Headphone Amplification

Mentioned in the NYC 3/21 Meet thread at HF: Woo Audio 22 Fully Balanced Headphone Tube Amplifier Nice looking amp, I look forward to reading impressions of it. Damn, there's gonna be some really sweet gear at the meet, I envy the NY contingent... Any tube experts' opinions of the tubes used? And why are all these amp vendors coming out with hot new stuff in the current economy?

From Moon Audio's website: Cary Audio Seems pretty pricey, although it is from Cary.

So who's going to be the first to try this with their K1000's? Looks...flat. Looks like a stomp box, actually, but is said to run cool, so no need for heatsinks and such. New-ish technology -- "magnetic flux fluctuation" -- no tubes or transisters, but does have one opamp. Homely page

My gear is in my sig. I am very happy with it, and should probably just leave it at that. But that's no fun. So I could use some help focusing on what my next amp will be. This purchase likely is well in the future, but I'd like to start the search now. My first thoughts are either a balanced b22 or something real tubey since I don't have much experience with tube amps. I guess the sound sig I am after would be on the warmer side. Budget needs to be south of 2K. Any thoughts?

I'd like to get a longer USB cable for my Pico so that I can sit on a couch probably about 10 to 15 feet away from where my computer is. I know I could get a headphone extension cable but I like to be able to control the volume and a longer USB cable would minimize the extra connections an extension would add to the mix. So my questions are, is there a maximum length for USB? If a longer cable is possible does anyone know where to get them in such a length because they're not available round these parts?

Intro As mentioned in my previous review of the Shanling PH3000, I'm really no longer writing reviews, but I recently had an opportunity to check out the Woo Audio 6. Thought I might as well write a review of this amp too while I was at it. Like the Shanling PH3000 review, this too was accelerated - all listening here was also done in 4 days, so this can be considered more of a mini-review than a full-length one. Associated Equipment Power cord: Black Sand Silver Reference MKV Digital source: Plinius CD-101 RCA interconnects: Analysis Plus Silver Oval Comparison amplifier: HeadAmp Gilmore Lite (used only as a reference point of contrast) Headphones: AKG K7…

Hi all, I’ve lurked here for a while but am active in the other regular forum. Apologies for the cold post here, but after a trade and drunken bidding on Yahoo Auctions I find myself with both an SRM-T1S and a 006t (both have pro and normal bias outputs). I would like to get the CCS mod done to one of them, likely the 006 which I would then keep. There’s likely no way in hell I would trust myself to do the mod, though I have JimL’s article. So my post is to find someone who could upgrade my 006t with the CCS mod and whatever other upgrades and updates (and voltage change) you feel would be worthwhile. I’m using it to drive (primarily) an L300LE and a NB La…

Complete noob needs more advice please. I need a budget stationary headphone setup for my home exercise bike. I need isolation as the bike is very loud and I already have some mild high frequency hearing loss. I'm thinking of getting an oppo DV-970 HD universal DVD player for a source. And etymotic ER-4P In Ear Monitors for their isolation. What should I use for amplification? Does the line out jack have enough power that I would need an attenuator instead of an amplifier? What about a Cmoy type amp, on ebay, with the builder optimizing a low gain for the ER-4Ps? Or do I need a real amp, like a headroom Micro amp? If I bought the Headroom, do I really need…

Standard audio rack size, w/ ears and everything? I know you can mount the mini dac or the metric halo stuff, but I'm wondering about a fully dedicated headphone amp.

Am I late to the party? https://www.massdrop.com/buy/headamp-gilmore-lite-mk2-headphone-amp It's pretty cute, I regret not grabbing a mk1 unit over all these years. I like the knob!

I have some pictures here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/20989038@N04/sets/72157603216939944/ I ordered at RMAF2007 after a short audition. I currently have an SP MPX3 SE Slam, a MAD HD1, a McAlister Preamp/headphone amp (PL 12, I think). I don't think my hearing is good enough to really distinguish the important differences between the three, and I am also not sure I can put what I hear into words, but I will review the SBH after I get it broken in and used to it both as a headphone amp and a preamp. I have excessive gain with both my MPX3 and PL 12 preamp sections. The SBH will have lo and hi gain operation. It can also be operated as both a preamp and headphone amp…

Hello, first post here! I'm having big problems finding a new amp and dac for my k701s. I was interested in the Corda Opera because it had both an amp and a dac, plus it's sold inside EU wich make it more worthwile (i.e. wont be forced to pay 25% extra at the customs). Alas I read the thread here we you brutaly murdered the corda opera, so what's the alternatives around ~$1500 for and amp/dac or amp + dac? At the moment I only use my k701 but I'm planning on getting another pair of headphones, maybe Grado or something different from AKG. My source is an iMac via optical out, so it'd be good if the DAC had a toslink connection. SS or tube doesn't matter to me. I'd …

I knew Alex was getting ready to roll out his new amp and I saw a reference to the new site earlier this evening on HF. I am not going to wax lyrical about the amp as I am not trying to schill the gear for him. To say I like the amp would be an understatement but I do and have been and have been using the initial prototype for several months. Thought some of you who still listen to dynamic headphones would want to know Liquid Fire is finally getting ready to become a reality. ..dB

I would like to build a Solid State balanced amp and need recommendations. I have LCD-2's non fazor to power. I've built in the past(guitar amps too) soldering skills good, I'm not coming up with anything besides B22 amps. Suggestions please.

Hi all I just sold my SRM-717 to a Stax 009 user. As it landed at his place, he also had a loan Woo Audio GES to try out. I remember back in 2009-2011 there was a lot of posts from users about that amp, but now it has tailed right off. How does the GES stack up today against Stat amps at that price range (Stax SRM-007t or 727). Thinking the 009 is more efficient, maybe it will be a good match? Is the GES an adaption of a KG design? I spotted this on the Woo web page: Schematic re-engineering is based on Dr. Gilmore's design.

This maybe a very stupid question but I'd like to ask it anyway. I'd really like to have a small and portable dac/headphone amp and I'd also like to be able to use it with mah stereo, for various reasons; the obvious being that I'm not made out of money and would like less electronic gear in my apartment. Are there any valid reasons to think this would be a hysterically bad idea? enlighten this noob please That being said, I'm aware that the signal is being amplified obviously but is it THAT bad? are there any sane alternatives? The stereo is an ageing Sony 730ES and a pair of JBL 4408's so don't tell me I wont benefit from a detailed dac

I was skimming some hi-fi magazine this weekend and I noticed the announcement of this product. Teddy Pardo is mostly known for his aftermarket power supplies for Naim products. Does anybody have experience with this amp or his other boxes? There's very little useful info on the product page (e.g., gain or power), and no reviews yet.

The following is what I can understand of the theory behind the diffuse field equalisers Stax produced and an assessment of the sound of one of them. Diffuse Field Equalisation vs Free Field Equalisation. Headphone frequency response measurements, conducted with a microphone in front of the headphone driver, much as speaker measurements were conducted, observed that headphones with a measured flat frequency response did not sound as flat as they measured. Comparing the sound of a flat measured speaker with a flat measured headphone revealed extreme tonal differences that started off a whole lot of investigation into why they sounded different and how a headphone’s fre…

I have been reading a lot of post, reviews and opinions, they have been informative, helpful, confusing and sometimes funny. Yesterday I was reading a post and I saw a picture of a cat showing his balls!! Anyway, I have done some research on amps, headphones and cd players. I came up with a system based on reviews and opinions only. I will probably not get a chance to hear first then buy. So for now I have to go by, like I said reviews, opinions and recommendations. So this is what I came up with: I could go cheaper or more expensive, this just seems to be solid, but I am at best, a amatuer. Einar Sound VC-01i Amp Audez'e LCD-2 Headphone Bryston-BCD-1 CD Player T…

I'm interested in a very small foot print of an amp. I like a warm colouration when I'm working. I will likely be using the RS-1's and the RA-1 will be far too lively. I would love something with tubes, but the EMP AE is too rich for my blood and well, out of production. THe RKV is very interesting but quite a bit larger. I will be using an iPod.

Relatively new around this forum, Ive lurked before but thats chnging now. Looking to OP amp roll my PPA. Its running with a 24V ELPAC. Would it benefit from a better P/S? What are some BASSY, open sounding OP amps for it? I have some OPA2107s, can those just drop in? thanks!! Garrett

So, I've been impatiently waiting for the new TooleAudio balanced amp to come out, and am wondering when everyone thinks it will be done...

Good Day, I'm wondering if you'd be so kind as to reply to some questions I have. I am just getting into this hifi headphone world. I want to hear your thoughts good, bad or otherwise. here we go, I'll start with what I have. Senn HD-650's and have a cardas audio cable coming in the mail atm. I have a headroom coda amp le ( It just don't seem to cut the mustard) therefore my endeavor for better stuff. The more I look around and research the more overwhelmed I get with the seemingly endless list of choices. I try to take anything I read on forums with a grain of salt as I know that most posters push the products that they own as being the best, as it helps…

So, uh yea. I really like my newly acquired m^3. Its the best amp that I had a chance to own. So uh yea, its a great amp. I like it I know this thread is :kitty: :kitty: :kitty: :kitty: :kitty:

I have posted some over on head-fi about this amp so I thought I would start a thread here too. The Extreme is THE AMP under< $1000 from my experiences. This amp is so good for such a modest price I am still trying to comprehend how good. Every positive characteristic you can identify seems to be present in copious amounts .... soundstaging, tone, dynamics, bass slam, "midrange magic" etc... This amp particularly elevates the 580/600, and the power of this amp has my Alessandro M2Si rocking along, in addition to giving the M2Si a soundstage well beyond what I have heard from any Grado headphone previously .... even using senn yellow 19545 pads. For you guys wanting an …