I need some headphone amp suggestions please.

[Big Bill]

Hello guys, I'm looking for a detailed headphone amp for under two hundred bucks. What SS amps (new or used) would you guys recommend?

Thanks in advance, Bill. :thmbsp:

 

[AngelRa]

For dynamic headphones me and a friend use studio headphone amplifiers, mine is Behringer, he uses an MAudio. They are overly powerful and sound fantastic. Plus I can connect headphones for the entire family all at the same time.

For electrostatic headphones I use a vintage pioneer receiver and connect the headphones to the speaker terminals.

 

[gearhound]

CMoy amp.

Pretty good sound, and usually under $50.

Steve

 

[Big Bill]

Has anyone here had any experience with the Bottlehead "Crack" headphone amp?

http://www.bottlehead.com/store.php?crn=44&rn=442&action=show_detail

 

[BmWr75]

Bill, check out http://www.head-fi.org/ to learn a lot more about amps.

 

[Big Bill]

Bill, check out http://www.head-fi.org/ to learn a lot more about amps.

Thanks but that site seems tough to navigate and counterintuitive to me.

 

[BmWr75]

IIRCm it used to be lots better to navigate......but seems they changed the BB software and it is not nearly as friendly to use as AK.

 

[BmWr75]

Bill,

Here's the amp review thread. Go to page 1.

 

[Big Bill]

Bill,

Here's the amp review thread. Go to page 1.

Thank you very much!:yes:

 

[mrarroyo]

There are some good choices among HeadRoom, Musical Fidelity X-Can V1, V2, or V3. The Musical Fidelity are hybrid amps w/ a tube pre and SS output section. Good luck.

 

[BmWr75]

Bill, here's another one to consider that meets your budget. Their companion DAC is highly rated.

 

[Permanent Waves]

Has anyone here had any experience with the Bottlehead "Crack" headphone amp?

http://www.bottlehead.com/store.php?crn=44&rn=442&action=show_detail

No, but I've heard it's good.

Thanks but that site seems tough to navigate and counterintuitive to me.

It is, but there is SO much info on amps (and headphones, IEM's, DAP's, DAC's, etc.) there it is invaluable (not that there aren't other sites to check out too to get second/third opinions and such).

IIRCm it used to be lots better to navigate......but seems they changed the BB software and it is not nearly as friendly to use as AK.

Yea, they screwed up the UI. It's non-linear, counter intuitive, and all over the place and seems like everything is an ad as in you look at a piece of gear and there are related gear links all over the place to try to get you to check out endless products when you just wanted to check out a thread on one.

Anyway, the Schiit Asgard looks interesting:

http://schiit.com/products/asgard/

http://www.head-fi.org/forum/thread/497902/schiit-asgard-unboxing-and-first-impressions

Myself I just got the Matrix M-Stage which is a BCL clone (which cost 3 times as much!) and love it (it has power, refinement, and neutrality: perfect for using with lots of different cans):

http://www.head-fi.org/forum/thread/475618/matrix-m-stage-amp-review-simple-cheap-and-excellent

There is a "new" version coming out which probably won't have significant, if any, SQ improvements.

Both of these amps are over $200, but not that much, and used they shouldn't be.

 

[stoutblock]

It takes a smart $800 to $1200 (assuming new) to truely get an amp and headphones that take music to a whole new level.

 

[dodog]

CMoy amp.

Pretty good sound, and usually under $50.

Steve

I'd second this option. Check out "biosciencegeek" on ebay (no affiliation). He/She is very easy to work/communicate with and you get to customize the build (tin type, LED color, in/out plugs, etc.). I've been using one of these for the past two years with a set of Audio Technica ATH M50s cans and I'm very impressed with the sound of this little unit.

 

[Big Bill]

Thanks guys...

Hello gang, I’d like to thank AngelRa, gearhound, mrarroyo, Permanent Waves, stoutblock, dodog with a special thanks to BmWr75 for the link to the ratings/reviews at Head-Fi from which I was able to make my final choice! I have ordered the “MP-301 6V6 Mini Amplifier with Headphone Output” new from Musical Paridise. It should take a week or two for it to arrive (Canada), after which I will report back with my impressions. :yes:

Thanks again, Bill! :thmbsp:

 

[Grainger49]

Bill,

You already know my first suggestion but I wanted it posted here in this thread.

The Bottlehead Crack, very addictive, is a tubed OTL (Output Transformer-Less) headphone amp for high impedance headphones that costs $219 +shipping.

When it premiered a few months back it was linked at Head-Fi and well received. Here is the link to the product page:

http://www.bottlehead.com/store.php?crn=44&rn=442&action=show_detail

A number of posters have used low impedance headphones, like your and my Grados, and liked the resulting sound but Bottlehead doesn't officially promote the Crack for low impedance phones. There is also a list of things to do to lower the source impedance and make it more suitable for low impedance phones. They are outlined on the bulletin board.

I should have said, a customer but no affiliation.

 

[Arkay]

Congratulations on your headphone amp choice! :thmbsp:

I'll add a suggestion for anyone else with the same question, that is a bit out "in left field" compared to the modern amps mentioned... the Marantz 1060 integrated amp. Some of the dedicated headphone amps mentioned sound better (IMO) --at least, a little more detailed, more in line with modern listening tastes-- but if you recap/renovate/upgrade a 1060, it can sound delightful, and it depending on your decor, it may allow you to keep the vintage look and still have enjoyable sound.

No matter what amp and headphones you are considering, it is worthwhile checking the impedance-matching first. Sound can suffer greatly when impedances are mis-matched.

 

[Permanent Waves]

Hello gang, I’d like to thank AngelRa, gearhound, mrarroyo, Permanent Waves, stoutblock, dodog with a special thanks to BmWr75 for the link to the ratings/reviews at Head-Fi from which I was able to make my final choice! I have ordered the “MP-301 6V6 Mini Amplifier with Headphone Output” new from Musical Paridise. It should take a week or two for it to arrive (Canada), after which I will report back with my impressions. :yes:

Thanks again, Bill! :thmbsp:

Cool! I never heard of it (which really means nothing, there are so many amps out there I don't even try to keep track of them all), but it certainly looks great! Very expensive looking really.

Tubes are cool for the option to change the sound by rolling tubes of course. I still have my EF-1 that I use with my Grado 225i's (It doesn't power my AKG 702's properly).

Glad you also gave Head-Fi a chance too, great site even with the weird UI. I've learned so much from it I'd be lost without it!

 

[AngelRa]

Looks sweet.

 

[BmWr75]

Bill,

I've got a bunch of 6V6 and 6AU6 tubes, some new and some used, but test strong. PM me if you want more details.