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An expensive USB soundcard and amplifier are absolutely not necessary. The built-in audio of a Macbook Pro (this is HN we're talking about) is more than good e
by dublinben 12y ago
An expensive USB soundcard and amplifier are absolutely not necessary. The built-in audio of a Macbook Pro (this is HN we're talking about) is more than good enough.
- jkot 12y agoBullshit. Thats are 80 ohm professional studio headphones. Wasted money without amplifier. Even novice can pickup difference in 10 minutes.
- dublinben 12y agoYou don't need to buy 80 ohm professional studio headphones to get good sound quality.
- frou_dh 12y agoI have experience using several good headphones (K701, HD650) amped and unamped in the past. At the moment, I happily use a set of 250 Ohm 770s straight out of a MBP. Sounds fantastic. Does this trigger you?
- jkot 12y agoI do it sometimes as well, I would not call sound fantastic, but its ok for movies and remastered (flat) music. But so does $120 Major. I just think it is really bad advice. Why buy expensive headphones optimised for amps without amp? Just waste of money.
- frou_dh 12y agoWaste of money is something that makes marginal gain. BadPhones -> GoodPhones is a much greater step than UnampedGoodPhones -> AmpedGoodPhones. --- (of course there's always an amp, Unamped just means no beefy one)
- jkot 12y agoI think we are two different threads. Signa11 already has good headphones, even amp and DA. Question is what headphones, DA and amp is best for upgrade. I am sorry, I just disagree that mac book pro is the answer.
- frou_dh 12y agoYou -> dublinben -> you -> me is a very coherent thread. But yes, it's not worth arguing about unless we could all sit together and test some equipment.
- JohnBooty 12y agoIt's true: Apple tends to have very good headphone audio output compared to other phone/laptop manufacturers. The Asus, Acer, and Dell laptops I've used have had very noisy headphone output. But it's still noisier than well-regarded USB DAC/amps available for well below $100 or just a little over. (Fiio, Schiit, Audioquest, etc. are names to look into if anybody's interested) As a bonus, using a USB DAC+amp will save some wear and tear on your laptop's headphone jack. Those can wear out if you're plugging and unplugging your headphones several times a day over the course of several years. That is not an easy, fun, or cheap repair.