Expert’s Rating
Our Verdict
In my coverage of under-$100 headphones for Macworld , I ’ve been systematically impressed by the heavy quality today ’s models are up to of when paired with an iPod , iPhone , iPad , or Mac . But there ’s a whole ‘ nother globe out there — one where vendors are n’t thrust to cut corners in term of component , purpose , and manufacturing in society to hit a “ consumer ” price period . go in this world , and you ’ll be greeted with headphones contrive to wring every last bit of precise musicality out of your media , no matter the monetary value — toll tags of $ 300 , $ 600 , $ 1000 , or more are vulgar .
But you ca n’t just plug these mellow - end headphones into the earpiece jack on your Mac or iOS gadget and expect spectacular strait . Most build - in headphone jacks are afterthoughts that do n’t do good headphone justice , and , for sources such as computers and digital - media player , the build up - indigital - to - parallel convertor ( DAC)leaves a lot to be trust . For the best possible sound from great earpiece , you ’ll want to get around your twist ’s built - in audio circuitry with an external DAC and a dedicatedheadphone amplifier .
HeadRoomis an on-line headphone - gear retailer that alsomakesamplifiers and DACs for getting the most out of your headphones . The company sentMacworldits $ 349Micro Ampand $ 299Micro DAC , which together are also known as the $ 649Micro Amp + DAC Package . Though each is near the bottom of the company ’s hardware line , which extends into the four - digit reach , the resulting combination is n’t inexpensive , and it takes the performance of the high - end headphones I tested to impressive grade .
A built-in problem
First , some background signal information : Most listener punch headphones into the built - in earphone jack of the gimmick they ’re using . But on most devices — even some pricey home - stereo system components — the character of sound from these jack is limited by cost , space , and power . But earphone are essentially miniature loudspeakers , and they ask force to make those speakers move and , thus , to move air . This is particularly rightful for headphones with large drivers or for inefficient phone . ( Put generally , ineffective speakers require more magnate to produce the same levelheaded degree as more - effective model . ) An international headphone amplifier can provide more , and mellow timber , power than the distinctive stock headphone labourer , ensuring precise control of earpiece number one wood and the capability to reproduce the large dynamical swings and potent bass that make music spectacular . Indeed , many eminent - close phone are designed with a dedicated earpiece amplifier in head .
likewise , all digital - medium players with analog audio output incorporate a built - in digital - to - analogue converter , which takes the stored digital representation of euphony and converts it to an parallel signal ( which is then flow to the earpiece jack or other turnout circuitry ) . Internal DACs — specially those in consumer electronics such as iPhones , iPads , TVs , and computers — tend to be made from cheap element . In addition , a make - in DAC ’s physical environment — crammed into a tiny blank next to a cluster of other electric portion — subject the parallel audio signal to electric noise and hindrance from other circuitry . An external DAC pulls the digital signaling outside this environs before convince it to analog , and typically use considerably higher - quality factor to do so , giving you a cleaner , more - exact replication of the original transcription .
( For more entropy , HeadRoom has utile articles onDACs , earphone amplifiers , andwhyandwhetheryou might need the latter . )
Black boxes
The Micro Amp and Micro DAC each sport a just about orthogonal , fatal - anodized - aluminum enclosure with dimension somewhere between those of an iPod Classic and a paperback book . These enclosures are gently curve on the top and the bottom to allow the two unit to stack . ( Indeed , HeadRoom sometimes calls the two unit , stack together , the Micro Stack . ) Although some headphone amplifiers face likeobjets d’art , the great deal looks unassuming , but , in my opinion , charming . If you desire to buy both unit , HeadRoom offer a$649 bundlethat includes a few cables otherwise sold separately .
The back of the Micro DAC boast a power connectedness ( which connects to a power supply that ’s approximately the same size as the Micro DAC itself ) ; a 1/8 - inch , analog - sound - output jack ; and three digital - audio input : Mini - USB , Toslink optic , and 1/8 - inch coaxial . The USB input accept up to 16 - bit , 48 kilohertz sound recording and will work with a Mac , Windows PC , or — via Apple’siPad Camera Connection Kit()—the iPad . The optical and coaxal inputs bear in high spirits - solving audio file up to 24 - fleck , 96 kc . The Micro DAC ’s front side has two simple replacement : one to flex the unit on and off , the other to switch between the three inputs .
The Micro Amp ’s rear panel sport the same power connection ; two 1/8 - column inch , line - level audio inputs ; and a intensity - knob - controlled 1/8 - column inch audio output signal . ( The last output allow the Micro Amp to perform double duty as a stereo preamplifier . ) The front features a power electric switch , a sturdy volume mastery , a gain picker switch ( to better equalise the volume control ’s sensitivity to the efficiency of affiliated headphone ) , an input - pick switch , and a 1/8 - inch headphone jack . ( Why not a 1/4 - inch jack , given that many high-pitched - end headphones have a 1/4 - in plug ? A HeadRoom representative told me that a 1/4 - inch stopper was too large to fit out inside the Micro ’s anatomy . )
The Micro Amp also features one other front switching , labeled Crossfeed , which enables or handicap Headroom ’s proprietaryheadphone - imaging circuitry . This circuitry adds a small amount of the right channel sound recording to the leftover distribution channel , and frailty versa — an effect called , fitly enough , crossfeed — with the claimed essence of more - born strait and better stereo tomography .
Does it really make a difference?
For most of my time evaluating the Micro jazz band , I used iTunes to send CD - quality medicine — meaning tracks encode at full atomic number 48 quality — in Apple Lossless formatting to an Apple AirPort Express ( [ [ 4 mice ] ] ) , with the Express ’s optical - digital yield connected to the Micro DAC ’s opthalmic input . Given that the Airport Express is restrain to 16 - bit , 44.1 kHz audio , I also did some listening with the Micro DAC connect directly to the visual outturn of my Mac for screen the DAC ’s decoding of gamey - resolution audio ( and to ensure that the Airport Express was n’t demean the system ’s functioning ) . Similarly , I also join my Mac forthwith to the Micro DAC ’s USB input to test that functionality . The Micro DAC was link to the Micro Amp via HeadRoom ’s $ 10Mini - to - Mini Cable , which is n’t let in with either component but the company included with our review system . ( If you purchase the $ 649 Micro Amp + Micro DAC Package , HeadRoom includes the $ 18Cardas 6 - in Mini - to - miniskirt cable . )
As for headphones , I focused on Audeze ’s $ 945LCD-2 Planar Magnetic Headphone , loaned to us by Audeze , which is spectacularly practiced and among the current res publica of the art in headphone carrying into action , as well as AKG ’s splendid $ 499 kelvin 701 , which many audiophiles still consider to be among the best on the grocery . For examination purposes , HeadRoom also loaned me the $ 650Sennheiser HD 650 , and the $ 349Denon AH - D2000 , each roughly comparable to the AKG K 701 in terms of carrying out , although differing in sonic character . In the procedure of commence to know the scheme , I also used it with a number of in - auricle framework I ’ve look back .
Using the Audeze LCD-2 , the Micro jazz band offered immediately obtrusive improvements equate to my MacBook ’s built - in headphone jack . Instrumental textures were improved across the total oftenness spectrum . Drum - kit strait , especially snares and cymbal , were clear-cut and more elaborated , and they gave the music a better sense of impulse . The midrange — vocals in particular , but also guitars and keyboard — sounded richer , more satisfying , and more realistic . Bass was plastered and better hold , with more body and profoundness due to improved extension at the lowest frequencies . There also seemed to be more hearable separation : I heard more silence between successive notes , individual instruments were more trenchant , and each sound seemed to take a more precise place in the quad between the two earpieces . Most of these improvements seemed comparatively small liken to , say , the deviation between headphones , but they added up , and I found myself enjoying music much more when the headphones were secure into the Micro combo .
Although the LCD-2 is very honest , different headphones respond otherwise to change in elaboration , so I also tested the Micro combo using the AKG K 701 and Sennheiser HD 650 . The effect of the Micro combo was more dramatic with the AKG K 701 , which is ill-famed for “ needing ” well amplification to sound its undecomposed . When connected straight to my computing equipment ’s headphone jack , the K 701 ’s high frequence sounded harsh and indistinct , and bass sounded flabby with decreased extension — in other words , the K 701 ’s best qualities were less pronounce , while its worst quality remain . When I shift to the Micro combo , triple was immediately clearer and more clear-cut and bass was much cockeyed , extended deeper , and was more balanced with the repose of the relative frequency spectrum . As for the Sennheiser HD 650 , when drive by my Mac ’s headphone squat , it initially sounded pretty good . But switching to the Micro jazz band provided improved detail across all frequencies , as well as an increase in bass extension and authorization . But even more detectable was that euphony had more drive and a more - compelling plain pacing , suggesting that the Micro combo significantly improved the HD 650 ’s resolution of musical transient .
As mentioned , I also quiz several different digital - connexion configurations with the Micro DAC . I did not detect any difference in operation when the Micro DAC was connected to my Mac ’s optical output liken to the Airport Express ’ optical output ( test have demonstratedthe veracity of the digital output of the Airport Express . ) I also support that , when connect flat to my Mac , the Micro DAC decoded high-pitched - firmness sound , although I ’m not sure I noticed a difference in quality compared to standard CD - resolution audio — my trial recordings could be to find fault . Interestingly , when connecting my Mac to the Micro jazz band , I did get wind slightly more detail over an optic connection compared to the USB connection . ( I did n’t try out the Micro DAC ’s coaxial input signal because I did n’t have the necessary RCA - to - miniskirt overseas telegram . ) If your source(s ) offer more than one digital output , I recommend test each character of connection to see which vocalise well to your ears .
Crossfeed
commonly , any auditory sensation you hear will make both of your ears ( though not necessarily at the exact same time and at the same volume ) . However , when listen to recorded audio through headphones , any sound contained only in the left channel or only in the good channel never reaches the other ear — you’re subjected to the unnatural phenomenon of hear a phone in only one ear , which often lead to hear fatigue . ( I in person find that it produces a “ delicate ” sensation in the ear . ) To attempt to counteract this upshot , HeadRoom ’s adenosine monophosphate include particular circuitry that implements what is normally calledcrossfeed . As observe above , crossfeed circuitry sends — with a slight holdup and at a slimly lower volume , to account for the distance between the auricle — some of the left - canal audio frequency to the correct auricle and some of the correct - canal audio recording to the odd ear . With crossfeed engaged , the typical “ laborious - right wing / severely - left ” event is eliminated , or at least greatly reduced , albeit at the monetary value of a slimly minute two-channel image .
If found that HeadRoom ’s crossfeed circuitry did indeed make listen more comfortable , and I did n’t notice any abasement in audio quality , so I hear to the Micro Amp almost only with the feature enabled . If you ’ve avoided serious phone heed because of fatigue from extreme left-hand / correct - channel separation , you ’ll feel the Micro Amp particularly appealing .
Comparisons with similar gear
I ’m not a unknown to HeadRoom ’s product — for the preceding four years , I ’ve done most of my plate earpiece listen through the caller ’s $ 149HeadRoom Total BitHead , a “ budget ” combination of an amplifier and a DAC . The BitHead is a petty under half the size of it of the Micro jazz band , offers only one digital ( Mini USB ) and one analog ( 1/8 - column inch ) input , and is powered by either USB or battery power . Comparing the Micro jazz group to the Total BitHead , I heard many of the same difference I observed when compare the Micro combo and my MacBook ’s own phone jack , but the Total BitHead ’s improvements were less dramatic . Still , the Total BitHead offers a good portion of the Micro ’s benefits at a much lower price . The Micro combo ’s most noticeable advantage were in bass operation and in background randomness — when listening with very efficient headphones such as canalphones , the Micro jazz band has significantly lower background noise than the Total BitHead .
In my home stereo system , I employ the $ 429 Cambridge Audio DacMagic ( ) . For a comparison , I connect the same digital origin to both the Micro DAC and the DacMagic , and then link up each to one of the Micro Amp ’s two stimulant . This apparatus let me well switch between the two DACs . The difference between the two were subtle , but the DacMagic furnish more instrumental detail , particularly detectable in bass voice - guitar grain and in transient such as the onset of a cymbal hit . The Micro DAC , on the other helping hand , may grow a slightly warmer phone , although it was also louder , which made the difference more unmanageable to gauge . Given the Micro DAC ’s lowly human body and lower price , I sense it holds up well against the well - regarded DacMagic .
I also compared the analog output of my Oppo DV-980H DVD player with the Micro DAC ’s analog output when connected to the Oppo player , as the Oppo has a reputation for surprisingly good standard candle playback — the musical theme here was to compare the Micro DAC ’s digital - to - analog conversion with that of the Oppo ’s construct - in DAC . Indeed , in direct comparisons , I was impressed with how well the Oppo held up against the Micro DAC , but I did notice improvements in particular at all absolute frequency when take heed to the Micro DAC , as well as improvement in musical pace .
at last , I wanted to get some approximation of the degree to which the Micro Amp was responsible for improvements I heard with the DAC / amp combo . Although I did n’t have any other consecrate headphone amplifiers on hand for comparing with the Micro Amp , I did have two background integrate amplifiers that each claim to incorporate a high - quality , discrete phone amplifier : NuForce ’s $ 349Icon-2and Audioengine ’s $ 199N22 . I fed the MicroDAC ’s analog yield into each of these amps , which I then used to drive the AKG headphones ( since of my trial headphones , the K 701 seemed to be the most tender to amplification ) . The Micro DAC / Icon-2 organization bring on weaker freshwater bass reply and harsh and brittle highe frequencies . The Micro DAC / N22 system fared better , with impregnable bass carrying into action and more instinctive highs than the Icon-2 , but it was still inferior to the Micro jazz band in these areas . The Micro Amp also offered beneficial implemental particular and texture across the spectrum compare to the two screen background amp . I do the same test using using the Oppo DVD player as a source , hooked up to each of the three adenosine monophosphate , and I heard similar differences between the three amps — although in each case there was a diminution in lucidity and item due to the omission of the Micro DAC .
give these result , I believe the Micro Amp and Micro DAC act as roughly equivalent significant roles in the improved good lineament provided by the Micro combo . That said , the relative weight of each will likely vary depending on the particular headphones and audio sources .
Is it worth it?
I very much enjoyed my time with the Micro Amp and Micro DAC compounding , and I guess each of the part is telling . Are the two detail together worth your $ 649 ? It ’s a complicated question , and the response look on your headphones and overall budget . ( And , of course , if you ’re hear to intemperately press audio files , or if most of what you listen to is ill recorded or mastered pop or rock , you simply do n’t need components of this timbre . )
If you do n’t already have fantabulous headphones , I conceive you ’ll get more value by putting your money into better headphones and a less - expensive amplifier and DAC — particularly if you plan to use little , portable earpiece such as canalphones . But if you ’re very happy with your current higher - remnant ‘ phones , the Micro combo will help them do closer to their potential difference .
complicate this decision , however , is the fact that HeadRoom has two other options in this Leontyne Price grasp deserving considering . The $ 549Portable Micro Amp with DACpacks an amplifier , DAC , and rechargeable electric battery into a unmarried material body the size of it of the Micro Amp alone , but a HeadRoom representative distinguish me that the Portable ’s sound quality is not quite as just as that of the non - portable Micro product . Coming from the other centering , the company ’s $ 849Desktop Ampalso combine an amplifier and a DAC in a single ( larger ) enclosing , but uses high - quality component and is gear toward use in more complicated organization with multiple source or as a stereo preamplifier . The Desktop is also of high enough quality that , according to HeadRoom , it respond well to upgrades to its power supply .
Macworld’s buying advice
HeadRoom ’s Micro Amp and Micro DAC together make very good headphones fathom even good , and do so in a modest package that ’s perfect for utilization on your screen background as the heart of a information processing system - base audio system . I found the combination improved detail , instrumental textures , freshwater bass caliber , and stereo imaging . If you have a great pair of phone , the Micro combo will show you what they can really do . If you do n’t , I suggest you start by upgrading your headphones ; then , when you ’re quick for another raise , take look at the Micro Amp and Micro DAC . If you ’re not indisputable whether this $ 649 combining is right for you , give it a try — HeadRoom has a 30 day guarantee . But I distrust once you see what this gear can do , you ’ll want to keep it .
R. Matthew Ward lives in St. Louis and enjoys the finer thing in life : food for thought , drink , Apple products , and well - regurgitate music . you’re able to discover his thoughts on these and other subjects onhis personal web log .
