Easy Headphone Question

[A-Traveller]

Hi All.

I would like to be able to listen to audio on my pc through earphones. Unfortunately, the sound is so low that it can hardly be heard, even with the player's and computer's audio set to max.

Is it a headphone amp or headphones with built-in amp that I need? If so, which one is better and what do I need to look out for? I only want to be able to hear the audio and am not concerned at all about the quality of the sound. By that, I mean that I don't care about aspects like bass, treble, or whatever other technical aspects of sound there are. I am not referring to hiss or crackle, etc, which I obviously do not want.

Thanks.

 

[LTR12101B]

Some of the REALLY cheap PC speakers have headphone sockets on them, not sure if they are amplified through, but if they are, it's going to be cheaper than a rather specialized "headphone amplifier".

 

[A-Traveller]

Thanks LTR.

I'll do some homework and post my findings. (I don't think my current speakers have earphone sockets, even though they are probably the cheapest available.)

 

[scarecrow]

A battery powered headphone amp is the most convenient (and best, quality-wise) solution, but it's unlikely to find one for less than seventy dollars- probably the total cost of your soundcard, speakers, and headphones...

 

[LTR12101B]

http://www.ebuyer.com/customer/products/index.html?product_uid=97660
Not cheap enough, maybe? - even supersaver delivery is more than the price of those.

It seems to be the real bottom end ones that have a socket, and as I say, I have no idea if it runs through the amplifier, or it bypasses straight from the input.

I'd love to know how they call them 360W - that must be power measurement in an alternative universe.

http://www.maplin.co.uk/module.aspx?TabID=1&criteria=pc speakers&ModuleNo=35128&doy=21m1
- Or perhaps this pair from your local Maplin store

http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/6766221.htm
Or your local Argos - the 14 day no quibble would be handy if they don't amplify through.

 

[VIPER_1069]

I have my JVC superbass cheapo headphones plugged into a Y splitter (1 plug two jack sockets) the splitter is plugged into the sound card direct

works fine .... only problem with it is that one ATTENUATES or dulls the other so i just turn the volume down on the headphones when using my 2.1 creative speakers and to use the headphones i just switch off the creatives to use the headphones

cost of splitter about £3

 

[A-Traveller]

GREAT! Some very good suggestions there; thanks. I'm sure one of them will do the trick. (Hope to let you know what I try and whether it worked.)