Getting AMP /DAC for Headphones

[Nohemi]

Hi

So I am thinking about getting Audio Technica ATH M40x headphones. I was wondering if I really need an AMP or not. If so, what should I get (I'm not spending like 100 bucks though)?

Thanks

[Mooshi]

2 minutes ago, Nohemi said:

Hi

So I am thinking about getting Audio Technica ATH M40x headphones. I was wondering if I really need an AMP or not. If so, what should I get (I'm not spending like 100 bucks though)?

Thanks

Schiit Fulla 2 is all you need and it's $99

[SSL]

You don't need anything.

[Nohemi]

23 minutes ago, SSL said:

You don't need anything.

Is this because the impedance is only 35 ohms?

[Mooshi]

17 minutes ago, Nohemi said:

Is this because the impedance is only 35 ohms?

Amp isn't really needed, but the dac can give you better audio if your own board sounds bad

[Nohemi]

5 minutes ago, Mooshi said:

Amp isn't really needed, but the dac can give you better audio if your own board sounds bad

I mostly use it for mobile

[SSL]

1 hour ago, Nohemi said:

Is this because the impedance is only 35 ohms?

 

Nope.

[nicobombai]

The improvement will be small and not justified if you purchase the extra dac/amp. It will be wiser to get a better headphone than investing on an amp/dac for m40x.

[rhyseyness]

 

[rhyseyness]

4 hours ago, Mooshi said:

Amp isn't really needed, but the dac can give you better audio if your own board sounds bad

"If" is the key part of this statement.

A DAC probably won't improve your sound compared to the onboard of any motherboard from the last 5 years.

[vanished]

4 hours ago, Nohemi said:

I mostly use it for mobile

like, with your phone?  So this needs to be a portable amp you can take with your phone, yes?  That changes things, since I think everyone has assumed a standard "desktop" headphone amp until now.

 

Regardless, I think the "you don't need one" point still stands.

 

4 hours ago, Nohemi said:

Is this because the impedance is only 35 ohms?

This is a common misconception, but you're better served looking into the "sensitivity".  It will make sense why when you see the units are dB/mW

[Dackzy]

4 hours ago, Mooshi said:

Amp isn't really needed, but the dac can give you better audio if your own board sounds bad

please explain to me how you can use a DAC without an amp.

[Mooshi]

25 minutes ago, Dackzy said:

please explain to me how you can use a DAC without an amp.

That statement was implying those headphones don't really need extra amplification

[Dackzy]

54 minutes ago, Mooshi said:

That statement was implying those headphones don't really need extra amplification

Your statement can be understood like you don't need an amp if you got a DAC, but a DAC doesn't have a headphone jack or even close to enough power to drive headphones. A DAC would basically be a brick without an amp.