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To amp or not to amp (audiophile question)

QuantumTurkQuantumTurk Registered User regular
in Help / Advice Forum
So, if I'm running Grado S80i's off my laptop (Lenovo ideapad, U410), would I benefit from something like this:https://www.massdrop.com/buy/bravo-v3-headphone-amp? Or is this snake oil? Only worth it for FLAC files?

Posts

  • Donovan PuppyfuckerDonovan Puppyfucker A dagger in the dark is worth a thousand swords in the morningRegistered User regular
    How shitty is the sound chip in your laptop? You'd most likely benefit from a headphone amp, as the vast majority of laptop sound chips really don't have the drive to power a set of full-sized cans.

    Plus, the SR80i are well-known for responding quite favourably to amplification. For $60 for the amp you linked you pretty much can't go wrong.

  • QuantumTurkQuantumTurk Registered User regular
    @chrishallett83
    As near as I can tell from http://shop.lenovo.com/us/en/laptops/ideapad/u-series/u410?tt=ufadfw#techspecs nothing dedicated. Does that put me in the get an amp NOW category?

  • Shazkar ShadowstormShazkar Shadowstorm Registered User regular
    i think it puts you in the get a DAC or a DAC/Amp combo category, like one that connects to laptop via USB

    poo
  • Shazkar ShadowstormShazkar Shadowstorm Registered User regular
    e.g. https://www.massdrop.com/buy/fiio-e18 though that's more expensive, but basically a soundcard and amp in one

    I have the E17 is gud

    poo
  • QuantumTurkQuantumTurk Registered User regular
    If I don't care about portability, what is the diff between that and this : https://www.massdrop.com/buy/fiioe9k-desktop-amp ? I am so over my head here.

  • Shazkar ShadowstormShazkar Shadowstorm Registered User regular
    So that one you have is something you'd plug like an E17 like I have into

    That's mainly an amp, doesn't have the thing to process digital audio

    I use my E17 as basically a desktop DAC + amp for my headphones at home, the E18 appears to be the same deal, it'd work well

    Basically E18 would be USB to your laptop, and then you plug your headphones into that

    that desktop amp would be good if you either had a good soundcard or seperate DAC

    chris can probably correct me if i am wrong but that is my understanding

    poo
  • Donovan PuppyfuckerDonovan Puppyfucker A dagger in the dark is worth a thousand swords in the morningRegistered User regular
    The E9 is an auxiliary power amp for their E7 and E17 pocket amp/DAC combo units. the E7 and E17 have a nice DAC in them, and a basic amplifier that has nice clean outputs and a few neat features, and just about enough horsepower to drive most headphones and IEMs. If you have a bigger badder meaner pair of headphones (high impedance [600 Ohm] or particularly notorious to drive), then for times when you're not mobile, you'd slap your E7/E17 into the E9 to give it a significant power boost.

    The E18 is basically the new model and bigger stronger brother of the E7/E17, with better quality internal components, a more powerful amp circuit, and a much bigger battery along with the incremental improvements in build quality Fiio have been striving for.

  • Donovan PuppyfuckerDonovan Puppyfucker A dagger in the dark is worth a thousand swords in the morningRegistered User regular
    edited March 2014
    If you really don't care about portability (desktop use ONLY), then might I suggest a Magni/Modi combo from Schiit Audio?

    Donovan Puppyfucker on
  • QuantumTurkQuantumTurk Registered User regular
    Sooo reading around, I THINK a cheap DAC is all I really need. Any word to convince me I need an amp too?

  • Donovan PuppyfuckerDonovan Puppyfucker A dagger in the dark is worth a thousand swords in the morningRegistered User regular
    Your headphones respond really well to an amp?

    The thing with a headphone amp is it won't suddenly make your headphones WAY louder (although you will be able to make them go much louder when you turn it up).

    I don't really know the proper way to put it, but amps give what you're listening to more oomph. You can really hear the kick drum, those vocals are nice and brassy and bold, that guitar solo melts your fucking face off WITHOUT being turned up to ear-drum damaging decibel levels.

    The DAC converts all the 0s and 1s into very clear, precise and detailed line level analogue output, the amp gives that output some fucking BALLS.

  • DjeetDjeet Registered User regular
    A dedicated DAC might eliminate hiss or hum if you're getting that in your integrated audio device headphone out. An amp makes the sound "bigger" (not meaning "louder", though it can do that too); louder bits are louder and quieter bits are quieter. It increases perceived dynamic range, which is the least-BS interpretation of the jargon used by audiophiles (space, soundstage, depth, detail).

  • QuantumTurkQuantumTurk Registered User regular
    Ok, I think I got it. And I think i'll see if my budget can handle a Magni Modi.

  • Donovan PuppyfuckerDonovan Puppyfucker A dagger in the dark is worth a thousand swords in the morningRegistered User regular
    If you can't spring for the two Schiit units, then an E17 is a nice little bit of kit (a few of us have one!) and about half the price.

  • NoizlanifNoizlanif MMO-Whore Registered User regular
    The E07K Might even be a better option than the E17 if price is a issue. I prefer that former over the latter.

    http://steamcommunity.com/id/noizlanif
  • QuantumTurkQuantumTurk Registered User regular
    I may have a magni/modi coming now. Theoretically. Ooops.

  • Donovan PuppyfuckerDonovan Puppyfucker A dagger in the dark is worth a thousand swords in the morningRegistered User regular
    Ha ha ha, one of us, one of us...

  • NoizlanifNoizlanif MMO-Whore Registered User regular
    Hahhahaha, Magni / Modi are much better choices. I kind of want one, or maybe the O2 From JDS labs, haven't decided yet, but either way, congrats. Your earholes will writhe with orgasmic pleasure.

    http://steamcommunity.com/id/noizlanif
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