Headphone amp? I assume your MAC has a phones jack?
If so.. you would have to spend around $1000. to get a headphone amp you will notice is really better.
The ones that cost less will sound 'different' than your Mac, but not realy 'better'.
I own Beyerdynamic old 990's and Sennheiser new HD800 phones along with:
The jack in my Bryston BP-26
the jack in my Sony 555ES changer
The headphone amp "Lil Dot ($250)
the TADAC DA converter with 'tubyness control' and headphone out (used $500) How could anyone resist a 'tubyness' knob?
the headphone amp Rudistor MkII ($1,800)
The headphone amp SinglePower MPX with major upgrades ((Retail with extra tubes and adaptors $4,000==== I paid $1,000 used for my 'exploding killer deathstar' headphone amp. (LOL inside joke))
The Bryston is good. The SinglePower with 6BL7 tubes is the best ... dangers of sudden death due to use notwithstanding (many strange and crazy posts about SinglePower being dangerous and going blind and being electrocuted or burning up house and home over at HeadFi made it irresistable as a conversation piece, and it IS a good headphone amp.)
Anyway, unless you can try one, Or want to spend a lot.. I would say you are just as well off with your MAc phone out.
If so.. you would have to spend around $1000. to get a headphone amp you will notice is really better.
The ones that cost less will sound 'different' than your Mac, but not realy 'better'.
I own Beyerdynamic old 990's and Sennheiser new HD800 phones along with:
The jack in my Bryston BP-26
the jack in my Sony 555ES changer
The headphone amp "Lil Dot ($250)
the TADAC DA converter with 'tubyness control' and headphone out (used $500) How could anyone resist a 'tubyness' knob?
the headphone amp Rudistor MkII ($1,800)
The headphone amp SinglePower MPX with major upgrades ((Retail with extra tubes and adaptors $4,000==== I paid $1,000 used for my 'exploding killer deathstar' headphone amp. (LOL inside joke))
The Bryston is good. The SinglePower with 6BL7 tubes is the best ... dangers of sudden death due to use notwithstanding (many strange and crazy posts about SinglePower being dangerous and going blind and being electrocuted or burning up house and home over at HeadFi made it irresistable as a conversation piece, and it IS a good headphone amp.)
Anyway, unless you can try one, Or want to spend a lot.. I would say you are just as well off with your MAc phone out.