Sennheiser HD555 does it need an amp?

Im getting ready to buy the Sennheiser HD555 for gaming and movies on my laptop. The only thing holding me back is Im affraid i might have to buy a headphone amp.

Everywhere i've read people are using amps with them. Do i really need an amp or will the comp sound card be enough?

I really dont want to buy an amp. If these need one i may end up going for the Grado SR60 or 80.

 

Whoa..this section is becoming like an audiophile corner...


well i have owned the HD555 for a long time..and i used iBasso D2 Boa amp which is also a high performance USB DAC.

do check it out.


BUT if u want a cheap amp then checkout iBasso T series..


where do u live btw? .

HD555 does sound much punchier and tighter with an amp but is not picky about the amp like HD600.

good luck

 

I like in New jersey.

I went to a guitar center about a week ago to test out a few, but they didnt have any store/display models. They said they would open the packages for me to check them out, but i would have felf bad since i was going to buy them online.

 

Your laptop could push them, but I advise getting a usb/firewire sound card. Getting the sound card out of the laptop/computer really helps alot. You get alot of noise and interference when you use the stock on board sound card. But, this is the case with any headphone, not just the HD555. Even the Grado's would benefit alot from the external DAC.

 

i use my hd555's with my x200 onboard sound all the time. the sound is good. sounds pretty much the same as my computer with an audigy2

 

I have the HD555 and it doesnt need an amp. However it does benefit from an amp. Even the very cheap Fiio E3 ($8) improves it a good amount. Also are you dead set on the HD555? I suggest you check out the ATH-AD700 as well.

 

yea i looked at the ad700 as well. I dont like the looks so much. i hear they are not as comfortable as the hd555 but they have better sound.

I really need to just go somewhere so i can hear them all and judge them that way.

 

AD700 are weaker on the bass....whereas HD555's bass gets much tighter after 50 hours of use.


go to www.burninwave.com ..download some Pink noise..and let it run all night on Repeat... in the morning u ll notice the HD555 will sound much better..keep doing it for a week.


and man...HD555 does sound much tighter and punchier with an amp..also the highs come out better..otherwise they are rolled off.


try out FiiO E5.. which is the new version of E3 which didnt have any settings or volume control.


whats your Budget for an amp?

coz i ve got some very good Amps at home and have been trying lot of stuff...totally into the audiophile hobby

 

checkout this link: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=61802&l=54811&id=617976166


its my Audio stuff album on Facebook..u ll see the amps i use..

oh wait..maybe u dont have facebook? ..let me post some of them.










the orange one is a rare amp mainly sold in Singapore (checkout www.jaben.net)

the silver one is a portable amp called 'iBasso D2 Boa' ..its a little expensive amp for beginners but a very value-for-money for audiophiles.
its also a USB DAC ..which means a very high quality sound card/device.

 

Cool, thanks for all the great info.

I think im def gona go with the HD555 and then look into an amp down the road.

The main reason im against an amp is cause i dont want to have lots of cords and wires all over the place. I usually sit on the couch with my laptop on a lapdesk type thing with my mouse plugged into it. So if i add an amp into the mix i'll have to unhook myself for 5 mins just to goto the bathroom.

Im just being lazy right now. I know i wont regret all the extra hassle once i hear the difference an amp makes.

 

The AD700 is better with an amp, even with a cheapie one. Nearly all the AudioTechnicas work good with amps. Also the Fiio E5 isnt out yet.

Anyway to the OP: If you are looking for a HD555 for the cheap I am looking to sell. Mine is in good condition, a couple scratches and thats about it. Ill let it go for well below retail, PM me if you are interested.

 

http://tangentsoft.net/audio/cmoy-tutorial/
make your own!!

 

^^ not so easy my friend...and doesnt sound as good as a ready made amp.

its more for hobbyists and DIY people who then sell it on ebay.

 

do you need an amp?

yes and no.... an amp would help but you should get an USB sound card instead

never used HD555 before but I got HD595 and ended up buying a little dot amp and beresford dac in the end... and it really sings to me

 

^^ that was a great buy.. Little Dot has awesome amps and they are well priced.. and a pure DAC is always better than consumer level Soundcard