Valve based headphone amplifier recommendations

[Stokiebloke]

Schiit Valhalla 2 is a nice match with 600's.

S.

Hi Shane,
Thanks for the recommendation.

[Stokiebloke]

I use the HD600 or the DT1990 with the Crack (speedballed). They make a nice noise.

Thanks Richard, good to know as I have the HD600

[Stokiebloke]

I have a EAR HP4 and no hum at all, used with HD800.

Hi Colum,
Thanks for the recommendation, have tried the HD800, seriously good headphones.

[Landloper]

Hi All,

Can anyone recommend a valve based headphone amplifier that does not hum with mains frequency?

I tried a Icon audio HP8 MK2 recently, liked the presentation but not the mains hum, albeit the hum was very faint but noticeable through my sennheiser HD600's.

I have a Burson Soloist SL MK2 and it has a silent background and a neutral detailed presentation that I'm very happy with, but you know how it is, I keep wondering if the grass is really greener....?

Any suggestions would be much appreciated.

Thanks

Rob

Happily using a Little Dot MkIII with mostly Sennheiser HD 650s [though sometimes HD 700s, when I can be bothered to reset the gain dip switches]. No mains hum - the 700s in particular are revealing, so any nonsense would be noticeable. My advice would be hang on to the Burson and experiment with valve units. I expect you are very well aware of the necessity of ensuring that the pins at the base of the tubes are clean, otherwise you may experience the undesirable type of distortion.

[Stokiebloke]

Happily using a Little Dot MkIII with mostly Sennheiser HD 650s [though sometimes HD 700s, when I can be bothered to reset the gain dip switches]. No mains hum - the 700s in particular are revealing, so any nonsense would be noticeable. My advice would be hang on to the Burson and experiment with valve units. I expect you are very well aware of the necessity of ensuring that the pins at the base of the tubes are clean, otherwise you may experience the undesirable type of distortion.

Hi John,
Thanks for the Little Dot recommendation.
I like the Caiman SEG, it also has a good headphone output.
My Burson is "a keeper" as they say, a valve based unit would be in addition as you suggest.

[ovlov854]

A possible answer is battery power. This may still be around
/www.pinkfishmedia.net/forum/threads/rwa-isabella-lfp-v-preamp-sonic-frontiers-anthem-1-power-amp-black-rhodium-opera-dct.224845/#post-3600939

I have a RWA Cassabria battery valve HPA which is similar.
Absolutely love it

[Landloper]

Hi John,
Thanks for the Little Dot recommendation.
I like the Caiman SEG, it also has a good headphone output.
My Burson is "a keeper" as they say, a valve based unit would be in addition as you suggest.

Agreed, Rob. I use an SEG too [the ability to dial in the appropriate gain setting for your headphones was a useful feature included by Stan].

[wee tee cee]

Stans Capella works very well with my 650/700s.

I run it with the seg both on battery power-great combo IMHO.

[Stokiebloke]

A possible answer is battery power. This may still be around
/www.pinkfishmedia.net/forum/threads/rwa-isabella-lfp-v-preamp-sonic-frontiers-anthem-1-power-amp-black-rhodium-opera-dct.224845/#post-3600939

I have a RWA Cassabria battery valve HPA which is similar.
Absolutely love it

Thanks for the recommendation Martin, not come across RWA before, interesting idea to resolve any mains hum issues.

[ovlov854]

A possible answer is battery power. This may still be around
/www.pinkfishmedia.net/forum/threads/rwa-isabella-lfp-v-preamp-sonic-frontiers-anthem-1-power-amp-black-rhodium-opera-dct.224845/#post-3600939

I have a RWA Cassabria battery valve HPA which is similar.
Absolutely love it

Thanks for the recommendation Martin, not come across RWA before, interesting idea to resolve any mains hum issues.

As you are not that far away you would be most welcome to come and listen to mine and bring your own HP