AMP for HD 595s Needed ?

D

Darkatom

[H]ard|Gawd
Joined
Jun 2, 2006
Messages
1,185
Well ive had my Sennheisser HD 595 headset for almost a year now, I've got them hooked up to the I/O panel with a XFI Fatality FPS soundcard. I'm curious as to wether useing an amplifier will give a noticable difference in games, music & movies ? If so, can anyone recommend a play to shop for a resonably priced one, thanks.
 
I'm using the HD485's in the same manner (direct I/O connection) and I think an amp is only needed if you've reached the volume barrier (and need to go louder).

I myself would like to know if an amp change the sound quality. It seems the FLAC, Foobar and ASIO drivers give more sound quality (for music). For movies and games - an amp would definitely help. I watch movies through Nero - and @ 100% it only produces a medium volume.
 
It would probably help with the sound but probably not a huge change as well. If you still want a good amp PM Mister X, i just received his high performance mini3 amp (its $110 includes shipping, high perf is AD8397 opamp but battery only lasts around 7 hours) and it makes my A900s sound a bit better too and my cans have lower impedance than the 595s. If you want more definitive info try checking head-fi.org. I'm sure someone there has HD595s and a amp of some sort.
 
yes you will notice an increase in SQ by amping a pair of HD595's, most notably in the lower frequencies. Even though they are fairly easy to drive the extra current will get the max out of them.

They do really, really well with tube amps. You can look for a used LDII+ or ++ for under $100, or find a used Millet Hybrid for probably under $200

if that is too much you can get a LDM+, not a great amp but pretty decent synergy with the 595's for around $60
 
After reading this thread and doing some research, I am considering purchasing Sennheiser HD 595 with an amp. Possibly a Little Dot MK III. I currently have a X-fi XtremeGamer Fatal1ty. My questions are:

1. Will the SQ in games improve with an amp?

2. What is the best way to hook up my amp to the X-fi? Front I/O Panel or directly to card?

3. Will all of the X-fi features still work after being sent through an amp? Such as EAX, CMSS-3D, etc?

I am aiming for great sound through headphones on my PC but I'm still noobish in the audiophile world.

Thanks for the help.
 
1. Probably not.
2. Directly to the card, reduces the number of connections and processing.
3. AFAIK yes, the features are just processes applied to the signal before it is sent out. The amp won't reverse the processes just amplify the signal so they should still work fine.

Like mentioned by Ricey check out the head-fi.org forums, especially the computer-as-source forum that will have more information than you ever wanted to know.
 
GreenGoose said:
After reading this thread and doing some research, I am considering purchasing Sennheiser HD 595 with an amp. Possibly a Little Dot MK III. I currently have a X-fi XtremeGamer Fatal1ty. My questions are:

1. Will the SQ in games improve with an amp?

2. What is the best way to hook up my amp to the X-fi? Front I/O Panel or directly to card?

3. Will all of the X-fi features still work after being sent through an amp? Such as EAX, CMSS-3D, etc?

I am aiming for great sound through headphones on my PC but I'm still noobish in the audiophile world.

Thanks for the help.
Click to expand...

1. Yes, but only slightly. If you want more you'd have to get a better sound card or an external DAC and use your current X-Fi as a transport
2. directly to the back of your card. A high quality mini-RCA is needed.
3. Yes, you can also use these features with an external DAC
 
Thanks for the replies. I spent all day yesterday reading over at head-fi.org. There is so much information it is hard to make educated sense of it without playing with some of the equipment. I decided to go ahead and purchase the Little Dot MK III and Sennheiser HD 595s to start with. I might get the external DAC later. Any recommendations on an affordable one that would go good with the setup I ordered? Also, where is the best place to pick up the mini-RCA? RadioShack or online somewhere?
 
I have 595's and was using them straight out of my X-Fi. Then I used the amp on the EMU 0404 USB and the sound was cleaner, next I hooked up the 595's to an Audiolab 8000A and immediately noticed a better bottom end. If you want a good DAC for cheap then get yourself an EMU 0404 USB, it can be used as a standalone DAC, external soundcard, headphone amp and more. They cost under $200.00. I have mine hooked up to my X-fi via coax and via USB so I can use it as either a DAC or soundcard, then it hooks into my Audilab 8000A via analog. You can get the adapters you need at Radioshack.
 
You don't need an AMP for these headphones. In fact for most headphones under $300 you don't need one. Only some purists-elitists demand one for god knows what.
 
The cost of the headphones really has little to do whether if needs an amp or not. The primary factor is the impedance of the headphones (64ohm on my HD280s). Headphones with low impedance will benefit less from an amp than the same headphone with a higher impedance. Almost all headphone amplifiers will, however provide a cleaner signal than the amp on the soundcard, whether you can hear the difference is what really matters. Trying a used LD2++ which is relatively inexpensive is a good place to start.
 
/threadjack

With regards to the LDII++: if I have a receiver should I go mini-RCA from X-Fi to LDII++, then RCA to the receiver, using it as a preamp for speakers as well? Or go from the receiver to the headphone amp?

I've been so confused on what to get ahhhhhh! I've got a pair of DT770/80, which I've been told don't necessarily require an amp, but I know I'll eventually experiment with other headphones. Besides, an amp could only make them sound better, no?

/end threadjack
 
BlueMak said:
You don't need an AMP for these headphones. In fact for most headphones under $300 you don't need one. Only some purists-elitists demand one for god knows what.
Click to expand...

:rolleyes:

Mmkay. Volume control for one thing. Also, sound cards do not have the ability to properly drive headphones. Take the AV710 for example, put that it HQ mode and the Wolfson DAC can't drive headphones decently.

Also, price has nothing to do with whether or not you need an amp, it's the impedance of the headphones, represented in ohms, with the symbol [SIZE=-1]Ω. Anything 50[/SIZE][SIZE=-1]Ω and under won't need an amp, but it can enhance sound quality.

To show you price has nothing to do with this, take the AKG K240 Monitor as an example. 600[/SIZE][SIZE=-1]Ω and usually goes around $40-80. You NEED an amp for those headphones for them to sound like they're supposed to. However, something like the Sennheiser HD485 with 32[/SIZE][SIZE=-1]Ω does not require an amp, but can benefit from one either way.
[/SIZE]
 
Also, price has nothing to do with whether or not you need an amp, it's the impedance of the headphones, represented in ohms, with the symbol Ω. Anything 50Ω and under won't need an amp, but it can enhance sound quality.
Click to expand...

If we overlook sensitivity ohms law suggests your hypothesis about impedance is bass akwards. ;)
 
From http://www.practical-home-theater-guide.com/headphones.html
Headphone Impedance & On-the-Ear Sensitivity:

Impedance: One issue that's especially important when choosing a pair of headphones is impedance. So called low impedance and high impedance pairs should not be intermixed.

Low impedance headsets may vary from 75 ohms up to about 150 ohms. Phones in this impedance range may be directly plugged into the headphone jack routinely found on recording and playback equipment.

Higher impedances sets normally have an impedance of around 600 ohms; these are more useful in studio installations where many units may be wired in parallel for studio monitoring applications.

The 600-ohm models are more rugged than low impedance ones in that the higher resistance coils are less susceptible to burn out than low impedance models. On the other hand, high impedance sets require a higher driving signal to produce the same level of sound output in comparison to low impedance headsets.

This means that low impedance headphones will sound louder when plugged in devices with low output voltages such as portable CD players, etc. In reality, because of the limited power available from portable players, headsets for portable use should have a maximum impedance of 64 ohms.

Worth keeping in mind here that the lower the impedance, the more efficient headphones are in converting the incoming electrical energy into sound. On the contrary, the higher the impedance, the more electrical energy is required to drive the headsets tiny speakers.
Click to expand...
 
So, you clever people that want to make sarcastic remarks of what I said. Do you know MANY cheap headphones that have high impedance, enough that they require extra power? Because most that I know are not that cheap.

Sound cards have the ability to drive properly headphones that wouldn't require an Amp anyway.

If people claim that they require an amp for the HD 595 they are just lying. They probably even never used them or repeating other people who have never used them, or they have an amp and they are trying to justify the purchase.

I seriously doubt you will hear difference more than 5% with those headphones with an amp. Go ahead and buy them, don't worry about an amp.
 
BlueMak said:
So, you clever people that want to make sarcastic remarks of what I said. Do you know MANY cheap headphones that have high impedance, enough that they require extra power? Because most that I know are not that cheap.

Sound cards have the ability to drive properly headphones that wouldn't require an Amp anyway.

If people claim that they require an amp for the HD 595 they are just lying. They probably even never used them or repeating other people who have never used them, or they have an amp and they are trying to justify the purchase.

I seriously doubt you will hear difference more than 5% with those headphones with an amp. Go ahead and buy them, don't worry about an amp.
Click to expand...

don't make comments like this unless you've listened to HD595's unamed and then amped from the same source using the same material.

one factor that you haven't taken into consideration is that many low impendance phones require more current to sound their best, meaning you need an amp because most players and sound cards are unable to supply the current needed.

When paired with a good amp HD595's sing :D
 
soloz2 said:
When paired with a good amp HD595's sing :D
Click to expand...

Yea, I based my comments on the fact I own 595's and have used them amped and unamped. They definitely improve with an amp. I doubt Blue Mak has even heard 595's and is talking out of his butt. An amp isn't necessary but a good amp will improve their sound quality.
 
milkweg said:
Yea, I based my comments on the fact I own 595's and have used them amped and unamped. They definitely improve with an amp. I doubt Blue Mak has even heard 595's and is talking out of his butt. An amp isn't necessary but a good amp will improve their sound quality.
Click to expand...

my point exactly, which is why I called blue on his statement
 
Pinipig523 said:
More of the disease?? :eek:
Click to expand...

Hah. Well, the disease is terminal -- terminal in that it will most likely lead to the death of your wallet, and possibly even your bank manager -- so I guess there's no "getting out".

I got away pretty easily, too: I think I've only spent about £180 since joining, not bad in comparison to others!
 
Mansize_tissue said:
Hah. Well, the disease is terminal -- terminal in that it will most likely lead to the death of your wallet, and possibly even your bank manager -- so I guess there's no "getting out".

I got away pretty easily, too: I think I've only spent about £180 since joining, not bad in comparison to others!
Click to expand...

I unloaded 250 to 275 or so.

Audio Technica ATH-A900's
Sennheiser HD201's
Koss KSC75's
Electric-Avenue's PA2V2
and an iPod digital audio cable for the amp.

I use the A900's and the amp all the time, the rest as just kinda been set aside though, I'd like a better amp though...
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top