Looking for advice on what headphones to buy/questions about amps

[ampyear327]

I'm new to this area, and have done a lot of research recently on headphones and amps. I'm looking to get a pair of open back headphones for the primary purpose of listening to music - Bruce Springsteen, Van Halen, Boston, Faith No More, Lynyrd Skynyrd, etc. (maybe some bass heavy hip hop every now and then, but I don't care as much about that). I also care about being able to appreciate more dramatic orchestral pieces and film scores, like stuff from Interstellar or Lord of the Rings.

I'm planning on using these headphones exclusively at my desk with my PC.

I'm probably not willing to spend more than around $300 in total, and I've been looking at

• Edition XS (open to refurbished)
• Sundara (again open to buying refurbished)
• HD 560s
• HD 58X

I'm obviously open to other suggestions.

After watching crinacle's famous video, I've got questions about amps - after plugging in the Edition XS's specs (which is what I'm interested the most in at the moment) into headphones power calculators, it seems like they could be driven off of an Apple dongle - is this true? I really don't want to spend hundreds of dollars on an amp or dac/amp because of placebo-caused misinformation about the true need for a dedicated amp.

Hopefully this is the right place to post this, I'm new to this forum. I greatly appreciate any advice!

 

[twsecrest]

Schiit Fulla DAC/amp, $109.
Think I would choose the Hifiman Edition XS (currently $270).

 

[kemmler3D]

it seems like they could be driven off of an Apple dongle - is this true? I really don't want to spend hundreds of dollars on an amp or dac/amp because of placebo-caused misinformation about the true need for a dedicated amp.

Sensitive headphones, even full-size ones, can be driven by dongles, it's true. Generally a dedicated amp can go louder and handle more complex or demanding loads from headphones, but they are not strictly needed.

If you decide to get an amp I could also recommend the JDS Atom series, I like mine.

The Sennheisers are good options at your budget.

Don't discount the importance of EQ for headphone listening, either.

And welcome to ASR!

 

[ampyear327]

Sensitive headphones, even full-size ones, can be driven by dongles, it's true. Generally a dedicated amp can go louder and handle more complex or demanding loads from headphones, but they are not strictly needed.

If you decide to get an amp I could also recommend the JDS Atom series, I like mine.

The Sennheisers are good options at your budget.

Don't discount the importance of EQ for headphone listening, either.

And welcome to ASR!

Thanks! Would the following work:

My pc --> Apple dongle --> 3.5mm to RCA adapter --> Atom Amp 2 --> Edition XS

with the Apple dongle serving as the external dac? Would this cause me to run into some sort of double amplification problem since the dongle has its own amp and isn't only a dac?

From my research it seems like a dedicated amp is probably a good idea, but I'm trying to see if I can save $100 on not buying a dac.

 

[twsecrest]

Thanks! Would the following work:

My pc --> Apple dongle --> 3.5mm to RCA adapter --> Atom Amp 2 --> Edition XS

with the Apple dongle serving as the external dac? Would this cause me to run into some sort of double amplification problem since the dongle has its own amp and isn't only a dac?

From my research it seems like a dedicated amp is probably a good idea, but I'm trying to see if I can save $100 on not buying a dac.

Apple dongle connected to a Windows PC?
So your plugging a lightning connector into a USB port?

 

[kemmler3D]

Thanks! Would the following work:

My pc --> Apple dongle --> 3.5mm to RCA adapter --> Atom Amp 2 --> Edition XS

with the Apple dongle serving as the external dac? Would this cause me to run into some sort of double amplification problem since the dongle has its own amp and isn't only a dac?

From my research it seems like a dedicated amp is probably a good idea, but I'm trying to see if I can save $100 on not buying a dac.

I think so, the apple dongle has maximum output voltage of ~1V IIRC which should get you good volume out of the amp.

 

[ampyear327]

Apple dongle connected to a Windows PC?
So your plugging a lightning connector into a USB port?

I'm talking about the usb-c version.

 

[ampyear327]

I think so, the apple dongle has maximum output voltage of ~1V IIRC which should get you good volume out of the amp.

Thanks. You don't think there would be any sort of distortion problems since the dongle has an amp in its own right?

 

[kemmler3D]

Thanks. You don't think there would be any sort of distortion problems since the dongle has an amp in its own right?

No, I think the Atom amp (like most desktop gear) should be able to take at least 2V input so you wouldn't get distortion by overloading the Atom.

 

[oleg87]

The dongle will clip driving 16ohms before you reach its maximum level (as will most headphone amps), but that should happen at a pretty high volume.

If you want to reach high average volumes with orchestral music and film scores, it might be a good idea to get a desktop amp. The Atom 2 should indeed be a fine budget choice.

 

[ampyear327]

The dongle will clip driving 16ohms before you reach its maximum level (as will most headphone amps), but that should happen at a pretty high volume.

If you want to reach high average volumes with orchestral music and film scores, it might be a good idea to get a desktop amp. The Atom 2 should indeed be a fine budget choice.

just to be clear - you're saying the dongle would clip if I were using it by itself, or even used in conjunction with the amp?

 

[ampyear327]

No, I think the Atom amp (like most desktop gear) should be able to take at least 2V input so you wouldn't get distortion by overloading the Atom.

Yeah, I've recently read that most amps tend to expect 2V input. Because my understanding is the dongle outputs only 1V, now I'm worried the dongle would be underpowered for the amp.

 

[oleg87]

just to be clear - you're saying the dongle would clip if I were using it by itself, or even used in conjunction with the amp?

A desktop amp would also clip at some point, but (if it is well suited for the headphones) at a high enough volume that it's not something to realistically be concerned with.

With high dynamic range music, the dongle is a little marginal. Really depends on how loud you listen.

 

[kemmler3D]

Yeah, I've recently read that most amps tend to expect 2V input. Because my understanding is the dongle outputs only 1V, now I'm worried the dongle would be underpowered for the amp.

It's technically underpowered but the amp can probably exceed the volume you're comfortable listening to, so it may not be an actual problem.

 

[oleg87]

With the Atom2 and the Edition XS, you'd be leaving slightly less than 3dB max headroom on the table due to the dongle's 1V output - definitely not the end of the world. A lot of non-Apple dongles are capable of 2V output but I don't really know what's good/affordable there.

 

[paulcc]

If you are looking for near Harmon curve bass response for rock and hip hop you are not likely to get it from sub $500 open back headphones. You might consider something like the AKG K371 closed back that adheres to the Harmon curve quite nicely and therefor provides very good bass response for the types of music you mention. It is also very sensitive and can be driven easily from a phone dongle or laptop directly. I have much more expensive headphones but this one has become one of my favorites. For less than $150, it's a massive bargain.

 

[Dr Morbius]

I recommend the Schiit Vali 3 tube amp with a quality level that’s approximately 5 to 8 times its value ( some say 10 times ) for only $150 - the best value in headphone amps right now. May cost a bit more in Canada.