What gain setting to use for your headphone amp?

[doughead]

I just got an iFi iCan SE headphone amp which has both a +12dB and +24dB gain setting. I'm driving a 20 ohm Audeze LCD-XC and am very happy with the sound quality. One question though, using the +12dB setting I listen at 12 o'clock volume, whereas at +24dB I put the volume at 9 o'clock. I don't seem to hear a drastic difference between the two settings at the same listening level, maybe the +12dB setting seems slightly less "boomy" (bass boost is switched on) while the +24dB setting has a slight hint of "fuzziness". Anyone has any thoughts on which is the "correct" setting to use?

 

[PurpleAngel]

There really is no correct setting, a given voltage will give you a specific level of volume, with a given headphone
Your getting the same voltage to the headphones, just slightly difference ways of doing it
 
So the amplifier, when set to +12db and volume knob at 12 o'clock
and the +24db setting with the volume knob at 9 o'clock.
Both setting is giving the headphones matching amounts of voltage.
 
It could be the higher +24bd is introducing some noise into the signal.
so use the +12db setting.

 

[doughead]

There really is no correct setting, a given voltage will give you a specific level of volume, with a given headphone
Your getting the same voltage to the headphones, just slightly difference ways of doing it

So the amplifier, when set to +12db and volume knob at 12 o'clock
and the +24db setting with the volume knob at 9 o'clock.
Both setting is giving the headphones matching amounts of voltage.

It could be the higher +24bd is introducing some noise into the signal.
so use the +12db setting.

Thanks very much for your explanation, greatly appreciated! Yes I will stick to the +12dB setting as it sounds cleaner and more "in the zone" than the "overdrive" sounding +24dB setting. But I have to admit that albums with lower recorded volumes do benefit from the added gain in the beefier +24dB setting.

 

[Sm0ld3r]

Choosing a gain setting is a lot more important than many people make out. Proper gain depends on your source output impedance, and your headphones sensitivity, impedance, and power rating. Depending on your source, gain can vary wildly with different headphone impedance. Setting your gain too high can result in distortion, channel imbalance, and worse things like actually damaging your headphones. Setting it too low and you won't have sufficient volume, but essentially you want to use as little gain as you can get away with.
 
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