Hi guys,

I just got my hackintosh laptop running and I'm in need of a ultra portable audio interface just for monitoring out of headphones. No need for inputs really. I was looking at the Beringer uca202 or even the zoom u22 but can't think of anything other than those 2. Can anyone recommend me something fairly cheap just for monitoring with headphones?

 

go to Alibaba you can buy Amp really cheap , if you got aliexpress you can login with the same account
but if not you can join , then you have a chat you can buy directly from factory
I mean you pay throw western Union , then receive a product
always tell them you need one sample to check the market ,

when you order you give him your'e address/city/country/phone in the chat room ,
he send you the product in any method you like TNT/FEDEX/DHL
I order always from Alibaba the product so cheep you can not find it in any place + after 7 day's you get a product .

only one fact the Shipping cost more then the product itself ! but I always buying 2/3 samples
of the same product , and it cost the same as one product in my country !

https://www.alibaba.com/trade/searc...tId=&SearchText=headphone+amplifier&viewtype=

 

Last edited: Aug 7, 2018

Thanks for this but I plan on buying something on Amazon or a local music store. Also need the signal response to be as flat as possible. I was also looking at the M-Audio micro dac but damn that thing is tiny and not sure what the quality of output sound would be.

 

buy the cheep one if it only for headphone Beringer will do the job great
still you can buy in Alibaba. pro flat device cheeper even the Berlinger. it will cost you around 100$ including shipping !

don't give the size to confuse you because it does matter , what Ω your headphones 200Ω? 600?Ω

M-Audio and Berlinger will do the job great if your headphone not higher then 200Ω

 

I have 200 but also 600

 

i used to work for a company called audioquest , they have a usb soundcard/interface called dragonfly red . or black. red is the high end one though.look into that. u can get one for like 100 bucks on ebay. or like 200 retail. i came up on like 10 of these, sold them like hot cakes for 50 bucks each. haha. ill see if i have any laying around.



edit: just checked, only got an audioquest jhitterbug , which is a usb audio filter. im not and never been a fan of these,if anyone see this, and u want one. shoot me the shipping fee n its yours. (apologies, didnt mean to hijack the thread,good vibes)

 

No worries just trying to find something cheap and ultra portable and no input needed

 

Hope I got it right, reg your demands - but for headphone monitoring (especially if you are using something that has ~600Ω), the ability of the interface to get enough volume to those - no matter the impedance - is quite important. So you might take into consideration something like the smallest Audient. This are the measurements with their (phone) amps:

Phones Impedance Sensitivity SPL (dB c-weighted)
AKG K141 38 Ohms 101dB @ 1mW 100dB
AKG K240 DF 600 Ohms 88dB @ 1mW 85dB
..quite good

Cons are - nobody is going to put a decent phone amp in a super cheap card. And even if you get the smallest it will have at least 1 IN..
..like said, just a sugestion. Good luck

 

I just ordered the zoom u22. At least I have the option of recording now. I have a set of Sony monitoring headphones to use with it but the laptop will be used moslty for creating ideas and then bounced to a macpro for final mixdown

 

Good choice, I have a behringer and the headphone amplifier Cannot put out out enough volume for headphones with a higher impedance.

 

There's just so many damn options out there now and it's just impossible to decide. I guess so with something cheap and go from there. Also looks like the U22 will do everything I need plus a good mic pre just in case I need to record something.

 

Hey thanks for the tip. Just wanted to ask is the quality sounds and appearance as good as the original name?

This item looks exactly like a UAD arrow
https://m.alibaba.com/product/60752...pm=a2706.7843667.1998817009.52.25b29e1dy4TPfk

 

I can definitely suggest avoiding the Behringer U-phoria. I bought one and not only did they not have working drivers for Windows 10 but I had problems getting it to fully work in Win 7. I contacted Behringer and they sent me a link to the ASIO4ALL site. No joke. I returned it and bought a cheap Edirol (Roland) interface used off of eBay for less money. It was a discontinued product but Roland still provided updated drivers for it. That's some real product support right there.

 

They are selling the aluminum casing, not the interface for $5.

 

Ah I see now

 

I have tested the Zoom U22 and it sure does everything I want it to. For anyone that needs a cheap but decent interface I would recommend this little device.

 

E-MU 0202 USB externe Soundkarte
Preis: 20 €

 

That's a little bigger than I'd like. The zoom u22 is just right for me at least for portablility

 

My own next studio purchase. Those that have one are blown away, hearing things in mixes they never could hear before...both a good or a bad thing, LOL.



pic host

Tiny at 103 x 37 x 122 mm, awesome, powerful output with the ability to drive heavy load headphones.

Technical Specifications
Digital inputs 1x USB (B), 1x Co-axial (RCA), 1x Optical (TOSLink)
D/A-converter 2x ESS9038Q2M 32-bit
USB up to DSD512 (DSD1024), PCM up to 32b/768kHz
Optical PCM up to 24b/192kHz
Coaxial PCM up to 24b/192kHz
Filter settings 7 different selectable on front
Frequency response 20 Hz - 20 kHz
Analogue outputs 6.3mm Headphone (front), 1x Variable Out (RCA
Output voltage 2.05 Veff
Minimal recommended headphone impedance 8 Ohm
Headphone output power 6.6 mW / 600 Ohm; 68 mW / 32 Ohm
THD 0.0003% @ 0 dB, 2V RMS, 1 kHz
Dynamic range 124 dBA
Outboard Power supply 5V/1A DC (included)
Dimensions W x H x D 103 x 37 x 122 mm (including knob and connectors)
Weight 366 g (without power supply)

About $299°°

https://www.project-audio.com/en/product/pre-box-s2-digital/

 

this is very interessting...never heard of such units