Portable music player with built in amplifier + external headphone amplifier

Audio Components
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I know this question could sound like another question that was asked recently by someone else on a different topic, but I have no intention of cancelling an order with PS Audio, lol.

I know that there are headphone amplifiers that many of us connect to portable music players. But what if a portable music player already has either 4.4mm or 2.5mm balanced connections and a built-in amplifier, like Fiio M11 Pro, Astell & Kern SA700, or Sony NW-MWA1, for example. Would one still desire a dedicated headphone amp and if so, how would it be connected to the player? I know about (and have) analogue 3.5mm to stereo rca connectors. I do have an older Fiio X3 (version 2) music player that my recently acquired Sennheiser 660s connect to with the 6.35mm to 3.5mm analogue adapter.

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Most larger headphone amps have XLR and .25 inch receptacles. You just need an adapter as you stated. Just get the best you can find I’ve got a terrible sounding one that I don’t use because it’s so poor.

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That all depends on the external device of course. If the external device is a Chord Mojo you need a digital connection that most Fiio gear offers. If it’s a simple amp or Electrostatic headphone you need a line out or a headphone out. Again, Fiio usually has you covered. I don’t AK or Sony, but I have done a lot of Fiio. I use Shure KSE-1200 electrostatic headphones with my gear but I also use Fiio amps and such. Fiio takes pretty good care of things.

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