Topic: headphone amp recommendations, sub 1k?

[marc0789]

I've gotta get one, cannot take crappy headphone output sound any more.

Any recommendations would be greatly appreciated....usb or firewire not necessary. would like to have spdif and xlr digital inputs. Thanks all.

[Jammin72]

For which Cans?  Tube Lover or No?

[Jammin72]

Actually my recommendation will probably stay similar.

Look at Dr. Meier's Opera or Cantate...


http://www.meier-audio.homepage.t-online.de/amplifiers.htm

Very clean sound, deep controlled bass, great soundstage.  They also utilize a nice crossfeed circuit which can be very beneficial for more natural representation of Audience recordings.

[tilomagnet]

^^^

I second the Meier-Audio recomendation. I have the Corda Arietta, which is actually his cheapest headphone amp at $ 200 and I was blown away by how good this sounded. I use it with AKG K 701 and Senn HD 495. Build quality of Meier's products is very good, too.

[Eigenklang]

If you can, try out the Creek Audio headphone amps:

OBH 21 or OBH 22.

[j5brock]

Woo audio woo6.. Love mine - I have an m902 - that I prefer my Senn HD650s through - but I almost never put them on. I almost always use my W5000s with the Woo6.. love the tubes - especially an old metal base mullard - well under $1000.

Jeff

[J.T.L]

I'm dying to try a gilmore lite but there is a few week wait time.

http://www.headamp.com/home_amps/index.htm

[marc0789]

For which Cans?  Tube Lover or No?

thanks guys...Senn 555's...change anything? 

[George]

I would recommend headroom gear or possibly buying used, try audiogon.  Tubes sound delicious with sennheiser's...

[Jammin72]

Looking at the gear you've chosen I'd stick with the Solid State rig.  B&K +Oade = Detail and Accuracy with a dose of warmth.  The HD555's are fairly warm cans, the solid state rig will give you the accuracy and detail that you're used to with the B&Ks.  Should be fairly synergistic.

[Frank in JC]

Look into the Ray Samuels/Emmeline headphone amps.  I'm use the Tomahawk portable amp and it's amazing, especially considering how simple it is.  It made my 2nd-generation Headroom Airhead sound like a piece of junk (I have to assume the new ones are better).

From what I understand, Ray is primarily a Sennheiser listener, so his products are likely to be "voiced" accordingly.  No crossfeed, however, and no digital anything.

(Super nice guy, too.)


http://www.raysamuelsaudio.com/

[RebelRebel]

the mytek stereo 96...a great headphone amp with a free HQ DAC included.