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Recommedation wanted on headphone amp

Johncan

Johncan

Record collector
Can anyone recommend an inexpensive headphone amp. I would like to use it at work in my office. Things sometimes get stolen from there so I am not looking to spend a lot of money. I want to use it with a CD player and my Grado SR-80s.

Thanks in advance.

John
 
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Well, I built one from Ramsey Electronics that was only $29 that worked really well for me. (Granted, it has a pointless filter switch on it.) Haoleb built one too, but wasn't happy with the results of his. (Your mileage may vary.) IMO, most of them are over-priced. The Creeks and others use simple op-amp circuits and come with cheap wall-warts. You may want to give these guys a look. But the cheapest thing they offer is $150. http://headroom.headphone.com/layout.php?topicID=3&subTopicID=27
 
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How about one of these?

Don't laugh!

The little Optimus/Radio Shack amps (sold over a long period of time with different model numbers and cosmetics) are said to sound pretty good. For example, here's one model (the SA-150) that had a HP jack built in.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=3280&item=5742495790&rd=1
d2_1.JPG


SA-102:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=73369&item=5742455176&rd=1

70_1_b.JPG


SA-155:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=3280&item=5742923035&rd=1

Other, similar models lacked the HP jack, but it'd be straightforward to add one someplace (maybe in lieu of the speaker outputs).


SA-175:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=39783&item=5742899585&rd=1

SA-100B:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=3280&item=5742920951&rd=1

SA-10:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=3280&item=5742920951&rd=1


N.B. These eBAY auctions are offered for illustriative purposes only! :-)
 
Stupid me... I forgot I had an SA-155 in the basement. Thanks for the quick reply.

Maybe I can get Mike (crackerkorean) to build me a hybrid head :)

John
 
the CMOY

Go on Ebay and type in "CMOY". See if any of those look good to you. Usually the people selling them can customize them to your needs. I almost built one myself. Also Google "CMOY" and you will find tons of stuff.
 
Yup, CMOY's good advice too... or a 'gainclone' chip amp. Most headphones -- Most headphones... :-) -- are low enough impedance (and efficient enough) to be driven by an amp designed for loudspeakers. Maybe the Tripath digital amp chipset, too?
 
what could be better than a RA-1 clone?

Well, probbly alot of things to be honest, but more expensive things. CELT is right, i didnt like the ramsey job that i built. I happen to think its a rather bad peice of equipment. perhaps mine has defects, but i have my doubts. Im currently using a grado clone I built and am quite satisfied with its performance. Heres the info on the clone that i have put together. Its somewhat better that the rubin sitez page. At least I think so.

Headphone Amp

Im currently rebuilding my first version of the amp at the moment but once its done i plan on selling it so if your intersted keep an eye out. It admittedly has higher noise than my version 2, but nothing that i think is unacceptable. Nothing near what that ramsey thing has. And my personal opinion is that if your just looking to get something cheap to use with your portable in an office, dont bother. It most likely wont make much of a difference. Especially with such easy to drive headphones. If you want that ramsey thing i'll sell ya that fer like 20 bucks or whatever but i think its a peice of junk.
 
I want to use it with a Rotel RCD 855 player that I just bought at a pawn shop. It does not have a headphone jack. And if someone steals it, I am only out the $35 I paid for it.

John
 
How about powered computer speakers? It would be pretty easy to add a jack that disconnected the speakers when you plugged in headphones.

I like the Mitsubishi DA-P10 preamp. It's really for a power amp but has it's own headphone amp that's very clean. A bit big and theftable-looking but very nice sound for where possible theft isn't the main issue.

-Ed
 
The SA-155 is working out fine. It is just a touch base heavy with my Grado SR-80s. I completely forgot I had it. I like it when I can actually use a piece of equipment I have in the closet.

Anyone know the specs on the SA-155? I have the RCA branded one.
 
Here’s a way to connect headphones to an amplifiers outputs.

It’s from Grado Labs. Joe Grado Signature Products.

1082826750.jpg



Mitch
 
I could also let you check out a CMOY. I have two of them. Right now its running on a 9v battery but you could always use a wallwart. Sound pretty good and I really doubt that anybody would steal it.

I am going to try to source that tube amp but I would be scared about somebody stealing it.
 
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