A MacBook Pro has a decent DAC and headphone amp built-in, so it sounds … decent … but many laptops, like the old Dell Inspiron N5110, for example, have very low-quality DACs and headphone amps, so they sound pretty bad. Unfortunately, the quality of those built-in components varies greatly from device to device, and therefore, so does the sound quality. Why, then, would you need a separate component? Why do I need a headphone amp?Īll those digital devices we just mentioned already have a DAC and headphone amp built right in - that’s why you can just plug your headphones in and hear sound. A DAC’s job is to convert digital audio information into a low-voltage signal that an amplifier can, well, amplify.Īnalog components like a turntable or tape deck don’t need a DAC – they already put out analog low-voltage signals - but digital audio devices like PCs, smartphones, iPods, or tablets need both a DAC and headphone amp in order for you to hear sound through your headphones. Most modern headphone amps also include an electronic component called a DAC (digital-to-analog converter). It works like the amps used to power full-sized speakers but operates at a lower scale. What is a headphone amp?Ī headphone amp is a relatively low-powered amplifier that raises the low-voltage audio signal from a source device (be it a turntable, PC, or smartphone) to a sufficient level such that it can be converted (or transduced) into sound waves by the speakers inside your headphones.
But what is a headphone amp? How does it work? More to the point, how much does a decent one cost? We’re here to answer all those questions and more. Depending on your headphones, there’s a good chance a quality headphone amp - or a headphone amp/DAC (digital-to-analog converter) - can breathe new life into your music. If you’re reading this article, you probably care a lot about your wired headphones, and now you’re wondering if you can improve their performance with a headphone amp. The short answer is: Yes. That’s where a headphone amp comes into play. While a top-rated pair of wired headphones can go a long way in enriching your listening experience, there are ways to push your chosen pair even further.
What kind of headphone amp/DAC should I buy?.The sound quality quotient (i.e., the signal path).
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