Sennheiser HD590's with Quad 34/405-2

[rangioran]

I really like my HD590's and would love to use them on my recently acquired and updated (thank you DADA!) Quad 34 and 405-2 combination. I know that I can use a passive resistor network to attenuate the speaker output, and I'm aware that there are dedicated headphone amps (driven from the pre-amp?) available. I've never been happy with the idea of having mains powered electrostatics placed either side of my head - what's the best solution?

[mikmas]

I use a discrete headphone amp for my HD600s connected to the Tape Record output on my Quad 34 and am still alive (I think) but can see your point ... kind of.

Only alternative I can think of would be a wireless (Wifi or Bluetooth?) encoder/transmitter connected to pre-amp out, as above, and a battery operated receiver/headphone amp. Such do exist but I have no experience of them or recommendations.

[rangioran]

I use a discrete headphone amp for my HD600s connected to the Tape Record output on my Quad 34......

Yes, using the extra tape out would be a way - the headphone amp would have it's own volume control. What amp have you used?

[Barry]

I really like my HD590's and would love to use them on my recently acquired and updated (thank you DADA!) Quad 34 and 405-2 combination. I know that I can use a passive resistor network to attenuate the speaker output, and I'm aware that there are dedicated headphone amps (driven from the pre-amp?) available. I've never been happy with the idea of having mains powered electrostatics placed either side of my head - what's the best solution?

Are your Sennheisers electrostatic? If they are you will have to drive them directly from the output of your 405-2, otherwise moving-coil headphones can be driven from the output via a simple passive attenuator network; details of which are described in the user manual for the 405.

I have a pair of electrostatic phones (Koss ESP-6), that are self-energised and have to be driven directly from the output of my Quad 405-2. Electrostatic headphones are perfectly safe to use, even those that are mains powered are safe since the power supply is designed to provide the necessary polarising voltage, but is quite incapable of supplying enough current to cause electric shock, let alone electrocution.

[mikmas]

Yes, using the extra tape out would be a way - the headphone amp would have it's own volume control. What amp have you used?

I use a CMOY amp that I built from a kit some years ago - I love it !! Unfortunately there are a lot of CMOYs about and a few I tried were less rewarding. Your HD590 are pretty much the same innards as my phones so should present no problem for a decent pocket amp with with an adapter or battery pack.
I have considered the Beresford Cappella due to the great reviews it gets here but as I'm more than happy at the moment I'll save my cash....

[mikmas]

Are your Sennheisers electrostatic?

I don't think the HD590 are...

[rangioran]

I don't think the HD590 are...

You're correct Mike, they're dynamic.

Ordered a SMSL sApII Pro TPA6120A2 last night, it's got some good reviews and it looks like it will feed directly off the 34's extra tape out line jacks.

[mikmas]

Ordered a SMSL sApII Pro TPA6120A2 last night, it's got some good reviews and it looks like it will feed directly off the 34's extra tape out line jacks.

Nice one!
... read great things about the SMSL boxes - great bang for buck by all accounts, hope it goes well :)

[rangioran]

Well, SMSL sApII Pro TPA6120A2 arrived earlier today and hooked into the spare 'tape out' phono's on the Quad 34. First impressions are . . .

Excellent build quality
Well thought out design
Aesthetically pleasing, fits in extremely well
Audio performance - early days, naturally driven via tape out there is no influence from the 34's volume or tone controls, even so the result via the Sennheiser's is clean without over bright and full.

Time will tell.

[rangioran]

Now had a couple of weeks for the SMSL sApII Pro TPA6120A2 to bed in along with it's new interconnects and the result really is a delight. With the headphone volume set to 'just right' and the main amp set to approximately the same (but temporarily muted), switching between headphones and 'speakers results in an almost identical experience.
Very, very well pleased with the headphone amp, can certainly recommend it.