Suggestions for phono/headphone amp - maybe with valves?

[andybee33]

Hey everyone,

I'm looking at putting together a second 'headphone only' system for my den. There will be only one source - vinyl - and I propose to sit there in the dark with a decent malt and a pile of albums - you get the picture, I'm sure.

For now, I'll be using a Rega Planar 3 (with SRM tech motor decoupling board). I don't have any 'phones or a headphone amp yet though I do have a Cambridge Audio 640p phone stage sitting idle.

I'm looking for suggestions for maybe a combined phono/headphone amp (I like the idea of less boxes/wiring). Given that there are no big speakers to drive, I fancied that this might also be an opportunity to try out the world of valve amplification.

Any ideas for further research much appreciated.

Cheers,

Andy

[Ali Tait]

Were I in your position, I'd seriously consider one of these-

http://www.hificollective.co.uk/catalog/newsdesk_info.php?newsdesk_id=110&osCsid=rds3a8fk8jjdqg0fo9albvcvk0

It was designed by Nick (lurcher) who posts on here. I'm sure he'd be happy to build you one if you contacted him, or I could speak to him for you if you like. I've no agenda and nothing to gain, it's just Nick builds the best sounding valve kit I've ever heard.

[andybee33]

Were I in your position, I'd seriously consider one of these-

http://www.hificollective.co.uk/catalog/newsdesk_info.php?newsdesk_id=110&osCsid=rds3a8fk8jjdqg0fo9albvcvk0

It was designed by Nick (lurcher) who posts on here. I'm sure he'd be happy to build you one if you contacted him, or I could speak to him for you if you like. I've no agenda and nothing to gain, it's just Nick builds the best sounding valve kit I've ever heard.

Hi - Thanks for that! I'm just looking through the (extensive and interesting) PDF on the page you linked to and trying to decide if I could even have a crack at building one - I was really into hobby electronics as a yoof but it was all a long time ago. Once I've calmed down a bit, I'll probably realise that I should talk to Nick about him maybe building one!!

Andy

[Ali Tait]

I believe Marco has the prototype Nick built at the moment, perhaps he could comment?

[andybee33]

I believe Marco has the prototype Nick built at the moment, perhaps he could comment?

Would be great to hear about how it sounds :)

[Ali Tait]

MARCO!

[aquapiranha]

MARCO!

He can't hear you, he has his headphones on..

:lol:

[Marco]

Lol - soz, been busy elsewhere and never noticed this thread :)

I have to agree with what Ali wrote:


Were I in your position, I'd seriously consider one of these-

http://www.hificollective.co.uk/cata...qg0fo9albvcvk0

It was designed by Nick (lurcher) who posts on here. I'm sure he'd be happy to build you one if you contacted him, or I could speak to him for you if you like. I've no agenda and nothing to gain, it's just Nick builds the best sounding valve kit I've ever heard.


I'm using Nick's prototype, and it is head and shoulders unquestionably the best headphone amp I've used. The musical results, with good headphones, are akin to hard-wiring live musical performances to your head - yes, that good! :eek:

So, Andy, my advice would be to contact Nick and have one built, or arrange to borrow the one I've got :cool:

Marco.

[Ali Tait]

Aye that's an idea Paul, I'm sure Nick would be happy to let you dem it.

[Welder]

I would love to be able to recommend my WAD HD83 but in its most recent guise and at its new price I’m not convinced it’s the best value for money out there.
It does however sound pretty good after a bit of tweaking.
I rather fancy the Matrix M headphone amp as a reasonably priced option. Whether or not it would be a suitable match for your headphones is something only listening will tell.

Building yourself is all good though. Most valve based headphone amps aren't complicated to build and despite not being a valve or nothing advocate, i prefer valves for my current headphones; Sennheiser 595, Beyer-dynamic 880 600ohm

[lurcher]

Would be great to hear about how it sounds :)

If you want to borrow the one Marco has got, and Marco is happy to send it to you its more than fine by me. If you want to build yourself one, the doc you know about has all the details. if you have any questions, feel free to ask. If you want me to build one ditto. Or for that matter get someone else to build you one from the doc. It all good.

[TBL]

Were I in your position, I'd seriously consider one of these-

http://www.hificollective.co.uk/catalog/newsdesk_info.php?newsdesk_id=110&osCsid=rds3a8fk8jjdqg0fo9albvcvk0

It was designed by Nick (lurcher) who posts on here. I'm sure he'd be happy to build you one if you contacted him, or I could speak to him for you if you like. I've no agenda and nothing to gain, it's just Nick builds the best sounding valve kit I've ever heard.

Any idea what one of these would cost?

[Ali Tait]

Nick will be able to give you an idea, it's his design.

[lurcher]

This is a rough idea I put together some time before.

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/pub?hl=en_GB&hl=en_GB&key=0Ao1igJbzEAF4dDB1OXp3a0hzODJTaWlYWXFnUUdYaVE&output=html

[alfie2902]

I suspect Nick's headphone amp may be better, but I've been using an Earmax Pro for a couple of years! It's small size for portability attracted me to it. It does sound very good with my HD600's though & a few other headphones I've owned. They can be picked up for £250-300 on the 2nd hand market.

http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss55/alfie2902/IMG_0265-1.jpg

This pic shows it's very small size on top of my shoebox sized P10 phono amp, it's about 85mm square.

[TBL]

This is a rough idea I put together some time before.

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/pub?hl=en_GB&hl=en_GB&key=0Ao1igJbzEAF4dDB1OXp3a0hzODJTaWlYWXFnUUdYaVE&output=html

Thanks Nick, any Hi-Res available?


Ian

[andybee33]

This is a rough idea I put together some time before.

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/pub?hl=en_GB&hl=en_GB&key=0Ao1igJbzEAF4dDB1OXp3a0hzODJTaWlYWXFnUUdYaVE&output=html

Hi Nick - thanks for that - very useful.

Marco - when you've filled your boots, so to speak (!) would it be possible for me to have a listen to it?

thanks to both of you and to everyone else for their suggestions.

Best,

Andy

[andybee33]

If you want to build yourself one, the doc you know about has all the details. if you have any questions, feel free to ask. If you want me to build one ditto. Or for that matter get someone else to build you one from the doc. It all good.

Therein lies the 64,000 dollar question! This could well be one of those examples of male pride/enthusiasm eclipisng common sense and resulting in terrible soldering iron burns :lol:

[Marco]

Hi Andy,


Marco - when you've filled your boots, so to speak (!) would it be possible for me to have a listen to it?


Yeah, sure! :)

You're not a million miles away, so why not pop down and collect it, and use the opportunity to have a listen to my system and have a bit of lunch?

Would be good to meet up :cool:

Marco.

[lurcher]

Thanks Nick, any Hi-Res available?
Ian

?

[TBL]

?

oops, somwhowe the word pictures seems not have been typed.

[lurcher]

oops, somwhowe the word pictures seems not have been typed.

Ah, ok. Well, the one that exists at the moment is a prototype built as a experimental mule. So maybe you don't want to see any close ups :-)

And I did a woefully bad job of cutting the holes in the wrong place.

My thought was if I built another I would use the same sort of cases I have used for DAC's and phono stages.

http://www.modushop.biz/ecommerce/cat126_l2.php?n=1

With the four valves out the top. It could be built enclosed, but 6080's run warm.

Or it could be built in one of these sorts of cases with the controls and sockets on the top panel a bit like this, though minus the output transformers.

http://www.longdogaudio.co.uk/projects/2a3/2a3-1.jpg

[Rare Bird]

Nice job Nick. That one of your creations?

[goraman]

Andre,I have been very happy with this one and it was not expensive,you can really roll and upgrade tubes.

http://www.littledot.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=815

[lurcher]

Nice job Nick. That one of your creations?

Yep, its a d3a driven 2a3. I just thought that case would work for a headphone amp. Big enough and not bad looking. Get the mains TX would as a drop through type, valves and caps exposed as in the 2a3 case.

[Rare Bird]

Looks super Nick, i could easily live with that, Who makes the two chokes in the silver cans?

[lurcher]

They are James output TX's. As I said, (via PM) that picture might have confused. Its a little 2a3 amp for speakers, I just posted the image as a example of a box that would be good to fit the 6080 headphone amp in. THough the 2a3 would do a good job of driving headphones. But it was built as a 2W or so amp.