Headphone Amplification

I'm looking for some advice on a new headphone rig for work. I currently have a 2004 vintage Total Bithead, 10-year old Grado SR-80s (with new pads), and a pair of Etymotic ER-4Ss. Output is from a Mac via USB, CDs not ripped files. I recently purchased a Slim Devices Transporter and Onkyo 9555 for home, and the quality of those two combined bury the Bithead with the Etys. (The Bithead has actually had issues from day one: background his and a slight channel imbalance which I never quite believed until I had something to compare it with. I'm also pretty sure it just deosn't have enough power for the Etys. It's always sounded pretty good with the Grados.) I'm looking for a…

Yo...whadya all think of the headamp AE-1???

I figured I'd start a topic on this where people can actually find info about the amp. I'll quote Kevin's post from the DIY thread in below. As with so many other of these projects, curiosity got the better of me so I actually bought one of these amps. It had gone back to Cavalli to be fixed so no claims possible that it was an early unit and the new ones aren't like this at all. That is the usual Cavalli defense plus that we are doctoring the pics to show his crap in an unflattering light. Well for some pics I'll link in Kevin's post now: So let's discuss what is wrong with this thing. First of all, it's not actually balanced, more a quad of single end…

Just ranting aimlessly. So I have a GCHA now. At first it sounded exhillirating; the amazing soundstage that is. But after listening to it for a while, my music just sounds so slim and uninspiring. I'm sort of a quiet listener, but it still sounds lean even when I turn up the volume. Maybe I'm just realizing the true nature of the K701 I'm using. (I also purchased the K701 recently and haven't tried it out of an amp other than the GCHA before.) Maybe I should have gone with a tube amplifier in the end after all despite having always thought I was a SS guy myself (high speed and punch). Female vocals are totally dry but I guess that is expected from a SS amp. However, I h…

My interest in tube amps has been growing since around last October, and now that I have my own Aikido hybrid I'm only even more interested. I'm personally more interested in what I can DIY, but I'm cool to hear whatever. I fully expect that the ZD, HD2, the Luna, and the SDS (is this just a really charged up Waarde?) to be part of the list, but I like to hear about what else is out there, again especially in the DIY realm (like dsavitsk's cool looking shunt-regulated, single feed, spud amp).

So, I just ordered a FirstWatt F1 for my K1000s, and I'm getting that feeling that you get when you get new toys WHEEE

I just unpacked a box from our last move in 2005. I found my HPA V. 1.0 but no power supply. When I packed it to move it was acting up so I just want to get workable power supply to see if it actually works. I believe the basic power supply for the HPA was 12V and 800 mA. Can someone confirm or refute this. Also if you know the dimensions of the power supply tip that would be helpful. Thanks.

They look pretty neat. Here is a link to the site in Japanese, but it shows a bunch of pics: [url=http://www.soundhouse.co.jp/shop/SearchList.asp?i_type=m&s_maker_cd=1617]IZO

Well I just got confirmation from SPL USA today that they are going to send me a SPL Phonitor for me to do a review on Head-Case and the other site. Good stuff, all I need to do is give them a CC# as collateral. The only issue I see with this is the fact that the amp has a 9 ohm output impedance which it seems to me would cause some weird responses with low impedance phones (unless their impedance doesn't vary much). I probably won't get it for a couple weeks but hopefully I'll get it before Christmas.

link Disappointed in the lack of 1x, but I have to admit, I like the price point. It's within what I can recommend to muggles, I would just like to know if it's any good, first.

I figured something this rare deserved a thread of its own. Let me introduce the Stax SRA-7S, integrated amp for earspeakers. This was introduced in 1966 for the SR-1 and remained in production into the 70's. With Stax we never really know when they stopped making something but given it's all tube design, it was dead by the mid 70's. This one was missing just one knob but amazingly they are still in current production. A full set has already been sourced... Those RCA's really need to go but pretty clean over all. Pretty much unmolested but somebody decided to remove the fuse holder. Not a good sign... Amp and phono stage on separ…

Don't get excited, this is not an in-depth comparison but I'm on my second day with my new SMv6 with the AD8620 and switches and thought I'd post some thoughts. Well my thoughts are pretty flat lined right now... I'm asking myself what I paid for The amp is a vast improvement over the previous SM3v3 and once again sounds great and drives my DT770-250 without a problem. It's slightly dry but still airy and detailed. I've yet to roll any of the included opamps and this is only about 25 hours of burn-in. One of my main reasons for replacing it was the Hornet seemed rather poor at driving my DT770-250 (songs with heavy bass had low end distortion at high volumes). I…

I'm hoping Justin, Mr. Gilmore or Spritzer will see this thread and hopefully tell me what's wrong with this KGSS. This unit is over 7 years old and features Alps volume controls as opposed to the newer DACT controls. The serial no. written in red pen on the circuit is #1000. The issue with the amp is a noisy humming emitting from both channels past 0 position. The humming sound is distinctive to the transformer and is very audible at modest volume. I've isolated the issue without plugging in a source. I've made sure my SR-007 is working properly on the SRM-007t and SRM-717. The problem persists on both RCA and XLR. I've taken several pictures. I have not touched th…

Dear All - What tube improvements can be made to Stax007tA over the stock tubes? Are matched pairs available or is there any change needed to be done to the board? Also any recommendation on exernal PSU to improve SQ? Thank you

https://estatron.com/collections/all Somebody who studied Head Case is now building and selling a 'stat energizer. Kind of interesting because it's only $160. Worth it?

Well I finally got my Max Balanced yesterday , though now I have to wait till my balanced cables and my source burn in so I cant provide any comments on the sound yet. I do like crossfeed however. Alas, no pics either as my digital camera is travelling in Europe at the moment, but it will be back in a few weeks. I was wandering if theres any way to check if my system (Esoteric DV-60, then the Max) is in phase.

I noticed on Headamps website that the new version of the Aristaeus includes numerous improvements in parts and build quality. Has anyone here heard a V1 and V2, as to make any comparison. What parts have been changed and such? Justin or maybe the denizen electrostatic gurus. Thanks, Gary.

I tried to collect some pictures of the super popular high end headphone amplifier Riviera aic10, wishing for some engineering insight and professional assessment.

Okay. I've been applying to new apartments and they keep asking me about my stuff (Berkeley people are notoriously stressing over conservation and such). The thing is that my rig keeps freaking people out: i use alot of electricity and many power cords and shit. At minimum i use: 1 outlet for my music hard drive, 1 outlet for my sound card, 1 outlet for my transport, 1 outlet for my dac, and 1 outlet for my Zana Deux. This is bad... very bad. It doesn't look good and such. The thing is that I want to say away from making me rig into a "benchmark dac-1 with usb." or worse a corda opera. If i do decide to consolidate, I want something that's gonna be the shit. here ar…

Hi, new here, looks interesting. I use HD600s with my orignal, stock Musical Fidelity X-Cans I am not a big user of headphones at home, mainly LP (LP12) and CD (Ikemi), I never use my PC for music. What should I try and how much (ish) should I expect to pay to noticeably get a better sound than the X-Cans. Has anyone here ever had their X-cans upgraded? thanks KT666 London

Hi, I'v been a long time member on Head-Fi, and decided to check out this forum (for a number of reasons). After reading multiple threads here, it seems there are a lot knowledgeable people here concerning the AKG K1000. I have 2 K1000's, one is hooked up to a Unison Audio Unico, which I find a great combination. I'm looking for a cheap amp, to set next to my iMac, so I can use my other pair with my computer at night. I read multiple recommendations, Class-T Amps, old Marantz and Panasonics (PX950 etc.). I searched, but they were actually quite expensive now on ebay (650euro+ ). I have a bass-light pair, so a little more bass on the amp is appreciated, maybe a bi…

I've pretty much settled on the L3000 as the headphones for me (other than the K1000) and I'd like to look into comissioning a high end custom built tube amp for them. The L3000 specs from their website: Type Closed-back dynamic Driver Diameter 53 mm Magnet Neodymium Case Cherry blossoms wood, CONNOLLY leather Frequency Response 5 - 45,000Hz Maximum Input Power 2,000mW Output Sound Level 104 dB/mW Impedance 48 Ω Weight 380 g Cable 3.0 m Connector ?6.3 mm phone plug Accessories Furnished BOX So I'm probably looking for schematics that are available that I could have someone build the amp based on. Does not need to have a preamp. Headphone amp o…

I got a chance to listen to the Singlepower Platinum Extreme at CanJam. I liked it compared to other tubed amplifiers because it didn't have that tubey warm colored sound. I wanted to pick one up used, but I have been reading that Mikhail is MIA and there may be problems with getting it fixed if I ever needed to. Can someone suggest some comparable amps with a similar sound? Just a FYI, I listened to the WooAudio3, Cary Exciter, and the Cary 300SEI. I thought all three of these amps sounded to warm and tubey for my taste.

Hello, I'm new to audiophile headphones and I mean completely. I bought based upon recommendations on various websites an Aune X1S. I play Spotify with my iPhone 6 and sometimes my Mac. I understand that I can use an RCA cord to do analog. I want to know how I can connect it digitally? I read that I need an Apple lightning camera connector. Is this the one? Here is the back of the Aune X1S: Thanks for any help that you can give

I just saw this on Lloyd's website, and he has a newsletter describing the various technical changes that went into the new model: http://hollowstate.netfirms.com/Branches5.pdf