Beresford Caiman headphone output advice

[Phil Bishop]

Folks,

Wondering if any of you may have advice/experiences on the above Q.

I currently have a Beresford Caiman feeding a Graham Slee Solo headphone amp and use Senn HD650 and AKG701 phones.

Yesterday evening, I tried the headphone socket on the Caiman and, to be honest, via the AKGs I thought it sounded as good, if not better, than via the Solo.

Have any of you similar experiences - is the Caiman headphone output really that good? If so, I may be thinking of selling the Solo!

...and another quick Q - has anyone compared the Caiman to the Benchmark?

Phil

[Eckythump]

Hello there Phil

I tried a Caiman for the first time last night using AKG K701 headphones I have had for a year or so now. I have previously used a high quality solid state headphone amplifier from Meier Audio and currently have a Little Dot MKIV tube amplifier. I also recently went to a Headfi forum gathering and tried the AKGs with various other amps.

I'm waiting for a Merdian CD transport to arrive so hooked up the Caiman to the PC to test it with some favourite FLAC tracks I use (Radiohead - In Rainbows). I must say I was equally impressed with the performance of the Caiman. Once I had got over the quality of the DAC I tried to guage how well it was driving the headphones. Obviously it has been a few weeks since I heard through solid state amplifier and my aural memory doesn't last that long but as far as I can tell you would have to spend a lot of dosh to beat it and it would only be adding a little 'finesse' to the sound.

I'll reserve my final judgement for now as I'm still in my 'honeymoon period' with it but I can say I would not look to spend money on another solid state amplifier. Tube amps add something to the sound so it will be interesting to try that out this weekend.

[Phil Bishop]

Phil,

Thanks so much for the quick reply - interesting how so many of us plough similar furrows - I, too, looked at the Little Dot at one stage.

I will be interested in your longer-term view. Have you ever heard a Benchmark?

Phil

[Eckythump]

Phil,

Have you ever heard a Benchmark?

Phil

Sorry, only for around 15 minutes so that doesn't count.

I promise to keep you posted.

[Themis]

has anyone compared the Caiman to the Benchmark?

I did, but not side-to-side. I tested the Benchmark DAC1 and DAC1 USB models.
The Caiman is more neutral. And much cheaper.

But I didn't test the DAC1's headphone amp.

[leo]

Folks,

Wondering if any of you may have advice/experiences on the above Q.

I currently have a Beresford Caiman feeding a Graham Slee Solo headphone amp and use Senn HD650 and AKG701 phones.

Yesterday evening, I tried the headphone socket on the Caiman and, to be honest, via the AKGs I thought it sounded as good, if not better, than via the Solo.

Have any of you similar experiences - is the Caiman headphone output really that good? If so, I may be thinking of selling the Solo!

...and another quick Q - has anyone compared the Caiman to the Benchmark?

Phil

Which Solo do you have? I have heard one of the newer SRGII's and find it a lot better amp than the older 2007's

Saying that I dislike both HD650 and K701 cans, I find them extremely veiled and sickly , especially the 650's

BTW the Caiman is very good, I really need a dedicated amp though because I have more than one source , out of all the dedicated amps I tried the SRGII was my favourite

[Phil Bishop]

Which Solo do you have? I have heard one of the newer SRGII's and find it a lot better amp than the older 2007's

Saying that I dislike both HD650 and K701 cans, I find them extremely veiled and sickly , especially the 650's

BTW the Caiman is very good, I really need a dedicated amp though because I have more than one source , out of all the dedicated amps I tried the SRGII was my favourite

Leo,

I assume I have the latest Solo with the separate PSU as I bought it mid-2009. Surprised at your comments re the HD650 and AKG phones as they seem to be universally aclaimed (that's why I bought them) - what do you use? I don't have much experience of other phones, but if the AKGs are veiled I wonder what I may be missing!

In the limited comparisons I have done so far, the headphone output from the Caiman seems to be just as good as my Solo, but I intend to experiment more. If my findings are confirmed, a Solo may be coming up soon on the "For Sale and Wanted" page!

Phil

[webby]

Hello there Phil

I tried a Caiman for the first time last night using AKG K701 headphones I have had for a year or so now. I have previously used a high quality solid state headphone amplifier from Meier Audio and currently have a Little Dot MKIV tube amplifier. I also recently went to a Headfi forum gathering and tried the AKGs with various other amps.

I'd be interested on your thoughts on the Little Dot amp. I've been thinking of upgrading my headphones, plus a DAC purchase may be due. Most of the cans I've shortlisted would apparently benefit from a headphone amp, but would a Caiman, and it's headphone amp kill both birds so to speak?

[Phil Bishop]

I'd be interested on your thoughts on the Little Dot amp. I've been thinking of upgrading my headphones, plus a DAC purchase may be due. Most of the cans I've shortlisted would apparently benefit from a headphone amp, but would a Caiman, and it's headphone amp kill both birds so to speak?

Lee,

I suspect there is a very steep declining returns curve on DACs and I imagine most mortals would struggle to tell a marked difference (if any at all) between a £200 Caiman and models costing an order of magnitude more. Given the functionality a Caiman offers plus what appears to be a headphone amp that sounds indistinguishable from my Slee Solo it would appear to be a "no brainer" for you to try.

The only other contender out there I would like to try is a Benchmark, but you could buy three Caimans for the price of one of these.

Phil

[StanleyB]

Just for the record, and a guide, for those who intend to use the headphone amp on the Caiman as a serious listening method:
the Caiman headphone amp section has been designed, and modified with the aid of the HD650, K701, & HD800.