I am in need of a good headphone amplifier solution for my PC. The
headphones are Sennheiser HD590s and my PC soundcard is a SoundBlaster
Audigy 2. My soundcard does not have a headphone jack and so it would seem
my options are either to run the analog signal from the soundcard to a
headphone amplifier or find a solution that interfaces with the computer
directly. Either way, I'm looking to spend at most $200-$250 and sound
quality is my number one concern. Are there any devices that meet my
criteria?

~JG

"Gamer" wrote in message
news:3X1Eb.72558$8y1.272264@attbi_s52


I am in need of a good headphone amplifier solution for my PC. The
headphones are Sennheiser HD590s and my PC soundcard is a SoundBlaster
Audigy 2. My soundcard does not have a headphone jack and so it would
seem my options are either to run the analog signal from the
soundcard to a headphone amplifier or find a solution that interfaces
with the computer directly.

Actually, your audigy does have a headphone jack, labeled "line out". IME
these jacks are capable of driving a typical pair of headphones. Try it and
see. If it works for you, get a splitter.

Either way, I'm looking to spend at most
$200-$250 and sound quality is my number one concern. Are there any
devices that meet my criteria?

I recently tested a headphone amplifier that sounds good and measures quite
well. You can find the technical report at
http://www.pcavtech.com/pwramp/boostaroo/ .

"Arny Krueger" wrote in message
...
"Gamer" wrote in message
news:3X1Eb.72558$8y1.272264@attbi_s52


I am in need of a good headphone amplifier solution for my PC. The
headphones are Sennheiser HD590s and my PC soundcard is a SoundBlaster
Audigy 2. My soundcard does not have a headphone jack and so it would
seem my options are either to run the analog signal from the
soundcard to a headphone amplifier or find a solution that interfaces
with the computer directly.

Actually, your audigy does have a headphone jack, labeled "line out". IME
these jacks are capable of driving a typical pair of headphones. Try it
and
see. If it works for you, get a splitter.

Either way, I'm looking to spend at most
$200-$250 and sound quality is my number one concern. Are there any
devices that meet my criteria?

I recently tested a headphone amplifier that sounds good and measures
quite
well. You can find the technical report at
http://www.pcavtech.com/pwramp/boostaroo/ .


Here you are in your realm. Good job characterizing a price sensitive piece
of equipment, in an area where objective parameters are frequently
compromised.

On Wed, 17 Dec 2003 19:15:11 GMT, "Gamer"
wrote:

I am in need of a good headphone amplifier solution for my PC. The
headphones are Sennheiser HD590s and my PC soundcard is a SoundBlaster
Audigy 2. My soundcard does not have a headphone jack and so it would seem
my options are either to run the analog signal from the soundcard to a
headphone amplifier or find a solution that interfaces with the computer
directly. Either way, I'm looking to spend at most $200-$250 and sound
quality is my number one concern. Are there any devices that meet my
criteria?

www.headroom.com
www.headwize.com

Kal

I believe Rolls has one.

On Wed, 17 Dec 2003 20:58:32 GMT, "Dave" wrote:

I believe Rolls has one.

In the front seat or the back seat?

Kal

"Kalman Rubinson" wrote in message

On Wed, 17 Dec 2003 20:58:32 GMT, "Dave" wrote:

I believe Rolls has one.

In the front seat or the back seat?


Rolls is a low end pro audio brand.

Another such brand is Behringer, and they make headphone amps as well.

Headphone amps are common audio production items. In this product category,
I have a Rane MH-4, which is composed of 4 independent headphone amps with a
common stereo input. It has quite a bit of gain, and could be easily used
with consumer gear, given a couple of common adaptors.

On Wed, 17 Dec 2003 19:21:30 -0500, "Arny Krueger"
wrote:

"Kalman Rubinson" wrote in message

On Wed, 17 Dec 2003 20:58:32 GMT, "Dave" wrote:

I believe Rolls has one.

In the front seat or the back seat?


Rolls is a low end pro audio brand.

Another such brand is Behringer, and they make headphone amps as well.

Headphone amps are common audio production items. In this product category,
I have a Rane MH-4, which is composed of 4 independent headphone amps with a
common stereo input. It has quite a bit of gain, and could be easily used
with consumer gear, given a couple of common adaptors.

I know. I am often disappointed when I leave off the smiley.

Kal

"Robert Morein" wrote in message

"Arny Krueger" wrote in message
...
"Gamer" wrote in message
news:3X1Eb.72558$8y1.272264@attbi_s52


I am in need of a good headphone amplifier solution for my PC. The
headphones are Sennheiser HD590s and my PC soundcard is a
SoundBlaster Audigy 2. My soundcard does not have a headphone jack
and so it would seem my options are either to run the analog signal
from the soundcard to a headphone amplifier or find a solution that
interfaces with the computer directly.

Actually, your audigy does have a headphone jack, labeled "line
out". IME these jacks are capable of driving a typical pair of
headphones. Try it and see. If it works for you, get a splitter.

Either way, I'm looking to spend at most
$200-$250 and sound quality is my number one concern. Are there any
devices that meet my criteria?

I recently tested a headphone amplifier that sounds good and
measures quite well. You can find the technical report at
http://www.pcavtech.com/pwramp/boostaroo/ .

Here you are in your realm. Good job characterizing a price sensitive
piece of equipment, in an area where objective parameters are
frequently compromised.

Given that I've done a comparable job of characterizing your favorite DAC,
what does that say about it?

The piece I've characterized matches or outperforms a number of far more
expensive alternatives such as this one:

http://www.perreaux.com/files/Australian_Australian_Hi-Fi_-_SXH1_(Stephen_Da
wson).pdf

"Arny Krueger" wrote in message
news
"Robert Morein" wrote in message

"Arny Krueger" wrote in message
...
"Gamer" wrote in message
news:3X1Eb.72558$8y1.272264@attbi_s52


I am in need of a good headphone amplifier solution for my PC. The
headphones are Sennheiser HD590s and my PC soundcard is a
SoundBlaster Audigy 2. My soundcard does not have a headphone jack
and so it would seem my options are either to run the analog signal
from the soundcard to a headphone amplifier or find a solution that
interfaces with the computer directly.

Actually, your audigy does have a headphone jack, labeled "line
out". IME these jacks are capable of driving a typical pair of
headphones. Try it and see. If it works for you, get a splitter.

Either way, I'm looking to spend at most
$200-$250 and sound quality is my number one concern. Are there any
devices that meet my criteria?

I recently tested a headphone amplifier that sounds good and
measures quite well. You can find the technical report at
http://www.pcavtech.com/pwramp/boostaroo/ .

Here you are in your realm. Good job characterizing a price sensitive
piece of equipment, in an area where objective parameters are
frequently compromised.

Given that I've done a comparable job of characterizing your favorite
DAC,
what does that say about it?

The given is not mutually agreed upon.

The piece I've characterized matches or outperforms a number of far more
expensive alternatives such as this one:


http://www.perreaux.com/files/Australian_Australian_Hi-Fi_-_SXH1_(Stephen_Da
wson).pdf

Actually, your audigy does have a headphone jack, labeled "line out". IME
these jacks are capable of driving a typical pair of headphones. Try it
and
see. If it works for you, get a splitter.

Either way, I'm looking to spend at most
$200-$250 and sound quality is my number one concern. Are there any
devices that meet my criteria?

I recently tested a headphone amplifier that sounds good and measures
quite
well. You can find the technical report at
http://www.pcavtech.com/pwramp/boostaroo/ .

Mr. Kruger, in your opinion how would this piece compare to say, a Grado
RA-1 headphone amp?

~Original Poster

"Gamer" wrote in message
news:YQeEb.387559$Dw6.1241667@attbi_s02

Actually, your audigy does have a headphone jack, labeled "line
out". IME these jacks are capable of driving a typical pair of
headphones. Try it and see. If it works for you, get a splitter.

Either way, I'm looking to spend at most
$200-$250 and sound quality is my number one concern. Are there any
devices that meet my criteria?

I recently tested a headphone amplifier that sounds good and
measures quite well. You can find the technical report at
http://www.pcavtech.com/pwramp/boostaroo/ .

Mr. Kruger, in your opinion how would this piece compare to say, a
Grado RA-1 headphone amp?

Having no contact with, and having no relevant data about the RA-1, I have
no way of knowing.

Given its low cost and ready availability, it seems like personally
checkingo out the Boostaroo is pretty feasible for most people who are
interested in more expensive alternatives.

The most obvious difference is that the Boostaroo is battery-powered, and
the RA-1 appears to be line-powered. It's pretty easy to make
battery-powered equipment line-powered, but not vice-versa.

Arny Krueger wrote in message
...
"Kalman Rubinson" wrote in message

On Wed, 17 Dec 2003 20:58:32 GMT, "Dave" wrote:

I believe Rolls has one.

In the front seat or the back seat?


Rolls is a low end pro audio brand.

Another such brand is Behringer, and they make headphone amps as well.

Headphone amps are common audio production items. In this product
category,
I have a Rane MH-4, which is composed of 4 independent headphone amps with
a
common stereo input. It has quite a bit of gain, and could be easily used
with consumer gear, given a couple of common adaptors.

There stuff is cheap and good for what it is. I would use something from
them.

Dave said to ****-for-Brains:

There[sic] stuff is cheap and good

Ah. All is clear now, "Dave". ;-)

Dave said to ****-for-Brains:

There[sic] stuff is cheap and good

Ah. All is clear now, "Dave". ;-)


Good. I'm glad this simple issue was cleared up for you. Since you seem to
have so much valuable info for us, why don't you add something useful to the
conversation, instead of being an asshat.

d-d-d-d-Dave said:

Dave said to ****-for-Brains:

There[sic] stuff is cheap and good

Ah. All is clear now, "Dave". ;-)

Good. I'm glad this simple issue was cleared up for you.

Oh, so you admit™ you're not what you say you are. Good.

Since you seem to
have so much valuable info for us, why don't you add something useful to the
conversation, instead of being an asshat.

I already did. Apparently you missed it. ;-) Have a sneeze. ;-) But don't
blow you're™ brains out. ;-)

"George M. Middius" wrote in message
...


d-d-d-d-Dave said:

Dave said to ****-for-Brains:

There[sic] stuff is cheap and good

Ah. All is clear now, "Dave". ;-)

Good. I'm glad this simple issue was cleared up for you.

Oh, so you admitT you're not what you say you are. Good.

Since you seem to
have so much valuable info for us, why don't you add something useful to
the
conversation, instead of being an asshat.

I already did. Apparently you missed it. ;-) Have a sneeze. ;-) But don't
blow you'reT brains out. ;-)

George, you'reT[sic] in vogue today.

George M. Middius wrote in message
...


d-d-d-d-Dave said:

Dave said to ****-for-Brains:

There[sic] stuff is cheap and good

Ah. All is clear now, "Dave". ;-)

Good. I'm glad this simple issue was cleared up for you.

Oh, so you admitT you're not what you say you are. Good.


What the hell is that supposed to mean?


Since you seem to
have so much valuable info for us, why don't you add something useful to
the
conversation, instead of being an asshat.

I already did. Apparently you missed it. ;-) Have a sneeze. ;-) But don't
blow you'reT brains out. ;-)


I'll try not to. Thanks for the advice.

"Arny Krueger" wrote in message
...

Actually, your audigy does have a headphone jack, labeled "line out". IME
these jacks are capable of driving a typical pair of headphones. Try it
and
see. If it works for you, get a splitter.

Mr. Krueger:

Your simple solution has turned out to be the best way of solving my
problem. The Audigy's line out is sufficient to drive my Sennheisers as
well as my mediocre desktop speakers simultaneously. You may have saved me
a few hundred dollars, as an external device now seems redundant. Thanks,
J.G..

Gamer a écrit :
"Arny Krueger" wrote in message
...


Actually, your audigy does have a headphone jack, labeled "line out". IME
these jacks are capable of driving a typical pair of headphones. Try it

and

see. If it works for you, get a splitter.


Mr. Krueger:

Your simple solution has turned out to be the best way of solving my
problem. The Audigy's line out is sufficient to drive my Sennheisers as
well as my mediocre desktop speakers simultaneously. You may have saved me
a few hundred dollars, as an external device now seems redundant. Thanks,
J.G..



Hey George when was the last time you have saved few hundred dollars
with an advice to a newbie ?
Be honest !
Ooops, too late it's already written ! ;-)

"Gamer" wrote in message
news:FmTEb.158722$_M.740280@attbi_s54
"Arny Krueger" wrote in message
...

Actually, your audigy does have a headphone jack, labeled "line
out". IME these jacks are capable of driving a typical pair of
headphones. Try it and see. If it works for you, get a splitter.

Mr. Krueger:

Your simple solution has turned out to be the best way of solving my
problem. The Audigy's line out is sufficient to drive my Sennheisers
as well as my mediocre desktop speakers simultaneously. You may have
saved me a few hundred dollars, as an external device now seems
redundant. Thanks, J.G..

You're welcome!