nixon76 Posted July 9, 2010 Posted July 9, 2010 Okay, I'm thinking of getting a standalone headphone amp. Willing to spend up to $1k but it has to be tubed. Can people suggest brands/models I can look at? I'm not familiar with this area. It must also conform to these dimensions, with the controls on the short edge: 8.5” W x 12.5” D (216 mm x 318 mm). Must also be assembled - no DIY here! I've found these so far: http://www.diyhifisupply.com/catalog/98 http://www.jaudio.co.nz/Headphone+Amplifiers/Little+Dot+MK+IV+SE+Headphone+Amplifier%25252FPre-Amp.html (a few mm too wide, but might be okay) http://www.wooaudio.com/products/wa6.html http://www.wooaudio.com/products/wa3.html Any others? [edit] Oh, and I'm not sure if this is possible, but just an amp would be nice - no need for the preamp part of things. Cheers
40Hz Posted July 9, 2010 Posted July 9, 2010 For what headphones, Nixon? Grados will be easier to drive, but some amps do better with Sennheisers, for example. From what I've read, I'd personally give the little dot a miss, but there are a few interesting options around: http://www.bottlehead.com/store.php?crn=44&rn=442&action=show_detail garnered very positive comments recently, and if you get Bottlehead to build it for you it still comes in at a good price; http://www.decware.com/newsite/CSP2.html is reportedly a nice unit with Senns and Beyers, but may not suit your ergonomic requirements; and if i were having a punt I might just try one these for size http://schiit.com/products/valhalla/ What did you have in mind, Ernie? And of course there's the Mapletree gear (http://hollowstate.netfirms.com/). Maybe Cooksferry will jump in here, as I recall he has loved his long time...
nixon76 Posted July 9, 2010 Author Posted July 9, 2010 Thanks for the links 40. I'd want something with low and high impedance options so I don't paint myself into a corner (something I've very good at ). The decware looks nice, but beyond budget. The Bottlehead looks interesting - will take a closer look. The Schiit looks awesome - but is too big Also looked at Mapletree. Pricing is beyond me unfortunately. Also consider the HagTech, but it's too big.
Ernie1553552694 Posted July 9, 2010 Posted July 9, 2010 Sub $1K and fitting the dimensions might be mission improbable. SS might help you achieve budget and size requirements. You can have two of your criteria, but not three. And BTW, I didn't make up the rules. :rolleyes:
whale Posted July 9, 2010 Posted July 9, 2010 I've got a Darkvoice 336i you can try out. I'm not selling mind but maybe you can use it for comparison with others? Not sure how they stack up with the others you have listed though
40Hz Posted July 9, 2010 Posted July 9, 2010 If you want to see what's what, Whale's offer is a good one. I have a headphone amp (not tubed, sorry) which is getting no use at the moment - high and low impedance outputs, and fits your size requirements. So if you want a loaner you'd be most welcome to spend some time with that. I'd offer my SR-80s too, but they seem to be a driver down. I've spent two years trying to like K701s, so you could always give those a listen before I cast them to the 4 winds that is Trademe...
Ernie1553552694 Posted July 9, 2010 Posted July 9, 2010 Those k701s might be just about run-in by now too. From personal experience, the can has the most effect on the style of sound. You could probably achieve the kind of sonic results you're after with a set of Grados. You know, warmth, immediacy, yadda, yadda. We've yet to hear from Kaka and the southern channel contingent... Also team Grado members.
whale Posted July 9, 2010 Posted July 9, 2010 How can you not love the K701 Ernie, may I ask which headphones you have moved on to?
kaka Posted July 9, 2010 Posted July 9, 2010 Looking at Headphonic they don't have much under A$1k that they recommend at the moment, the one obvious contender in their ranks is the Meier Contate (no, not valve). The maker of their highly recommended Talisman amps seems to have gone out of business (the really good one was the T3, not the T31 that they have left). There are a number of Chinese valve products in the market, so it would be a matter of spending some time in the phone forums. Head-fi will presumably be subject it it's usual flavour of the month boosting, so be wary. There should have been useful reports from the recent 2010 CanJam, and there was plenty of reporting on Headfi on the 2009 event. The Pete Millett designs could be worth a look - http://www.avguide.com/blog/can-jam-chicago-2010-international-head-fi-meet-part-1?page=2. They are a DIY design, though sometimes available built. I haven't been following phone amps, being happy with what I have.
Ernie1553552694 Posted July 9, 2010 Posted July 9, 2010 whale;127143 wrote: How can you not love the K701 Ernie, may I ask which headphones you have moved on to? I'm slumming it with some SR125s until I go to their top shelf.
40Hz Posted July 9, 2010 Posted July 9, 2010 Ernie;127142 wrote: Those k701s might be just about run-in by now too. We've yet to hear from ... team Grado members. The AKG's should be run in nicely; I really wanted to like them too... / card-carrying member of Team Grado. Nixon, here's another couple that look interesting. No soldering required with the first one, just a touch of assembly. I also attach links to 'reviews' of sorts (head-fi is a bit of a lucky dip, or maybe closer to that 'bag of crap' 1-day does... Make of it what you will). http://vkmusic.ca/TU-882AS_point.htm and http://www.head-fi.org/forum/thread/434829/review-elekit-tu882-tube-headphone-amp-kit-and-assembled http://audiotailor.com/Jade_OTL.htm and http://www.head-fi.org/forum/thread/389381/review-audiotailor-jade-vacuum-tube-headphone-amplifier
nixon76 Posted July 10, 2010 Author Posted July 10, 2010 Thanks for all the suggestions! Some good candidates there (DarkVoice, Jade) but I think that the Woo3 ticks the most boxes for me.... Will slot that info away for when some money comes free.....
nixon76 Posted July 10, 2010 Author Posted July 10, 2010 It shakes, it bakes, and comes with 6 free steak knives (de rigeur these days for head amps I understand). This Woo3 might be better suited to me though.
Ernie1553552694 Posted July 10, 2010 Posted July 10, 2010 Nice choice. The point to point wiring is an attractive feature. Makes repairs for Clary & co dead easy.
Citroen Posted July 10, 2010 Posted July 10, 2010 Nixon, can you buy a Schiit Valhalla or an Earmax http://www.audiophileclub.co.uk/earmax.html so that I can listen to one? I've always liked the small footprint and styling of the Earmax headamps...
nixon76 Posted July 10, 2010 Author Posted July 10, 2010 (To Ernie) Hahaha. Nice dig there... Sorry about not going the SS way. It's just, well, too easy Also given I'm a tube convert for my full system it makes sense to keep it that way for the head setup. I want to relax (in all the woolly warmth/rolloff/bloat etc that these low end tube amps provide), not analyse Oh, and have a word to Firestone about that Little Country III. I mean really! :rolleyes: LOL
nixon76 Posted July 10, 2010 Author Posted July 10, 2010 Newbie;127201 wrote: Nixon, can you buy a Schiit Valhalla or an Earmax http://www.audiophileclub.co.uk/earmax.html so that I can listen to one? I've always liked the small footprint and styling of the Earmax headamps... The Schiit is too big, otherwise I'd do it in a snap. The Earmax looks, um, like a toy, but is not priced like one! Would make a good desktop amp me thinks. Maybe more suitable for me if the RCAs weren't 90deg to the head jack....(pedantic me :rolleyes:)
Citroen Posted July 10, 2010 Posted July 10, 2010 Aren't all these hifi "thingies" toys!? Another headamp I'd like to listen to is the Hifiman EF5 http://www.head-direct.com/product_detail.php?p=30. Looks pretty ugly esp cf Schiit but I have an EF1 somewhere, which I found worked quite well with my 702's, and was excellent value.
Ernie1553552694 Posted July 10, 2010 Posted July 10, 2010 Oh Schitt, someone load a sincerity smiley for Ernie. I was shooting straight that time. No intention of sarcasm or hint of irony intended. If you can get a unit that has well executed point to point hand wiring, well that has kudos and practicality rolled onto one in my eyes. Those guys at FS Audio got a bit carried away with the decoration on the Little Country III, but conceptually the unit is sound.
nixon76 Posted July 10, 2010 Author Posted July 10, 2010 Ernie;127206 wrote: Oh Schitt, someone load a sincerity smiley for Ernie. I was shooting straight that time. No intention of sarcasm or hint of irony intended. If you can get a unit that has well executed point to point hand wiring, well that has kudos and practicality rolled onto one in my eyes. Haha, np Ernie;127206 wrote: Those guys at FS Audio got a bit carried away with the decoration on the Little Country III, but conceptually the unit is sound. Their tube monoblocks are a nice tidy look - esp with the acrylic front. The Little Country's look like they're from an older design phase. Maybe IV will be more in keeping with the rest of their stuff.
40Hz Posted July 10, 2010 Posted July 10, 2010 nixon76;127198 wrote: This Woo3 might be better suited to me though. Don't be so hasty, I think kaka makes a strong case there. I mean, it's a "raised set-up we fabricated for Nature Boy, of Dizzy Pig fame". What is wrong with you?? But if you make a bad call, and get the other Woo, well, keep us posted. They have a great rep for build quality, and a strong following for sound. Crap at grilling buffalo wings but...
Shane Hanify Posted July 10, 2010 Posted July 10, 2010 Gidday Nixon, I was going to say the Yarland p100 (I've had a listen and I think it's rather good) but at 400mm wide ... Oddly enough I can't find it on their website. Or am I simply not looking hard enough? Cheers, Shane.
tkr001 Posted July 11, 2010 Posted July 11, 2010 Low Orbit;127223 wrote: Gidday Nixon, I was going to say the Yarland p100 (I've had a listen and I think it's rather good) but at 400mm wide ... Oddly enough I can't find it on their website. Or am I simply not looking hard enough? Cheers, Shane. http://www.yarland.com/en/product_17.asp
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