View Full Version : What headphone amp should I get?
As per the title I'm looking for a headphone amp capable of driving my Sennheiser HD650 and HD600. I've been using a Creek unit but it's not up to the job. My budget is around £300 and I'm more than happy to buy a used amp. Cheers. :eyebrows:
I like my Graham Slee Solo Ultra Linear. You may find one 2nd hand in budget.
There may be others, but I have no experience of them.
southall-1998_mk2
19-10-2020, 18:28
Rega EAR MKII drives 600/650's well.
Graham Slee Novo is pretty good as well.
S.
Lawrence001
19-10-2020, 18:57
I like my Graham Slee Solo Ultra Linear. You may find one 2nd hand in budget.
There may be others, but I have no experience of them.I've got the Diamond Edition and it works well with the HD580 (similar to 600) but I do find the sound a bit too warm with the 650s.
Sent from my HRY-LX1 using Tapatalk
camtwister
20-10-2020, 07:35
Decware's headphone range:
ZH1 battery
https://www.decware.com/newsite/zenhead.htm
CSP3
https://www.decware.com/newsite/CSP3.html
Taboo Mk.IV
https://www.decware.com/newsite/TABOO.htm
Ali Tait
20-10-2020, 08:12
Ifi Zen Can looks good for the cash. Should be able to drive pretty much anything.
https://www.futureshop.co.uk/ifi-audio-zen-can-desktop-headphone-amplifier?gclid=CjwKCAjwlbr8BRA0EiwAnt4MThXtT_auJg k5z7WxWNY_1EngpW2pwOMYMgVBPwgPaLit2EcP_DLVmxoCCjIQ AvD_BwE
As per the title I'm looking for a headphone amp capable of driving my Sennheiser HD650 and HD600. I've been using a Creek unit but it's not up to the job. My budget is around £300 and I'm more than happy to buy a used amp. Cheers. :eyebrows:
Get one of these mate (as I did), and be prepared to be blown away: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2019-New-E100-Lehmann-6N16-tube-headphone-amplifier-HiFi-tube-audio-preamplifier/274022984645?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649
Sounds like something at least five times the price!:)
Plus, it's totally safe on UK mains.
Marco.
Stratmangler
20-10-2020, 09:01
Get one of these mate (as I did), and be prepared to be blown away: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2019-New-E100-Lehmann-6N16-tube-headphone-amplifier-HiFi-tube-audio-preamplifier/274022984645?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649
Sounds like something at least five times the price!:)
Plus, it's totally safe on UK mains.
Marco.
It says 220 VAC in the listing, which is fine if your mains voltage averages out as being lower than 242 VAC (the spec is based around +10% and -6%)
The European standard is for 230 VAC, which with the +10% gives a high voltage of 253 VAC, which is too high.
Safe in some parts of the UK is a better description.
Hi Chris,
Exactly my thoughts when I bought it, hence why I was considering installing a step-down/bucking transformer.
However, after Alan (Firebottle's) comments here: https://theartofsound.net/forum/showthread.php?70593-Just-bought-this-headphone-amp-preamp&p=1220469#post1220469 regarding double-insulated, fully-regulated supplies (the main reason I bought this unit in the first place), I didn't bother with a bucking transformer, and subsequently have experienced no issues whatsoever in the month or so I've used it since.
Indeed, it doesn't even get hot, after being switched on for hours, and my mains has been measured at 242V:)
Therefore, for that reason I'd have no qualms whatsoever recommending this unit to anyone else, on either the grounds of safety or sonic ability; indeed in terms of the latter it is superb, and as such offers very high SPPV. Think of this as a £500 device (minimum), for £400 less!
:exactly:
And one of the great things about it, which can be a problem with some lower-sensitivity headphones, it that it has oodles of gain, and so can drive ANY set of headphones no matter their impedance value. It's impeccably built too, plus the seller is a joy to deal with - builds them to order, normally completed in 4-5 days and shipped immediately after that. Mine was delivered a few days later.
In short, I can't recommend this headphone amp enough, or indeed the seller!:cool:
Marco.
always handy having a variac in the house in case. good for warming up a machine thats not been on for some time too.
Indeed so, although in terms of powering this particular unit safely, unnecessary:)
Marco.
Thanks to everyone for the advice and suggestions/recommendations. The reason for wanting a decent headphone amp is I moved to a new flat a few months ago and I only have one neighbour but she complains at the slightest hint of noise so I think she might explode if I set up my system. Once I've been here a while I'll give it a try but I don't want to rock the boat with my landlord right now. I'm currently using a pair of Sennheiser in ear phones that sound really nice but they do lack the depth and immersion of good over ear units. The little Creek amp works well with the ear buds but just hasn't got the guts to power either of my Sennheisers or my Koss Pro4 AAA. I'll report back when the headphone system is up and running. Once again thanks for the help.
Ali Tait
20-10-2020, 17:01
An alternative is one of these-
https://www.analogueseduction.net/headphone-amplifiers/hifiman-he-adaptor.html
I’ve just acquired a set of Dan Clark Audio Ether 2, and was going to spring for a Benchmark headphone amp to go with them, but after a lot of research I decided to go with one of the above units, which I’m still awaiting. As long as your amp is quiet enough one of these will provide all the drive required, something planars need a lot of. Most of my research says this way sounds better than using a headphone amp.
Lawrence001
20-10-2020, 22:05
Not sure which planars you are using, but I had one of these with my HE6 and found that I preferred the sound directly from my amp rather than via this box. I rigged up a spare cable with banana plugs and drove them directly from a 1000ASP ice power amp, that's 1000wpc into 4 ohms but thankfully less into the c. 50 ohms of the HE6 [emoji38]
I did in fact accidentally pass though an unattenuated signal to the headphones once (while not wearing them) and didn't realise for a few seconds until i heard the music coming out of them. Fortunately they seemed to have been none the worse off as a result. They really were some headphones!
Sent from my HRY-LX1 using Tapatalk
Ali Tait
21-10-2020, 05:34
I’m using Dan Clark Ether 2. Was going to make my own, but by the time you add up the cost of all the parts you’d be close to the price of this. I’ll try driving directly too, and try swapping resistors in the box if the sound isn’t entirely to my liking. The HE6 like a bit of juice by all accounts. :-)
Get one of these mate (as I did), and be prepared to be blown away: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2019-New-E100-Lehmann-6N16-tube-headphone-amplifier-HiFi-tube-audio-preamplifier/274022984645?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649
Sounds like something at least five times the price!:)
Plus, it's totally safe on UK mains.
Marco.
Hi Marco - are you still happy with the Lehmann headphone amp? I'm on the search for a headphone amp, so interested in your opinion on this one.
Cheers
John
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