Headphone Amplification

Hey folks, what are your thoughts on the new high end stuff like the B52, the PPX3 XLR and such like that? I've heard that the B52 will cost in the 5-6000 range, anyone hear anything directly from Ray or otherweise know anything about it? It's made the rounds at a few meets now (most recently the Boston Meet), but things seem really tight lipped about the thing. What is it exactly? A headphone amp that also has preamp functionality? A preamp that is also a good headamp? (yah yah a headamp is basically a specialized preamp, but you guys know what I mean)... Any ideas on the tube complement? The 5687s x 4 seem to have been identified, but what about the other 4? they se…

I am looking at some new output tubes to try in my latest idea. The 1626 looks good. A low mu and lower power output tube so if the amp is transformer coupled I will get a good half to three quarter of a watt. Not to much .... not to little and only $5 a piece. I have a lot of 6S4A's and 6P14P-EV's but I want a cool looking coke bottle shaped tube. I have some coke bottle shaped pentodes like the 6Y6G .... and they have the advantage that they have the same pinout as a bunch of other pentodes. But the 1626 is a true triode like the 6S4A and will likely sound better; although you never know. But do I need to break the mold and start using a true pentode .... or atleast …

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

Warm? Neutral? Edgy? How does it drive cans like the Senns and 701s? Guess it's pretty clear that I'm looking for a space saving SS amp for a bedroom setup. Not an easy task IMO. Anyone got experience/thoughts on this one?

I'm going to be shipping a PINT amp to Romanee, as I wanted to give him the opportunity to hear it. If anyone else in the NYC area, who knows Romanee (i know a few of you do!) and haven't heard the PINT, let him know that I sent you, and hopefully, he'll be able to accomodate. Of course, if you don't want to hear it, then poo on you

silvercore - Head-Fi: Covering Headphones, Earphones and Portable Audio Looks pretty beastly but it's probably too expensive to really be interesting for me.

I was wondering if anyone knew the going rate for a used ARC PH3 phonostage in a good condition? I've been thinking of selling it and replacing it with a solid state phonostage since it's not exactly the quietest phonostage. I'm wondering if I can resolve some of the noise issue by replacing the tubes, but I know very little about the design of PH3 and 6922 tubes it uses. EDIT - I've been looking on A'Gon, but haven't seen any PH3 on there of late.

AFAIR, there is a diode after each 9v battery, and two sets of caps between V+ and ground and V- and ground each. There is a series resistor inside each 9V rechargeable lithium battery, as I recall, but I can't figure out why they won't work with the SR-71. Any ideas why?

Since changing up my work rig, the Lunchbox is kind of in limbo with me right now... I'm not sure if it's staying or going. But I was reading Skylab's Lunchbox II impressions "over there," and was interested if anyone here had tried rolling tubes with it. It seems as though the Western Electric 396A and/or Sylvania 2C51are direct swaps for the 6N3P and the Electro-Motive 6FC7 is a direct swap for the 6N24P, and I've read nothing but positive reviews of the results in the LB & the EC-01. I ordered some from the TubeDepot, as I figured $30 wasn't a big chance to take, but I'm curious what to expect. IMO, the LB offers a pretty impressive bang for the buck, and i…

I came across this on DIYaudio. 200,000, that's right, 200,000 tubes going for the low price of $5000. That's like 2.5 cents a tube! Transporting them all is going to be a bitch though, but seriously, 200,000 tubes.

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.

Likely due to laziness, I don’t have much patience lately for writing or even reading reviews so I’ll keep this short. It may be of limited use to others as it’s primarily a two amp comparison. My interest was how the new Apex Arete and Volcano competes with the earlier introduced (and owned) Apex Peak and Volcano. This is especially so as (another member pointed out not long ago) I tend to prefer solid states traditional strengths with a touch of tube-like warmth. I’ve kept a Luxman P-1u over a B22 for this reason and it’s also where I think the hybrid Peak is especially strong. The flavoring of the tube I used for the tests, and the one I use over 90% of the time, th…

Haven't had mine long, but first impressions are very positive. Until I get more time (and tubes) to post additional comments, here's a new Playback/AV Guide review: http://tinyurl.com/peakvolc

See from Tyll's recent IF post Pete & Todd are at it again. On the other side of things, sadly the Peak & Butte are no longer listed on Apex.

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…

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…

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.

Sold, alas.

FS: Aristaeus - Head-Fi: Covering Headphones, Earphones and Portable Audio

I tried to share this pic at head-fi, but my thread has been deleted fro some reason... Here's a compacted version of the front panel's picture that Justin has just sent.

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.

Audeze King Amp. What does everyone think? Odd approach for Audeze in my opinion.

Has anyone experience with the Audio Consulting MIPA Stax Amplifier from Switzerland? Battery powerd spec as follows Product Features This is a 100% battery amplifier suitable to drive all Stax headphones Mipa power amplifier 30 w per channel , battery powered Silver Rock level transformers suitable for all Stax headphones Silver Rock TVC volume control 3 inputs Polarisation of membranes performed by batteries Price CHF 18`500.00 in Wood/oil, CHF 15`400.00 in Black Copper versions available http://www.audio-consulting.ch/?Products:Amplifier:MIPA_Stax_Amplifier

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

Audio-gd Compass Impressions, not a review! Gear: Laptop, Foobar and MonkeyMedia, ASIO4all, AD900, HD650, Audio-gd Powe Cable. Hey all Head-Case. First off, nice to see so many of the excellent posters I respected at the other headphone forum here. I wondered where you all had gone, I mean once in a while I'll see a blue moon post, but not enough! I had a wonderful opportunity to be among the first 18 testers to own the newest headphone solution from Audio-gd. For, I feel this is by far the best option for me as a beginner into headphone amps and dedicated DACs. Audio-gd is a small company out of Beijing China, lead by their lead designer, Mr. He Qinghua,…