Got good headphones, two things I want to achieve

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GCTonyHawk7

Limp Gawd
Joined
Oct 5, 2007
Messages
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Hello guys. I recently bought a pair of decent headphones, I got the Audio-Technica ES7s. I love them to death, but have got two problems.

The first problem is really not with the headphones, but more with the conversion between speakers and headphones. I have some Logitech Z-5500 speakers, and use the headphone port on them to drive my headphones. Because of the big loud speakers, and the small not so loud headphones, there has to be HUGE volume adjustment when switching between them. I will have the on-computer volume at around half, and the Z5500 volume at about 1/4, plug in headphones and have to basically boost both all the way to full. This is not a huge deal, but something that wastes time, and is sure to cause an accidental REALLY loud speakers blast late at night or something. Sure, it is possible to plug the headphones into their own output on the back of the computer, but the speakers are hooked up over Optical. My soundcard is not able to play audio on both the Optical out and an analog output at the same time.

The second issue, is the bass. I happen to love bass, and apparently a very large amount of it. Why do we buy the Z-5500s anyways guys? ;) These headphones have it, and are very capable. But I still feel it is lacking when plugged into my Z5500s. I've got some very old Labtec speakers that have a bass/treble knob on them. While it is killing the audio quality adding static and stuff, it does add a nice hardware bass boost that sounds amazing.

Basically, I figure both of these can be handled at the same time. I need something I can plug into a 3.5 headphone and has input for 3.5 jack headphones. In the mix, it would be great to have a separate volume boost and bass boost feature. I am no audio-phile; I do not need the $1000 option of doing this. I would prefer to spend under $50 to get the job done.

I am new to the entire high-end audio thing, and really don't have any clue what to do. I know what I want, but can not seem to achieve it with what I've got. I am supposing these are what you guys call headphone amps.

Hit me with my options, you guys are the best. :)
 
You need a headphone amplifier.
Search google for
headphone amplifier

Alternatively you can use a hifi amp that has a headphone output.
 
Nenu said:
You need a headphone amplifier.
Search google for
headphone amplifier

Alternatively you can use a hifi amp that has a headphone output.
Click to expand...

Do you know of any good ones that are cheap and have a decent bass boost?
 
IMO you should plug it directly into your soundcard and just deal with having to unplug your speakers and plug in your headphones every time =\ It's what I do. My case's headphone out is *awful* compared to the sound quality I get from a direct connection to the sound card.
 
CountChoculaBot said:
IMO you should plug it directly into your soundcard and just deal with having to unplug your speakers and plug in your headphones every time =\ It's what I do. My case's headphone out is *awful* compared to the sound quality I get from a direct connection to the sound card.
Click to expand...

Heh, I would live with it the way I do before I did that. It would be like a 5 minute procedure of plugging stuff in and out, and crawling under my desk. Sounds awful. I also tried just plugging them into the soundcard, and they honestly sound the same; just quieter.

I've looked around, and really can't find what I want. I've found some for $100-200, but I am not ready to spend that much to solve minor inconvenience.

Surely someone out there as a similar issue?
 
The best you're going to be able to do for $50 is a CMOY, PA2V2 or if you can find them a Go Vibe. I'd think they'd be fine driving your headphones.

Though I don't think amping an already lousy source coming from the Z5500's is the greatest idea in terms of sounds quality.
 
crashthenet44 said:
The best you're going to be able to do for $50 is a CMOY, PA2V2 or if you can find them a Go Vibe. I'd think they'd be fine driving your headphones.

Though I don't think amping an already lousy source coming from the Z5500's is the greatest idea in terms of sounds quality.
Click to expand...

Many amps have a sound pass through so they can be fed directly from the soundcard.
This eliminates any sound aberrations introduced by the Z5500.
 
i have z-680's and its the same- low power if i plug headphones into its headphone pass thru and i have to turn the volume way up!
i just use a ' y ' cable on the sound card. if u use digital out u might just have to put up with changing the output in control panel when u go from headphones to speakers.

also- the z5500 should have a sub level control in the control pod menu
 
ourfpshero said:
i have z-680's and its the same- low power if i plug headphones into its headphone pass thru and i have to turn the volume way up!
i just use a ' y ' cable on the sound card. if u use digital out u might just have to put up with changing the output in control panel when u go from headphones to speakers.

also- the z5500 should have a sub level control in the control pod menu
Click to expand...

Yes, it does, but this is just the volume of the sub, and can not boost the bass in the headphones. ;)
 
Sorry for the double post. Anyhow, I posted a thread at the amazing Head-fi. They gave a few suggestions, cheapest of which being the ibasso T1/T2.

Anyone know where I can buy these, and if they are good?
 
if the T1/T2 is made by ibasso, have you tried going to the ibasso website??

i dont know...seems obvious to me

also you mentioned you've been to head-fi, have you tried looking up the T1/T2 there?
 
walie said:
if the T1/T2 is made by ibasso, have you tried going to the ibasso website??

i dont know...seems obvious to me

also you mentioned you've been to head-fi, have you tried looking up the T1/T2 there?
Click to expand...

Yes, they do not great amazing reviews. Most people say they are ok, but not amazing. I figure I won't know the difference. Got to remember these are people that spend $500 on headphone amps every week. ;)

You can buy them on the site for around $100. Hmmm.
 
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