[djembeplay]

I just picked up a new pair of ATH-ESW9s. My new MP3 player is still in transit, so I figured I would plug them into my computer sound card to hear them.

I have 6 ports - 4 for speakers, one for a mic, and one for line-in. Without checking which was which, I plugged my new phones into the 'line-in' port. I have the functionality to switch it to 'headphone out' or 'line out'.

For some reason, when I switch this port from an input to an output (be it 'headphone out' or 'line out') the sound is terrrrriibble. Very shrilling highs with everything else extremely recessed.

What causes this? Is it bad for my headphones?

Everything sounded fine once I switched to one of the 4 speaker ports.

 

[Cheesebaron]

Might just be how the soundcard is built. Probably not enough amplification for your headphones.
I don't think it is bad for the headphones though, you don't really strain them in any way.

 

[djembeplay]

K, thanks.

Is that a common sound signature of under-powered phones (a shrilling high-end with everything else very recessed)?

Is it possible this is caused by the port outputting too much amplification?

 

[Tridacnid]

I'd just plug it into one of the "speaker" ports. These should just be normal old outputs. Just find the one that feeds the two front speakers (sounds like the card is designed for 5.1)

 

[djembeplay]

ya thats what I did after a minute...

I'm just curious about what would cause this... most likely under-amplification and not over-amplification?