Recommend a good headphone amp, please.

SolidSqual
SolidSqual Posts: 5,218
edited October 2010 in Electronics
I got a pair of Sennheiser HD650 cans that need some power. Any recommendations for a few hundred bucks?

Thanks,

Mike
Post edited by SolidSqual on
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  • kawizx9r
    kawizx9r Posts: 5,150
    edited October 2010
    Musical Fidelity V-can

    I used the built-in headphone amp in my Peachtree Decco integrated and it worked wonders on my 271 and 701's (AKG) but that'll cost you a good 400 bucks.
    Truck setup
    Alpine 9856
    Phoenix Gold RSD65CS

    For Sale
    Polk SR6500
    Polk SR5250
    Polk SR104


    heiney9 wrote: »
    Any clue how to use the internet? Found it in about 10 sec.
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  • dorokusai
    dorokusai Posts: 25,576
    edited October 2010
    I'd pick up a used X-Can v4 before I'd buy the V-Can. I didn't like it at all.....but have been listening to the M1HPA/M1DAC combination lately.
    CTC BBQ Amplifier, Sonic Frontiers Line3 Pre-Amplifier and Wadia 581 SACD player. Speakers? Always changing but for now, Mission Argonauts I picked up for $50 bucks, mint.
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  • SolidSqual
    SolidSqual Posts: 5,218
    edited October 2010
    I found this: http://schiit.com/products/valhalla/
    valhalla_645.jpg
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  • kawizx9r
    kawizx9r Posts: 5,150
    edited October 2010
    dorokusai wrote: »
    I'd pick up a used X-Can v4 before I'd buy the V-Can. I didn't like it at all.....but have been listening to the M1HPA/M1DAC combination lately.

    That's what I would've suggested (the x-can) but wasn't sure of the budget and honestly, forgot about it :p
    Truck setup
    Alpine 9856
    Phoenix Gold RSD65CS

    For Sale
    Polk SR6500
    Polk SR5250
    Polk SR104


    heiney9 wrote: »
    Any clue how to use the internet? Found it in about 10 sec.
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  • SolidSqual
    SolidSqual Posts: 5,218
    edited October 2010
    HMEF2A_LIFE.jpg

    I think I want tubes on the amp.
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  • SolidSqual
    SolidSqual Posts: 5,218
    edited October 2010
    Shoot I can't find an X-Can on A'gon.
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  • inspiredsports
    inspiredsports Posts: 5,502
    edited October 2010
    dorokusai wrote: »
    I'd pick up a used X-Can v4 before I'd buy the V-Can. I didn't like it at all.....but have been listening to the M1HPA/M1DAC combination lately.

    Good Advice. X versions are vastly superior (and the most upgradeable of any I found while researching last spring). I've found this UK based forum to be the best headphone forum out there, and they have a huge Musical Fidelity following; lots of great info for headphone info from A to Z . . . http://rockgrotto.proboards.com/
    VTL ST50 w/mods / RCA6L6GC / TlfnknECC801S
    Conrad Johnson PV-5 w/mods
    TT Conrad Johnson Sonographe SG3 Oak / Sumiko LMT / Grado Woodbody Platinum / Sumiko PIB2 / The Clamp
    Musical Fidelity A1 CDPro/ Bada DD-22 Tube CDP / Conrad Johnson SD-22 CDP
    Tuners w/mods Kenwood KT5020 / Fisher KM60
    MF x-DAC V8, HAInfo NG27
    Herbies Ti-9 / Vibrapods / MIT Shotgun AC1 IEC's / MIT Shotgun 2 IC's / MIT Shotgun 2 Speaker Cables
    PS Audio Cryo / PowerPort Premium Outlets / Exact Power EP15A Conditioner
    Walnut SDA 2B TL /Oak SDA SRS II TL (Sonicaps/Mills/Cardas/Custom SDA ICs / Dynamat Extreme / Larry's Rings/ FSB-2 Spikes
    NAD SS rigs w/mods
    GIK panels
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  • SolidSqual
    SolidSqual Posts: 5,218
    edited October 2010
    Cool, Schiit Audio makes their $H!T in the USA!

    http://www.headphonista.com/schiit-introduces-the-asgard-and-the-valhalla/
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  • zingo
    zingo Posts: 11,258
    edited October 2010
    The Firestone Audio Little Country 3 tube headphone amp is the best I've heard so far.
    I rolled in a pair of Gold Lion 6922s and it's a great sounding amp with my Audio-Technicas. Although, it does come stock with a pair of Electro Harmonix 6922EH. :)

    image.img?color=4a4a49&text=333333&accent=ce1b00&compliment=ffffff&navigation=7a7c7c&heading=333333&title=ffffff&logo=ffffff&link=356dff&picture.width.max=536&picture.image.url=%2Ffiles%2F1609406%2Fuploaded%2FLC3+Front+outdoors2+600+x+800.jpg&cache=1285601723588
    (They just changed to an all black face plate BTW)
    Jake
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  • hockeyboy
    hockeyboy Posts: 1,428
    edited October 2010
    Call me crazy but I ddin't want to spend that much cash for my cans. I bought a CMOY amp like this for around $40. Pretty sure you could make one yourself for much less. In all it gets me some good clean power as a cheapre option.

    http://cgi.ebay.com/Headphone-Amplifier-CMOY-AMP-HEADAMP-HI-FI-OPA2134-/180520702680?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2a07df52d8
    My Main Gear
    Mitsu HC5000 (Proj.)
    Marantz SR8001 (AVR)
    Sunfire TGA7200 (AMP)
    Marantz DV7001 (SACD)
    Samsung BD-P1500 Blu-Ray
    LSi 15's (Front)
    LSiC (Center)
    LSiFx (Surrounds)
    DUAL SVS 20-39 CS Plus     (Passive Subs)
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  • inspiredsports
    inspiredsports Posts: 5,502
    edited October 2010
    hockeyboy wrote: »
    Call me crazy but I ddin't want to spend that much cash for my cans. I bought a CMOY amp like this for around $40. Pretty sure you could make one yourself for much less. In all it gets me some good clean power as a cheapre option.

    http://cgi.ebay.com/Headphone-Amplifier-CMOY-AMP-HEADAMP-HI-FI-OPA2134-/180520702680?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2a07df52d8

    There are lots of great economical options out there. I ended up with a highly modded HA Info NG27 DAC/Headamp for just under $100 that sounds almost as good as an X-Can and I use it several times each week. But If money had been no object at the time I purchased, one of the high-line tubed units would have been my preference.
    VTL ST50 w/mods / RCA6L6GC / TlfnknECC801S
    Conrad Johnson PV-5 w/mods
    TT Conrad Johnson Sonographe SG3 Oak / Sumiko LMT / Grado Woodbody Platinum / Sumiko PIB2 / The Clamp
    Musical Fidelity A1 CDPro/ Bada DD-22 Tube CDP / Conrad Johnson SD-22 CDP
    Tuners w/mods Kenwood KT5020 / Fisher KM60
    MF x-DAC V8, HAInfo NG27
    Herbies Ti-9 / Vibrapods / MIT Shotgun AC1 IEC's / MIT Shotgun 2 IC's / MIT Shotgun 2 Speaker Cables
    PS Audio Cryo / PowerPort Premium Outlets / Exact Power EP15A Conditioner
    Walnut SDA 2B TL /Oak SDA SRS II TL (Sonicaps/Mills/Cardas/Custom SDA ICs / Dynamat Extreme / Larry's Rings/ FSB-2 Spikes
    NAD SS rigs w/mods
    GIK panels
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  • SolidSqual
    SolidSqual Posts: 5,218
    edited October 2010
    http://www.wooaudio.com/

    wa3_left_bk.jpg

    I think I like this Wood Audio product. The name suggests ChiFi, but the units are manufactured here in the USA.

    It is between this and the Schiit Audio. Anyone heard Woo Audio before?
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