Connecting Headphones - Best Way?

Grantrobertson247
So the last 18 months has been pretty hectic and everything that can happen, has happened. Needed less to say in this time my processor was damaged meaning zero music :( I had twins as well, so buying one in the short term isn't going to happen. Needless to say I need my music and I accumulate some loyalty points on a monthly basis and with this I'm planning on buying a budget set of headphones and a small headphone amp. What is the best method : A) Forget the headphone amp totally, spend more on the actual headphones and use through Bluesound Node 2 headphone jack? B) Bluesound Node 2 RCA out to new headphone amp RCA in I'm a Tidal source, so if I can MQA and/or 360 or anything, absolute bonus. Like everyone, I'm looking for Rhee best output through Tidal m headphone. Thanks
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11 comments

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  • Official comment
    Tony W.
    Product Support Manager

    Not surprised by your findings, we are very pleased with the NODE 2i DAC and it is significantly upscale from the one on your MacBook (not that Apple doesn't make a fine product of course).

    Your local Authorised Bluesound Specialty Dealer will be happy to make a recommendation on a third-party headphone amp that fits your need, taste and budget.

  • Grantrobertson247

    Thank you.

    How do you physically connect the headphones? What's the best physical connection?

    And do you really need a headphone amp?

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  • Davywhizz

    I love Grado headphones: there has to be something special about a company that hasn't paid for advertising since the '60s. One big benefit of them is they are all only 32 ohms, so easier to drive than many quality brands. Thus I found the headphone output on my Node 2i was just powerful enough for Grados, but not for my AKG K702s (62 ohms). So I bought a Fiio K5 Pro headphone amp/DAC for not too much cash, to run off the Node's digital coax output (I use the RCA output to connect to my hifi). I now prefer it for all phones, as there's more headroom.

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  • Grantrobertson247

    Thanks.

    And the Sony 360 Reality support?
    Not through the Node?

    I can't see much online

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  • Grantrobertson247

    My query was more about the connection method.

    Option 1 or Option 2 ? 

     

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  • Grantrobertson247

    Ah - thanks . 

    So both my options are actually wired - it was just whether to use the headphone out (with MQA?) / RCA out (with MQA?) / digital out (no MQA?) and which would be the preferred wired. Bluetooth isn't an option (I don't think you can use Bluetooth headphones on the Node 2 at all - only Node 2i). 

    As for Davey reply - was the headphone clean, albeit not powerful enough ? Or was power/headroom the main factor ? 

     

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  • Grantrobertson247

    Thanks Seppi.

     

    I couldn't get fancy headphones - so I got these >>> https://www.behringer.com/product.html?modelCode=P0E3Q

    The review seems decent - but will arriving on Thursday.

    In a direct A-B comparison between the BH 470 and studio headphones that sell for around 200 Euros, the results seem to proves that the studio headphones aren’t too expensive, rather than the BH 470 are on sale too cheap. The differences to be heard are rather very slight, other models may certainly represent the upper-frequency range more concisely, but you don’t miss it when just listening, it’s simply a pleasing sound. In the studio, their transparency and credible sound are good, but the slight bass accentuation is a bit strange when producing and mixing. After all, for this job, a truer sound is needed

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  • Davywhizz

    I found the Node headphone output was clean and good quality, just not quite loud enough for higher impedance  phones. The BH 470s run at 32 ohms, same as Grado's, so you might find the volume is OK. 

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  • prashant bavi

    I am in the process of buying a Sennheiser hd 800s or hifiman Arya or Focal clear MG headphones and a Dac +amp(Monolith 124459 Desktop Headphone Amplifier and Dac with THX AAA Technology )

    Two questions

    Q1. Since I already have a 2019 Bluesound Node 2i, I was wondering if a headphone amp alone will suffice. Why buy another (redundant) headphone dac?

    Q2. Can I use this setup:
    MacBook Air BluOS app streaming or Apple iOS (phone/iPad) connected directly to —Bluesound node2i —optical to headphone amp — headphones

    Thanks 

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  • Tony W.
    Product Support Manager

    You can use the headphone out of a Macbook to receive Analogue in of your BluOS App... if it is local content, you may be happier creating a Network Share under Player, Music Library.

    As for Question 1 - that's really up to your ears to decide.

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  • prashant bavi

    Thank you Tony. 

    If plug in my headphones (B&W P7/ Sony ANC XM41000/HiFiman Aarya) directly to node2i rather han my macbook, I find a significant improvement in clarity.

     

    Q2 clarification

    Apart from  my ears deciding, I think that the DAC capabilities of node2i are more than enough to match any entry to mid range( 100-300$) headphone dac. So if I just buy a amp and pair it with Node2i, I should be able to use demanding headphones like HD  800S.

    Am I correct?

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