Headphone Amp Recomendations

eascarface · 13-July-06, 08:06 AM

I just picked up some Koss TD-85's (The most kickass headphones ever) but my onboard soundcard just can't supply near enough oomph or quality to these cards. Plus using them means running them through my speakers

Ive got no clue what Im supposed to be looking for in the way of a decent amp/soundcard so I figured Id ask around for help.

Here are my only requirements:
USB
6.3mm jack
seperate jacks for 5.1 speakers would be nice as well
good soundquality
decent price($100 max)

Thanks

Al

NoSlak · 13-July-06, 09:26 AM

How much were those headphones ? I just bought some sennhiesers 595's last night.
I use HD500's now and am wondering if my Creative soundcard had enough juice for the headphones.
No you have me worrying if I am getting the sound quality I deserve !!!!!!!!!Specially in BF2 !!!!!

eascarface · 13-July-06, 05:14 PM

$31 at Clubit and they sound 3 times better than anything Ive ever heard---including those Bose Triports.

The sounds is dead acurate but when I turn it up it starts to fizz a little which I think is more a problem with the lack of power than with the headphones themselves.

EvilClown · 13-July-06, 05:18 PM

Interesting, I have a 80 dollar Plantronics headset, and I get fuzziness also, I wonder if it has to do with lack of power from my crappy onboard sound. Now you got me wondering....

NoSlak · 13-July-06, 05:21 PM

Damn, I spent alot on my new headphones , however on the old ones (Senns' 500 HD's) they sounded fine all the time but I could never crank it up REALLY loud, it was loud enough mind you but not deafening.

vf1000ride · 13-July-06, 10:04 PM

These are probably a little pricey but if you want some good quality stuff you can give a look into some of these. http://www.needledoctor.com/s.nl/sc.2/category.104/.f Headphone amps and pre-amps.

eascarface · 13-July-06, 10:08 PM

Yup.

Just barely too expensive. Nice link though

carbongraphite · 14-July-06, 12:08 AM

zalman makes a 5.1 headphone amp. it has inputs for all the surround channels and outs for surround headphones. you can also use it with stereo headphones and use your dsp card or software sound processor to down mix surround to "enhanced" stereo.
if you want just a stereo amp look into building your own since thet're really easy to build at alot less than half the cost of other op amp based head amps. or get a boostaroo for $30. since your listening to a digital source from a consumer PC (as in not a DAW or with a highend audio card) you wont hear the difference from a super expensive amp.

Wafflesomd · 14-July-06, 12:13 AM

Make your own, thats what I did, it powers my Sony MDR V6's.

Plenty a guides online, just google for them.

MLiV · 14-July-06, 01:27 AM

Found these on Ebay..

found this one on ebay.. Art is good and the price is not too bad.

and this one.. only $74

this guy makes'em!
$55

rackmount one alto
$69.99

another hand builtCOOL! it's in a altoids can! LOL
$39.99

eascarface · 14-July-06, 01:41 AM

Sweet Links Mlivy. I think Ill probably buy that altoids can.

+Rep to you (even though i detest your avatar

)

MLiV · 14-July-06, 01:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eascarface


	Sweet Links Mlivy. I think Ill probably buy that altoids can. +Rep to you (even though i detest your avatar )

GO BOSTON!

Here's a few more....

$109 if you want something at the pro-level

best deal i think. very good name and only $40 with free shipping!

godfoot · 14-July-06, 11:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NoSlak


	No you have me worrying if I am getting the sound quality I deserve !!!!!!!!!!!!

Well that depends..... have you been a good little boy this year?
Something tells me no, lol.

Edit: Suggestions so far are good for the price range you are limited by.

Edit 2: Go Sox!!! .....of the WHITE variety.

eascarface · 15-July-06, 01:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by godfoot


	Edit 2: Go Sox!!! .....of the WHITE variety.

Is it possible that someones slightly racist?

Anyways all sox suck.

Astros all the way baby!!

Wafflesomd · 15-July-06, 01:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by M*LiVVy


	Found these on Ebay.. another hand builtCOOL! it's in a altoids can! LOL $39.99

Yup, tahts the one I built, cept its in a Steven Segal mint box.

Also, taht guy fails at music, he owns grado's, but an ipod! shame on him.

Dreyco · 15-July-06, 01:55 AM

you could get a Numark USB mixer for $90 bucks and do a hellava lot with that if you are into audio stuff... It has a headphone amp built in.

Numark DM950 USB
is the model

I'm goin to get the DM01USB, Im so pumped!

Wafflesomd · 15-July-06, 01:58 AM

DM950, I think I might get that dreyco, I've been looking for a mixer.

Dreyco · 15-July-06, 02:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wafflesomd


	DM950, I think I might get that dreyco, I've been looking for a mixer.

13-July-06, 08:06 AM	#1 (permalink)
eascarface Apex Tech God Join Date: May 2006 Location: Doha, Qatar Posts: 3,352	Headphone Amp Recomendations I just picked up some Koss TD-85's (The most kickass headphones ever) but my onboard soundcard just can't supply near enough oomph or quality to these cards. Plus using them means running them through my speakers Ive got no clue what Im supposed to be looking for in the way of a decent amp/soundcard so I figured Id ask around for help. Here are my only requirements: USB 6.3mm jack seperate jacks for 5.1 speakers would be nice as well good soundquality decent price($100 max) Thanks Al __________________ In cases of major discrepancies it's always reality that's got it wrong.

13-July-06, 09:26 AM	#2 (permalink)
NoSlak Gridiron Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Hovering over the Neg Rep Button Posts: 3,640	Re: Headphone Amp Recomendations How much were those headphones ? I just bought some sennhiesers 595's last night. I use HD500's now and am wondering if my Creative soundcard had enough juice for the headphones. No you have me worrying if I am getting the sound quality I deserve !!!!!!!!!Specially in BF2 !!!!! __________________ The best activities for your health are pumping and humping." -Arnold Schwarzenegger Mongol General: "What is best in life?" Conan: "To crush your enemies, to see them driven before you, and to hear the lamentations of their women." Only two people have every offered to die for you. One was Jesus Christ and the other is the American GI. One died for your soul, the other died for your freedom.

13-July-06, 05:14 PM	#3 (permalink)
eascarface Apex Tech God Join Date: May 2006 Location: Doha, Qatar Posts: 3,352	Re: Headphone Amp Recomendations $31 at Clubit and they sound 3 times better than anything Ive ever heard---including those Bose Triports. The sounds is dead acurate but when I turn it up it starts to fizz a little which I think is more a problem with the lack of power than with the headphones themselves. __________________ In cases of major discrepancies it's always reality that's got it wrong.

13-July-06, 05:18 PM	#4 (permalink)
EvilClown Evil 'Tweaking' Clown Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Pulaski,NY Posts: 567	Re: Headphone Amp Recomendations Interesting, I have a 80 dollar Plantronics headset, and I get fuzziness also, I wonder if it has to do with lack of power from my crappy onboard sound. Now you got me wondering.... __________________

13-July-06, 05:21 PM	#5 (permalink)
NoSlak Gridiron Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Hovering over the Neg Rep Button Posts: 3,640	Re: Headphone Amp Recomendations Damn, I spent alot on my new headphones , however on the old ones (Senns' 500 HD's) they sounded fine all the time but I could never crank it up REALLY loud, it was loud enough mind you but not deafening. __________________ The best activities for your health are pumping and humping." -Arnold Schwarzenegger Mongol General: "What is best in life?" Conan: "To crush your enemies, to see them driven before you, and to hear the lamentations of their women." Only two people have every offered to die for you. One was Jesus Christ and the other is the American GI. One died for your soul, the other died for your freedom.

13-July-06, 10:04 PM	#6 (permalink)
vf1000ride Apex Elite Expert Tech Join Date: May 2003 Location: columbus, oh Posts: 1,406	Re: Headphone Amp Recomendations These are probably a little pricey but if you want some good quality stuff you can give a look into some of these. http://www.needledoctor.com/s.nl/sc.2/category.104/.f Headphone amps and pre-amps. __________________ 64,999,987 firearms owners killed no one yesterday.

13-July-06, 10:08 PM	#7 (permalink)
eascarface Apex Tech God Join Date: May 2006 Location: Doha, Qatar Posts: 3,352	Re: Headphone Amp Recomendations Yup. Just barely too expensive. Nice link though __________________ In cases of major discrepancies it's always reality that's got it wrong.

14-July-06, 12:08 AM	#8 (permalink)
carbongraphite Pow - Hoe playa Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Seattle, WA. Posts: 1,780	Re: Headphone Amp Recomendations zalman makes a 5.1 headphone amp. it has inputs for all the surround channels and outs for surround headphones. you can also use it with stereo headphones and use your dsp card or software sound processor to down mix surround to "enhanced" stereo. if you want just a stereo amp look into building your own since thet're really easy to build at alot less than half the cost of other op amp based head amps. or get a boostaroo for $30. since your listening to a digital source from a consumer PC (as in not a DAW or with a highend audio card) you wont hear the difference from a super expensive amp. __________________ "YouÂ’ll do that when I genetically engineer a dragon to ride to work"

14-July-06, 12:13 AM	#9 (permalink)
Wafflesomd Banned Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 1,923	Re: Headphone Amp Recomendations Make your own, thats what I did, it powers my Sony MDR V6's. Plenty a guides online, just google for them.

14-July-06, 01:27 AM	#10 (permalink)
MLiV You want news, you got news! Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Tampa Posts: 1,732	Re: Headphone Amp Recomendations Found these on Ebay.. found this one on ebay.. Art is good and the price is not too bad. and this one.. only $74 this guy makes'em! $55 rackmount one alto $69.99 another hand builtCOOL! it's in a altoids can! LOL $39.99 __________________

14-July-06, 01:41 AM	#11 (permalink)
eascarface Apex Tech God Join Date: May 2006 Location: Doha, Qatar Posts: 3,352	Re: Headphone Amp Recomendations Sweet Links Mlivy. I think Ill probably buy that altoids can. +Rep to you (even though i detest your avatar ) __________________ In cases of major discrepancies it's always reality that's got it wrong.

15-July-06, 01:55 AM	#16 (permalink)
Dreyco PCApex's Mac Man Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Minneapolis, MN Posts: 2,219	Re: Headphone Amp Recomendations you could get a Numark USB mixer for $90 bucks and do a hellava lot with that if you are into audio stuff... It has a headphone amp built in. Numark DM950 USB is the model I'm goin to get the DM01USB, Im so pumped! __________________

15-July-06, 01:58 AM	#17 (permalink)
Wafflesomd Banned Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 1,923	Re: Headphone Amp Recomendations DM950, I think I might get that dreyco, I've been looking for a mixer.