Headphone Amplifier ?

Hi ,

Just wondered if anyone into hifi has used one of the separate headphone amplifiers instead of the usual headphone jack output on most hifi units ?

Its said they make a big difference but wondered how true that is and I expect it also relates as to how good the hifi unit is ?

 

@Fat Controller can probably help you with this Ricky.

 

Hi FC,

Thanks for the reply, it sounds like they can be an improvement then.

Have got one of the original Arcam Solo units with plenty of pre outputs and currently have some old Sennheiser HD470 cans, which I was looking at upgrading which brought me onto the whole headphone amp thing.

Looking at diy options seems there are quiet a few simple designs out there but all basically designed around a simple op amp eg Cmoy or Mini3 eg -
How to Build the CMoy Pocket Amplifier

After that you are looking as some quiet complex ans expensive builds.

What I have seen is one of these boxes, again sounds like just an op amp but with psu and though costing about £20 new might be able to pick a s/hand one up locally for a tenner.
Thought that would be a quick way to see how much of an improvement they can be, plus this particular unit allows others to listen in at the same time.
HA400 | Headphone Amplifiers | Signal Processors | Behringer | Categories | MUSIC Tribe


EDIT , forgot to say, thanks for the offer to build, but I do enjoy that kind of thing myself, just that such circuits can be easy to make an error when building, so thought the Berhinger would be the best way to prove the point.

Plenty of diy or ready made details on this site, if you have not already been there ? though many of the diy designs are quiet old c 2000 etc
Head-Fi.org
DIY Projects | HeadWize

 

Hi FC,

Well the reason for asking on here was for some genuine first hand opinion of headphone amps as will all hifi is a minefield of differing view in shops, magazines and the web.

You did give me an answer that one can improve the sound so thought that little Behringer would be a good ready built choice for a couple of reasons.

It gets very conflicting reports on the web, but some time ago when I wanted to get my desktop pc to talk to my old Arcam Solo with only a standard wired preamp input, I used one of these little units plugged into the PC along with a 5 mtr cable to the Arcam, not expecting the best of results, but was actually very pleasantly surprised with the sound quality.
Comparison- What Is The Difference Between The UCA202 and UCA222?

The Behringer HA400 does have a 4580 op amp at its heart and think the full circuity will be well in advance of the little Cmoy. Will post some pics pf the pcb when it arrives to you to see.

Had seen that Cmoy design but that guy has published a few designs, one with the popular OPA2134 op amp that one you show with a 5532 op amp.
However Cmoys original design is said to use an old 4556 chip and in some quarters its rated much better than the aforementioned chips, though no Head-Fi org etc.
This link is interesting, but quiet a heavy review of the chips / designs , but it does have some comment about the valved units as well.


I have ordered a 4556 chip as I have got most other parts anyway to build a unit to test against the Behringer, will let you know how it goes.
NwAvGuy: Cmoy eBay Headphone Amp

see Paint Shakers in the link about valves NwAvGuy: Virtual Grounds & 3 Channel Amps

This popular valve amp ( £35+ in ebay UK shops) detailed by the infamous Davy Jones, if you know of him ?

 

Hi FC,

Have not given any thought to an enclosure yet, depends on what results I can achieve with an amp.
Most of my micro based projects (Pics and Arduino) go into standard plastic cases which allow an opening to be made for the lcd etc and they are generally not on table top display.

For something to sit on or near the hifi would probably look for something better, though not sure what atm, eternal diyers problem !

Never asked what headphone amps you had listened through ?
Never thought of using the other outputs from the Arcam to drive headphones directly ?
Assume your Sony amp has got the power to do that ?

Did wonder if there were any more modern circuits for headphone amps as all the ones I have seen are quiet old, but suppose there is not the market to develop anything better with all the audio effort going into online streaming/smart phones etc

My Arcam user manual does not give does not give any figures for the Pre and Zone2 outputs suitable for connecting to another amp etc.
There is a Tape output but they state it should Not be connected to an amp ?

Seems the heart of the Arcam is a BD3811 audio IC and the headphone output come from a pair of amp amps within that chip.

Suppose if any improvement can be made is just down to the quality of that ICs components vs discrete components ?

 

Hi again,

Yes, will let you know how things go with the Berhinger HA400 and my little 4556 build, though a few days before they arrive.
Forgot to say the HA400 will also have a practical use so two can listen to the same source, the neighbours are early risers so the cans let us enjoy late night music at a volume we like.

When I said discrete, I was really meaning the IC Op amp designs and associate components.

Are you also saying that a real transistor based amp and good components should give a better sound than an IC op amp design ? and thats the better path to follow ?

Will have to get the scope out and do some psu filtering tests, just glad I got an oldish s/h digital one, so much easier to used on the desk; the old Hameg 604 is getting a bit too big and heavy to lug around these days !

 

Thought my luck was in !

Trouble is it will not add to the trolley !

 

Hi,

Thanks , but just changed browsers and it lets me add to the trolley !

Noticed someone else had asked the Q&A if they were refurbished yesterday and they got an answer saying New , wonder if they got this price then ?

Can they claw back and money once I collect and pay for them ? seems too good to be true as they do not show up in their clearance section ?