Headphone Amp

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Hemmo1969
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Headphone Amp

Unread post by Hemmo1969 »

Hi

I’m looking to buy some headphones and want to use my main system to listen.

Currently have no headphone socket so is easiest way to solve by buying a small headphone amp? Music on the go is fine as I’ve got a phone and Dragonfly set up. 👍

Re: cans, I like the look of the Beyerdynamic DT1990 PRO anyone recommend others to check out. Obvs with the current situation visiting my local HIFI dealer to listen is out of the question so going on reviews and user feedback.

What’s with the ‘250 ohm’ that a lot of these headphones mention? Better to go lower or higher ....... 😊

Chris.

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CN211276
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Re: Headphone Amp

Unread post by CN211276 »

I would wait until you can make comparisons. Before deciding on the Grados in my signature I auditioned quite a few at Richer Sounds. I could recommend thd Grados, but they might not be to your taste.
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Hemmo1969 (Thu Apr 30, 2020 10:23 am)
Main System
NVA BMU, P90SA/A80s (latest spec), Cube 1s, TIS, TISC(LS7)
Sonore OpticalRendu, Chord Mscaler & Qutest, Sbooster PSs
Network Acoustics Eno, ifi iPurifier3, AQ JB FMJ, Cisco 2940 & 2960
DH Labs ethernet, BNC & USB cables, Farnells cat 8 ethernet cable

Second System
NVA P20/ A20, Cubettes, LS3, SSP, SC
Sonore MicroRendu, Chord Mojo 2 MCRU PSs, AQ Carbon USB cable & JB FMJ

Headphones
Grado SR325e/Chord Mojo, Beyerdynamic Avetho/AQ DF Colbat

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Fretless
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Re: Headphone Amp

Unread post by Fretless »

The little Schiit Magni headphone amps are great VFM for 100 - 150 pounds. SQ is open, clear and dynamic.

Schiit do some more serious models up the line - some with tubes.
Like this: https://www.schiit.co.uk/schiit%20grade ... valhalla-2
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Hemmo1969 (Thu Apr 30, 2020 11:04 am)

Upstairs:
Vinyl
Pro-Ject 1.2 + Grado Sig Jr + Cambridge Alva Duo
DigiVolumio PC + Kiss DP-500 + Sabaj A20d
NVA: P50sa - Cube2 - SSP - LS6+ Sabaj A10a (x2)
Downstairs:
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DigiDenafrips Ares II + Volumio PC + Cambridge CXC
NVA: P50 - BMU+ Aiyima A07 MAX (x2) + Arcam One
HP: HifiBerry Digi+ PRO + Sabaj A10d
Office:
Allo DigiOne SIG + SMSL M300se + Douk G4 (x2)
Mission 760 + Monolith THX AAA 887
Headphones: German Maestro, Monolith & AQ

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Re: Headphone Amp

Unread post by savvypaul »

At 250 ohm the Beyers will need a fairly powerful amp to sound their best.

I had the DT990 Pro 250 ohm for a couple of years. Very comfortable. Quite meaty sound, more impact than a planar, but a bit of a metallic / shiny edge. Bouncy but crude. The 1990 may be different but worth reading up as most makes have a 'house sound'. You will want to match them carefully to the amp, I would say.

The NVA AP10H with the new Toroidy / Vishay power supply is excellent, but can't build you one until Tomasz returns.

Drop.com often have very attractive prices on limited edition phones from the likes of HiFi Man and Sennheiser, but delivery will take a couple of weeks minimum...

https://drop.com/audiophile/drops

I've also heard that Meze are decent vfm.

Tomasz (ithilstone) is the guy to speak to...
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Hemmo1969 (Thu Apr 30, 2020 11:07 am)
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Re: Headphone Amp

Unread post by Ithilstone »

There is a lot to tell about headphones but to make it short
Ohms: for example Beyerdynamic is manufacturing same headphones like DT990 in 3 variants 32, 250 and 600Ohms
same construction same driver just different Ohms - traditionally it would be 32 for portable 250 all rounder 600 for serious stationary set up or for connecting to pro rig in recording studio - as i said traditionally.
Also as a rule of thumb lower ohms are driven by current higher by voltage etc - you will find a lot of information about it.
Above is only valid for dynamic drivers. There are more types of drivers and different rules apply ;]

Current situation makes auditioning different ones a bit difficult - but most of online retailer has no question asked returns so....

Drop is good place to get something good on cheap (some products are available from EU with fast shipping but most from US )
- I would have a look at:
https://drop.com/buy/drop-thx-aaa-789-linear-amplifier - I had a chance to listen to it - and at current lower price is very good all rounder It will drive almost all HPs on the market - yes our AP10H is better in my opinion especially with extra psu and SA volume- but is nor small nor cheap

From Hps;
https://drop.com/buy/massdrop-x-meze-99 ... headphones
very very good closed backs - musical and enjoyable

https://drop.com/buy/massdrop-sennheiser-hd6xx
if you like darker sound - would need beefy amp ( the one from link above would be good) but Dragonfly will struggle

https://drop.com/buy/massdrop-x-akg-k7xx-red-edition
if you like brighter sounds

https://drop.com/buy/drop-hifiman-he4xx ... headphones
If you want to try planar magic on cheap - very fast detailed and mostly linear sound sig

https://drop.com/buy/massdrop-x-beyerdy ... headphones
never had a chance to try those but those look very interesting for a closed backs - would work with Dragonfly and by the looks of it can be easily tuned to your liking by changing pads;]
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Hemmo1969 (Thu Apr 30, 2020 12:33 pm) • savvypaul (Thu Apr 30, 2020 1:08 pm) • NSNO2021 (Mon May 04, 2020 5:59 pm)
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Re: Headphone Amp

Unread post by Hannes-Gregor »

I use the Beyerdynamics T90 (also 250 Ohms) and the Meze Noir (Massdrop - only downside is that they only come with a cable with microphone, but there's one without from Amazon for about 20 Euros which fits. That's the only difference except the color to the Meze 99 and I saved 100 Euros even if I had to pay customs. ). Beyerdynamics T90 are slightly clearer and more enjoyable but they are an open construction, so everyone near you could enjoy your listen, too. For closed ones the Meze are great. I listen to both with an AP70 and an AP20 (where I implemented the headphone socket by myself). So if Paul and Tomasz agree in these times of pandemic, and you have a NVA integrated, I could tell you via PM how to do by yourself.
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Hemmo1969 (Thu Apr 30, 2020 12:57 pm)

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Re: Headphone Amp

Unread post by Hemmo1969 »

Thanks for this fella, I had forgot that when we had previously met we had spoke about your love of headphones 👍

Have you bought from DROP? Is there import tax etc
Ithilstone wrote: Thu Apr 30, 2020 12:22 pm There is a lot to tell about headphones but to make it short
Ohms: for example Beyerdynamic is manufacturing same headphones like DT990 in 3 variants 32, 250 and 600Ohms
same construction same driver just different Ohms - traditionally it would be 32 for portable 250 all rounder 600 for serious stationary set up or for connecting to pro rig in recording studio - as i said traditionally.
Also as a rule of thumb lower ohms are driven by current higher by voltage etc - you will find a lot of information about it.
Above is only valid for dynamic drivers. There are more types of drivers and different rules apply ;]

Current situation makes auditioning different ones a bit difficult - but most of online retailer has no question asked returns so....

Drop is good place to get something good on cheap (some products are available from EU with fast shipping but most from US )
- I would have a look at:
https://drop.com/buy/drop-thx-aaa-789-linear-amplifier - I had a chance to listen to it - and at current lower price is very good all rounder It will drive almost all HPs on the market - yes our AP10H is better in my opinion especially with extra psu and SA volume- but is nor small nor cheap

From Hps;
https://drop.com/buy/massdrop-x-meze-99 ... headphones
very very good closed backs - musical and enjoyable

https://drop.com/buy/massdrop-sennheiser-hd6xx
if you like darker sound - would need beefy amp ( the one from link above would be good) but Dragonfly will struggle

https://drop.com/buy/massdrop-x-akg-k7xx-red-edition
if you like brighter sounds

https://drop.com/buy/drop-hifiman-he4xx ... headphones
If you want to try planar magic on cheap - very fast detailed and mostly linear sound sig

https://drop.com/buy/massdrop-x-beyerdy ... headphones
never had a chance to try those but those look very interesting for a closed backs - would work with Dragonfly and by the looks of it can be easily tuned to your liking by changing pads;]
Last edited by Hemmo1969 on Thu Apr 30, 2020 1:17 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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Hemmo1969
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Re: Headphone Amp

Unread post by Hemmo1969 »

I do use NVA pre / power but don’t have the skill to add bits to it 😆

Hannes-Gregor wrote: Thu Apr 30, 2020 12:34 pm I use the Beyerdynamics T90 (also 250 Ohms) and the Meze Noir (Massdrop - only downside is that they only come with a cable with microphone, but there's one without from Amazon for about 20 Euros which fits. That's the only difference except the color to the Meze 99 and I saved 100 Euros even if I had to pay customs. ). Beyerdynamics T90 are slightly clearer and more enjoyable but they are an open construction, so everyone near you could enjoy your listen, too. For closed ones the Meze are great. I listen to both with an AP70 and an AP20 (where I implemented the headphone socket by myself). So if Paul and Tomasz agree in these times of pandemic, and you have a NVA integrated, I could tell you via PM how to do by yourself.

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Re: Headphone Amp

Unread post by Fretless »

As for headphones - after many different models from Grado, AKG, Sennheiser, B&W etc. I have settled on the AudioQuest NightHawk Carbon as being the best-sounding and most comfortable headphones EVER! (yes, I know, I rave about them at regular intervals)

As they were discontined a year or two ago they can now still be found, heavily discounted, on Ebay.

Recommended is the later Carbon model over the original NightHawk as the sound is a bit tighter and the cable is better (although very short - you need an extension). And the NightOwl is the closed version with an even tighter sound.
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Hemmo1969 (Thu Apr 30, 2020 1:17 pm)

Upstairs:
Vinyl
Pro-Ject 1.2 + Grado Sig Jr + Cambridge Alva Duo
DigiVolumio PC + Kiss DP-500 + Sabaj A20d
NVA: P50sa - Cube2 - SSP - LS6+ Sabaj A10a (x2)
Downstairs:
Vinyl
Logic DM101 + Syrinx LE1 + Grado Sig MCX
DigiDenafrips Ares II + Volumio PC + Cambridge CXC
NVA: P50 - BMU+ Aiyima A07 MAX (x2) + Arcam One
HP: HifiBerry Digi+ PRO + Sabaj A10d
Office:
Allo DigiOne SIG + SMSL M300se + Douk G4 (x2)
Mission 760 + Monolith THX AAA 887
Headphones: German Maestro, Monolith & AQ

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Re: Headphone Amp

Unread post by Hannes-Gregor »

Hemmo1969 wrote: Thu Apr 30, 2020 1:00 pm Thanks for this fella, I had forgot that when we had previously met me had spoke about your love of headphones 👍

Have you bought from DROP? Is there import tax etc
Ithilstone wrote: Thu Apr 30, 2020 12:22 pm There is a lot to tell about headphones but to make it short
Ohms: for example Beyerdynamic is manufacturing same headphones like DT990 in 3 variants 32, 250 and 600Ohms
same construction same driver just different Ohms - traditionally it would be 32 for portable 250 all rounder 600 for serious stationary set up or for connecting to pro rig in recording studio - as i said traditionally.
Also as a rule of thumb lower ohms are driven by current higher by voltage etc - you will find a lot of information about it.
Above is only valid for dynamic drivers. There are more types of drivers and different rules apply ;]

Current situation makes auditioning different ones a bit difficult - but most of online retailer has no question asked returns so....

Drop is good place to get something good on cheap (some products are available from EU with fast shipping but most from US )
- I would have a look at:
https://drop.com/buy/drop-thx-aaa-789-linear-amplifier - I had a chance to listen to it - and at current lower price is very good all rounder It will drive almost all HPs on the market - yes our AP10H is better in my opinion especially with extra psu and SA volume- but is nor small nor cheap

From Hps;
https://drop.com/buy/massdrop-x-meze-99 ... headphones
very very good closed backs - musical and enjoyable

https://drop.com/buy/massdrop-sennheiser-hd6xx
if you like darker sound - would need beefy amp ( the one from link above would be good) but Dragonfly will struggle

https://drop.com/buy/massdrop-x-akg-k7xx-red-edition
if you like brighter sounds

https://drop.com/buy/drop-hifiman-he4xx ... headphones
If you want to try planar magic on cheap - very fast detailed and mostly linear sound sig

https://drop.com/buy/massdrop-x-beyerdy ... headphones
never had a chance to try those but those look very interesting for a closed backs - would work with Dragonfly and by the looks of it can be easily tuned to your liking by changing pads;]
Here in Germany I had to pay VAT and customs. For the Meze it was 40 Euros altogether. And it took only 10 days till I had them, but that was before corona.
Last edited by Hannes-Gregor on Thu Apr 30, 2020 1:20 pm, edited 2 times in total.
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