Headphone Amplification

Finally after months with all the problems getting the dac(Pico dac lost by shipping company and y2 builder taking ages to order the parts)I just got my refund and decided to go with the DacMagic with a discount from a dude from my home town, and the rig is "complete". Now that I plugged all down, I don't like the sound its to distorted which I describe as a kinda messy metallic sound.. I tested on the dude house to find the problem, and it seems its the minimax tube effect, I tried the rs1+dacmagic with his Lehmann Audio Black Cub and the sound was so much better, still to much bright sometimes but thats just the rs1 and I hope HF2 will be the right tone, then…

Specs Pure class-A, with 20W power draw at idle 16-600 Ohms load (optimised for low impedance) 1700mW into 40Ohm load W 184mm，L 300mm，H 56mm 2.2 KG Sorry for blurry pictures, it is taken from my phone. Better internal shot from the builder: (the transformer is shielded in a metal case as seen in my photo) Exterior The amp is cased in a thick chassis and finished with thick brushed silver front panel. The volume control is metal with texture on it to prevent slipping. Rear of the amp have standard IEC power socket and a pair of RCA inputs. The RCA sockets are gold plated and bolted to the chassis, not direct stressing the PCB. The overall finish is v…

So there are some nice looking Japanese amps that catch my eye. It looks as though the U.S. markup is outrageous ($3.5k higher than the imported amp example below), with the only difference (afaik) being a USA-compensated voltage. In the Luxman example below, Audiocubes2 offers a voltage transformer with the original japan version of the amp, at a much cheaper price than buying it from the U.S. dealers. I wont mention names, but it seems to fetch about $9,500 from U.S.A. based merchants that I've seen. I'm wondering how much (if any) of a hit I'd take in the sound quality department if I went with the Audiocubes version, that comes with the voltage transformer. I've…

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?

Hey all, I was thinking of upgrading my 45 tubes for my custom made SET Headphone amp. Currently I have a simple ST shape pair (Rytheon or Sylvania, I don't recall). There are quite a few options, most of them are expensive and some are scary expensive (Like the EML stuff). The Old NOS ones: Blue arcturus 145 (probably around 300$ for a NOS pair), If you can find some. Baloon type 45s (245/345/etc...) NOS, around 250$ a pair for those rare units from 1930-1940, don't know any preferred manufacture. The New ones: EML 45- 400/500$ for a pair of Solid Plate/Mesh. EML 45 Ballon style speical Edition - 600$ a pair. Sophia Electric 45 - 250$-275$ for a new pair …

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…

With the PerfectWave on the way, I now have a balanced source. My KGSS is balanced as is my McCormack DNA 1 (will be shipped for repairs Monday). I'm looking for a pre that will allow me to go balanced out to the McCormack and use a balanced loop out to the KGSS. The only one I can find in the under $2000 price range is the BAT VK-5i. Wyred 4 Sound has a preamp with 2 balanced outs. I emailed them to see if they could make one of them a loop or tape out. I know that BAT gear is supposed to be excellent so it is a possibility. I am curious if someone else knows of any other in the under $2000 range. Thanks

Is it still possible to get a Dynahi built and if so how much would it cost? Or would it be wiser to just get a headroom desktop with max modules?

I'm working on a person's Minibox E. What do these things take for a battery charger (he didn't send it). I think I got it fixed (self-inflicted from said person "rolling" the opamps), but since the battery seems to be drained, I can't test it without a bit more knowledge. Any schematics for these floating around? Seems to be rather similar to a Mint (and therefore SR71, etc.), but no rail splitter... must be using a pair of Li Ion with the ground taken at the junction (3 wires coming off the battery pack).

Audio Technica AT-HA35i melds headphone amp and iPod dock -- Engadget [url=http://www.audio-technica.co.jp/products/dj-plus/at-ha35i.html]Š”Ž

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?

I'm looking for a SS amp+DAC integrated unit that is known to primarily pair well with the Denon D2000 but could possibly also work well with the Beyer DT990. Both are bassy and have recessed mids, but the listening experience using both for Rock/Metal is pretty different and I prefer one over the other based mainly on my mood. The D2000 sound is "fuller" and more intimate, I guess more "real" sounding compared to the DT990. Its bass response is also pretty much in your face - can really feel the impact. In contrast, the DT990 has a leaner sound and seems to me to be a less fatigueing HP that I prefer when listening for a longer period of time and/or working on somethi…

Eddie Current Equilibrato - two unbalanced inputs - will drive headphones true floating balanced, or unbalanced - external power supply, same as the ZD and ZDT - solid state rectifier Tubes - (1) Tung Sol 12SN7, (2) Sophia Electric PX4 I'll get more details when I pick it up on Saturday

So, I'll start. What's the deal with the 4 pin connection, and slew rates being improved? Is it by virtue simply of the 4-wire connection, or is it a byproduct of having the two transformers as well? Does it have the same virtues of a balanced setup as far as greater separation and less crosstalk? Please feel free to wax on to a non technical type, I'm here to learn. Do I need to consider a ZDT rather than a ZD if I have no plans to run speakers off the amp?

I am running a WA6SE maxxed (09 bulid) I also use Senn HD -800s. I am using a pair of rca 6ew7 big bottle and a EML 274B mesh plate. I ordered a EML 274B, but I didn't specify mesh or solid. I was sent solid plate. Used the EML 274B solid plate for one night and exchanged it for a EML 274B mesh plate. However I did really like the solid plate, great overall tone and soundstage. When I first got the EML 274B mesh I was disappointed. I now have about 26 hours on it. The 274B has improved but the soundstage is still not on a pair with the solid plate. My question is will my mesh plate improve or should I go back to the solid plate or get the EML 5U4G-Mesh? …

I have a Stacker II due around the end of January. This is a hybrid tube amp that goes well beyond the already excellent Millet and SOHA/ SOHA 2 hybrid amps. The Stacker has a true high voltage tube gain stage attached to a discrete transistor output stage .... and in my case a tube rectified power supply. I cant get enough of the SOHA/ JISBOS hybrid or maxxed Millet Starving Student with my woodied Alessandros .... the sound is delightful. Here are some pics ....

I'm about to get a tube headphone amp that uses a pair of 300B tubes and am looking for any recommendations on reasonably priced tubes (under $300 / pair). I'm thinking about getting the JJ Tesla, but would like to hear any other recommendations on 300B tubes. Thanks, Steve

CANOR-AUDIO.COM : Headphone tube amplifier SH1 : Tube amplifier & high end audio found this while following random integrated amp links. any thoughts? construction looks clean. worth the $550 they charge for it?

I know they don't get many (any?) mentions over here and this will probably mark me as irretrievably jejeune -- but, for the money, I've been pretty happy with the Little Dot MkIVse I picked up used on HF. Anyway, their new balanced tube amp is apparently now available at a fairly tempting $724 shipped to the U.S. and I wondered if anyone had any thoughts on the basic design? Haven't been able to locate any specs, though they explicitly say it was designed to be able to drive K1000s. Any idea what the driver tubes might be? Pity about the gold tube sockets, but what are you gonna do?

Hey i have read some about the b22 and who'd want to know if some one have heard whit a pare of GS1000i. And want to share the conclusion.

I just got an SRM-T1 (my first Stax amp) to go with 404LE (my first Stax headphones). I see there is an earthing terminal. Under what circumstances should I use this, and how should I use it? (Balanced cable specially made up?) TIA Nic

I opened this thread yesterday: http://www.head-case.org/forums/headphone-amplification/7635-can-someone-provide-information-about.html I see that it has been closed. I am wondering what was wrong with it. I checked wikipedia before opening it, read basic differences about the two designs, I also mentioned one in the thread myself. Was it wrong to ask about the suitability of one over the other when used with high impedance headphones requiring a nice synergy with amps (HD800s)? I really found it strange that the thread has been closed. And for the reference to google, well that was a nice touch, I did not know search engines existed. Thanks. Don't you think I woul…

SET and push-pull designs in tube amps? I know this is a very broad question, but what I am interested in is, if one design is suitable more for some type of headphones over the other. As far as I know, with the same tubes, push-pull designs can put more power, however with the usage of headphones, that should not be that important, I guess. The reason of this question is the following: I am wondering, if HD800s will be driven better with a PP or SE design in the same price range? What do you think? Also, very briefly, why? I would appreciate any information you might provide. Thanks.

Folks, anyone know where I can audience some headphone amplifier on these cities (in order of priority). If there are headphones, it would be even better. Also what kind of brand ?? Thank you all....... I know I've ordered my headamp+DAC from Justin so I may not buy anything at all but I wanted to expose myself to as much as possible thus have more experience. OTOH, God know I might ended up with something too :palm: