Incorporating headphones into my pc audio system

Hi marktomaras,

I'd rather not have a long cable in my room but I think it would give me the very good sound quality I'm wanting if I choose the right headphones.  I've read the Oppo 105 has a very good headphone section and I know it operates great as a DAC.  
     I'd prefer a listening station by my listening chair and computer.  I do have an end table next to my listening chair but I'm not sure what I'd need and how to set it up.  Any suggestions?

Tim

I’ve been exploring options for connecting headphones to my Oppo 105 and found out that both sets of dedicated stereo outputs on the 105. regular single ended RCA outputs and balanced XLR outputs, are continually operational.  Since I'm already using the XLR outputs for connection to my mono-block amps,  this means I could utilize the l+r RCA outputs for headphone use, either for connecting a separate headphone amp or some sort of wireless headphone system. Just thought this info might expand suggestions.

Tim

     I think the ideal product for my purposes would be a unit that takes the output signals from my Oppo 105's 1/4" headphone jack and then accurately and wirelessly transmits them to headphones I would wear at my listening chair about 12-14' away, or to a module (with a headphone jack) I could place on the end table next to my chair .  Does anyone know of such a product?

Tim

Hi Kijanki,

   It's my understanding that the Oppo's internal DAC would have already converted the digital music file's signal stream from digital to analog so that the signal outputted from its 1/4" headphone jack would be purely analog. There would be no further conversions required from this point onward.  Do you agree or am I missing something?
  Thanks,
     Tim

Kijanki,

   Ah, your comments make more sense to me now.  I definitely agree that  D/A and A/D conversions are best kept to a minimum.  I was assuming an analog headphone signal could be transmitted wirelessly like those wireless sound bars, subs and surround channel systems function.  But I still need to research available products.  I think Audioengine makes something like this for under $200.  

 Thanks,
  Tim

Hi kijanki,

     I think you understand my situation and goal very well.  Yes, I'd like to avoid running a long headphone cable from the Oppo's headphone jack to my listening seat about 14-16' away.  I know this would give me what I'm after: the ability to listen via headphones to my hi-res flac music files once they've been converted to analog by the Oppo's very good internal DAC.  I was hoping for a wireless solution but the technology may not exist so I've been thinking of a few ways to accommodate  a wired solution:

     I have 2 identical leather chairs in my room, 1 along my back wall that is my current listening position with a wireless laptop and the other near the back of the room's left 23' wall with a fairly large end table next to it.     I could utilize this as a dedicated headphone station and choose to hook it up in 2 ways I been able to think of thus far:

Method#1: Run a long headphone cable from the Oppo's front 1/4" headphone jack to the end table next to my extra chair.  I could run this cable in back of my rack along the bottom of the front wall (running about 8' -half the distance of front 16' wall) and the along the bottom of my left longer wall to the end table (running about 16' back from the front wall on this 23' left wall).  I would buy a good set of headphones and just plug them into the female 1/4" jack on the end of this cable.  I'd select what to play the same way I do now for music I play through my speakers(a wireless laptop running JRiver with a Synology storage unit and the Oppo all connected via my wi-fi).

Method#2:  Run l+r rca cables from the Oppo's rear panel dedicated l+r stereo outputs (I'm using the other XLR outputs to my mono-blocks but both sets of outputs are active whenever source material is playing).  My thought is I could experiment with headphone amps with this method. I  also may need a boost in power depending on the headphones I buy.

     The Oppo also has an optical audio output but I need to research possibilities using this.
      I'm also interested in the W3 adapter you mentioned and in how you utilize a portable headphone amp in your setup even though you have the excellent Benchmark DAC.  Could you elaborate a bit on both?  I'm currently open to all suggestions and just looking for the best solution.

Thanks for your assistance,
   Tim 

" I found that Audioengine sound bars work wirelessly with W3 adapter ($150) over 100'. They call it "Best sounding 16-bit wireless adaptor" suggesting digital transmission."

Hi kijanki,

     Yes, the W3 adapter and anything utilizing Bluetooth don't seem acceptable since they require additional A/D and D/A conversions.  I visited a couple of electronics stores today and  all their suggestions were Bluetooth based, too.  If a wireless solution that doesn't involve additional conversions does not surface, it looks like a wired solution may be required.

Thanks,
   Tim

Hey kijanki,

     I've been researching and  thinking more about what I'd really like, what you said about  using a portable Oppo  HA-2 headphone amp/dac and that marktomaras had also suggested using a portable amp/dac.  Well, it's taken longer than it should have, but both of your very good advice has finally sunken in and I'm thinking this may be the best method.

     I could set this all up on the rather large end table next to my current listening chair through one of my laptop's USB ports.  I would just need to run a usb cord from the laptop to the amp/dac, install any necessary drivers and plug my headphones into it. ... and wallah, instant semi-wireless headphones that give me access to my entire collection of flac files on my Synology storage device.  This is a little different than I originally envisioned it since my music files would be converted to analog via a different dac, which may not sound as good as the Oppo's excellent internal dac, and it still wouldn't allow listening to movies or tv through the headphones but I think this still may be the best solution thus far. 
      I could still run a quality 25' headphone extension cord to my other chair for the times I'd like to to have cable tv, blurays or even my music files converted to analog via the Oppo's internal dacs and listen through headphones.

        After reading and watching numerous reviews on the portable and desktop amp/dac products currently available at reasonable prices, however,  I think the better choice for myself would be a desktop unit preferably combined in a single case but also acceptable as separate amp and dac. I've discovered 2 desktop headphone amps from Aune (pronounced "ow-knee") I'm considering buying:

One is the Aune X1s a desktop amp and dac combo in a single case. www.youtube.com/watch?v=vlXW20ptu7E  

The other is the Aune X7s  pure class A headphone amp only, so I'd need to add a dac.  www.youtube.com/watch?v=oLpI5Ui7TsY  

Both run about $300 on Amazon and I'm leaning toward the X1s because it's a combo but I'd buy the X7s if it included a dac.

OR

I may just buy a pair of Sony headphones (MDR-1A or MDR-Z7) and use the small and inexpensive Audioquest Dragonfly usb dac.  No headphone amp but unlikely it's needed with either of the efficient Sony headphones.

Tim

 
       

   

Hey Kijanki,

     I have no doubt that the HA-2SE would sound great in my soon to be improved system.   I just read a review on the Oppo PM-3 headphones that paired the HA-2 (not sure if it was regular or SE version) with these headphones for the review.  He mentions that the HA-2 is a very good match with the PM-3 since they make up for some of their cons, subdued deep bass impact and rolled off treble in his opinion,and make them sound much better.

     I'm very close to deciding  to buy the Aune X7s class A amp since I'm fairly certain it'll sound better than the X1s combo dac/amp because it's class A. 
     Now I just need to choose a good usb DAC and headphones to go with it.  I just started another thread here asking for advice on DAC, headphones and amp.  
     I'm currently leaning towards the JDS Labs Standalone ODAC RevB  with rca outputs($150) but haven't ruled out the HA-2SE.  The ODAC has the advantages of using Sabre dac chips and being an 'in-line' type of DAC that I could stash out of sight under my end table.

      I'm much less convinced about which headphones to choose since I have no means locally of hearing most of the higher end pairs and need to base my opinions on reviews.  If I could afford it, I'd probably buy a set of Stax.  I think I'd really enjoy a pair of Audeze or Monoprice planars but they leak too much sound from their open backs.  My wife is usually watching tv or on her tablet on our couch only a few feet away from my listening chair.  In order to avoid an inevitable firm smack on my head from a frying pan, I've decided to restrict my headphone search to over-ear, wired and closed back models that leak little to no sound.

     I'm looking for an accurate and detailed sound that covers the entire frequency range, good bass and treble extension, a smooth and natural mid-range that provides a solid sound stage illusion and the ability to convey the life-like dynamics present on well engineered direct to digital recordings. Not asking for much, right?
     I've only identified 3 good candidates so far:  Sony MHR-1A  and MHR-Z7 and Oppo PM-3.  I'm thinking the Sony Z7 would likely match my preferences best but I'm still open to closed back suggestions.

Thanks,
  Tim

Hi willemj,

Do you have the Senn HD-1 wireless headphones, the ones for $399? I checked them out online and they look very nice, could be a good option. I think I could actually audition these at a local Best Buy, which would be a big plus.
I’m a little confused about exactly how I would install them in my system. Do you have the time to explain how you have them hooked up and your general thoughts on how they sound? It would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Tim

Hi perfectpathtech,

     Very interesting but I'm estimating a 5 hr mod on these would likely cost $500 or more (5hrs x $100 plus profit margin added).  I love the way these look but I'm getting quickly scared off from a $700 headphone that immediately requires an extensive mod.
      Can anyone suggest an over-ear and closed back headphone in this price range that has a solid  frequency response from top to bottom without any suck-outs or softening, is dynamic, detailed, comfortable, looks good and sounds good right out of the box?
Maybe I'm naive but I don't think that's too much to ask for $700.


willemj,

 You stated: " make sure the headphone amp has a low output impedance."

      The output impedance of the Aune X7s amp is 10 ohms and the Sony 7Z headphonesimpedance is 70 ohms @ 1kHz. 
      As I understand matching impedances of amps to phones, the impedance of the phones should be about 8 times the amp's output impedance.So 10 ohms X 8 equals 80 ohms, which  makes the Sony 7Z phones  10 ohms under this calculation.  However, I believe this '8 times' figure is more of a guideline than a hard and fast rule, so the Sony 7Z phones' 70 ohm impedance  are a relatively good match with the Aune X7 amp's 10 ohm output and the pairing is unlikely to produce any negative safety or sound quality issues. 
     Can you please confirm and offer a good alternative headphone to buy?
     I'm considering the Audeze EL-8C might be a good option.

Thanks,
  Tim 

Update:

     I decided a few days ago to just setup a separate headphone system at my listening seat and bought a JDS Labs OL Dac, Aune X7s amp and an 'open box as new' pair of Sony MDR-7z headphones.

     I also started a new thread on this:  Best USB DAC to pair with the Aune X7s Class A headphone amp 

     I included more details on this thread if anyone's interested.  I still may run a long headphone extension cord to my other seating position in my room, as we previously discussed, to have the option of using phones for ht and listening to music through the Oppo's dac .    

     The components should start arriving this Friday.  Once I have my new headphone system up and running for a couple weeks, I'll post my impressions on that new thread.

     I just wanted to let everyone know about this new thread and thank you all for your assistance on helping me decide on the good solution to setup a separate headphone system.  

Thanks again,
    Tim