Ridiculously cheap valve headphone amp

[jandl100]

Well, you know me. I just like to try things. :mental::D

I was looking for a £ton's worth of headphone amp; decent sound but not bank-breaking. And I bought a Musical Fidelity V-CAN. And very nice it is, too.

But while searching I came across this wee beastie .... http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Tube-headphone-HQ-amplifier-with-adapter-nos-PCC85-BB85-guitar-knob-retro-/301749562137?.
£24 - including postage from Slovakia! :eek: I mean, you just gotta try these things. Well, I do anyway. :lol:

Here it is ...

http://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/MTIwMFgxNjAw/z/2REAAOSwpDdU9C31/$_1.JPG http://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/MTIwMFgxNjAw/z/vU4AAOSwZjJU9C2H/$_1.JPG?set_id=880000500F

Stereo RCA input at rear.

And you know summat? - with my Koss PortaPro headphones it sounds damn good. With my Audio Flare R2a IEMs, it's little short of amazing. :thumbsup:

There is a tiny amount of hum in my setup, but this can be minimised by suitable arrangement of input level and this wee beastie's volume knob setting. Not at all discernible when music is playing.

Just stupidly stupid value for money. :)

Playing Dream Theater's Pull Me Under at the moment .... :rock::rock:

[Firebottle]

Amazing Jerry, it's got to be good, it uses my favourite valve :eyebrows:

Another one that costs peanuts:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Audio-HiFi-6J9-Vacuum-Tube-Integrated-Amplifier-Mini-Stereo-Headphone-amp/281777147402?_trksid=p2047675.c100009.m1982&_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIC.MBE%26ao%3D1%2 6asc%3D20140328180637%26meid%3D8bee720121964b8090f 1923bf2432dfd%26pid%3D100009%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D10%2 6mehot%3Dpp%26sd%3D301749562137

:)

[jandl100]

Amazing Jerry, it's got to be good, it uses my favourite valve :eyebrows:

Another one that costs peanuts:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Audio-HiFi-6J9-Vacuum-Tube-Integrated-Amplifier-Mini-Stereo-Headphone-amp/281777147402?_trksid=p2047675.c100009.m1982&_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIC.MBE%26ao%3D1%2 6asc%3D20140328180637%26meid%3D8bee720121964b8090f 1923bf2432dfd%26pid%3D100009%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D10%2 6mehot%3Dpp%26sd%3D301749562137

:)

Coo - yup, that looks dead cool!
Have to import that one from China, though, with potential duty and customs faff and Royal Mail charges.

[User211]

Why not try it as a preamp in the main system. Seriously. Just get a 3.5mm to RCA connector.

Cheap chi-fi headphone amps with A grade NOS replacement tubes can sound really good as preamps in sterile sounding solid state low to mid-price systems and when the price is considered, sound even better still. Been there done that.:)

TBH I suspect it won't be fabulous with the MBLs but with some cheaper gear... it might just be fine.

[jandl100]

Why not try it as a preamp in the main system. Seriously. Just get a 3.5mm to RCA connector.

Cheap chi-fi headphone amps with A grade NOS replacement tubes can sound really good as preamps in sterile sound.

Why not try it as a power amp ...

"Amplifier can be directly connected to a speaker too,providing aproximate output 2x0,1W."

Probably not Apogee Duetta Interstallas :lol: - but could be funky with 120dB/W horns. :D

[User211]

Proper super efficient horn amp.

http://www.impamp.com/

Well, maybe:D