Can you help me find the right amp?

[Oukuhr]

Hello everyone,

I’m new here and this seems the right place to look for help and/or info.
I’d like to upgrade my home studio, I’ll buy a new pair of headphones and a new audio interface. I'm very interested in the HD600S, and this is where my doubt arises: are there any audio interfaces that have a headphone amplifier powerful enough for 300ohm headphones or do I necessarily have to have a separated amplifier? How can I tell if the separate amplifier is suitable for 300ohm headphones? Could you, in case I need a separate amp, recommend some?

Thank you in advance, have a good day.

 

[Mr Swing King]

Motu M2: https://www.thomann.de/dk/motu_m2.htm?atr=true
Or
Motu M4:

MOTU M4

4-Channel USB C Audio Interface 24-Bit/192 kHz AD/DA converter, 2 Microphone preamps with individually switchable +48 V phantom power on each, 2 Line inputs: 6.3 mm XLR/Jack combo (switchable to Hi-Z instrument input), 2 Balanced line inputs: 6.3...

www.thomann.de

 

[Spkrdctr]

You have entered a website where you can get massive amounts of help with headphones! I am sure you will get lots of responses. Good Luck!

 

[maximit]

The Moto M2/M4 is not the best interface for 300+ohm headphones in my opinion, very little power.

I would go for something like the Topping E2x2, maybe Apogee Boom or Duet 3 to make sure its got enough power to drive the HD600 headphones.

To make sure the interface can drive HD600 without an external amplifier you need the power figure at 300ohm and plug that into a headphone calculator to see the volume it will be able to achieve.

 

[staticV3]

I'm very interested in the HD600S, and this is where my doubt arises: are there any audio interfaces that have a headphone amplifier powerful enough for 300ohm headphones

Lots, though it really depends on what qualifies as "powerful enough" for you.

Personally, even the artificially limited EU Apple headphone adapter (<1mW at 300Ω) is loud enough for my HD600, so I'd struggle to find an interface which doesn't get my HD600 loud enough.

Though if you want to make absolutely sure that volume won't be an issue, then an interface from Audient, Focusrite Clarett, or Topping Pro would be the way to go:


Those are class-leading for output power into high impedance headphones.

 

[maximit]

Also just in case you have a late model Mac with high impedance 3V mode, those can drive the 600 series to very loud volumes (114db) without any additional devices from the 3.5mm jack. If you get the 150ohm HD58X, those can be driven even louder (119db) and sound very close to the 600s at a fraction of the price. I own both the 650s and the 58X and they sound very similar. You can set up an "aggregate device" in "Audio MIDI Setup" and use both the interface and internal jack at the same time.

 

[Count Arthur]

I'm not sure how much you were thinking of spending.

The Topping has lots of headphone amp power, but maybe not the best performance elsewhere:

Topping E2x2 Audio Interface Review

This is a review and detailed measurements of the Topping Professional E2x2 audio interface (ADC, DAC, Headphone Amp). It was sent to me by the company and costs US $159. As the British would say, the E2x2 definitely "looks the part" as far as fitting in the general offering of interfaces in...

www.audiosciencereview.com

If you have deep pockets, perhaps: https://rme-audio.de/adi-2-4-pro-se.html

Or: https://www.neumann.com/en-gb/products/audiointerfaces/mt-48/

 

[RayDunzl]

Can you help me find the right amp?

Here at my place, the Right Amp is on the other side of the power stuff and the preamp from the Left Amp along the bottom of the rack.

 

[Oukuhr]

Lots, though it really depends on what qualifies as "powerful enough" for you.

Personally, even the artificially limited EU Apple headphone adapter (<1mW at 300Ω) is loud enough for my HD600, so I'd struggle to find an interface which doesn't get my HD600 loud enough.

Though if you want to make absolutely sure that volume won't be an issue, then an interface from Audient, Focusrite Clarett, or Topping Pro would be the way to go:
View attachment 387422

Those are class-leading for output power into high impedance headphones.

Thank you this was really helpful!

I usually mix at a moderate gain but I wouldn’t consider that high. My fear is that those headphones won’t perform as they should.