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Headphone amp worth it?

Henrybrooks
By Henrybrooks
in Audio
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Hello I have a pair of Audio Technica ATH-M50 headphones and I was wondering if it was worth getting a amp for these since at high volumes my Mobo z77 Sabertooth has trouble driving these by the sounds of it.

Also if getting a amp would improve the overall sound quality which one should I get thanks,I don't want to spend too much less than $50 or so thanks.

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If you can get an E10 for your $50 then that is a good investment, but I wouldn't waste the cash on anything else. You won't see any real improvement for it.

Grammar and spelling is not indicative of intelligence/knowledge.  Not having the same opinion does not always mean lack of understanding.  

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Amps don't improve the sound quality, but a good one that is audibly transparent like the E10 will make it sound less worse, if that makes any sense.  The major bottleneck is ALWAYS the headphones, unless you have a LOT of hiss, popping, or some awful driver issue.

"Pardon my French but this is just about the most ignorant blanket statement I've ever read. And though this is the internet, I'm not even exaggerating."

 

 

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Would a external DAC improve the quality ?

 

Not if the one you already have does 16/44.1 or higher and is relatively recent, to be honest.  My ODAC is 24/96 and that's just extra e-peen and headroom.  Stuff higher than 16/44.1 is an Analog->Digital workaround for recording, but marketers gonna market.

 

Watch Monty's videos on xiph.org sometime (links are in the FAQ), they are pretty in-depth on the issue and approach things from a scientific standpoint.

"Pardon my French but this is just about the most ignorant blanket statement I've ever read. And though this is the internet, I'm not even exaggerating."

 

 

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  • Author

ok thanks!

 

 

Not if the one you already have does 16/44.1 or higher and is relatively recent, to be honest.  My ODAC is 24/96 and that's just extra e-peen and headroom.  Stuff higher than 16/44.1 is an Analog->Digital workaround for recording, but marketers gonna market.

 

Watch Monty's videos on xiph.org sometime (links are in the FAQ), they are pretty in-depth on the issue and approach things from a scientific standpoint.

 

Not if the one you already have does 16/44.1 or higher and is relatively recent, to be honest.  My ODAC is 24/96 and that's just extra e-peen and headroom.  Stuff higher than 16/44.1 is an Analog->Digital workaround for recording, but marketers gonna market.

 

Watch Monty's videos on xiph.org sometime (links are in the FAQ), they are pretty in-depth on the issue and approach things from a scientific standpoint.

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