2. amps-preamps
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New to headphone amps --- I'm wondering .....

I recently got my first pair of decent headphones, AKG 545s, which I bought to use both at home on my main system and outside with my ipod for hiking etc. Since my pre-amp at home doesn't have a headphone out, I connect to my system via the tape out. I get pretty nice detailed sound at a decent volume that way, but have read that virtually everyone believes that a dedicated headphone amp improves sound quality. So I'm considering that, maybe in the $300 - 600 range. But I'm wondering how an amp at that price point could outdo or even sound as good as my main rig (Linn Exotic and 2500, with Renew DS) given the massive difference in price (amp pre-amp together list for around 7k). Is there something about headphone amps that I'm missing?

And if a headphone amp would help in my case, any recommendations for something that would work well with AKG 545s (very similar to 550s) with my home system?

Thanks .....
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Showing 2 responses by tpy

tpy's avatar
tpy OP
68 posts
 
Thanks. I get the sense that many people find that headphone amps make major improvements. But can anyone explain why a headphone amp that costs a fraction of the cost of one's much more costly main rig would sound better?

I'm running RCA cables into a relatively cheap RCA to mini-plug adapter, that then goes to my headphones. I imagine the cheap adapter isn't helping, esp compared the the Stereovox interconnects I use to connect my the components in my main rig.
tpy's avatar
tpy OP
68 posts
 
Interesting but you guys are a bit over my head. What does this suggest would be the right amp -- or type of amp -- to match the AKG 545s. My budget is around $300 give or take a bit. Reading the forums at hed fi left me a bit overwhelmed with options. Are you guys suggesting that these are esp difficult headphones to drive? They don't seem to require much power. What do y'all recommend?

Thanks ...
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