Are Headphone amps worth the expense?

I have a Mac tube amp and grado phones. Would I benefit from a headphone amp? How are they hooked up? Thanks for any thoughts.

drpat10-07-2010 4:32am

kijanki Details Discussions Posts This discussion Message User 4,394 posts 10-07-2010 at 11:24pm Copy Comment URL Report Comment Edit Delete Some specialized headphone amplifiers simulate crosstalk between channels making sound appear in front and not inside of the head. It cross-feeds portion of delayed sound to the other ear - the same way that it happens when listening to speakers. I had sound card with this option and it was great. It is also possible in analog domain - I have link to Headphone Amp project with cross-feed somewhere. I remember seeing headphones that have built in crosstalk (tube) from one cup to another - but don't remember the name. I found the link: http://gilmore2.chem.northwestern.edu/projects/meier_prj.htm
kijanki Details Discussions Posts This discussion Message User 4,394 posts 11-19-2011 at 10:18pm Copy Comment URL Report Comment Edit Delete Lacee, I agree. According to John Siau (technical director of Benchmark) headphones are the only way to accurately reproduce a piano - an instrument with very complex harmonic structure. Speakers' Xover screws up this complexity thus timbre. On the other hand I don't like headhones on my head (reminding me it is not a live performance), feeling of immobility (cord) and sound inside of my head instead of soundstage projected in front of me. Sennheiser HD-580 (same drivers as 600) was my last attempt. (I used them with good sounding Benchmark DAC1 built-in headphone amp).