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The best of Headphone Amps by number of unique Reddit comments:
![iFi ZEN CAN Balanced Desktop Headphone Amp and Preamp with 4.4mm Outputs [US Pin]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/312ytgapVqL._SL500_.jpg)
Top Reddit reviews mentioning Headphone Amps:
ES100
EarStudio ES100-24bit Portable High-Resolution Bluetooth Receiver/USB DAC/Headphone Amp with LDAC, aptX HD, aptX, AAC (3.5mm Unbalanced & 2.5mm Balanced Output) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B078H4YD2L/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_ReGPDbH9K2TWK
No, bluetooth is not a proper replacement for the analog jack. AptX-HD and LDAC are nice, and would suffice (at least for on the go listening) IF they could handle a stable connection. But they can't. Especially when you're outside.
I looked into it. If I wanted to go bluetooth with AptX-HD/LDAC I'd need a setup thats FAR more inconvenient than a simple 3.5 jack cable - A small portable bluetooth DAC/Amp that supports the codecs (Example), still a 3.5 jack cable and my IEMs, connected via bluetooth to my phone. Wow, where do I put the additional device now? Fucking clip it on my damn jacket?
All convenient "audiophile" solutions cost 150 bucks or much more, AND ONLY support normal AptX. For example the Plussound cables. Normal AptX is pretty damn horrible if you have good earphones, y'know. And no it's definitely not proper 16bit lossless.
So then there is the obvious solution. Do what many others do and buy some bluetooth headphones. But there is NO DAMN CHOICE of good headphones. All bluetooth headphones are midrange AT MAX, but already cost a shitload for the cheap quality.
Bluetooth is not, and will never be a proper replacement. There must be a new and proper music streaming standard before we can ditch the headphone jack for real.
The Fiio A1 Portable Amp is only $27 on amazon, and their amps are pretty solid for phones. I have the E6 and use it with my 6P and my larger headphones.
I am not a professional, but I can say this much... I have a pair of Audio Technica Pro 700 MK2's and listening to them plugged into my Pixel 2 vs listening to them plugged into my Onkyo receiver fed audio from my PC via optical cable is an ENTIRELY different experience.
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I've been considering picking up an es100 to be able to use my 700MK2's wireless with my phone and I'm hoping that it offers a similar experience as I get with my Onkyo.
https://www.amazon.com/FiiO-E10K-Headphone-Amplifier-Black/dp/B00LP3AMC2 If you want a budget DAC/AMP this is a good entry-level one.
However, do not install the FiiO software. It is outdated and will blue screen your PC. Just let windows install drivers for it.
I had the same problem. Best way to get ride of this static would be to remove your analog audio from the inside of your computer.
I would get an external DAC/AMP or DAC/AMP combo. I use the FiiO e10k. $75 on Amazon It's a pretty good little DAC/Amp.
Properly powered, the 770-80 can deliver very deep, textured, powerful bass when the music calls for it. So, something is very wrong here :), but, it's an easy fix.
Low volume and poor bass response are the first indicators that headphones are being underpowered. You need an amp. Might I suggest a FiiO E10K? It has excellent quality and is cheap.
I'm using it with the es100, which is $99. Huge improvement over the dongle (if you have a iPhone 7 or newer), extremely convenient because it's bluetooth, and one of the few dac/amps that don't produce ANY hiss (and the andromeda is EXTREMELY sensitive to hiss). It's also competitive in quality to my ha2se. Highly recommend it - you can buy it on amazon.
I've experienced this issue as well - my workaround is using this headphone amp that I have ($24 on amazon, link below) in between my interface and the headphones, and it provides an extra level of gain, which gets me right in the sweet zone
Behringer Microamp HA400 Ultra-Compact 4-Channel Stereo Headphone Amplifier by Amazon.com Learn more: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000KIPT30/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_U_qJR5CbD2RMWYB
Another thing to keep in mind is that your computer or laptop will probably not drive them on their own. You'll need an external DAC or headphone amp. I currently use the fiio E10k with my desktop and it works just fine. There might be less expensive options but this is really good for high impedance and low impedance like earbuds and M50x's.
Also, as a glasses guy the standard earcups don't feel too clamped down and I don't feel too fatigued after a few hours of wearing them.
Ah, then maybe an external USB-audio may work. Sounds like maybe something is broken with the audio on the motherboard.
You'll want something with a digital to analog (DAC) converter. USB sound cards have one built-in. Some headphone amplifiers may also have them included such as: https://www.amazon.com/FiiO-E10K-Headphone-Amplifier-Black/dp/B00LP3AMC2 . Good DACs can handle 24-bit/96 kHz while the higher end ones can go up to 192 kHz sampling.
I would aim to spend at least $60-150 or so especially if you want to support high end headphones. Going too cheap means sacrificing too much while too expensive gets really diminishing returns.
Using your PC or monitors jacks will result in this type of noise, they don’t keep clean signals very well.
If you search Amazon you can find some very cheap solutions. For your PC check out this Syba Sonic 24bit 96KHz USB DAC Stereo Headphone Amplifier 2 Stage EQ Digital/Coaxial Output and RCA Output SD-DAC63116 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07XJ89KV6/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_9MZ16DWT4FVGKHZB60PZ
And if you have an iPhone you can also get the dongle which is 9$. Apple Lightning to 3.5 mm Headphone Jack Adapter https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01LXJFMGF/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_YA6VFNW0SYAMZSNVFPFC
Falls just under 50$ minus the tax
> is it possible to get an external DAC that improves it a bad one?
I'm not sure if it counts as an external DAC, but I have a FiiO A1 headphone amp, and it has EQ options for improving bass (a little or a lot), removing bass, or no EQ but more power. I usually use the 2nd EQ option (most bass).
There is also this: https://www.reddit.com/r/OculusQuest/comments/nher43/dsp_board_for_bmr_off_ear_headphones_now_available
What speakers are you using currently? Secondly what headset or headphone/microphone are you looking to use? or do you already have a headset/headphone w/ microphone?
If you have something entry level like a basic headset or a low impedance headphone, you might be better off with something like a 10$ usb sound card. Otherwise options like this or this. Both will work for most entry to mid range options, exclusions will be power hungry headphones like Fostex t50rp. Bonus, you get a microphone input and ability to line out to powered monitors.
With the R1280T, you use something like this USB DAC. You'd plug your PC into it via USB, the speakers into the RCA red & white in the back, and your headphones and mic into the front.
Using a basic splitter like that is gonna end up showing your headphone amp either a super high or super low impedance. Something like https://www.amazon.com/Behringer-HA400-Ultra-Compact-4-Channel-Headphone/dp/B000KIPT30/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=multichannel+headphone+amplifier+behringer&qid=1611058341&sr=8-1 is a better choice
Do you need any specific features that YU4 has (optical, phono pre-amp, AAC, USB charge) or could you make due with YU? The reason I ask is because YU4 is grounded and will likely pick up ground noise from your PC even if you use a DAC. The best connection method for YU4 is optical if your PC has it - digital connections can't pick up noise.
YU is not grounded it does not have that issue. You could get a DAC or just use the 3.5mm jack on your PC and pair it with a headphone amp that has pre-outs to the speakers.
If you need YU4 then I would consider a USB to Optical converter rather than a DAC. I have recommended this one before as it has a headphone out.
Would give you individual level controls between your headphones and your recording gear.
Wouldn't hurt to try the passive splitter you linked though. It will either work well, kinda work, or not work. Won't damage anything.
Just don't run the speaker out into anything other than a speaker at the same impedance rating.
He could use the onboard sound but I recommend a USB dac/amp like this because they will sound bad unless you have a sound card and even then I've heard there can be hissing and feedback.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00LP3AMC2/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_fabc_JPQUFbPN6JPPQ
This is a good starter one, the k3 is a different model that is slightly better. There are a lot that people recommend like schiit and dragonfly but fiio is where I'd start
Ok; the EarStudio ES100 Mk2 seems like many of the other "adaptors" I linked to in my question in that it has a TRS jack but not a TRRS jack, and the first question on its amazon page confirms that it doesn't transmit the signal from an external mic. I'd like to stick with the headphones my kid and I have settled on. Thank you for the tips on other subreddits!
FiiO A1 is as cheap as I'd be willed to go. You can get that from amazon, without the aliexpress worries.
I would strongly recommend against the Shure Bluetooth cable. It’s wireless quality is absolutely terrible (it only supports SBC, not AAC or apt-X), and it’s just poorly made and designed. Even the unnecessary audio prompts about battery life are loud and screechy, and can’t be disabled. It really is bad, through and through.
There are lots of good wireless headsets out there, between Beyerdynamic, Jaybird, Bowers and Wilkins, and B&O; take a look at some of their offerings first.
If you want a Bluetooth dongle that you can use with corded headphones, I picked up an EarStudio and love it: Amazon link
The price has definitely gone up since I got it, but this is what I use at work https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B07XJ89KV6/
If moneys tight, I'd wait until you have a week or two to try them out. If you notice them sounding better/worse/different on different sources (computers, phones, etc), then you can look at getting a dac/amp
Your best bet would usually be a USB DAC/amp like the FiiO E10K
You need something like this. You could probably find something cheaper, but this will get rid of the high noise floor.
I have a microphone interface and JDS Labs Atom at home, but at work, this works just fine on a budget, and you can probably get away with even cheaper if you tried https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B07XJ89KV6/
You may not even need it. From what I researched in the past, a good DAC and a good amp are each at least $100, or you can get a questionable combo for less than half the cost of one that'll work well enough until you start dropping fat stacks.
It’s this fella here.
FiiO E10K USB DAC and Headphone Amplifier (Black) https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B00LP3AMC2/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_Jm-xFbEP2JDQP
So it’s both but not powerful enough for my headphones. So I’ll try it when I get home and see if it works fine. Probably will.
Would this be worth a shot?
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