• The move to the new server is done. There are some software and database maintenance updates in process. This has us passing the hat around to help out. We appreciate any donations. Seriously, even a dollar helps. The payment page may be found here - https://www.audiokarma.org/support.html

Best Vintage Receivers For Headphone Use Recommendations?

Dr. Music

Dr. Music

Super Member
Hi All,

I ask this because I'm recently the proud owner of a spanking new set of Sennheiser HD-600s and I am going to be pairing them with a vintage receiver..... probably several different receivers that I find used , be it at GW, SA, on the 'bay, or wherever else people have sent these beautiful old workhorses to die a shameful death.

Nope, I have no desire to hook up with the new dedicated headphone amps they make today; my plans are to buy a few nice vintage receivers (or amps) on the cheap rather than go the elitist route. My way of looking at it is, there was a reason people loved their headphones back in the day even though you didn't hear people steer you towards a dedicated headphone amp; that was because in the 70's the various companies out there didn't skimp so much when it came to the headphone output section of their components!

Currently I'm pairing a few sets of my phones with a grand old Kenwood KR-6030 and its doing a lovely job driving them, bringing out warmth, depth and a good deal of detail. Now I plan on picking up a few more..... just because I can:music:.......

Thanks in advance :)
 
Register to hide this ad
Give a Marantz 2010 or 2015 a shot. they're nice to look at, compact, and above all, they sound great. A low powered 22xx series would be good too, like a 2220 or 2230. My 2235B sounds great with headphones.
 
Some Yamaha receivers had a dedicated head phone connection for their awesome sounding, albeit relatively inefficient, orthodynamic headphones which supposedly may have a higher output than normal for the day. My '76 CR-600 did not have said dedicated output which makes sense because the HP-1 cans came out in '76 too. I'd say '77 and later, but not too much later because they only made the cans for a few years.
 
Oh, let's kick it up. Maybe a Marantz 2500 or 2600. They'll make sure you can realize all the dynamics.. Just kidding.

What is the impedence of the phones. First step is to find that out and then either look for a receiver that has a phone output that works with them or you will have to consider possibly changing the resistors.

You don't need lots of power and there are a lot of good low powered receivers out there. Some to consider are the low powered Sonys such as the STR 6045, 7045, STR 6060FW, Harmon Kardon x30 series recievers, Philips Laboratory Series, Marantz 2230 and even the 2x series or maybe the Superscopes. Oh, then there is the Advent 300 and one I'm enjoying right now, the KLH 27 that was an earlier Kloss era receiver.

There are literally hindred of possibilities.
 
My Sennies seem to like the CR-1020 quite a bit being that those particular cans are known to need some extra oats to really make them sing and the Yamaha apparently has plenty of those.
 
Well why buy a nice receiver if you are only going to use the headphone part of it?
In my opinion buying a headphone amp isn't elitist, its just buying what you are going to use. You can buy a helluvah headphone amp for the same price as a nice receiver.

But if you really want one you could try Yamaha CR-x20 receivers
 
Well let's see about that purchasing just a can amp for $200 or jumping on 4-5 vintage receivers...seems like a no brainer for the vintage solid state group.

Examples of less expensive receivers are the smaller Lux, Yamaha, Blue Pioneers and Kenwoods, Sansuis and on and on. All for 4-5 for the cost of a nice newer can amp.
 
Marantz 2010 Hands down Sounds great & Vintage Garage sale headphones :O~
Love it. $150.00 going rate last time I looked.
 
Found a Marantz 2220b most recently for $12 mint at at local thrift. Worked fine, but I recapped and replaced ceramics in signal path with polystyrenes and silver micas. It is a stunning amp now, with plenty of power for headphones. Warm, rich with details, and sweeeeeeeet. My curent favorite vintage reciever.
 
My two cents: buy a humble Philips RH 702. Why ? Because the headphones are not fed by a voltage divider at the output stage, but are connected before the output stage, in PURE CLASS A.
By the way, you can easily find it in European flea markets for 5 to 10 Euros.

Merry Christmass to you all
 
Sir.Byrd said:
Well why buy a nice receiver if you are only going to use the headphone part of it?
In my opinion buying a headphone amp isn't elitist, its just buying what you are going to use. You can buy a helluvah headphone amp for the same price as a nice receiver.
Click to expand...

Thats true Sir.Byrd, but I figure going the receiver or amp route, I can pick up a few nice old sources pretty cheap, and even put together more than one mini-system since all I plan to incorporate is the amp/receiver, a CD player and headphones. It also gives me an excuse to loose my desire to look for a few neat old pieces that have been retired by their previous owner. :)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom