Volume and Headphones

[David Gwilliam]

I am becoming increasingly hard of hearing. Even when using the laptop with the volume at 100% and using headphones I often find the sound too quiet. It did occur to me that if I bought headphones with adjustable sound on them this might give me greater volume. Am I right?

 

[Matt_B]

I don't believe so. The volume adjuster will just be a variable resistor and so won't increase past the maximum input. If you are using a computer try switching to VLC media player, it allows you to boost the volume to 200%, but it won't play stuff from iTunes etc, just independent video and audio files.

 

[Macky]

if I bought headphones with adjustable sound on them this might give me greater volume. Am I right?

Unfortunately not. A volume control on the headphones will only attenuate whatever sound is going to them, not boost it. You'd be able to turn them down, but not up further. You could route the sound output of your laptop into a separate amp and plug your headphones into that.

 

[Joe_Fox]

Echoing matt's comment, vlc will boost the volume for you substantially however it may distort.

 

[SJN-Fox]

Pardon?

 

[David Gwilliam]

Thank you for the replies. They have saved me spending money on a new set of headphones.

 

[Jeff]

There are some reasonably priced amplifiers on Amazon - http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/bestsell...Code=ur2&tag=dgs01-21&linkId=QTF4SFPEX7ADAUDE

 

[Macky]

Thank you for the replies. They have saved me spending money on a new set of headphones.

You should follow the link that Jeff has posted and spend the money we've saved you on one of the headphone amps listed there, they'd be just the job for you.

 

[David Gwilliam]

There are some reasonably priced amplifiers on Amazon - http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/bestsell...Code=ur2&tag=dgs01-21&linkId=QTF4SFPEX7ADAUDE

You should follow the link that Jeff has posted and spend the money we've saved you on one of the headphone amps listed there, they'd be just the job for you.

Thank you Jeff and Macky for such useful advice. I will indeed be buying the FiiO EO6 which is just what I need.