So, I posted on the headphones section looking for a $200-$350 Pair of headphones, I think I found my pair. Which are the Soundmagic HP100's and I was wondering. What would a good amp be for under $80?
Body:
I don't know if these headphones would benefit much from an amp at all, as I'm not a huge audiophile. I'll just be listening to some music, and that's about it on these. Mainly while traveling. Although noise cancellation isn't a huge issue. As I won't be on many planes with these. Although the more the better. Here are some samples of the kind of music i'll be listening to.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=qe9JaaYsZpk
and
www.youtube.com/watch?v=N-1clERwitY
TL;DR: I need an amp for listening to music on my Soundmagic HP100's, under $80. Any suggestions?
Well really the only thing you need to look for as to whether you need an amp for a set of headphones is the headphones impedance. The headphone you mentioned is listed at 32 ohms which you really shouldn't have any problems with listening volume with really any device (ipod computer etc). The only real reason to go with an amp/dac is to have "cleaner sound" that and if you have a set of high impedance headphones. Unless you have a really cheap or old mobo your computer's onboard audio should do a good enough job probably to the point where you wouldn't be able to tell the difference between the two.
If you only need an amp, and not an external DAC, best thing is to make one yourself. There are very cheap kits (under 10 EUR) that perform quite well, or you can buy the parts from an audiophile open source amp design of your choice, for which you can even buy premade PCB's for cheap.
I don't see any reason why you wouldn't benefit from making a headphone amp yourself, unless you're aiming for the high end, and that's pretty much the 700 EUR+ range. Everything under that, is much cheaper and just as good or better done yourself.
Most DAC's are the same. There is very little difference in a class compliant 10 EUR USB DAC from alibaba and a 200 EUR DAC from a reseller. Most custom electronics shops do not make the DAC's themselves, but buy them and resell them at a premium. Here also, if you insist on the best possible quality (which is not even useful for listening only, it's for pro studio use, above 24/96 is stupid for listening only, it's only useful for further processing of audio signals to keep the noise floor down, and it's not even that useful in modern popular music production, it's more for audiodubs, audiobooks, or classical/acoustic music), you'll only have better quality when you spend more than 700-800 EUR. Everything below that, spend as little as possible.