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Hey everyone, I'm pretty new to the entire audio field. I recently decided that I was interested in music professionally and am now pursuing training in the audio engineering field through an intensive class. I've enrolled to start in the next two months, so I'm just using my time now to buy all of my needed equipment (payed for graciously by a small-medium sized trust appointed for school purposes). I purchased a MacBook Pro, Pro Tools + Mbox combo, and am about to purchase a set of Shure (1540) headphones. I've also read as much as I could about impedance, and I realize now that I need to get a headphone amplifier as well. My question, however, is about whether or not I need to purchase some sort of a DAC. I've searched as much as I can and I've seen some threads quoting 'Headphone amp or DAC', and then on the opposite side I've also seen a lot of people talk about using an amp with a DAC. My question is, do I need one? Is there some kind of connector that comes with an amp that connects from the amp to my output (computer, interface, etc.), or is that where I need a DAC? Basically, can I buy an amp as a standalone and be okay? Thank you guys so much for all of your input, sorry if I posted this in the wrong thread.