home listening recommendation

[murphydog]

I need a hedphone set up at home to escape the family madness! Picked up a cheap CD63 SE and I'm going to use my existing 580s for the time being. What amps do people recommend? I'm in the UK and I'm looking to spend ~£250 tops. Cheers,Paul

[Beauregard]

Hiya Paul,

My CD63-SE and Senn 580s have been providing musical pleasure for over ten years now! I just upgraded all components of my home headphone system - connecting the Marantz to the highly regarded Benchmark DAC1. I'm admittedly not an audiophile, but I'm not sure I hear any notable improvement. Could be more a comment on my ears than a decade of technological advancement...

Couple of comments about the CD63 headphone jack in case you're using it at present. First, it's pure crap - even to my less-than-sophisticated ears. You'll be thrilled to hear your phones through a decent amp. Second, make sure you turn down the digital volume control BEFORE starting playback. You've probably already discovered this; took me a half-dozen unpleasant ear-shattering experiences before the lesson took hold.

I can't offer you the kind of comparisons among amps that more experienced Head-Fi'ers will. But I can heartily recommend auditioning one of the products from HeadRoom. I got one of their Home amps soon after I got the Marantz and it changed my whole attitude about headphone listening. I'd never really been able to enjoy phones at home - the binaural presentation always sounded "off" compared to speakers. But the HeadRoom crossfeed processor performs exactly as advertised. It creates a genuinely coherent listening space in the head that's much more natural and, to my ears, provides a depth and sense of body to instruments and vocals that's lacking otherwise. Crossfeed often gets short shrift in these forums and that angers me a bit since it's been crucial to my enjoyment of headphones - and I think others would feel similarly if they gave it a try.

I encourage you to check out the the tech info about crossfeed at the HeadRoom site. Their implementation is based on sound psychoacoustic research, electronically executed and tweaked by folks who truly care about quality sound. One thing that they stressed a decade ago that I don't see mentioned in their current manuals is the need for psychoacoustic brain burn-in to get accustomed to the crossfeed effect. I think they recommended about 40 hours for the ol' neurons to acclimate to the sound before passing judgement on its utility - and I concur.

Anyway... my two cents. As always, YMMV...

Best,
Beau

[murphydog]

Cheers Beau, Marantz and Sennheiser is a good combination, I've had a look at the Headroom amps but on the site they say that a lot of their models are no longer for sale. Being on this side of the pond I'm wondering about the Corda amps. These also feature crossfeed which is certainly interesting since I find I'm having to do increasing amounts of 'phones listening.

[Beauregard]

If you've been browsing this site, you'll know that the Meier amps are highly regarded and Dr. Meier is a class act when he posts here. I doubt you'd be disappointed!

I briefly considered one of high end Meiers for my recent upgrade. But the Meier crossfeed is implemented very differently from HeadRoom's and I was afraid that I was too used to the HeadRoom sound after 10 years to give a different version a fair shake.

And I wouldn't necessarily dismiss HeadRoom because they've discontinued some of their line. When I spoke with them, they said they were dropping the single power supply versions of their Home model because, with the improved module they introduced last summer, the Little model offers much better value for the money for folks looking for an amp to use at home. They claim that, in its "best" version, the Little offers virtually identical sonic qualities for much less money. So you might want to check out the various versions of the Little with improved power supplies and/or modules.

Of course, having just bought the dual power Maxed Out Home from HeadRoom for my once a decade upgrade, I suspect they're about to introduce an entirely new line just to make me crazy... Heheh...

Best,
Beau

[lordgibbness]

I'm in the UK too, and have just ordered the Rega Ear from Lintone. It seems to be a very good amp from what I have read. Maybe it would suit you too - and only cost me £148!!

http://www.avforums.com/forums/showt...light=rega+ear

You will have to ring Lintone to order it as their site is a work in progress at the moment, but the owner seems to be a nice guy and knows his stuff. Here is the thread that I started a few days ago when I was looking: http://www4.head-fi.org/forums/showthread.php?t=106888

Cheers.

[lordgibbness]

Also this review may be useful http://www.audioenz.co.nz/2002/rega_ear.shtml

[murphydog]

Thanks for the feedback. I'm narrowing it down to a choice between the Meier
amps and the Graham Slee Solo, just missed one here yesterday Doh! Headroom certainly seem to be the business but my last couple of orders for stuff from the States have been hammered by Customs as they seem to have tightened up a lot lately. Anybody out there who has heard both the Meiers and the Graham Slee who can offer a comparison?

[fredpb]

My experience with the Senns is they need POWER.

Get an amp that can provide lotsa current, perhaps that can use an optional power supply.

The Senns cannot provide a good deep low end without power.

I have tried tube amps, Perreaux, and Headroom amps. The only one that provided sufficent power was the Maxed Out Home by Headroom. The Perreaux came close.

[lordgibbness]

That's exactly why I ordered the Rega Ear (for my HD600s).

[murphydog]

Just had a response from Shaun Williams from my enquiry of some time ago which has resulted in me ordering a built Chiarra and power supply from him.Two weeks build time and I can't wait to hear it. Are the 580s going to be up to it I Wonder? I might be looking for some 650s soon if anybodys thinking of offloading. Cheers,paul