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Thread: What headphone amp should I get?

  1. #1
    Join Date: Oct 2015

    Location: Woodmancote, West Sussex

    Posts: 1,629
    I'm Ian.

    Default 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.
    Turntable
    Toshiba SR-370/Mission 774/Van Damme cable with MS Starline plugs/Ortofon Quintet Black
    CD
    Cambridge CXC transport/modified Musical Fidelity X-DAC/modified Musical Fidelity X-10 V3 tube buffer
    Network Player
    Cambridge NP30
    Amplifier
    Denon HA-500 head amp/Nakamichi CA-5E pre-amp/Chinese passive RVC/Proton AA-1150 DMC power amp
    Speakers
    Mordaunt Short Signifer on original factory stands
    Cables
    Mogami with Rean Neutrik plugs/NVA LS5
    Headphones
    Sennheiser HD600/Sennheiser HD650/Koss Pro4 AA

  2. #2
    Join Date: May 2012

    Location: Toulouse, France

    Posts: 6,562
    I'm Kevin.

    Default

    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.
    Kevin

    Too busy enjoying the music....

    European loan coordinator for Graham Slee HiFi system components..

  3. #3
    Join Date: Dec 2018

    Location: Neath, Wales

    Posts: 1,515
    I'm Shane.

    Default

    Rega EAR MKII drives 600/650's well.

    Graham Slee Novo is pretty good as well.

    S.
    Shane Lonergan.

  4. #4
    Join Date: Jun 2015

    Location: London/Durham

    Posts: 6,869
    I'm Lawrence.

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by CageyH View Post
    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

  5. #5
    Join Date: Mar 2010

    Location: Cardiff

    Posts: 396
    I'm Rockabilly.

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    Johnny Dodgem.

    Cartridges vintage MMs including Pickering xsv-4000/xsv-3000 : Stanton 881s/D81 : AT140LC/VMN40ML
    Spinners hot rod 1210 (Jelco 750D, Origami, Ammonite, Longdog, Vantage, Achromats) : Pye G63 & Garrard AT6 : Two full custom Lencos : Kenwood KD-650D
    Streaming Qobuz : BluOS & Node2 (Fidelity Audio modified) : RME ADI-2 DAC
    Pre-amps Tron Seven (GT modified) : Conrad Johnson EV1 : Croft Micro 25 : Decware ZStage
    Power Amps PrimaLuna ProLogue 5 (KT120) : PrimaLuna ProLogue 4 (KT77)
    Speakers The Edingdale : Meadowlark Hot Rod Shearwater

  6. #6
    Join Date: Mar 2008

    Location: Galashiels

    Posts: 13,669
    I'm inthescottishmafia.

    Default

    Ifi Zen Can looks good for the cash. Should be able to drive pretty much anything.

    https://www.futureshop.co.uk/ifi-aud...xoCCjIQAvD_BwE
    “Music has always been a matter of energy to me, a question of fuel. Sentimental people call it inspiration, but what they really mean is fuel. I have always needed fuel. I am a serious consumer. On some nights I still believe that a car with the gas needle on empty can run about fifty more miles if you have the right music very loud on the radio”

    Hunter S Thompson

  7. #7
    Join Date: Jan 2008

    Location: Wrexham, North Wales, UK

    Posts: 110,012
    I'm AudioAl'sArbiterForPISHANTO.

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Ian7633 View Post
    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.
    Get one of these mate (as I did), and be prepared to be blown away: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2019-New-...72.m2749.l2649

    Sounds like something at least five times the price!

    Plus, it's totally safe on UK mains.

    Marco.
    Main System

    Turntable: Heavily-modified Technics SL-1210MK5G [Mike New bearing/ETP platter/Paul Hynes SR7 PSU & reg mods]. Funk Firm APM Achromat/Nagaoka GL-601 Crystal Record Weight/Isonoe feet & boots/Ortofon RS-212D/Denon DL-103GL in Denon PCL-300 headshell with Funk Firm Houdini/Kondo SL-115 pure-silver cartridge leads.

    Paul Hynes MC head amp/SR5 PSU. Also modded Lentek head amp/Denon AU-310 SUT.

    Other Cartridges: Nippon Columbia (NOS 1987) Denon DL-103. USA-made Shure SC35C with NOS stylus. Goldring G820 with NOS stylus. Shure M55E with NOS stylus.

    CD Player: Audiocom-modified Sony X-777ES/DAS-R1 DAC.

    Tape Deck: Tandberg TCD 310, fully restored and recalibrated as new, by RDE, plus upgraded with heads from the TCD-420a. Also with matching TM4 Norway microphones.

    Preamps: Heavily-modified Croft Charisma-X. LDR Stereo Coffee. Power Amps: Tube Distinctions Copper Amp fitted with Tungsol KT-150s. Quad 306.

    Cables & Sundries: Mark Grant HDX1 interconnects and digital coaxial cable, plus Mark Grant 6mm UP-LCOFC Van Damme speaker cable. MCRU 'Ultimate' mains leads. Lehmann clone headphone amp with vintage Koss PRO-4AAA headphones.

    Tube Distinctions digital noise filter. VPI HW16.5 record cleaning machine.

    Speakers: Tannoy 15MGs in Lockwood cabinets with modified crossovers. 1967 Celestion Ditton 15.


    Protect your HUMAN RIGHTS and REFUSE ANY *MANDATORY* VACCINE FOR COVID-19!

    Also **SAY NO** to unjust 'vaccine passports' or certificates, which are totally incompatible with a FREE society!!!


  8. #8
    Join Date: Nov 2008

    Location: Valley of the Hazels

    Posts: 9,139
    I'm AMusicFanNotAnAudiophile.

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Marco View Post
    Get one of these mate (as I did), and be prepared to be blown away: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2019-New-...72.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.
    Chris



    Common sense isn't anymore!

  9. #9
    Join Date: Jan 2008

    Location: Wrexham, North Wales, UK

    Posts: 110,012
    I'm AudioAl'sArbiterForPISHANTO.

    Default

    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/show...69#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!



    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!

    Marco.
    Main System

    Turntable: Heavily-modified Technics SL-1210MK5G [Mike New bearing/ETP platter/Paul Hynes SR7 PSU & reg mods]. Funk Firm APM Achromat/Nagaoka GL-601 Crystal Record Weight/Isonoe feet & boots/Ortofon RS-212D/Denon DL-103GL in Denon PCL-300 headshell with Funk Firm Houdini/Kondo SL-115 pure-silver cartridge leads.

    Paul Hynes MC head amp/SR5 PSU. Also modded Lentek head amp/Denon AU-310 SUT.

    Other Cartridges: Nippon Columbia (NOS 1987) Denon DL-103. USA-made Shure SC35C with NOS stylus. Goldring G820 with NOS stylus. Shure M55E with NOS stylus.

    CD Player: Audiocom-modified Sony X-777ES/DAS-R1 DAC.

    Tape Deck: Tandberg TCD 310, fully restored and recalibrated as new, by RDE, plus upgraded with heads from the TCD-420a. Also with matching TM4 Norway microphones.

    Preamps: Heavily-modified Croft Charisma-X. LDR Stereo Coffee. Power Amps: Tube Distinctions Copper Amp fitted with Tungsol KT-150s. Quad 306.

    Cables & Sundries: Mark Grant HDX1 interconnects and digital coaxial cable, plus Mark Grant 6mm UP-LCOFC Van Damme speaker cable. MCRU 'Ultimate' mains leads. Lehmann clone headphone amp with vintage Koss PRO-4AAA headphones.

    Tube Distinctions digital noise filter. VPI HW16.5 record cleaning machine.

    Speakers: Tannoy 15MGs in Lockwood cabinets with modified crossovers. 1967 Celestion Ditton 15.


    Protect your HUMAN RIGHTS and REFUSE ANY *MANDATORY* VACCINE FOR COVID-19!

    Also **SAY NO** to unjust 'vaccine passports' or certificates, which are totally incompatible with a FREE society!!!


  10. #10
    Join Date: Feb 2013

    Location: W Lothian

    Posts: 99,005
    I'm Grant.

    Default

    always handy having a variac in the house in case. good for warming up a machine thats not been on for some time too.
    Regards,
    Grant .... ؠ ......Don't be such a big girl's blouse

    I've said it before and I'll say it again: democracy simply-doesn't-work
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