Headphone amps

[Filterlab]

Okey dokey, I have a pair of Sennheiser HD600s with Cardas Rewire (thanks to John and Steve Toy for their recommendation) on their way to me early next week. For the time being I'll use my DAC headphone output, which is fully separately staged and really rather good indeed, but my thoughts are that as my primary listening will be headphones rather than speakers I should invest in a decent headphone amplifier.

Thought, experiences, opinions and suggestions please!

Thanks. :)

[John]

The HD600 needs to be well driven I persume you want it to link into the MAC a couple of thoughts come to mind
If you can use RCA The world design headphone amp will produce great results
http://wduk.worldomain.net/acatalog/info_HD83.html
Might be worth looking at the Headroom amps have not heard them myself but have a good rep and wide range
http://www.headphone.com/products/headphone-amps/the-home-line/
The amp I used was the ps audio amp speak to Howard as he sells these
A really holographic sound just lacks that bit of bass weight so for the music i really enjoy this combo was not for me but for some will be audio heaven
http://www.psaudio.com/ps/products/detail/gcha-headphone-amplifier?cat=audio

Here is another one to try but have not heard

http://www.gracedesign.com/products/m902/m902.htm

Rob please hear them first before purchase

[Filterlab]

The HD600 needs to be well driven I persume you want it to link into the MAC a couple of thoughts come to mind
If you can use RCA The world design headphone amp will produce great results
http://wduk.worldomain.net/acatalog/info_HD83.html
Might be worth looking at the Headroom amps have not heard them myself but have a good rep and wide range
http://www.headphone.com/products/headphone-amps/the-home-line/
The amp I used was the ps audio amp speak to Howard as he sells these
A really holographic sound just lacks that bit of bass weight so for the music i really enjoy this combo was not for me but for some will be audio heaven
http://www.psaudio.com/ps/products/detail/gcha-headphone-amplifier?cat=audio

Here is another one to try but have not heard

http://www.gracedesign.com/products/m902/m902.htm

Rob please hear them first before purchase

Cheers John! Don't worry, I always audition everything before purchase these days.

Output will be from the DAC whatever happens, probably the balanced outputs which have a lot more muscle than the headphone socket (and that's muscular enough!), however I have the necessary adaptors to convert the balanced outputs to phono so I have flexibility on my side. :)

I've heard about the Headroom amps, they are well reviewed and revered and are already on my 'to try but can't really stretch to right now' list. I haven't heard of the PS Audio amps though so I'll look into those. I'd not even considered a kit amplifier, I guess it's a good way to get a quality amp with less outlay - or rather more value as the construction isn't costed in. No doubt AnthonyTD will be able to help, but I have a budget to stick to! :lol:

By the way John, what are you using for your headphones?

[John]

Well used to use the PS Audio with HD600 Cardas wired but these days all I have are HD595 going through the Sony Walkman and actually really like it I tend to listen mostly through the speakers as like to feel the music in my body and just not worth it to have that degree of performance if I am not using it.
I am sure if you speak to Howard he let you listen to the PS Audio
Think the issue with the Headroom amps is finding someone who has one so you can have a listen first; thats why I did not go down that route

[Filterlab]

I'll definitely look into the PS Audio amps, they seem rather nice from the link you posted. Cheers.

[John]

Also this might be worth a try look great and has the Silk Transforers which are really good and should make this combo sound great
http://www.sacthailand.com/
But if you like DIY then the World Audio Design is a good bet also

[Beechwoods]

I will be very interested in your opinion on the HD600's. I'm increasingly coming the conclusion that I need some decent quality headphones since I never get the chance to play music over speakers at anything more than background levels :(

[Filterlab]

That's my whole reasoning too Nick. It's a shame as I love listening through my speakers, they present such a wonderfully detailed sound with real punch and accuracy, but I have to be considerate to my neighbours. Still, it's only for a little while in the context of a lifetime and I have been very lucky up until now.

I've heard the HD600s on audition and they're very very good indeed. The ones I heard had the Cardas cables which is why I ordered some of those, I'm not sure how the stock cables sound so I'll have to post my findings when I know. Obviously an audition is very different to settling in with any component so I'll let mine run in for a hundred hours or so (easy with headphones, just leave them playing night and day) before I do any critical listening. What I do know of course is that they'll smack the arse of my £30 PX100s, but they were never intended for hi-fi usage anyway. :)

[StanleyB]

It depends on how loud you guys listen to your music to via headphones. My new DAC was specially redesigned so that I could fit in it the headphone amp PCB of a headamp I hope to release later this year. So if you can hang on for a while, you'll get a chance to try out mine in the DAC, and compare it to anything else out there. But be prepared for speaker like sound stage and binaural type of listening. None of that boomy sound that seems to originate right in the middle of your head as in a traditional headphone output. I can even get a pair of K701 to produce bass on them, and that takes some doing if you know the K701. The frame of my HD650 can be felt moving about on my ears at 3/4 volume level. Is that too loud perhaps:scratch:?

[Filterlab]

Hmm, possibly! :) I won't make a purchase until I've heard you new DAC anyway, and the output on my DAC is exceptional as it is. Always nice to get a feel for the land though.

[Ali Tait]

I'll add a vote for the WD 83.I have one and it's excellent.Also,impedance can be tailored to match any cans depending on how it's wired up.If you don't fancy building it yourself,have them build it for you.Will cost a little more though.

[Beechwoods]

I'll be looking forward to this. I've been thinking about Stan's DAC as backend to my PowerMac and Tascam CF recorder. If it really does have that affect on headphone listening I will be a very happy man. My current headphones are £25 Sennheisers. I hope to upgrade sometime this year. As my dad says work backwards from the speakers - or headphones, in this case :)

[Filterlab]

I'll keep you well informed Nick. I also have some cheapie Sennheisers although they are vastly more expensive than £25, 20% more expensive in fact! Whilst they are acceptable for plugging into my iPhone for when I go running and watch some episodes of Family Guy in bed, hi-fi they're not. The HD600s will be my first pair of proper headphones so I'll be trying lots of bits and pieces out with them.

Apparently the Creek OBH-21SE is an exceptionally worthy headphone amplifier, in fact Noteworthy Audio describe it as "the best transistor/IC headphone amplifier we’ve come across", that immediately puts it forward for audition. There's a seemingly large choice these days so I'll try out as many as I can, that's not before I give Stan's approaching DAC a whirl though.

[Beechwoods]

LOL - In fact I think yours may only have the edge by 60p, if Amazon is to be believed :)

Mine: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Sennheiser-HD202-Headphones/dp/B00009QH78/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1231624112&sr=8-1

Yours: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Sennheiser-PX-100-PX100-Headphones/dp/B00009QH7P/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1231624170&sr=1-1

To be honest, I like mine for general listening. The closed-ear design is good for listening at home. They are comfortable, and while they are designed for DJ use, and the bass is emphasised, it's not exaggerated. Sound is clear and the top end has space around it. There isn't any slam though and the soundstage isn't so convincing as I would like. I want involvement and visceral excitement. Is that possible with headphones?

I'm hoping.


Somehow the Amazon price changed in the last 10 minutes. Mine are now £3 more expensive than yours. How'd that happen? Do they price depending on the number of hits a page gets :confused:

[Filterlab]

No idea, maybe it's due to the announcement of a fall in the inflation rate. :) I can't believe mine are now £17.99! I paid £29.75 three years ago! :(

I think slam and soundstage are the preserve of the 'proper' headphones rather than 'aimed at iPod' headphones (which ours clearly are). There's nothing wrong with my little phones, they paint a perfectly decent picture and have crisp treble and decent enough bass to boogie to the beat, but there's nothing tangible there, the sound cannot be reached out and touched so to speak.

As we seem to be in a similar situation Nick I think high end headphones are the way to go. :)

[StanleyB]

As we seem to be in a similar situation Nick I think high end headphones are the way to go. :)
Got to agree with you on that one. I now have a decent line up that can keep me happy for the next couple of years.

[leo]

Missed this thread
I mainly use cans for late night listening, got a pair of Sen HD250, 600, AT-900 and AKG K701

Amp is latest GSP Solo + PSU1, I've built a few diy based amps, given most away including the Kumisa III

You can get very good sound quality out of a decent headphone based rig

[Tony Moore]

I have both HD600s and Beyer Dynamic DT990s and personally I prefer the DT990s when used on a decent headphone amp like the HD83. The HD600s are better for me when used on my Sony Atrac player that I take away on business trip to listen to in hotels. I found the HD600 together with the HD83 and a higher quality source to be a bit overpowering, the DT990s are more mellow and relaxing.

It's all about personal taste and system matching I guess. Both 'phones are very good. Getting the sound you like though is almost as tricky as with speakers. :confused:

Cheers,
Tony

[leo]

Getting the sound you like though is almost as tricky as with speakers. :confused:

Cheers,
Tony

Too right Tony! a good headphone rig is also a good tool for testing any mods or builds you've done to the source, they are good at highlighting flaws IMO