headphone loudness

1. 2020-09-21 at 8:23 AM UTC

   #1
   Kev Space Nigga
   I find myself always having to crank up the volume to 150% in software players which just causes clipping. as it stands the default 100% volume isnt good enough for me when i wanna jam, what feature do i need to look for getting new headphones that will give me more loudness without clipping or does it also have to do with the PC hardware itself?
2. 2020-09-21 at 8:24 AM UTC

   #2
   

   rabbitweed African Astronaut
   I think you need hearing aids.
   The following users say it would be alright if the author of this post didn't die in a fire!

   • aldra
3. 2020-09-21 at 8:26 AM UTC

   #3
   Kev Space Nigga
   I doubt that.
4. 2020-09-21 at 8:28 AM UTC

   #4
   

   rabbitweed African Astronaut
   Well you will if you go ahead with your plan. Have fun with tinnitus.
5. 2020-09-21 at 8:36 AM UTC

   #5
   

   aldra JIDF Controlled Opposition
   what sort of headphones are they? if they're big, passive over-ear headphones you probably need an amp. most mobile devices don't have enough power to drive them
6. 2020-09-21 at 8:49 AM UTC

   #6
   Kev Space Nigga

   Originally posted by aldra what sort of headphones are they? if they're big, passive over-ear headphones you probably need an amp. most mobile devices don't have enough power to drive them

   
   They are over the ear, yes. the amp i plug into my PC and the headphones into amp, right?
   
   rabbitweed, i already have tinnitus but it fluctuates depending on mood, not jamming. i dont think im being irresponsible with the volume, its mostly stuff with quiet treble and loud bass that i wish i could hear louder. i have plenty of bright music that would be painful on the ears on default loudness.
7. 2020-09-21 at 9:06 AM UTC

   #7
   

   aldra JIDF Controlled Opposition
   what model are they?
   
   you'll generally want to match an amp to the headphones' impedence but you'll probably do fine with something like
   
   https://www.harveynorman.com.au/creative-sound-blaster-x-fi-surround-5-1-pro-v3-usb-sound-card.html?CAWELAID=720013240000471595&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIpue-rvL56wIVkpvCCh1IPAAKEAQYAyABEgJksfD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds
8. 2020-09-21 at 9:23 AM UTC

   #8
   Kev Space Nigga
   They are JVC.
   
   What you linked me to says sound card, i have bad experience with those plugin sound cards but the one i had before didnt have an amp, i had no idea some feature them.
9. 2020-09-21 at 9:35 AM UTC

   #9
   

   aldra JIDF Controlled Opposition
   it's not so much an amp as it just has higher than standard power output. it should do you fine though
   
   
   https://drop.com/buy/drop-o2-sdac-dac-amp
   
   that's something more specific, DAC = Digital Audio Converter which is more or less a soundcard, the audio date gets sent there to be converted to analogue sound rather than the conversion happening on the computer
   
   
   ***price is 150 if you can't see it
10. 2020-09-21 at 10:49 AM UTC

    #10
    Kev Space Nigga
    So I dont need new drivers for it if its analog? That $150 is hefty for a small upgrade, whats the pro and con between a dac and amp?
11. 2020-09-21 at 11:08 AM UTC

    #11
    

    aldra JIDF Controlled Opposition
    for analogue not at all, you just plug it in and put it inline to your headphones.
    
    if it has a built-in DAC it'll run off USB and windows should use the generic drivers to get it working. might be a little trickier if you're using lunix
    
    as for price I don't know about really cheap ones, but penon is usually pretty good value:
    
    https://penonaudio.com/digital-amplifiers/desktop
12. 2020-09-22 at 2:47 PM UTC

    #12
    Kev Space Nigga
    You have steered me in the right direction, thanks.
    
    should i be worried about analog clipping or is this unlikely for only a 50% higher volume than normal?