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Thread: What headphone amp should I get?

  1. #11
    Join Date: Jan 2008

    Location: Wrexham, North Wales, UK

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

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    Indeed so, although in terms of powering this particular unit safely, unnecessary

    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.

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    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.

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  2. #12
    Join Date: Oct 2015

    Location: Woodmancote, West Sussex

    Posts: 1,629
    I'm Ian.

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    Thanks to everyone for the advice and suggestions/recommendations. The reason for wanting a decent headphone amp is I moved to a new flat a few months ago and I only have one neighbour but she complains at the slightest hint of noise so I think she might explode if I set up my system. Once I've been here a while I'll give it a try but I don't want to rock the boat with my landlord right now. I'm currently using a pair of Sennheiser in ear phones that sound really nice but they do lack the depth and immersion of good over ear units. The little Creek amp works well with the ear buds but just hasn't got the guts to power either of my Sennheisers or my Koss Pro4 AAA. I'll report back when the headphone system is up and running. Once again thanks for the help.
    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

  3. #13
    Join Date: Mar 2008

    Location: Galashiels

    Posts: 13,669
    I'm inthescottishmafia.

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    An alternative is one of these-

    https://www.analogueseduction.net/he...e-adaptor.html

    I’ve just acquired a set of Dan Clark Audio Ether 2, and was going to spring for a Benchmark headphone amp to go with them, but after a lot of research I decided to go with one of the above units, which I’m still awaiting. As long as your amp is quiet enough one of these will provide all the drive required, something planars need a lot of. Most of my research says this way sounds better than using a headphone amp.
    “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

  4. #14
    Join Date: Jun 2015

    Location: London/Durham

    Posts: 6,869
    I'm Lawrence.

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    Not sure which planars you are using, but I had one of these with my HE6 and found that I preferred the sound directly from my amp rather than via this box. I rigged up a spare cable with banana plugs and drove them directly from a 1000ASP ice power amp, that's 1000wpc into 4 ohms but thankfully less into the c. 50 ohms of the HE6

    I did in fact accidentally pass though an unattenuated signal to the headphones once (while not wearing them) and didn't realise for a few seconds until i heard the music coming out of them. Fortunately they seemed to have been none the worse off as a result. They really were some headphones!

    Sent from my HRY-LX1 using Tapatalk

  5. #15
    Join Date: Mar 2008

    Location: Galashiels

    Posts: 13,669
    I'm inthescottishmafia.

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    I’m using Dan Clark Ether 2. Was going to make my own, but by the time you add up the cost of all the parts you’d be close to the price of this. I’ll try driving directly too, and try swapping resistors in the box if the sound isn’t entirely to my liking. The HE6 like a bit of juice by all accounts. :-)
    “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

  6. #16
    Join Date: Jan 2012

    Location: leicestershire

    Posts: 694
    I'm John.

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    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.
    Hi Marco - are you still happy with the Lehmann headphone amp? I'm on the search for a headphone amp, so interested in your opinion on this one.

    Cheers
    John
    ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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    Cambridge Audio 840c CD. Squeezebox Touch. Synology NAS.
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    Celestion Ditton 66.....KEF Reference One

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