Recommend cheap headphone amp

[weiran]

I recently got a FiiO E3 portable headphone amplifier, and they added just the right amount of warmth to my Goldring DR100 which I think can sound too bright.

However the AAA battery only lasts a few days before I have to replace it. Can someone recommend a headphone amp that takes power from the mains for around £20?

[Drubbing]

At that price range, they're not really worth it, although there are probably some around that have a dc power option. The Fiio's are little more than loudness buttons, they don't really do what a proper amp does.

Contrary to popular belief, amps aren't about pumping out more volume, they're for getting hard to drive phones perform to their capability.

Those Goldrings are only 32ohm, so an amp isn't really needed.

[Uriel]

How about the FiiO e5? It charges via USB rather than using AAAs. Supposed to be very similar to the e3 in sound but you can turn bass boost on or off.

[weiran]

I found the sound to be quite a bit more "manageable" with the Fiio amp. It seems to be a bit warmer, and loses the piercing nature of the DR100 (at least connected to my PC) that sometimes gives me headaches.

Regarding volume, I'm using these headphones on my work PC and with it set to max volume it sounds like what I usually listen to. With the Fiio plugged in, I only need 25% volume and it sounds quite a bit warmer with a slight loss of clarity, but I can live with that.

I might just get some rechargable AAA batteries and keep using this £5 little amp.

Uriel: thanks, didn't see the E5 when I bought the E3, will check it out.

[Drubbing]

Originally Posted by weiran

Regarding volume, I'm using these headphones on my work PC and with it set to max volume it sounds like what I usually listen to. With the Fiio plugged in, I only need 25% volume and it sounds quite a bit warmer with a slight loss of clarity, but I can list with that.

That's what I'm talking about; super cheap amps like this only arse about with the signal, and actually make the SQ poorer by adding volume.

If the Goldring's need 'taming' for brightness, get a different set of phones. It's easier to find a sound you like, than trying to use cheap tweaks on ones that aren't going to sound any better for it.

[Uriel]

I can't speak for the E3 but I've been rather impressed with the E5.

I've found it to be very good for the price with my Goldring DR150s and NS1000s. It does a much better job than my AV amp with the NS1000s in passive mode. Additionally I did get the chance to try it with Senn HD580s (which have a high impedance) and it did an admirable job.

Impedance isn't the only thing to look out for with headphones. A number of low impedance headphones are rather current hungry.

In an ideal world, amps would be completely transparent but in practice most of them add their own 'colour' to the procedings, as do headphones. Valve amps are generally regarded as being 'warm' and different opamps in solid state amps bring out different characteristics. Some people spend far too much time opamp or tube rolling. Warmer amps can tame phones with a rather 'hot' treble end. The e5 is a relatively warm amp. It loses a bit of detail with bass boost, so I leave it off but it can go well with brighter headphones like Goldrings and Grados.

I used to own a set of DR100s before I had the e5. They get less bright with time.

[Drubbing]

Originally Posted by Uriel

Impedance isn't the only thing to look out for with headphones. A number of low impedance headphones are rather current hungry.I used to own a set of DR100s before I had the e5. They get less bright with time.

But none are are at the cheap, entry level that the goldrings are. They are mostly at the 'audiophile' end of pricing.

As for burn in, it depends on whether you believe in it of not. If a phone has characteristics that make it difficult to listen to, burn in, if it exists doesn't result in them turning into a completely different phone.

That's why I'd caution against spending endless amounts on tweaking, when it's easier, and often cheaper in the long run, to find different phones if they continue to irritate.

[Uriel]

The DR100s aren't a bad headphone for the money though. I'd rate them about on par with HD555s. Less soundstage bit a bit more detailed.

I've owned all the Goldring open headpone range. They all started off rather bright and settled down after a while. They're also all quite source / amp sensitive.

The biggest surprise of the bunch was the DR50s. They turned out to be a superb budget choice for orchestral music, as long as you have a decent source / amp.

[LFC_SL]

If you are willing to use mains, then I presume you are using the headphone with your home hi-fi or computer system

...And you are not getting enough juice?

[Uriel]

Originally Posted by LFC_SL

If you are willing to use mains, then I presume you are using the headphone with your home hi-fi or computer system

...And you are not getting enough juice?

PCs and Hi-Fis don't put 230v AC straight into the headphones, thank goodness. It's not unusual for either not to supply enough juice for headphones. The headphone amp on an Asus Essence ST or STX isn't just a marketing ploy, for instance.

Plug my 100 ohm Goldring NS1000s (in passive mode - in active noise cancelling mode they have a built in amp but they hiss a bit with it turned on) directly into my X-Fi Prelude soundcard or AV receiver and they sound dull and lifeless. Add an amp (even a cheap one like the FiiO e5) that supplies enough juice, and they open up, going from muddy and dull to tight and dynamic. The difference that better amplifiers give to already adequately driven headphones is much more subtle than just ensuring amplification is adequate.

[LFC_SL]

I know but not thinking much of the FiiO range, I just wanted to see where the OP is