Headphone amp advice

[Pieoftheday]

Evening, a bit of headphone amp help please. I have a novafidelity x40, server / streamer/ pre amp, it does have a headphone amp section but I find it rather boring so I'm considering a dedicated headphone amp, suggestion up to £600 welcome. Now when it come to connections the x40 has digital out so an amp with dac is possible but otherwise would I connect a headphone amp via the analogue out, normally for power amp? There's no line out of the x40, ta Jim

[Lawrence001]

I'd say you're better off getting a dac/amp rather than just an amp if there's no line out. What are your headphones and listening taste? For example I'm a big headphone fan but I don't like all the detail some fans rave about as it's too much for me with the drivers right next to my ears, so I tend to go with headphones and amps that have a smoother, rolled off treble with a mild mid bass hump.

[Pieoftheday]

Morning Lawrence,I have a pair if Beyerdynamic dt990 pro and Grado sr80x, quite different Headphones. I like both, however the Grados can be a bit much. I have considered the Cambridge Audio dac magic 200, a remote for volume would be nice though. I have just found my Sonneteer Headspace thingy, I'd forgotten all about it,I'll hook it up to my Grados later to see if it brings an improvement,

[Lawrence001]

Ah I have 2 pairs of 880s and one pair of 990s, they are at the bright end of what I find acceptable but they are very good headphones for the money. I also have Sennheiser 560s, 580s, 600s and 650s. Well 2 pairs pf each except the 560s as I sold one of them. (I have systems in 2 locations and like to replicate my favourite system in both in case you were wondering!) Plus a couple of pairs of planars which in theory I prefer to dynamics but, as I tend to use my headphone systems to get to sleep, they are too heavy and cumbersome so in practice get little use.

[Pieoftheday]

Ah I have 2 pairs of 880s and one pair of 990s, they are at the bright end of what I find acceptable but they are very good headphones for the money. I also have Sennheiser 560s, 580s, 600s and 650s. Well 2 pairs pf each except the 560s as I sold one of them. (I have systems in 2 locations and like to replicate my favourite system in both in case you were wondering!) Plus a couple of pairs of planars which in theory I prefer to dynamics but, as I tend to use my headphone systems to get to sleep, they are too heavy and cumbersome so in practice get little use.
So you find headphones a good way.to relax? Never got.on with them.that way ,interesting

[Lawrence001]

Yes I wear them in bed with a Brian Eno, Max Richter or similar album on and drift off. I used to toss and turn for ages thinking about things but now I can fall asleep quickly.

If I use a bright pair I noticed I found it harder to drift off. So maybe your surprise is based on the headphones you use. I also use relaxing sounding amps so even with the 990s it's not in your face so to speak.

[Pieoftheday]

Yes I wear them in bed with a Brian Eno, Max Richter or similar album on and drift off. I used to toss and turn for ages thinking about things but now I can fall asleep quickly.

If I use a bright pair I noticed I found it harder to drift off. So maybe your surprise is based on the headphones you use. I also use relaxing sounding amps so even with the 990s it's not in your face so to speak.
I was thinking Headphones might be uncomfortable in bed? When I was on my own ,radio 4 on the clock radio late on would send me off, shipping forecast Zzzzz......

[Barry]

Yes, there is something soothing and comforting about the shipping forecast.

But I would have thought wearing headphones in bed would be very uncomfortable. In fact I dislike using headphones as I don't like the sound to be 'inside' my head, and when I move my head the whole soundstage moves with it.

[Lawrence001]

If you're happy to fall asleep lying on your back with your head on a feather pillow looking up it's not uncomfortable at all. The pillow supports the ear cups so there's no weight on your head. You'll likely wake up in the middle of the night a bit confused with the headphones on but that doesn't bother me.

[Lawrence001]

So finally got my headphone system set up again after lending some bits out for a few weeks, I am trying out a new pair of planars tonight. Will report back but initial impressions are very positive.

[Alex_UK]

Just hijacking this thread - not really looking for a new headphone amp, but am considering a further headphone upgrade. I am not really a big fan of headphones, but ended up buying some open back Sennheiser HD560S last May. I've used them a few times, but found them really harsh, so they have sat largely forgotten. Fast forward to getting told off by the wife last week for playing my music too loud late at night... Dug them out again, and yes, still too harsh, but have been persevering with them, and suffendly last night they seem to have mellowed - I am guessing this is "burn in" - which I largely thought was an illusion... but they have definitely improved.

Anyway, I had been considering maybe going for something like the Hifiman Sundara which is a "planar" design - has anyone tried them or similar, and compared the two? (Lawrence?) Would spending say £400 on higher model Sennheisers (HD660S2?) bring about a noticeable improvement? Last night I compared the current 560S to my Sony MDR-1 and the Sony's sounded like they had socks wedged in the earcups in comparison! I also tried my much cheaper Sony WH-CH720N with a wire rather than wireless and they sounded like a couple of baked bean cans compared to the HD560S. So my conclusion is that I should just stick with the Sennheisers, but I am still itching to know if I could improve them without spending a fortune.

[Gazjam]

Meze Audio 99 Classics sound like they would float your boat Alex, and well within budget.

I had a pair, bloomin terrific sounding things, just so natural and real sounding, not warm and woolly at all, just “Right”.
I’d go Meze over Sennheiser anyday of the week if a bright headphone sound gets your goat up.

[Alex_UK]

Cheers Gary, they look the part, too! I will definitely add those to the list, I think the best bet is going to be a visit to Richer Sounds in Norwich and try listening to a handful of pairs including these and the Hifiman options.

[Lawrence001]

Sorry I meant to respond to the prompt the other day but I got distracted by the kids [emoji23]

I started off my planar journey with Hifiman in their early days so I owned HE6, HE400, HE500, HE400i and HE560 but I heard the Sundaras at shows along with many others and they just didn't do it for me until I got to the £1k+ level.

Regarding the Sennheisers I haven't heard the newer models but I have owned the HD555 (and HD595) which are earlier versions of the ones you have. After these I splashed out on some HD650s and never looked back, the latter are just much more mature and rich sounding but many find them too bassy and rolled off. IMO from experience they are very dependent on the amp and need something designed for high impedance headphones to sound good, when matched with an OTL headphone amp they compete with the best (YMMV) but the Rega Ear is a nice cheap way of getting near to the sound with less hassle (ie solid state).

I actually need to clear some of my headphones out so should really sell my Beyer DT880s as I have 2 pairs and also my Avantone planar black. The latter are better than the lower end Hifiman ones but they are a bit heavy for me now.

[Lawrence001]

Having said all that this does look like a good deal

https://www.maverick-hifi.com/post/fs-hifiman-sundara-headphones-and-ef499-headphone-ampdac-13783694?pid=1343976674