Headphone Amplification

When using Normal Bias Stax SR-Lambdas, or any normal bias stax can; can the sb energizer, paired with a great amp, deliver sound on par with a stand alone stax amp? Or will it always be lacking? example: Pair a fully restored Fisher 400 tube amp -> srd-7sb -> sr-lambda (normal bias) What level of sound can you expect from this? would the performance be on par with anything modern or classic? and is the srd-7sb the weak link here? is the standard srd-7 preferred? I have been pondering this, as it can be much easier, and less costly to find and restore an old tube amp then to buy or build a new amp. The Fisher for example is a well regarded amp. is …

I know these are both DIY amps and they all have different sounds depending on how theyre built, but I'm looking for a warmish SS amp with a good amount of bass for my 225s that delivers enough current to open the phones up. I'm trying to spend as little as possible (under $300 but hopefully around $200) and usually DIY beats commercial amps in terms of bang per buck. So which amp should I get?

We’re launching a new company – Eksonic – along with our new amplifier called Aeras. Launching an audio company is something I’ve had in the back of my head for many years and I’m proud to be able to bring a passion to market. I've been building my own version of the DIY T2 for quite some time now and have long hoped to capture the spirit of the beast in a smaller single chassis design that's more accessible to many. We think we've accomplished that with the Aeras. Aeras is the result of endless hours of circuit design and analysis, brainstorming and many iterations of prototyping and testing. Our initial users have had great things to say about…

What do you guys think of a B22 as headphone duty and preamp duty? How do you think feel about a B22 as a preamp? Is it a bad idea?

I'm looking for a single ended analytical sounding amp to go with a North Star 192 MKII. Any suggestions besides a GS-1? Thanks USG

Hi guys, Has anyone heard the Mapletree Ear+ Purist HD? I've read a few positive remarks about it on Head-Fi but details are lacking. Is anyone able to comment on how it would compare with a PPX3? And another question, how is the standard PPX3 (>$650) compared with the 6SN7 version (>$750) or SLAM? I've always had the feeling that it wasn't worth it to get a PPX3 unless I got the SLAM version (>$800) though. Seems like everyone is telling me that extra $200 is the absolutely worth the money, and it's almost pointless to spend $650 for a standard PPX3. Cheers and thanks guys! Nanoha

Well, I was supposed to get my new balanced McAlister Audio amp Sunday morning... turns out that the faceplate guy had issues with the green sublimation process. I decided to get the amps name in a forest green colour. Should have just left well enough alone! But then again, maybe not! I get a call from Peter on Sunday afternoon. He says he has been listening to my amp, and while it sounds incredible, he decided that he wants to go a little more 'over the top' with it. A man after my own heart. So, it looks like there will be 4 more tubes, for a grand total of 13... as well as two more metal can capacitors. He says that it looks like a BEAST. I can't wait to se…

I just have some perfunctory questions before I plunge for this purchase. Did Craig make any official statements regarding the differences between the new '09 models and the earlier ones? (I'm getting the earlier model # 18.) Similarly are there any revisions between serial numbers? Secondly, is the ZD specially tailored for Senn HD6XX? It seems that most OTL amps are. It's a short list, but any tips right now would really help me submit my final decision. Thx.

So I got a pair of K1000s a couple weeks ago, and now I need an amp. Any ideas?

Hi, been lurking for a while but finally signed up! Quick background on my gear: I'm in the Stax ecosystem with an L700(Mk1), SR-3, and an SRM-003. I also have a D10 and T1S, the latter of which was on a shelf unused in the original box for 25 years or so and last year I bought it. I'm still planning to recap it and upgrade it with the constant current mod, but that's to come soon. In the meanwhile, I came across a curiosity online, a homemade normal-bias tube amp. No real info provided, but it was a reasonable price so I took the shot in the dark, and I don't have the electronics knowledge to grok what I'm looking at. Can anyone more educated help me?

The Backstory: So, Nate ordered a Lunch Box from Eddie Current, and realized he wouldn't need it because of his plans to build an Akido. I had almost ordered one, and a trade was worked out so that I would get the Lunch Box for my office rig. The office setup was completed by another trade with Nate to get his HD-600's since this amp is for headphones with > 150 ohm impedence. The Arrival: Well, it finally arrived yesterday @ Nate's office. As we only work a few miles apart, it was all I could do to wait 'til after work to get it! So you can imagine my disappointment when I get home after work, insert the tubes, plug it in and find it won't turn on! No! So it left…

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 …

some dude posted this on some other random forum. perhaps if I didn't report the post to the admins there it would have lasted longer than 10 or 20 minutes? oops? oh well, we can still see it here, unless someone deletes this too. actually, I think they moved the thread since I can't access it anymore, rather than going to an invalid thread. (fyi this dude's handle starts with an "a," ends with a "k," and there's a "kwo" in the middle.) -------------------------------------- thread title: Headamp GS-X.. PICTURES! thread contents: http://www.headamp.com/home_amps/gsx/index.htm In my opinion, the nicest looking headphone amp ever. Seriously making me recon…

website The short write-up in December's issue of Hi-Fi Choice says, "...by using CRT technology, these valves can be run at a lower power and offer significantly improved lifespans." That'd be the part that got my attention.

So I have this nice new LG OLED TV but my receiver can't pass 4K video through it since it is too old. So I need something that will be HDCP 2.2 compatible I believe. I have a Marantz SR6005. I've been really happy with the Marantz receivers so far and would like to stay with them unless there is something significantly better that won't break the bank. Trying to decide between SR5011, SR6011, and SR7011. Any thoughts? This will be for a 3 (maybe 3.1 at some point) setup. Setup: PS4 Pro/Apple TV/Oppo BDP-105D -> receiver (would use DAC in receiver for everything buy music and would use the Oppo for that) -> TV and Monitor Audio silver ser…

Not much info, but... http://j.mp/HSsiUj Seems to be amp/dac combo?

So much for a cheap amp upgrade... As the topic says, I'm now trying to decide between the Singlepower PPX3 SLAM and the Mapletree Ear+Purist HD. I would have to find the Singlepower amp second hand to be able to afford it, probably in Canada (a long shot but I can wait). The Ear+HD is not worth buying used since I can get it tax-free here, and I seriously doubt I would be able to buy it second hand from a Canadian. They would likely end up being about the same price. As I said in the previous thread, I currently own RS-1s and UM2s, and I will probably be picking up some Senns or Beyers in the not-too-distant future to see how I like them. However, RS-1s are my prim…

the Rawsonte First Watt F5 clone off Agon. He immediately removed the listing as soon as I paid, so I don't have a photo, but I can't believe I caught his ad exactly when he put it up and got it I plan to drive various things with this 25 watter, including HE Audio He1.2b electrostats, Sennheiser HE60, and my various speakers. Offical F5 photo

ZDT <- This is very similar to the Nautilus amp that he had prototyped but better (Partial Silver Electraprint transformers last time I heard). I think it's a steal at this price versus the price of a new Zana Deux.... anyone on board or considering?

So I need to send in my Balanced Desktop for a minor repair. I am very tempted to have them install a stepper while it's in the shop. Yea or Nay?

The old website says that there's a new website coming, so for those of you in the know, is Craig going to reveal some new products?

Hi, Can anyone give me a list of amps with some balanced input (I don't care if it has unbalanced input or not, but if it does, please note it)? I'm thinking about getting one of those....but not necessarily to use balanced headphones with it. Just want to use balanced sources with headphones. Thanks in advance!

Wow, a few minutes at this site is like a slap in the face after spending a lot of time at head-fi. Apparently I own the ultimate "hella shitty" amp, the PA2V2. I always thought of this as a temporary solution, necessitated by my purchase of an ALO dock connector (also apparently crap), and for $60, why not? It seems that there is some consensus here that portable amps are kind of silly, and do nothing to improve SQ, esp. if your source is a DAP. As my source will be either a laptop or iPod (maybe iMod?) for the foreseeable future, and I need my gear to be portable (out-of-the-reach-of-children portable, room to room and home to office portable, not walking around…

Okay, I've been debating streamlining a bit if not downright downsizing. I find that I don't use "multiple" amps and sources nearly enough to justify having them sitting around so I'm thinking about a move to get a single amp that can handle various needs. Right now, I'm using nothing but headphones but likely will be adding speakers somewhere down the road plus I'd like to try the K1000 sometime. With that in mind, should I part with my MPX3 slam and GCHA and just pick up something that's a bit more flexible? Say the SLI-80 Signature F-1? It seems to fit the bill and from what I've read it's a solid performer with no real weaknesses. So the question.....go for it or s…

I need an amp that doesn't have an IEC connector at the back, only a DC input. Does this exist? If not, this should be easy to drill a hole and hardwire?