Need a decent CHEAP headphone amp

[Sohaltang]

Suggestions please. Nothing portable, just something to really push my headphones while on the PC.

 

[SithSolo1]

Cheap is relative and needs a budget. Are we talking under $100 or under $1000?

 

[Sohaltang]

Considering I own a 100$ pair of Audio Technia headphones, about 25% of that seems about right. Im not an true audiophile but I would like my headphones to get a bit louder like the beats by dre with built in battery powered amp. I think my headphones would really shine with a small power boost. Could even DIY one

 

[SithSolo1]

Considering I own a 100$ pair of Audio Technia headphones, about 25% of that seems about right. Im not an true audiophile but I would like my headphones to get a bit louder like the beats by dre with built in battery powered amp. I think my headphones would really shine with a small power boost. Could even DIY one

DIY side: http://tangentsoft.net/audio/cmoy-tutorial/


The budget is too small for anything pre-built that is worth buying. About the lowest I'd recommend is the $60 Fiio E11: http://www.amazon.com/FiiO-E11-Porta...words=fiio+e11

I know you said nothing portable but those are usually the cheaper units. Another option is a used receiver on craigslist with headphone out.


Edit: It looks like you can pick up pre-made cMoy units on ebay for around $30, might be worth a shot. Just search for cMoy.

 

[Sohaltang]

DIY side: http://tangentsoft.net/audio/cmoy-tutorial/


The budget is too small for anything pre-built that is worth buying. About the lowest I'd recommend is the $60 Fiio E11: http://www.amazon.com/FiiO-E11-Porta...words=fiio+e11

I know you said nothing portable but those are usually the cheaper units. Another option is a used receiver on craigslist with headphone out.


Edit: It looks like you can pick up pre-made cMoy units on ebay for around $30, might be worth a shot. Just search for cMoy.

Thansk a ton. OPA2134 or OPA2227? Is he difference noticeable for 5$?

 

[SithSolo1]

Thansk a ton. OPA2134 or OPA2227? Is he difference noticeable for 5$?

I'm honestly not sure, I haven't really dealt with OPAMPS much.

 

[Kaido]

If you don't want to DIY, you can buy a pre-made CMOY off eBay - just search for "altoids cmoy". You can usually get them shipped for around $50. Other than that, I really like the headphone amps from Headamp:

http://www.headamp.com/pico/index.htm

Do you have a budget in mind? You can also get ones with USB DAC's built-in so you get an even better quality of sound.

 

[soulcougher73]

LP-2020A+ Lepai Tripath Class-T Hi-Fi Audio Mini Amplifier with Power Supply

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

[weez82]

LP-2020A+ Lepai Tripath Class-T Hi-Fi Audio Mini Amplifier with Power Supply

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

thats not a headphone amp.

@Sohaltang
Why do you feel the need for a headphone amp? What are you using to drive them? Anyway, fiio has some under $100 portable amps

 

[Sohaltang]

If you don't want to DIY, you can buy a pre-made CMOY off eBay - just search for "altoids cmoy". You can usually get them shipped for around $50. Other than that, I really like the headphone amps from Headamp:

http://www.headamp.com/pico/index.htm

Do you have a budget in mind? You can also get ones with USB DAC's built-in so you get an even better quality of sound.

Yeah that's the ones another poster was talking about. They are 30 or 35$ depending on the chip. One claims less noise

 

[Sohaltang]

thats not a headphone amp.

@Sohaltang
Why do you feel the need for a headphone amp? What are you using to drive them? Anyway, fiio has some under $100 portable amps

I really liked some 300$ beats by dre I demoed at frys. After reading some reviews and asking here most people said I could buy something superior for a lot less. I purchased some audio technia phones that I really like but they are not as loud as the beats. Did a little research and the beats has two batteries. One for noise cancelation and the other for a built in amp. My general thought was if I could push a bit more power to the headphones they would perform as I want them to.

 

[fralexandr]

the xonar dg is pretty good for a low priced headphone card. it's been cheaper in the past and it probably doesn't have the best headphone amp ever, but it plugs right into the mobo which is nice if you don't want a usb box sitting around.
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/cont...ist&sku=751844

i haven't figured a way to adjust it so that the back port/speakers and the front port/earbuds have different volume presets though

 

[hans030390]

I really liked some 300$ beats by dre I demoed at frys. After reading some reviews and asking here most people said I could buy something superior for a lot less. I purchased some audio technia phones that I really like but they are not as loud as the beats. Did a little research and the beats has two batteries. One for noise cancelation and the other for a built in amp. My general thought was if I could push a bit more power to the headphones they would perform as I want them to.

Yeah, a dedicated headphone amp should push them louder. I haven't read much into the cheap ASUS sound card with the headphone amp built in, but it might be a good buy!

 

[Eureka]

If you're thrifty enough you can find a fiio unit for cheap, I got my e10 for $50. Other than that go used or DIY. I would highly recommend a USB DAC if you're doing PC only as it bypasses any analog noise from the computer (well, better than an analog amp would).

 

[It's Not Lupus]

consider the xonar dg sound card. has an amp on it.

 

[Lalakai]

look at the impedance level of your current headphones. There is no magical thresh hold number but if you are over 100 ohms (most companies test at 1kHz) and working from a portable unit (cell phone, walkman, etc.) then you will notice the difference from adding a headphone amp. If you are operating from your computer or stereo, then you should be receiving enough power to adequately "feed" the cans.

You can notice the difference in the music even if your system is currently providing adequate power, but you would likely be operating with pretty high end gear, and would have to be able to detect the changes (ie, you're a bit of an audio nerd ).

Spend time at this site http://www.headphone.com/headphone-amps/amplifiers.php and do some reading. The techs there are very good and will help out with questions. I currently use an older model of the bithead http://www.headphone.com/headphone-amps/headroom-total-bithead.php and love it. I game with an earlier model of these http://www.headphone.com/headphones/beyerdynamic-dt-990.php combined with the bithead. Plugging that pair into a phone and listening to music............life is good.

 

[hans030390]

look at the impedance level of your current headphones. There is no magical thresh hold number but if you are over 100 ohms (most companies test at 1kHz) and working from a portable unit (cell phone, walkman, etc.) then you will notice the difference from adding a headphone amp. If you are operating from your computer or stereo, then you should be receiving enough power to adequately "feed" the cans.

This is a very basic rule that isn't always accurate. There are many headphones with an impedance less than 100 ohms that require quite a lot of power. For example, a well modded T50RP can take a LOT of power to reach acceptable volumes, and it's only 50 ohms. Generally, though, a lower impedance headphones will be easier to drive to loud volumes. Dedicated DACs and amps can definitely improve sound quality beyond volume.

 

[vbuggy]

The Creative Go! Pro is a better card than the Xonar IMO in that it's not only just as good soundwise, it's more versatile. Personally I'd go for this than a Fiio at the bottom-feeder level, but that's not a bad route as well. If we're talking the ATH-M50 then it should power them fine.

http://www.amazon.com/electronics/dp/B0044DEDC0