Is this a good amount of power for my hd660s and what headphones would this not be able to power? My headphones definitely go loud and there’s a lot of head room on the volume knob but I read a comment in another thread that loudness isn’t how you should necessarily measure if an amp is powerful enough, what would be the best way to know that an amp has enough power if bot loudness?
The amp is the: Onkyo HT-R398
It says it can work with headphones between the range of 8 and 600 ohm’s.
Ouuff
Yes, everyone has a different opinion on that.
It depends a lot on the circuit and so on.
In the end, it’s more about when it’s really loud whether it can still reproduce details or just plays something together.
Most of the time it’s just loud and shrill.
Certainly, performance is not everything.
My Singxer plays just under 4 watts at 32 ohm, the Little Dot mk 1+ considerably less.
And they are completely different devices.
The Little Dot plays nice and clear up to a certain point, then it stops.
Which is not the case with the Singxer.
Your Sennheiser is a bit undersized but still playable up to a certain point, then the details start to fade, resolution and so on.
It would certainly be better with a Schiit Magni 3,Herasy,jds labs Atom if you want to drive the Sennheiser properly.
Your volume pot would settle between a quarter and twelve o’clock instead of three o’clock and beyond.
It really comes down to the circuitry of how the unit is set up.
5,7,9,12,115 volts starting with the choice of capacitors etc so lots.
A small Schiit or Jds Labs amp is the way to go and is sufficient for a start.
The Dac dongels that are coming out at the moment are designed more for Iems and of course the poor implementation of the android devices.
Alternatively, you still have the Dap’s, which are getting better and better.
Thank you, I’ve updated the original post. Is it not possible to tell from the original specs I mentioned regardless of what amp you’re using? Or is it that because it’s a speaker amp first and not a dedicated headphone amp that the quality of its headphone amp ability is lower?
Sorry not sure if that last sentence came out right.
it would likely be asked later when inevitably somebody says “if it ain’t broke don’t fix it” which you already knew but will ask for more info in turn someone will ask for me, just wanted to expedite that
want to give everybody here who comes to help before they spend their 10 seconds and leave the opportunity to have some extra info that may make it so they can help you or avoid a mistake that can be avoided by knowing the model.
As far as I am concerned it doesn’t mean shit to me besides being a better data point so you can get what you want.
Thank you for the detailed response, I see what you mean. I’ll look into those amps you’ve mentioned and Have been wondering about trying out a tube amp since they tend to go well with the sennheisers apparently.
I jumped into this headphone and IEM scene last year, so got the senn’s and the Shuoer tape pro’s. now the next step is looking at sources and amping to play around with the sound. So thanks for the response because I’m just trying to get some sort of baring on what I’m currently working with.
so I have no idea how your AMP works but HD660’s are 150ohms
normal headphone amp impedence tiers down in respect to ohms, with the lowest OHMs receiving the more power.
I can’t speak for your AMP (it’s a speaker amp right) or really any except my speaker amp, and mine is a very special case, in “normal mode”
Power Output (headphone output; normal mode):
8 Ohms: 60 mW / channel
33 Ohms: 200 mW / channel
47 Ohms: 250 mW / channel
150 Ohms: 430 mW / channel
300 Ohms: 440 mW / channel
600 Ohms: 350 mW / channel
it outputs MORE power at higher ohms vs less so perhaps yours is doing the same? It is also balanced which generally can output more power because it outputs per channel which is 2x…
so find the power output of your AMP at 150ohms, and see if your using balanced cables and if so then use the balanced output and you will know how much power you are actually getting
Oh ok I see, yours is pretty powerful then because mines 80mW per channel at 32 ohm’s (if I understand correctly). I don’t have a balanced cable as far as I know so that would be cool to test out then with mine seeming to have a balanced output.
Thanks for the help, shows there’s some fun experimentation to be had.
Look, you’ve already established that the Onkyo is putting out enough juice to go well past your comfortable listening level with the 660S. The question is not sound quantity, therefore, but to what degree you’re getting adequate sound quality.
A brief look-see on google says the Onkyo is a surround sound receiver, so at a guess it’s more aimed at driving speakers than driving headphones. Surely, you can compare what you hear from the Onkyo to using the 660S plugged into a smartphone or computer directly? Is the Onkyo better to your ears? Is there something in particular about the Onkyo + 660S sound that you identify as sub-optimal?
Yeah but I’ve checked the manual and searched around and there’s no info on any other ohm rating but for 32. Don’t know how to find info for at 150 ohms.
If you care enough to ask, and care enough to buy 660s — don’t power them with a receiver. Simple. I’ve seen enough people come onto this forum already attempting this, it never goes well. It will make sound.
You got headphones that deserve a dedicated amp, and likely dac too depending on what the source is.
I beg of you, get a dedicated headphone amplifier. You’re driving a golf cart on the expressway right now. It’s similar, but… it’s not going well. That’s why you’re looking at threads about it and why you’re here.
Oh yes I’ve definitely noticed a difference when comparing straight from the laptop, iPhone dongle, android device or amp. I’ve also listened to them on a marantz class A amp that’s about 6 times as costly as my speaker amp. It sounded like the headphone was just fuller with sound but that’s a terrible description I’m sure. I’m definitely still happy with my current amp but will try out dedicated amp/dac combos when money isn’t so tight anymore.
I mean they already sound incredible at the moment but I really like the fact that it could be even better, so far I’ve noticed that the sound signature of these headphones is ideal, so rounding that out with a good amp/dac will be my priority going forward.
I do agree, they deserve to be driven on something better than my AV receiver
Excuse me but this entire thread is bullshit, OP only cares about power.
The only thing that matters besides quality(which op doesn’t give a fuck about) is how much power the AMP outputs at 150ohms.
OP, it’s not your fault, so I will do what should have been done.
Here is your answer
“Sorry we can’t help, you need to call the manufacturer and ask them the power output of your AMP at 150ohms, balanced and unbalanced, and figure out if your headphones are running balanced, then compare the figures you get to recommended AMPs for the 660 and whatever other headphones you want to run at whatever impedances(that is ohms)”
Anything else is 100% cope, OP, should you consider getting a nice AMP?
Yes
Do you need one?
probably not
Will you be happier if you spend money on an AMP?
only one way to find out
You’re talking some bullshit!
The rule is that stereo amplifiers or av recorders are usually only bridged to the headphones in order to operate headphones with them.
The headphone amplification is only fed from the systems with very little attention.
They only serve the purpose, nothing more.
That’s why the amplification is usually crap.
And the manufacturers don’t give any information because they usually don’t evaluate them.
Because they don’t know themselves.
Often it is a very bad headphone amplification.
That’s why it makes sense to get a small Schiit or Jds Labs amplifier.
This can be connected to the av reciver or stereo amplifier via Rca without any problems if it has a line out.
Of course, you can also connect 600 Ohm headphones to such a system, but the result will not be satisfactory.
If you search a little on the internet, you will find exactly what I am saying. The question is quite justified, because most people don’t know.
It’s the same principle as with the dac dongels that are now available for smartphones.
Everyone plugs their Iems into their smartphones, but it works better with a dac dongel.
"I mean they already sound incredible"
he doesn’t care if it’s crap audio, it’s ok for him so you can help him or help yourself. your statement about the bad quality is bullshit if you are implying you are helping him
And the manufacturers don’t give any information because they usually don’t evaluate them. Because they don’t know themselves.
generous blanket statement backing your point of view with no sourcing on this information or attempt to verify his specific situation
keep typing though surely you blabbering about what you want, think, instead of helping OP with a direct yes or no question is the way to go about this
Sorry but your statements are really underground.
It reminds you of a certain person who thought he was powerful and is now just a small fish swimming in a bowl.
The topic starter has already understood what I’m after and confirmed it.
I don’t know what you don’t understand?
Are you omniscient and don’t accept other people’s opinions?
If you know better then explain it to him and you would be doing yourself a favour.
But please do it in a way that is understandable for the general public.
You don’t need to undermine the opinions of other users, we don’t need that here.
Maybe the Audio Science Rewiev forum would be better for you, there you can let off steam with scientific and non-scientific things.
Here we are a community that helps each other and beginners in a polite way.
And it’s not the end of the world if someone doesn’t know something.
So it would be good if you think about your behaviour in the future and if you have something to say, pay attention to the way you say it.
It is good Onkyo has this as x + x so it is clear it is 80mW per channel.
The 10% THD is not great. If you got a dedicated headphone amp, it will likely present THD in the 1% or lower range (one exception are tube amps, different story).
I am not aware of a good way to quantify “quality of amplification”.
While “Signal to Noise Ratio” and “Total Harmonic Distortion” are indicators, they do not give a complete picture though.
Your Reciever should have a Line-Out in the back you could use to feed signal to a headphone amp. Best way would be to buy/loan a headphone amp and try.
