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Thread: Headphone amp recommendation’s please

  1. #1
    Join Date: Oct 2008

    Location: Glasgowshire

    Posts: 9,663
    I'm Gary.

    Default Headphone amp recommendation’s please

    As above.

    My Meze headphones are really easy to drive, unfortunately up to the point I can hear the valves ‘hum’ slightly from my preamps headphone output.
    so looking for reccy’s for a separate amp.
    Up to a grand I think, if warranted.

    Ideally ability to run fully balanced, will be upgrading headphone cables ‘n such to balanced at some point.
    I’ve no need for an integrated Dac, so if I can move up the ladder a wee bit that way by looking at amp only options that’d be good.


    Have browsed Head-Fi and the like, hard to wade through all that, ideally looking for hands on experience from folks that have actually used the kit.

    thanks much.
    AC POWER
    Hardwired 10kVA balanced mains powering entire system
    AMPS
    Meridian 557 power Amp (Modded) / PS Audio BHK Preamp (Modded)
    SPEAKERS
    Wharfedale Evo 4.4
    DAC
    PS Audio Directstream (Modded)
    TURNTABLE
    Pro-Ject X8 balanced output via XLR / Ortofon Quintet Blue cartridge
    PHONOSTAGE
    Pro-Ject DS3 B balanced Input (TT and Phonostage powered by Pro-Ject Power box RS2 linear psu)
    DIGITAL
    OPPO 203 (Modded: Linear PSU, i2s output to Dac) - Roon Endpoint, HDMI input used for all things Streaming/ PS5 /AppleTV ... also good for movies apparently?
    MUSIC PLAYBACK
    Tweaked AP-Linux based Roon Server into Oppo 203 as Roon endpoint
    Ipad Roon Remote.
    Apple Music/ YouTube via AppleTV, fed to Dac via Oppo HDMI input/i2s output to Dac.
    SPEAKER CABLES
    Biwired: Duelund DCA10GA (Bass) Duelund DCA16GA (mid & treble) Duelund 12DCA used as jumpers (On
    "Blackcat Cable" Chris Sommivigo's advice - yup, even with biwire it sounds better - and it does)
    INTERCONNECTS
    All Balanced: Ghost+ recording studio XLR cables

  2. #2
    Join Date: Mar 2008

    Location: Galashiels

    Posts: 13,700
    I'm inthescottishmafia.

    Default

    Dead easy to build a resistor network to drive them direct from your power amp speaker terminals mate. Only need a box, connectors and four resistors. Sound as good or better than any head amp.
    “Music has always been a matter of energy to me, a question of fuel. Sentimental people call it inspiration, but what they really mean is fuel. I have always needed fuel. I am a serious consumer. On some nights I still believe that a car with the gas needle on empty can run about fifty more miles if you have the right music very loud on the radio”

    Hunter S Thompson

  3. #3
    Join Date: Mar 2016

    Location: Brighton, UK.

    Posts: 3,100
    I'm Mike.

    Default

    MeToo#
    Current system 1210 GR. CDP - Meridian G08. Amp -Sugden A21I - Sig. Wharfedale Lintons.

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