• Registered: 2013-01-28
  • Posts: 4

Topic: RME Fireface UC - headphone amp needed?

I own an RME Fireface UC and I am planning on buying a Sennheiser HD 650 headphone.  The output impedance of the Sennheiser HD 650 headphone is 300 ohm.  Do I need to use a headphone amp with the RME Fireface UC or is it not required?  I read online that the RME Fireface UC has a built-in headphone amp but it doesn't say how much output impedance it will allow. 

Any tips or suggestions?  Would appreciate it.

  • Registered: 2011-01-25
  • Posts: 81

Re: RME Fireface UC - headphone amp needed?

I use the HD650 with my FFUC, and it works great.

  • Registered: 2013-01-28
  • Posts: 4

Re: RME Fireface UC - headphone amp needed?

Thanks esteban.  But I just read that the FFUC has an output impedance of only 30 ohms.  Don't you think it requires a headphone amp if the HD650 requires 300 ohms?  I'm confused.

4 Reply by MC

  • MC
  • MC
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  • Registered: 2007-04-06
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Re: RME Fireface UC - headphone amp needed?

It doesn't require. 30 Ohms means it can drive anything that has 30 Ohms or more. Lower impedance phones usually work as well. They cause a lower output level but usually don't need a high one anyway.

Regards
Matthias Carstens
RME

MC's Website

  • From: Germany
  • Registered: 2007-04-10
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Re: RME Fireface UC - headphone amp needed?

Neither does HD650 "require" a specific impedance, nor is it an "output impedance"...
See http://www.head-fi.org/a/headphone-impedance


Regards
Daniel Fuchs
RME

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Daniel Fuchs
RME

RME Support's Website

  • Registered: 2013-01-28
  • Posts: 4

Re: RME Fireface UC - headphone amp needed?

So basically you guys are saying that high impedance headphones like HD650 will be okay with the Fireface UC and it doesn't require a headphone amp as I had thought?  People online have been indicating that the FFUC can't drive the HD650 to its full potential until they introduce a headphone amp.  Hence my question.

7 Reply by MC

  • MC
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Re: RME Fireface UC - headphone amp needed?

It depends on the volume that you expect from your headphone. I have never seen one being too low volume with the UC's output, but if you are playing drums in a metal band and doing a live rehearsal you might want to have a higer volume than the normal listener could stand wink

Regards
Matthias Carstens
RME

MC's Website

  • Registered: 2013-01-28
  • Posts: 4

Re: RME Fireface UC - headphone amp needed?

Sounds good.  I am just doing vocal recordings and mixing of music.  So that means I will be okay afterall.

  • Registered: 2011-01-25
  • Posts: 81

Re: RME Fireface UC - headphone amp needed?

I use it with classical music recordings and I can say that volumen is more than enough

  • Airon
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  • Registered: 2009-05-08
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Re: RME Fireface UC - headphone amp needed?

Just for reference, Julian Krause explains amplifier impesance versus headphone impedance and what problems CAN happen in this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SpTsWVLI-ig

TLDR. A 30 Ohm headphone amp is great and can drive anything well without the frequency response changing beyond some hundredths of dB.