amp for headphones

I don't think there is much else we can add. Its really up to the OP to make a decision at this point. There isn't just one best option; there are loads of different ones. Its up to him to choose at this point.
 
...he just wants to know what the best amp for his cans are without costing the earth.
my point is its very hard to pick wrong one in his case, so he only need to find reasonably priced one with inputs/outputs what he needs.
that means -no tubes,no extension cords,no fancy stuff ,just plain usb soundcard.
 
Dude you've got that ass backwards. Higher Ohm = higher resistance = harder to drive...
50Ohm is quite low, on board will drive that fine. 250 would require much more powerful amps to drive.. and definitely could not be driven all day long by a cellphone.

8 ohm speakers are easier to run than 4 ohm. Every time you halve the ohm load you double the power the amp needs to deliver.

I may have it backwards.
 
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if you have amplifier that gives 20w at 4ohms and you now connect 8ohm speaker you have only 10w available now and probably wont meet your db needs and will sound weak.
or to translate to this topic:
akg k240(55ohm version) need 200mW ,so 3.3V peak to peak at 0.06A is enough to drive them to full spec.
akg k240(600ohm version) will need same 200mW but at 11V ptp and 0.01A for same dB output if we assume they have same efficiency.

so soundcards capable of propertly loading 600ohm cans wil also work with 50ohm cans(too loud but some like omni have adjustable gain so no problem there) while soundcards that give 200mW into 50ohm cans cant properly drive 600ohm cans(3.1V into 600ohms =10mW).
 
8 ohm speakers are easier to run than 4 ohm. Every time you halve the ohm load you double the power the amp needs to deliver.

I may have it backwards.

speakers are rated differently to headphones :) I can see how you'd mix that up :)
 
OP do you have an optical output on your motherboard?

Yes i have
But i just need to choose a sound card that will work good woth my headphones and speakers.
The stx 2 looks good but im.not sure if the headphone will work with them because it seems hard to connect them.
I need 2 convectors to do that,it wont lose quality of the sound crom the cable because of that convert?
 
No you will have virtually no difference in quality to you're ears. Now mathematically, sure. But reality, no you'll definitely be more than ok.
 
No you will have virtually no difference in quality to you're ears. Now mathematically, sure. But reality, no you'll definitely be more than ok.

so as we see from the manuel https://www.manualslib.com/manual/703431/Asus-Essence-Stx-Ii.html?page=18#manual

i have to get rca to 3.5 cable for the headphones and also a 6mm adapter for line in mic
and it will work ??

i also saw the Asus STRIX RAID PRO PCI-E and the creative soundblaster zx . its seems like they coming with volume control thatg look good and will have headphone and line in on the controler
its also good ?
but of course the STX 2 is high-end and i want it more
 
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Yes i have
But i just need to choose a sound card that will work good with my headphones and speakers.
The stx 2 looks good but im.not sure if the headphone will work with them because it seems hard to connect them.
I need 2 convectors to do that,it wont lose quality of the sound from the cable because of that convert?

Well this is what I have driving my cans http:/https://www.amazon.co.uk/d/Home-Audio-Video-Accessories/SD793-II-PCM1793-DIR9001-Digital-amplifier/B00A2QLPJM/ref=sr_1_4?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1483347061&sr=1-4&keywords=smsl

I use the optical out on my motherboard and i'm very impressed with the sound quality I get from it. Its just a suggestion but a different option for you and not very expensive
 
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Well this is what I have driving my cans http:/https://www.amazon.co.uk/d/Home-Audio-Video-Accessories/SD793-II-PCM1793-DIR9001-Digital-amplifier/B00A2QLPJM/ref=sr_1_4?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1483347061&sr=1-4&keywords=smsl

I use the optical out on my motherboard and i'm very impressed with the sound quality I get from it. Its just a suggestion but a different option for you and not very expensive

I think the link not working.

can you also answer my last questions ?:)
 
For the STX 2 you don't need anything more than a 6mm to 3.5mm adapter for the headphones. (I believe you get one in the box for the STX2 but you will likely need that for your mic input)

That diagram seems misleading as you shouldn't use the RCA connectors for headphones, you use them for speakers because they are lower power.

The Amplified 6mm Headphone jack is what you should use for your headphones.

take a look at the manual page here https://www.manualslib.com/manual/703431/Asus-Essence-Stx-Ii.html?page=9#manual

It's pretty clear that the port labelled 3 is for headphones.
 
I think the link not working.

can you also answer my last questions ?:)

Link is fixed and that dac/headphone amp has a line out so you can get an amplifier to power your speakers

something like this https://www.amazon.co.uk/d/Hi-Fi-Home-Audio/SA-36A-Integrated-Digital-Amplifier-Black/B00G503KCO/ref=sr_1_12?ie=UTF8&qid=1483349950&sr=8-12&keywords=smsl+amplifier

To buy both is about £80 excluding the optical cable and the RCA cable you would need. Like I said before this is just an option for you :)
 
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....

That diagram seems misleading as you shouldn't use the RCA connectors for headphones, you use them for speakers because they are lower power.

The Amplified 6mm Headphone jack is what you should use for your headphones.

take a look at the manual page here https://www.manualslib.com/manual/703431/Asus-Essence-Stx-Ii.html?page=9#manual

It's pretty clear that the port labelled 3 is for headphones.


this must be worst manual available , it also says on that link:
4- 6.3mm analog input (Line-in/Mic-in). Connect to your microphone with built-
in microphone amplifier or audio devices with line output such as MP player or synthesizer

so what they mean when they say microphone with built in amplifier? does they mean microphone with fet integrated in capsule for impendance matching that have 3.3v bias or does they mean that you need to connect line level signal input or dynamic mic what needs high gain?
please check before buy.

edit: yaniv ,you still didnt check on box which model you have 50 or 150ohm? becouse if you have 150ohm model that would explain low volume you experience now,and you will need to check on soundcard you buy for certain will it provide enough volts on output so you can use your phones as intended.
 
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Link is fixed and that dac/headphone amp has a line out so you can get an amplifier to power your speakers

something like this https://www.amazon.co.uk/d/Hi-Fi-Home-Audio/SA-36A-Integrated-Digital-Amplifier-Black/B00G503KCO/ref=sr_1_12?ie=UTF8&qid=1483349950&sr=8-12&keywords=smsl+amplifier

To buy both is about £75 excluding the optical cable and the RCA cable you would need. Like I said before this is just an option for you :)

He came looking for an amp. Now he's buying a sound card. Next thing he will be told it's his PSU. :D
 
this must be worst manual available , it also says on that link:
4- 6.3mm analog input (Line-in/Mic-in). Connect to your microphone with built-
in microphone amplifier or audio devices with line output such as MP player or synthesizer

so what they mean when they say microphone with built in amplifier? does they mean microphone with fet integrated in capsule for impendance matching that have 3.3v bias or does they mean that you need to connect line level signal input or dynamic mic what needs high gain?
please check before buy.

edit: yaniv ,you still didnt check on box which model you have 50 or 150ohm? becouse if you have 150ohm model that would explain low volume you experience now,and you will need to check on soundcard you buy for certain will it provide enough volts on output so you can use your phones as intended.

my headphone are 50ohm
 
so they should produce enough db output from intergrated soundcard regardless of quality, maybe stupid question but can you please double check that you have potentiometer on right earphone maxed out.
 
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