Headphone amp LCD-X (2021) & Babyface pro fx

[Guitarking]

Hello everyone,

I was wondering what the quality of the headphone output of my RME Babyface Pro FX is. I recently bought the Audeze LCD-X (2021) headphones and I am very pleased with them.
I was wondering whether I could even improve on the sound by using a dedicated headphone amp? And if so, would I connect it in the headphone out or in the main out?
I also sometimes use the Aphex Headpod headphone amp (4 headphones). What is the quality of this device compared to the RME Babyface and a dedicated headphone amp?

Thanks!

[sonics]

I honestly don't think you'd improve on the quality of the RME output. Unless you have some very odd drive requirements; their engineering is excellent. One YouTuber, Julian Krause, does extensive testing. Check out this.
The provision of different technical parameters for the two headphone sockets is just another indication of RMEs engineering and design skills.

[Guitarking]

Would it be best to use the 3.5mm output or the 6.5mm. LCD-X 2021 impedance is 20 Ohms.

[sonics]

Both outputs will work fine, but the 3.5mm should provide more power. Use that one.

[Sam Spoons]

I was wondering whether I could even improve on the sound by using a dedicated headphone amp? And if so, would I connect it in the headphone out or in the main out?

You can't improve on the quality of the headphone output if you feed your 'improved' headphone amp from the headphone socket.

I'll qualify that by adding "unless there is a huge mismatch between you current headphones and the onboard headphone output"...

[sonics]

You also risk a mismatch of the first headphone output and the headphone amp input.

[Sam Spoons]

which would /, presumably, result in a further deterioration in quality.

[ef37a]

There is some odd thinking being expressed here and I hope Hugh will come in with some clarification?

However, I doubt the RME headphone amplifier can be subjectively improved unless a greater output than it can deliver is demanded?

Dave.

[Wonks]

There is some odd thinking being expressed here and I hope Hugh will come in with some clarification?

Did you watch the Julian Krauss video that Sonics linked to? The 1/4" output has a 10.13 ohm output impedance and the 3.5mm one has a 0.25 ohm output impedance. Differences in output power available as well. the 3.5mm output looks to be designed to drive low impedance loads and the 1/4" one higher impedance loads.

But the frequency response of both outputs is flat across the standard audio range.

[ef37a]

There is some odd thinking being expressed here and I hope Hugh will come in with some clarification?

Did you watch the Julian Krauss video that Sonics linked to? The 1/4" output has a 10.13 ohm output impedance and the 3.5mm one has a 0.25 ohm output impedance. Differences in output power available as well. the 3.5mm output looks to be designed to drive low impedance outputs and the 1/4" one higher impedance outputs.

But the frequency response of both outputs is flat across the standard audio range.

That is not my point. It is to do with 'sources and loads' and the much misused word "matching".
But, I have been shot at before! I shall keep my council until or unless the Great Man comments.

Dave.

[James Perrett]

That is not my point. It is to do with 'sources and loads' and the much misused word "matching".
But, I have been shot at before! I shall keep my council until or unless the Great Man comments.

Well I'd agree with you Dave. There should be no problem feeding a headphone amp from a headphone output (provided everything is properly engineered). It is also conceivable that a headphone amp, which presents a fairly high impedance load to the headphone output, would sound better than a pair of low impedance headphones connected directly if the audio interface's headphone output had limited drive capability. However, I would be surprised if this was applicable to the RME headphone outputs.

[ef37a]

Thank you James. Yes it is a virtually universal fact that audio amplifiers produce more distortion as the load reduces. Therefore running a headphone amp into the high (10k+?) of another amplifier should result in lower distortion. Always assuming of course that the second amplifier is significantly better than the first. As you say, there is very little wrong with the RME amps to start with!

I am also always suspicious of frequency responses of headphone amps into resistive loads. What is the response loaded with headphones and whose?

Dave.