Getting HD 598, need amp, yes/no?

[BirdyTheMighty]

so yeah i decided to get the HD 598s($245 ) tomorrow going to grandmas on Christmass it would be nice to get a headphone to listen to music , as i wanted to try a mid range headphones to see what it sounds like over my main stream HD 419s. 

Kinda know nothing in this department but i do appreciate good sound.

 

HD 598( i like my Sennheiser, passed down from my dad which he only has Sennheiser he also likes Bose audio  )

http://www.pccasegear.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=116_1525&products_id=17434

 

back to the question do i really need a amp cant get a sound card cause using ITX, will be bringing laptop to grandmas house instead though for obvious reason 

[Thebman712]

what is your motherboard

[BirdyTheMighty]

edit the post a bit

what is your motherboard

upgraded to Asus Z97i plus

[Octavialicious]

edit the post a bit

upgraded to Asus Z97i plus

you definitely don't need an amp; you should be good to go

[BirdyTheMighty]

you definitely don't need an amp; you should be good to go

nice so no audio degrade or anything 

[Mujteba]

nice so no audio degrade or anything 

Amp doesn't improve audio quality. It just increases the audio level and makes what you are listening to louder. You'll only need an amp if you notice that the headphones are too quiet at max volume when plugged into the mobo. Otherwise, for clearer audio get a dac.

[Octavialicious]

nice so no audio degrade or anything 

yep, it'll sound perfect

[jchenabc]

so yeah i decided to get the HD 598s($245 ) 

Where are you getting them ? they are only 160 on amazon

[EmoRarity]

Where are you getting them ? they are only 160 on amazon

On top of the 598's sounding identical to the 558, which sound pretty close to the 518's, so you can pick how much money you feel like hating. 

[SSL]

On top of the 598's sounding identical to the 558, which sound pretty close to the 518's, so you can pick how much money you feel like hating. 

 

This thread topic seems strangely familiar.

[EmoRarity]

This thread topic seems strangely familiar.

Almost as if OP never searches the forum for related posts before making his post. 

[pierrelucsav]

Amp doesn't improve audio quality. It just increases the audio level and makes what you are listening to louder. You'll only need an amp if you notice that the headphones are too quiet at max volume when plugged into the mobo. Otherwise, for clearer audio get a dac.

 

A good amp does improve audio quality if it replaces a shitty amp or onboard device.

[EmoRarity]

A good amp does improve audio quality if it replaces a shitty amp or onboard device.

I see you have studied the headfi too. 

[Lutkeveld]

I see you have studied the headfi too. 

 

Can be true if onboard is clipping or unable to drive the headphone to satisfying levels.

[SSL]

Can be true if onboard is clipping or unable to drive the headphone to satisfying levels.

 

Not really quality, though.

[EmoRarity]

Can be true if onboard is clipping or unable to drive the headphone to satisfying levels.

That is a electrical deficiency. if everything is working as it should, paying more for it to work like it should seems dumb to me. Or maybe I have the wrong mindset on the matter.  

[Lutkeveld]

Not really quality, though.

 

Clipping vs no clipping is a quality improvement in my eyes/ears. But I agree that generally an amp only increases loudness.

[pierrelucsav]

I see you have studied the headfi too. 

 

I don't need headfi to make me believe in that statement. It's just common sense. Cheap - and some expensive - devices can come with noise, clipping at high volumes or just not being neutral (intentionally or not). And you definitely don't need to drop a ton of money to get a decent amp.

 

 

Clipping vs no clipping is a quality improvement in my eyes/ears. But I agree that generally an amp only increases loudness.

 

That's the only thing an amp SHOULD do. However, some of them do a lot more than that, and that's when it becomes detrimental to quality.

[creatip123]

Clipping vs no clipping is a quality improvement in my eyes/ears. But I agree that generally an amp only increases loudness.

 

And a chick magnet. Chicks dig $5000 up amps....

[BirdyTheMighty]

Where are you getting them ? they are only 160 on amazon

Australia aint cheap cause of tax or something so we get like a ~+50% price boost

[creatip123]

Australia aint cheap cause of tax or something so we get like a ~+50% price boost

 

Just read the price you got. Check how much is Hifiman HE-400 delivered to your door. It's $249 bundled with a headphone case, on head-direct.com.

 

IMO, HE-400 is miles better than HD598, but there's a bigger chance you'd need an amp with HE-400 though (may not need one, depending on your existing system)

[BirdyTheMighty]

the HE-400 seems to be out of my budget, but i bought the HD 598s anyway, thanks 

[creatip123]

the HE-400 seems to be out of my budget, but i bought the HD 598s anyway, thanks 

 

The base price is only $4 difference than the $245 HD598. Perhaps it's the shipping and custom that's quite costly.

[BirdyTheMighty]

The base price is only $4 difference than the $245 HD598. Perhaps it's the shipping and custom that's quite costly.

yeah shipping cost heaps  

[Majestic]

Amp doesn't improve audio quality. 

 

No but it can suit your headphones better than onboard does. My Bowers&Wilkins P7's are 22ohms. The op-amp output is also 22ohm. That's a really shitty impedance match, meaning the electrical dampening will be bad (bass) and ultimate volume.