Headphones amp

Which one, referring to a nominally $150 - $200 hi-fi type or studio type of headphone amp mentioned in the original post? Neither of them are likely satisfy you in the long run.

For almost all of the twelve+ years I have owned my AKG K702's, I plugged them directly into my Apogee Duet Audio interface.  I "thought" the sound was very satisfying, although a little lacking in extreme dynamics and in the lowest bass.  Interestingly, even when the Duet's volume control was set to its maximum value, I wish there was more gain available. I thought I heard everything through the AKG-Apogee Duet combination, but there was some musical information that I had been completely missing through these very revealing headphones. 

Four months ago, I acquired a used Anthem Statement D1 preamp/processor whose retail price was $5000 USD (and its most current model retails for $9500USD) to use with my main sound system.  One of the benefits of this preamp is that it contains a separately controlled- and powered headphone amplifier of very high build quality and circuitry.  Well, Sir, let me tell you:  now these AKG's sound as though they have been given a new lease on life!  The sound is punchier, much more dynamic, and if I choose to emphasize the bass using the D1, one can dial in too much bass in these 'phones.

I had missed the AKG's true potential because I did not use a headphone preamp of high enough build quality, componentry and current/amperage capability. 

So back to your original question, if we would choose between two headphone preamps, each very small and each retailing for less than $200USD, I think you would be missing the boat regarding the sound quality these AKG 702's have the potential of providing you.

Cheers,

Joe

P.S.  "More Expensive" is not necessarily better, but a piece of equipment of build quality and current handling capability costing 25X to 50X more -- "Will" make a difference.  Restated, if you are serious about exploiting the capability of your 702's, a $200 headphone amp is insufficient to satisfy you for any length of time.

Good point, Gilles.

Cheers,

Joe

I'd suggest you to contact Focusrite... They are usually responsive, maybe they have an answer.

I've noticed that folks often tend to think that if they need to turn the volume knob a long way to get sufficient volume, something must be wrong. This isn't the case at all - headphones of different makes & models have WILDLY different sensitivities - there is no "standard" sensitivity. There is no reason whatsoever for not cranking up the headphone output all the way to 100%, if that's what you need to get enough volume. 

At the risk of stating the obvious, make sure the Pianoteq's volume is as high as you can go without clipping, too.

If you can get the volume high enough, but it still doesn't sound the way you want it, you could always try EQing to taste.

If you end up needing an amp, the one I'd try at the moment, for full sized headphones, would be the portable FiiO A5. (I haven't ever tried it, but that's the one I'd try out first)

I've contacted Focusrite in the past about the specs of the headphone output, and I remember thinking it would probably be loud enough for most full sized headphones.

Greg.