Andy Katz wrote in message . ..
On 22 Sep 2004 14:25:32 -0700, (N) wrote:

"Arny Krueger" wrote in message ...

(snip)

IME, headphone outputs on integrated amps, receivers, and even
Discman-type players sound from acceptable to excellent, so I wouldn't
rush to buy a headphone amp. I haven't heard your Onkyo's headphone
output, but it could be excellent.

I see. I probably ought to have asked what to expect from a headphone
amp. I really have no complaints-aside from occasional hiss, which I
don't find too troubling-about using my Sonys with the Onkyo.

If you're only hearing hiss occasionally, you might just be hearing
the hiss that might be in the recordings you're listening to.

I really don't need any additional volume. I was hoping train my ears,
much as a nascent restaurant critic has to learn to train his or her
palate, to discern better quality audio.

Well, this could get very expensive! Seriously, I just want good
sound, namely sound that I like, and I don't worry about whether or
not that makes me an audiophile. Except for my headphone stuff, I own
very little gear that would impress an audiophile. And even my ear
gear is of the "budget audiophile" type.

But of anything in audio, headphones are something where you get the a
lot of bang for your buck. With headphones, you can buy much better
sound than even much more expensive speakers can provide.

If an amp won't improve the
sound quality output, if it only turns up the volume then I don't need
it.

You'd have to compare the headphone amp directly to your Onkyo
receiver to find out if one or the other sounds better.

I think the Sennheisers would make the biggest improvement, although I
prefer my Grados, which are cheaper also. I think replacing your Onkyo
and/or Zenith hardware may make no improvement at all, but you'd have
to get the Headroom amp and/or another CD or DVD player to find out.
It's quite possible the Headroom amp, which is a decent amp, won't
improve things, if your Onkyo's headphone output sounds good to you.

Good point. I'm definitely planning to check out the Sennheisers (and
possibly Grados, though I'm not sure where one can listen to Grados in
NYC)

I've never shopped for Grados in NYC, but they should be easily
available, given that Grado is in Brooklyn:

http://www.gradolabs.com/frameset_main.htm

Give them a call and I bet they can tell you their dealers. I don't
see a dealer list on their web site.

(snip)

If you're going to shop for headphones, limit yourself to what you can
try at local dealers, if at all possible. Even more so than speakers,
headphones are a subjective choice, because of the comfort issue.
Trust me, if they're not comfy, you won't use 'em. Been there, done
that!

If you want to try a headphone amp, make sure to get return privileges
to allow for the fact you may find you don't really need an amp for
this purpose.

Absolutely, yes. One thing about the Sonys is their astonishing
comfort.

I have some older Sennheisers (can't remember model name) that I tend
to use the most because they're the most comfortable for me. In the
past and now, I've had fancier, pricier headphones (from Grado,
Sennheiser, Stax, and some other brands I've forgotten), but the
comfort issue always wins out for me. I also find the Grados pretty
comfy. The Sennheiser also looks better and has better ergonomics.

(snip)

Let's put it this way, I've been known to use 580s for private TV
watching/listening.

Headphones can be a great way to do that. Fine sound, assuming the TV
sound is good, and it's a lot cheaper and easier to listen via
headphones than via, for example, a 5.1 home theater setup.

Indeed. I've hooked up the headphones to a small receiver that gets a
digital signal directly from the cable source, so TV sound is
outstanding. I find myself watching something with familiar stars
(familiar on TV, at least) marvelling at hearing them speak for the
first time.

You may also notice little sound effects, as well as sounds that
weren't really meant to be heard, and little goofs like that. Can be
interesting to hear.

I used to have big amps, big speakers, I spent a lot of money (by my
standards) on audio gear, etc. Now I use much cheaper, simpler gear
that is easier for me and my family to use and enjoy; it gets used
much more because it's simpler than the big setup I used to have,
where I was really the only one at home with enough interest in the
gear and knowledge to get it all up and running when I wanted to
listen to a CD. And I found that I liked using the easier-to-operate
gear myself.

But if I really want more of an audiophile experience, I get out the
headphone gear. Keeping that around is a good compromise that allows
me to have high-quality sound when I want it, without having to live
with the big speakers, amps, etc. which took up a lot of room and
tended to gather dust anyway.

But I haven't used my Little Headroom amp this year, I bet, and I have
other gear that I can use with headphones, so I'll probably sell the
Headroom eventually.

Andy Katz