For my next trick...amps

[admin_exported]

Following on from my wireless thread, what's the thinking behind headphones plugged into an integrated amp vs using a dedicated headphone amp?

My Cyrus 7 has a headphone out plus a switch to put the signal through that output instead of the speakers. Is that going to be as good as a headphone amp costing a couple of hundred pounds?

 

[matengawhat]

no will be rubbish - most are put in as a cheap after thought - a dedicated amp will work wonders on your cans

 

[idc]

The worth of a dedicated headphone amp increases the more you use you headphones and the better those headphnes are. For occasional use with lower range cans that are easy to drive, most stereo amps with a headphone out will do. Otherwise, for example running AKG K702s which are less sensitive and are capable of great sound out of a stereo amps headphone out is the equivalent of £1000 speakers on the end of a £200 amp. They will work but.....

 

[matengawhat]

check out the firestone audio kit - been very impressed so far with the Fubar IV to the extent that order a second unit for my computer room and the mains supplier

 

[Anonymous]

I plug a Creek OBH amp into my headphones and the improvement over the out jack on my Alpha 8 amp is VERY noticable. Headphones used are Grado 80's and AKG 701's.

Likewise, even listening to my iPod, I find using something like the Fiio E5 headphone amp greatly improves to the sound.