Improving Audio Quality (through headphones)

Ola,

Ok, I've done a bit of reading, and I'm still a bit confused about what it is I need exactly.

Currently have an Asus G1-S on Vista Home Prem, and Device Manager says I've got "Realtek High Definition Audio" - I'm assuming that's my sound card?

Now, I'm looking to improve the quality of music I play on my laptop (CDs, FLAC files, and MP3s (about 50% 320 CBR, and 30% VBR, and the rest are lower bit rate)

I'm looking to improve the audio quality without upgrading anything internally in the laptop.

I'm currently alternating between Alessandro MS-1 and Grado SR-125 headphones. And am looking to get another pair of headphones, perhaps the AKG K701 or the Audio Technica ATH-W1000 sometime in the future, probably christmas this year

Now, I've been googling, and reading the Head-Fi forums - and I'm still not sure whether I need a DAC or a headphone amp? Or both?? From what I understand, a DAC is totally different from an amp? Assuming I can only afford one of them first, which one should I get first to better serve my current headphones? I'm looking at either some of the user made "DAC pre-amps" (?) and the likes of the CMOY or P2V2 amps.

Cheers, and thanks in advance.

 

You'll want a pre-amp for high impedance headphones if they're coming out too soft or if there's clear distortion when there shouldn't be. If you're upgrading your headphones to the ones you mentioned you might want to consider a pre-amp as the sound will be softer and your laptop might not be able to drive them accurately.

The alessandro and grado you mentioned each run at 32 ohms, while the audio technica runs at 40 ohms. The AKG is a staggering 62 ohms, so you'll definitely want a pre-amp for that.

I can't recommend you either way on headphones, nor on a DAC. A DAC from my understanding just converts digital audio to what you can hear (via analog signal, e.g. headphones/speakers). So I'm not sure what they're talking about there.

If you want you can find some external sound cards such as Creative's X-Fi which is generally known for its fidelity and sound enhancements, though some enhancements might detract for an audiophile.

 

Darkvoice 336i

and

http://www.emu.com/products/product.asp?category=610&subcategory=611&product=15186

though youll want to check head-fi to see if tube amps are good for whatever headphones you choose.

 

I'd also recommend checking out Head-Fi.org for headphone advice in general.

The Alessandro MS-1 is basically an SR-125 since it uses the same materials. There are some differences though; the Grados are best for rock music while the MS-1 is more well-rounded. No soundstage with either phone though.

 

im getting the AKG 601's, great soundstage
i also researchd a but on the head-fi forums...
from wat i learnd, im gonna be getting the creative external soundcard (for cool software features) and with mini-mini cable hookd up to a small amp (the Headroom Total Airhead, its not the best, decent price, and it gets the job done by giving good amount of juice to my somehwat amp-needy headphones), which are the AKG 601's. so im basically going a soundcard + small amp combo to make my AKG's give out amazing sound.

 

I personally would go with this DAC/Amp(Is both a DAC and an amp) http://www.ttvj.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=1170
and probably some Ultrasone hfi-780's.

 

Thanks for the replies guys. Might hold off on this one for now, I didn't know amps were so expensive, lol. I thought I'd get away with spending just $100 on both an amp and a DAC, but looks to be slim pickins in that price range.

That EMU 0202 looks to be pretty popular and well regarded as well, might end up getting that.

So is a DAC=pre-amp? Or is a DAC and pre-amp totally different from each other?

So would my music be going: Laptop Soundcard>DAC>Pre-amp>Amp>Headphones? Or am I totally still not understanding this? lol.

Cheers.

 

you need a high end sound card for a high end headphone.

 

Well, not really sure what would qualify as a high end head phone though? Do I just worry about the impedance? Or are there other specs I can check? Or just through listening to them?

The "highest end" I will most likely go would be an AKG K701 or Audio Technica ATH-W1000, that's pretty much it.

Cheers.

 

You can't tell much about headphones from the spec sheet IMO. I think listening to them is the best bet, and yes, the high impedance headphone usually require a amp. 80 ohm is about the highest I'd go without a proper amp.

 

K701 or ATH-W1000 requires amp. And seeing your source, you will want to have DAC as well, as most of onboard audio doesn't sound good enough for such systems...So, yeah, I'd recommend getting DAC/amp hybrid, or get them separately, as well. And IMO its better investment than these silly SLI GPUs...but of course, that is just my opinion.

 

or get a 32 Ohm based Headphone..
that doesnt require Amps.

 

Ultrasone hfi-780's are 32 ohm headphones, or maybe its 35.. somewhere around there.

 

Check out Sennheiser audiophile headsets. Audio-Technica makes good ones too.

 

Audiophiles are OPEN..

the ones which Sound Mixers or DJ use are CLOSED.

So depends which ones u want.


Pleasure or Work



IMO, Sennheiser HD205 which i bought a really Good & not very expensive.

they can be used for DJing & Sound mixing.

they are Closed, Supraaural.

 

You don't have to go open to get audiophile grade sound quality. Its just that all of sennheisers upper class headphones are open, but there are other brands that build closed phones which are as good or better. Its just all up to the buyer..

 

Both Denon and Audio-technica make some high-end audiophile closed phones. It seems closed-cans are more popular in Japan. That being said, audiophile cans and DJ cans are somewhat different, even if they are both closed - I don't think anyone wants to do DJ with AH-D5000, however good it is.

BTW, impedance alone cannot decide if a specific headphones significantly benefit from amp or not.

 

Yeah, but anything with high impedance you'll want to amp for sure IMO. But alot of lower impedance phones benefit from amping as well, just not as necessary.