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…

Ok, so we all know about the various issue SP has delivering product on time. Several long standing members here have had rather large issues but everything always seemed to get sorted out, with the exception of Elephas. And, quite frankly, because I've always found Mikhail to be a nice guy when I've seen him at meets I've treated this all pretty lightly and figured that he'd just gotten behind again or underestimated the amount of time that it was going to take for a custom build. That was until today when I read some of the more recent posts in the SP thread on Head-Fi (thread starts here). What I find most troubling are the posts by Elephas, tom hankins and Kan…

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FS: RSA P-51 Mustang - Head-Fi: Covering Headphones, Earphones and Portable Audio pictures say it all. i mean hot pink...really? question 2 - who the hell makes that case?

I'm waiting to hear back from Stephen from Rockhopper audio about a possible home B22 trial. While I wait, can anyone comment on comparing tubes to a B22? I have a Woo Audio 6 SE so any direct comparisons would be great. As far as music goes, I listen to almost everything (no country) but right now I'm mostly listening to folk and indie rock. Thanks in advance!

Hi, I am presently looking at an amp to run my HD600's. I am also looking if possible to consolidate and use a good portable to cover those and my IEM's. Looking closely at the pico as it "might" fit both bills, but i know the lean is toward a decent home rig...in which case i am looking at DV336SE or one of the LD units as they are available here locally pretty easily. Anyone have feedback on using pico to drive 600's? Or else talk me away from it and into a dedicated home amp! Thanks!

I've got an old Headamp Gilmore Reference (single-ended) on the way. I believe this unit was later modified to a gain of 1, which should be a good preamp gain. But, it doesn't have pre outs, just a 2nd headphone out. In these older Headamps, is there any circuitry difference between the pre out and headphone out, or does it merely boil down to the physical differences in connectors? Any other reason why I shouldn't try this as a preamp with a Y cable/adaptor? The V2 I recently picked up is a real performance killer, as both preamp and headphone amp, for the $200 I paid. Super-nice match to the L3000 w/ Duet, and to the HD650 or L3000 with vinyl

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…

I want a seperate volume dial for the Aleph, at the minute its run off the second set of pre-outs on the NAD. Means I have to fanny around with the switchbox and I'd like rid of that irritation. Cheapest pre-amp i've spotted is the little pro-ject box at

What are the differences between the Musical Fidelity X-Can V3 headphone amp with the X-PSU external power supply and the V8 version?

I've been reading about and trying out different ways to drive my HD600s using an Apogee Mini-DAC, from using the standard HP out, to driving cans via the balanced XLRs, to using the XLR --> RCA to my Headfive (still saving up to buy a balanced amp). When I drove my HD600s directly from the balanced XLRs I found the music "flat", although the L/R separation was notably better, especially in a few drum 'n bass tracks (much punchier), and has given me a "taste" of the balanced sound (the first one's always free)... However, this flatness rules out driving the HD600s direct from the XLRs. So, here's the question - I've been comparing the XLR --> Headfive with…

I've just purchased a Pro-ject Headbox II SE Headphone amp and there appears to be a dearth of information and reviews about it. It is being used with a pair of Grado SR325i headphones, my source is a Sony SCD-XB940QS SACD/CD player via a Sony TAFE940QS amplfier (Tape loop)and a Van Den Hul Thunderline Interconnect. I'm delighted with this particular combination but I'm just wondering what other more informed people rated the setup-particularly the amp?

I am in the market for a headphone amp in the $300 price range. I own a pair of shure e4c's. I believe they are 29ohm earbuds. I do not plan on buying an upgrade headphone anytime soon. Anyone have any advice? Will these earbuds be a good fit with this amp?

I am looking for an amp and would like to go with a portable(Zen Head, Mustang, ELO Mini3, etc) but would consider a desk-top for $2-300 if the sonic advantages were there. Do RCA inputs amount to better sonics or to the guts of the units decide that fact? And do desktop units have better parts, necesarily, than portables? The desktops units i'm considering are the new Trends, and any other that are priced $2-300. thanks

A week or two ago I snagged a used GS-1 from HF (from doobooloo). It arrived and I let it adjust to room temp before firing up, and all seemed well until the left channel cut out almost completely. Flipping the high/low gain switch seemed to almost fix it. I contacted doobooloo and he said that it was a common problem with some GS-1's with the DACT stepped attenuator, and that popping the lid and reseating the molex-like connector for the left channel at the DACT SA would fix it. It did... for about 10 days. I noticed it again today, and so I popped the lid and reseated again. The molex connector grips firmly and none of the pins seem to have any play. So... is the…

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For a long time now I've wanted to go balanced, but never really sat down and looked at all the offerings. As far as the big names go, there's the RSA Apache, HeadAmp GS-X, RudiStor NX-33, Headroom Balanced Desktop. Right off the bat, the Apache and NX-33 are knocked out of the running based on what I've read about the manufacturers here. Also, a small thing I've noticed: While the Headroom Balanced Desktop and GS-X have tabs to release the XLRs, the other two don't. Does this mean the XLRs don't lock as they should, or is there some other mechanism to hold them in place? As far as price goes, the GS-X is a little rich for my blood, and the Balanced Desktop can n…

Well I just got done doing tests on the HD650 using my ECM8000 measurement mic and dummy head and room EQ Wizard (that some of you have seen). I kept the mic and headphones in the same spot and tried the following: HD 650 running Balanced from the GS-X (of DAC3 Balanced) HD 650 running SE from the GS-X (of DAC3 Balanced) HD 650 running SE from AE-2 plugged in with wall wart(off DAC3 SE) HD 650 running SE from AE-2 running off battery (off DAC3 SE) I attempted to volume match all 4 configurations but ended up having about .3 db (at 1kHz) variation that I could take out using the software so they all have the same value at 1kHz. Attached are the frequency response…

Hello everyone, I'm thinking about buying an electrostatic amp and I'm leaning towards the KGSS because of my general dislike of tubes and the fact that when you change the tubes you can change the sound etc. I prefer to have such things under control (barring damage, SS is the same now as it is in a year). That said if the BHSE is only uses the tubes for the high voltage swing capabilities and is entirely transparent then maybe that's a better bet. On paper it has a lot more voltage swing etc. At least initially I will be using the Koss ESP950s but I figure I'll end up with O2s as well. They'll all have to go though my correction process and then I'll see if el…

in general, do any specific brands stand out among others when it comes to cheap receiver headphone amps? i'm looking for an inexpensive remote-controlled video switching device and a cheap used receiver seems to fit the bill... i remember reading a while ago that the pioneer elite series supposedly have discreet amplification for their headphone out... basically, i'm looking to spend a couple hundred bucks at most and the only thing i care about is that i can switch video sources, so i thought i'd try to narrow it down by something i do care about... i realize most or all will suck compared to a decent separate headphone amp, but i'm just looking for any that s…

I have had my HeadAmp Gilmore Lite + DPS for over three years now, and I have never given serious thought to replacing it. It drives all my cans to a satisfactory level, except of course the TakeTs. Earlier this year I had designs on going balanced, but four months of house renovation has ensured I won't be bankrolling that any time ...ever, really. I'm now content to live in the single ended solid state world, but.. I am in need of an amp with more than one input. In spite of my recently acquisition of a Quad 99 CDP-2, and its variable outputs, I could benefit from the GS-1's preamp outputs as well. I see a lot of Beta22s changing hands around here. Most are mad…

I'm beginning to compose my "short list" for a head amp. One of the amps I've been looking at is the Cary SLI-80 and the F1 version only sold by Upscale Audio Cary Audio SLI-80 Signature F1. I'm somewhat concerned about the scorching heat these amps are reputed to produce and not convinced the F1 upgrades are worth it for headphone amp use. I have not had an opportunity to hear one, but understand the sound is not for everyone, but I don't know exactly what that means. The overall design seems to be good and it has been around since 1997. It has stood the test of time. Is anyone willing to comment about this amp and/or the F1 upgrade?

Hi, I am not sure if this is right sub section for this and this is my first post a head case My requirement is following: I need to be able to share my music with my gf. So, the main question here is, can I use a y splitter with any amplifier. Lets say with a pico? Or do I need to go only for units with 2 headphone outs. I need a single unit as my UAB DAC/Headphone amp for convenience of moving it around. I am ready to shell out around $1k for the unit apart from headphones. My choices with 2 headphone outs: 1. Meier Audio Opera/ Symphony - Symphony is really costly and for Opera I am getting only the 0,120 ohm versions. Shouldn't I need both h/p outs as 0 ohms 2…

I've posted my complaints in the other head-forum but no adequate responses or even any guidelines have been written. For the last month I hear a conciderable increase of the highs of my O2mk2. Somehow the highs "opened" and become more shrill and noticeable, some squeaky and ticking sounds protrude above the whole sound "picture". I mean sounds like the sound of a harpsichord or the movement of the fingers over the quitar's neck, or some "parasite" sounds which are found in all acoustic records. It sounds to me like sharp peaks in the upper frequencies range. Before this transformation the sound of the O2mk2 was smooth and laid back without anytning annoying and distrac…