiver. now, if digitallyimported.com only output 320 br mp3s... only 1 out 10 songs played with any energy New Year's day. and someday I'll get some Yamaha, JBL or Technics bookshelf speakers (to connect to the receiver) to do my gaming with.

 

[Joe Bloggs]

wallijonn, we should form a 'Team Impedance Obsession'. I can be the Captain, you and j-curve can be vice captains.

 

[wallijonn]

Joe, no one will believe what we are espousing. I think it was LobsterSan that was driving his headphones from his Marantz. no one believed him. meanwhile there's plenty of guys who are quietly buying Fischer 400 amps for the same reason.

don't worry, there are plenty of people who have researched the impedance factor in sound and who support it. but no one will believe Greg, Matt and I when we tell them that the dt831 has plenty of bass and, in my case, is not bright (when used on the Technics).

everytime someone asks "what headphone should i use with gaming?," i always tell them to connect their sound card to a receiver and use whatever headphone they want. but i guess that's too simple.

my idea of a good gaming system is 4 12" JBL book shelve speakers and two amps.

so, 'Cap, put me down for/as 1st mate.

 

[dohminator]

Walli, Maybe I need a nap, but I didn't understand anything you just said. could you please break it down into non-technical terms.

/falls a sleep at desk

 

[wallijonn]

dohminator,

if you're asking about impedance: http://sound.westhost.com/impedanc.htm
http://www.transcendentsound.com/amp..._impedance.htm
http://www.maxim-ic.com/appnotes.cfm/appnote_number/742
http://www.glenbrook.k12.il.us/gbssc.../soundtoc.html
http://www.gmweb.btinternet.co.uk/

basically, the soundcard may not have enough power to drive a lot of different impedance headphones (higher impedance headphones will not sound loud enough). so if you connect a sound card to a home amplifier, the limiting factor will be the headphone circuit. in a lot of old amps, the headphone output comes right off the speaker leads. then all you need is an amp that will drive high impedance destinations (instead o sources). since speakers have a resonance at some frequency (which is usally very high, it will take a lot of voltage to produce a clear sound. an op amp that has say, +,- 12 volts, will limit that wave to a max of +,- 12v, while a home amp can output 300v in a short burst. therefore the sound will not sound distorted.) so if the receiver has an op-amp stage for the headphone circuit, it will have the same limitations as the soundcard op amp headphone output. the difference will be impedance matching, therefore you may not have a lot of hiss and lack of bass.

there are a LOT of guys here that can explain it better than me. and i'm sure someone will come along and correct my mistakes. as purely reactive source, the greater resistance in the many wires (as you suggested) will degrade the sound. it is up to an amplifier (or repeater, as in computers or radio station or cell phones) to reconstruct a clean signal.

if you have an old integrated amp, try connecting the souncard to the aux, cd, tape or tuner input and see if the sound isn't better than directly through a soundcard. that's all i'm saying.

 

[nukeyboy]

so in this case the speaker amp is the one that reconstructs the signal? but it doesn't do a good job as an amp?

 

[Pace]

Based on my hands-on experience, the Z-560 headphone jack does amplify, but the sound quality is nothing to brag about.

 

[wallijonn]

nukey,

if you used a "y" splitter, even with the speakers off, they would represent a resistance in parallel to the headphones, so it's likely that you would have signal degration. the extra wires would be prone to bad connections. the headphone amp op amp in the z560 is probably a 15 cent piece, with a poor power supply.

if the headphones sound okay through the z560 amp, then use that. the problem will be if the output "source" impedance is over 30 ohms. then you may have problems with clarity. the only way is to test it.

me, i'd rather hook up two Marantz 1060 amps and 4 12" speakers for gaming, and use the primary (front channel) amp for headphones. but that's a lot of real estate being taken up. the a55/a500 should sound fine through the soundcard or the z560 headphone jack.
________
listening to www.digitallyimported.com Dj Quicksilver mix - Brooklyn Bouce - The Real Bass. lots of bass. oodles on the dt831.

 

[nukeyboy]

ok cool

thanks for all the info. wallijohn!