Anyone using a headphone amp or got any recommendations?
Senior Member
Location: Birmingham
Posts: 6,806
I'm James.
Headphone amps
Anyone using a headphone amp or got any recommendations?
Main system : VPI Scout 1.1 / JMW 9T / 2M Black / Croft 25R+ / Croft 7 / Heco Celan GT 702
Second System : Goldring Lenco GL75 / AT95EX / Pioneer SX590 / Spendor SP2
Senior Member
Location: Coventry, England UK
Posts: 534
I'm Simon.
I'm using an Arcam rhead along with HD600's which is superb, they are fairly priced too, definitely great vfm.
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I'm Grant.
a lot come with dacs attached now.
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Senior Member
Location: Near Newcastle upon Tyne
Posts: 110
I'm Mandeep.
I confirm the Arcam rHead is great value. I happen to be selling mine as I’ve moved to a more expensive dac/ amp - fostex hp 4bl which is also excellent. Pm me if interested in my rHead.
I like headphones when the family watch rubbish tv or late night when they’ve gone to bed. Different to loudspeakers but enjoyable.
Mand
Senior Member
Location: Gravesend and France
Posts: 1,498
I'm paul.
Little dot mk 1+ ( I think ) good but changing the op amp and tubes made it great. Depends what headphones you are going to use. I have Grado 325 with walnut cans. Never sounded all that until I got the little dot and made the changes.
Bakoon 13r Denon DP80 Stax UA-70 Shure Ultra 500 in a Martin Bastin body with jico stylus, project ds2 digital Rullit aero 8 field coils in tqwt speakers
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Mad as a Box of Frogs
Location: U.S.A. Neo-Socialist Kalifornski
Posts: 3,262
What is your price range ?This is a very important factor in making the right choice .
What headphones do you plan to use and do you want the ability for the amp to drive and sound good with any choice of head phones?
What are your priority's , price, quality or a balance of both?
I can help you make a really good choice but need more information.
Price is no object this would be the one.
https://www.manley.com/hifi/mabhpa
Best for the money with unlimited options. Tubes are best for headphones because if you have pair of cans with a bright top end or weak low end simply changing a pair of inexpensive tunes can make the whole system work togather. I use the M8100 mullard or Vishod tubes for the input and power tubes the 6H30 PI and I can make any headphone sound sweet, also there are tons of tube options for this amp as well as 3 different impermanence options so you can drive almost any headphones to a very strong volume.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Little-Dot-...Yrhu:rk:6:pf:0
https://www.head-fi.org/threads/litt...-guide.563884/
Price is all that matters.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/TSE-TubeSen...MvJT:rk:5:pf:0
I hope this helps you out.
Last edited by goraman; 24-02-2019 at 22:52.
Jeff :UBERTHREADKILLER
Senior Member
Location: Neath, Wales
Posts: 1,515
I'm Shane.
The Graham Slee Novo is a good headphone amp, IME. Musical with plenty poke, never clinical. Quite enjoyed the Novo driving HD650's.
S.
Shane Lonergan.
Senior Member
Location: London/Durham
Posts: 6,878
I'm Lawrence.
I'm selling a Little Dot MkIV SE Valve Headphone amp, I put it on eBay as I didn't think there would be much interest on here, but I could add some photos/list it properly if you're interested. It's a really good amp. I'll stick a few pics on anyway.
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Mad as a Box of Frogs
Location: U.S.A. Neo-Socialist Kalifornski
Posts: 3,262
That is a great amp but the 6N6PN tubes replaced with 6H30 PI would take that amp to the next level.
The vishods with the long fluted glass are exceptional and the best choice there is.
This would be the one I would go with.
Last edited by goraman; 25-02-2019 at 01:44.
Jeff :UBERTHREADKILLER
Senior Member
Location: Birmingham
Posts: 6,806
I'm James.
Thanks for your comprehensive reply Goraman, you are exactly on the same lines I am thinking. I don't want to spend mega bucks on a headphone amp and as it would be for a very cheap *Best Bang for Bucks* system the TSE Tubesenseelectronics amp is definitely in the right ball park.Originally Posted by goraman
However I do appreciated the though behind a good valve implemented headphone amp and have been looking at the Woo Audio amps especially the WA3 but it blows a hole in my budget especially as I am not sure if I am going to be a big headphone user anyway.
I will take a closer look at the TSE headphone amp as this looks interesting especially for the price.
Main system : VPI Scout 1.1 / JMW 9T / 2M Black / Croft 25R+ / Croft 7 / Heco Celan GT 702
Second System : Goldring Lenco GL75 / AT95EX / Pioneer SX590 / Spendor SP2
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