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| Headphone Amps (full-size) Discussion of desktop headphone amps. |
01-18-2009, 02:03 AM
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Headphoneus Supremus:
Reviewerus Prolificus
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Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Chicagoland
Posts: 11,431
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REVIEW SUMMARY: A ranking of 19 tube and tube/hybrid headphone amps
I have been asked repeatedly to do this, and I have resisted so far, but I have decided to go ahead and rank all of the tube amps that I have either formally reviewed, or that I have owned for a long time but not formally reviewed.
Note that this is a HUGE range in prices, from $6,000 to $120!!!! And note also that I ACTUALLY RECOMMEND and like EVERY ONE of these amps – understanding the strengths and weaknesses of each. So in some ways this should be looked at more just as a list than a ranking, although I did put them in order of my preference. I should also point out that, IMO, the amps ranked from #5 on down are all VERY close in terms of sound quality. From 6 up, some significant jumps begin to occur.
By request, I have included the price to the best of my ability. Prices are all in USD, and do not include shipping unless indicated.
Note also that I have not included on this list amps that I heard only at a "meet". This is not a long enough exposure for a proper evaluation. So in spite of my having been very impressed with amps such as the RSA Raptor and B-52, and the Eddie Current Zana Deux, since I have only heard these at meets, I cannot include them on a list like this. All of the amps on this list I had on loan for a full review, or I actually bought and owned for some period of time.
I have posted a link to all of my reviews. I hope this is helpful in some way.
1. RedWineAudio Isabella (Review: REVIEW: RedWineAudio Isabella tube Preamp/DAC/Headphone amp ) - $4,500 without DAC
2. Decware Zen Select CSP-2 (Review: REVIEW: Decware Select Zen CSP2 Tube Headphone Amp ) $795
3. Darkvoice 337 (Review: REVIEW: Four 6AS7G-based home tube headphone amps reviewed and compared ) $750 including shipping from China
4. Bijou (Review: REVIEW – Cavalli Audio Bijou DIY tube headphone amp ) - DIY, price varies
5. Elekit TU882 $425 (Review: REVIEW: Elekit TU882 tube headphone amp (kit and assembled) )
6. Ming-Da MC-84C -07 - $385
7. AudioTailor Jade (Review: REVIEW: Audiotailor “Jade” Vacuum Tube Headphone Amplifier ) - $345
8. Transcendere Sweet-5 (Review: REVIEW: Trancendere Sweet-5 tube integrated amp/headphone amp with USB) - $597
9. Yarland P100 (Review: REVIEW: Yarland P100 tube headphone amp (pics) ) $495 - new 2009 model
10. SpaceTechLabs 6AS7G (Review: REVIEW: Four 6AS7G-based home tube headphone amps reviewed and compared ) - $790
11. Antique Sound Labs MG Head DT - $395
12. WooAudio 3+ (Review: REVIEW: Four 6AS7G-based home tube headphone amps reviewed and compared ) $495
13. Darkvoice 336SE - $299 shipped from China
14. Head-Direct EF1 (Review: REVIEW: Head-Direct EF1 tube/hybrid headphone amp ) - currently $299
15. Musical Paradise MP301 - (Review: REVIEW: Musical Paradise MP-301 Tube Headphone / Speaker amp ) - $199
16. Eddie Current LunchBox II - $225
17. Qinpu A-3 (Review: REVIEW: Qinpu Q-2 and A-3 Amplifiers and V-5 Speakers ) - $240
18. TNS Sweet-2 - $220
19. Qinpu Q-2 (Review: REVIEW: Qinpu Q-2 and A-3 Amplifiers and V-5 Speakers ) - $110
__________________
PLEASE NOTE: Due to the volume of PM's I have been receiving in connection with my reviews, I no longer have the time to answer PM's from people with zero posts. Please read head-fi first before asking questions.
Team GO-U-NORTHWESTERN
Pics: Main Home Rig; Bedside Rig; Office Rig; Portable Rig;
Headphones: JVC HP-DX1000, HA-RX900; Headphile Deep Cup Darth Beyers VXD3,VXD4; Beyerdynamic DT990/600 (Manufaktur) DT770/600 (Manufaktur), DT880/600 Balanced (Manufaktur); HiFi-Man HE-2 Planar Magnetic; Sennheiser PXC-350; Shure SRH840
Home amps: Ray Samuels Audio Stealth (Mullard ECC32/CV4003); Decware Zen CSP-2 (Amperex BB 6DJ8/Sophia Princess 274B); Darkvoice 337 (GEC 6AS7G's/Tung-Sol mesh plate 6SJ7GTs); Wheatfield Audio HA-2 (Mullard ECC32/GEC 6AS7G/GEC U52); Ming-Da MC84-C 07 (Mullard CV4004/EL84/EM87); Audiotailor Jade (GEC 6AS7G/Sylvania 5751); J. Sound Lab Headphone (Mullard 12AT7); Audio-GD Phoenix; Musical Paradise MP-301 (Ken-Rad 6V6GT/Mullard 6AU6)
Portable Amps: Ray Samuels Audio P-51 Mustang; Decware ZenHead; Qables iQube
Sources: Denon DP59L table + Clearaudio Maestro Wood / VPI Scoutmaster + Benz Micro Wood L2 > Audio Electronics PH-1 DJH Phono Preamp; Music Hall 25.2 DAC; Denon DVD-5900;Red Wine Audio iMod iPod (Apple Lossless) & ALO VCap dock; Sony SCD-555ES SACD player
Loudspeaker system: Krell KAV250 Preamp>Sunfire Signature II Power amp > B&W Nautilus 800 Signatures + Velodyne FSR-1500/Martin Logan Descent
Tube testers: B&K Dyna-quick 650 & Dyna-Jet 606
Head-fi feedback
Last edited by Skylab; 08-02-2009 at 09:23 PM.
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01-18-2009, 02:20 AM
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500+ Head-Fi'er
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Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: London, UK
Posts: 918
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Appreciated Skylab for your astonishing effort in this regard.
__________________
Gear I: MacBook Pro 17" Optical --> Creative DD/DTS DAC --> Ultrasone HFI-650 (Old), Shure SRH840
Gear II: Sony Vintage D-171/D-E301/'iPod 5.5G Docked out In-line Volume Control' --> E500s, HFI-650 (Old), SRH840
An Audio Purist Would Always Be An Audiophile
Head-Fi eBay
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01-18-2009, 02:22 AM
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100+ Head-Fi'er
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Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: North Queensland Australia + Nelson, New Zealand
Posts: 250
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Thanks once again for all your excellent work. I've said it before and it's worth repeating: the efforts of you and a small handful of other Head-fi review-giants make this site the wonderful experience it is for so many of us other mutts.
Regarding this line-up of hybrid amps, where would you put the Little Dot 1+? Anywhere? Nowhere? With all the clamour that amp received a few months ago, I'm a bit surprised to not see it listed here especially with the Quinpu getting a look-in.
Thanks,
Don
Last edited by ddoingwell; 01-18-2009 at 02:24 AM.
Reason: spelling
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01-18-2009, 02:38 AM
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Headphoneus Supremus:
Reviewerus Prolificus
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Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Chicagoland
Posts: 11,431
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ddoingwell
Thanks once again for all your excellent work. I've said it before and it's worth repeating: the efforts of you and a small handful of other Head-fi review-giants make this site the wonderful experience it is for so many of us other mutts.
Regarding this line-up of hybrid amps, where would you put the Little Dot 1+? Anywhere? Nowhere? With all the clamour that amp received a few months ago, I'm a bit surprised to not see it listed here especially with the Quinpu getting a look-in.
Thanks,
Don
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Thanks! I actually really wish I had ever heard any of the Little Dot amps, but I have not. Their absence from this list is a problem for sure, but I don't want to buy one just to review it, so I'm not sure that there will be a cure.
__________________
PLEASE NOTE: Due to the volume of PM's I have been receiving in connection with my reviews, I no longer have the time to answer PM's from people with zero posts. Please read head-fi first before asking questions.
Team GO-U-NORTHWESTERN
Pics: Main Home Rig; Bedside Rig; Office Rig; Portable Rig;
Headphones: JVC HP-DX1000, HA-RX900; Headphile Deep Cup Darth Beyers VXD3,VXD4; Beyerdynamic DT990/600 (Manufaktur) DT770/600 (Manufaktur), DT880/600 Balanced (Manufaktur); HiFi-Man HE-2 Planar Magnetic; Sennheiser PXC-350; Shure SRH840
Home amps: Ray Samuels Audio Stealth (Mullard ECC32/CV4003); Decware Zen CSP-2 (Amperex BB 6DJ8/Sophia Princess 274B); Darkvoice 337 (GEC 6AS7G's/Tung-Sol mesh plate 6SJ7GTs); Wheatfield Audio HA-2 (Mullard ECC32/GEC 6AS7G/GEC U52); Ming-Da MC84-C 07 (Mullard CV4004/EL84/EM87); Audiotailor Jade (GEC 6AS7G/Sylvania 5751); J. Sound Lab Headphone (Mullard 12AT7); Audio-GD Phoenix; Musical Paradise MP-301 (Ken-Rad 6V6GT/Mullard 6AU6)
Portable Amps: Ray Samuels Audio P-51 Mustang; Decware ZenHead; Qables iQube
Sources: Denon DP59L table + Clearaudio Maestro Wood / VPI Scoutmaster + Benz Micro Wood L2 > Audio Electronics PH-1 DJH Phono Preamp; Music Hall 25.2 DAC; Denon DVD-5900;Red Wine Audio iMod iPod (Apple Lossless) & ALO VCap dock; Sony SCD-555ES SACD player
Loudspeaker system: Krell KAV250 Preamp>Sunfire Signature II Power amp > B&W Nautilus 800 Signatures + Velodyne FSR-1500/Martin Logan Descent
Tube testers: B&K Dyna-quick 650 & Dyna-Jet 606
Head-fi feedback
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01-18-2009, 02:40 AM
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Headphoneus Supremus
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Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Nevada
Posts: 1,545
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Awesome compendium and detailed as usual.
Very interesting to see where the PPX3 resides relative to the WooAudio 3+.
Thanks once again for your hard work saving countless people time and money not the mention making our hobby more enjoyable.
In Skylab We Trust.
Tom
__________________
"These are the good times and we are having them...right now!"
Obi Wan
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01-18-2009, 02:47 AM
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500+ Head-Fi'er
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Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Chelsea, AL
Posts: 631
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Skylab I would love for you to review the Ming-Da MC-84C -07. I was skeptical about purchasing this, but I did after a glowing recommendation from you. You were absolutely right. I have about 100 hours burned in on this thing, and I'm very impressed so far. I would like to see if your impressions are similar to mine. Anyway thanks for recommending me this amp. There's not many people talking about this. So it maybe one of the best kept secrets on headfi. It can be had for as little as 350.00usd. Wow.
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01-18-2009, 02:50 AM
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Headphoneus Supremus
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Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Peaceful village in Ohio.
Posts: 5,005
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That's awsome, Rob! If only I could send you my LD MK VI to review.
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01-18-2009, 03:02 AM
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Headphoneus Supremus:
Reviewerus Prolificus
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Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Chicagoland
Posts: 11,431
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Quote:
Originally Posted by moodyrn
Skylab I would love for you to review the Ming-Da MC-84C -07. I was skeptical about purchasing this, but I did after a glowing recommendation from you. You were absolutely right. I have about 100 hours burned in on this thing, and I'm very impressed so far. I would like to see if your impressions are similar to mine. Anyway thanks for recommending me this amp. There's not many people talking about this. So it maybe one of the best kept secrets on headfi. It can be had for as little as 350.00usd. Wow.
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Yep, the MC-84C 07 is a very nice amp. I played it with my AKG K340s for Ray Samuels at a meet, and even he was impressed  . It does prefer high-impedance headphones, and good tubes for it are a little pricey, but with my all-Mullard tube complement, its an amazingly good amp.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Lil' Knight
That's awsome, Rob! If only I could send you my LD MK VI to review.
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Thanks! Yeah, "borrowing" tube amps is just risky business 
__________________
PLEASE NOTE: Due to the volume of PM's I have been receiving in connection with my reviews, I no longer have the time to answer PM's from people with zero posts. Please read head-fi first before asking questions.
Team GO-U-NORTHWESTERN
Pics: Main Home Rig; Bedside Rig; Office Rig; Portable Rig;
Headphones: JVC HP-DX1000, HA-RX900; Headphile Deep Cup Darth Beyers VXD3,VXD4; Beyerdynamic DT990/600 (Manufaktur) DT770/600 (Manufaktur), DT880/600 Balanced (Manufaktur); HiFi-Man HE-2 Planar Magnetic; Sennheiser PXC-350; Shure SRH840
Home amps: Ray Samuels Audio Stealth (Mullard ECC32/CV4003); Decware Zen CSP-2 (Amperex BB 6DJ8/Sophia Princess 274B); Darkvoice 337 (GEC 6AS7G's/Tung-Sol mesh plate 6SJ7GTs); Wheatfield Audio HA-2 (Mullard ECC32/GEC 6AS7G/GEC U52); Ming-Da MC84-C 07 (Mullard CV4004/EL84/EM87); Audiotailor Jade (GEC 6AS7G/Sylvania 5751); J. Sound Lab Headphone (Mullard 12AT7); Audio-GD Phoenix; Musical Paradise MP-301 (Ken-Rad 6V6GT/Mullard 6AU6)
Portable Amps: Ray Samuels Audio P-51 Mustang; Decware ZenHead; Qables iQube
Sources: Denon DP59L table + Clearaudio Maestro Wood / VPI Scoutmaster + Benz Micro Wood L2 > Audio Electronics PH-1 DJH Phono Preamp; Music Hall 25.2 DAC; Denon DVD-5900;Red Wine Audio iMod iPod (Apple Lossless) & ALO VCap dock; Sony SCD-555ES SACD player
Loudspeaker system: Krell KAV250 Preamp>Sunfire Signature II Power amp > B&W Nautilus 800 Signatures + Velodyne FSR-1500/Martin Logan Descent
Tube testers: B&K Dyna-quick 650 & Dyna-Jet 606
Head-fi feedback
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01-18-2009, 03:02 AM
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100+ Head-Fi'er
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Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: North Queensland Australia + Nelson, New Zealand
Posts: 250
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LD cure
Quote:
Originally Posted by Skylab
Thanks! I actually really wish I had ever heard any of the Little Dot amps, but I have not. Their absence from this list is a problem for sure, but I don't want to buy one just to review it, so I'm not sure that there will be a cure.
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Maybe someone should just ASK LD to send a selection of amps to our good friend Rob. He seems like such a nice bloke...
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01-18-2009, 03:09 AM
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Headphoneus Supremus
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Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 2,386
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The Red Wine is some serious stuff. The Red Wine Signature amp is one of the best K1000 amps.
__________________
The ear is my favorite organ
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01-18-2009, 03:30 AM
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Headphoneus Supremus
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Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Ohio
Posts: 7,917
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Spareribs
The Red Wine is some serious stuff. The Red Wine Signature amp is one of the best K1000 amps.
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I really like the hybrid amps, even the inexpensive ones. When I saw the Red Wine at the top I was interested  ....for about one minute until I saw the price. I didnt expect a $6000 price tag .... ouch. Sure looks nice though.
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01-18-2009, 03:36 AM
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Headphoneus Supremus:
Reviewerus Prolificus
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Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Chicagoland
Posts: 11,431
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Quote:
Originally Posted by sacd lover
I really like the hybrid amps, even the inexpensive ones. When I saw the Red Wine at the top I was interested ....for about one minute until I saw the price. I didnt expect a $6000 price tag .... ouch. Sure looks nice though. |
Yep, seriously good, and seriously expensive. Of course for that price you do get an awesome DAC as well.
__________________
PLEASE NOTE: Due to the volume of PM's I have been receiving in connection with my reviews, I no longer have the time to answer PM's from people with zero posts. Please read head-fi first before asking questions.
Team GO-U-NORTHWESTERN
Pics: Main Home Rig; Bedside Rig; Office Rig; Portable Rig;
Headphones: JVC HP-DX1000, HA-RX900; Headphile Deep Cup Darth Beyers VXD3,VXD4; Beyerdynamic DT990/600 (Manufaktur) DT770/600 (Manufaktur), DT880/600 Balanced (Manufaktur); HiFi-Man HE-2 Planar Magnetic; Sennheiser PXC-350; Shure SRH840
Home amps: Ray Samuels Audio Stealth (Mullard ECC32/CV4003); Decware Zen CSP-2 (Amperex BB 6DJ8/Sophia Princess 274B); Darkvoice 337 (GEC 6AS7G's/Tung-Sol mesh plate 6SJ7GTs); Wheatfield Audio HA-2 (Mullard ECC32/GEC 6AS7G/GEC U52); Ming-Da MC84-C 07 (Mullard CV4004/EL84/EM87); Audiotailor Jade (GEC 6AS7G/Sylvania 5751); J. Sound Lab Headphone (Mullard 12AT7); Audio-GD Phoenix; Musical Paradise MP-301 (Ken-Rad 6V6GT/Mullard 6AU6)
Portable Amps: Ray Samuels Audio P-51 Mustang; Decware ZenHead; Qables iQube
Sources: Denon DP59L table + Clearaudio Maestro Wood / VPI Scoutmaster + Benz Micro Wood L2 > Audio Electronics PH-1 DJH Phono Preamp; Music Hall 25.2 DAC; Denon DVD-5900;Red Wine Audio iMod iPod (Apple Lossless) & ALO VCap dock; Sony SCD-555ES SACD player
Loudspeaker system: Krell KAV250 Preamp>Sunfire Signature II Power amp > B&W Nautilus 800 Signatures + Velodyne FSR-1500/Martin Logan Descent
Tube testers: B&K Dyna-quick 650 & Dyna-Jet 606
Head-fi feedback
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01-18-2009, 03:43 AM
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Headphoneus Supremus:
Reviewerus Prolificus
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Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Chicagoland
Posts: 11,431
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mbd2884
You are missing the Zana Deux!
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Please re-read the first post - I added a note that relates to (among others) the Zana Deux.
__________________
PLEASE NOTE: Due to the volume of PM's I have been receiving in connection with my reviews, I no longer have the time to answer PM's from people with zero posts. Please read head-fi first before asking questions.
Team GO-U-NORTHWESTERN
Pics: Main Home Rig; Bedside Rig; Office Rig; Portable Rig;
Headphones: JVC HP-DX1000, HA-RX900; Headphile Deep Cup Darth Beyers VXD3,VXD4; Beyerdynamic DT990/600 (Manufaktur) DT770/600 (Manufaktur), DT880/600 Balanced (Manufaktur); HiFi-Man HE-2 Planar Magnetic; Sennheiser PXC-350; Shure SRH840
Home amps: Ray Samuels Audio Stealth (Mullard ECC32/CV4003); Decware Zen CSP-2 (Amperex BB 6DJ8/Sophia Princess 274B); Darkvoice 337 (GEC 6AS7G's/Tung-Sol mesh plate 6SJ7GTs); Wheatfield Audio HA-2 (Mullard ECC32/GEC 6AS7G/GEC U52); Ming-Da MC84-C 07 (Mullard CV4004/EL84/EM87); Audiotailor Jade (GEC 6AS7G/Sylvania 5751); J. Sound Lab Headphone (Mullard 12AT7); Audio-GD Phoenix; Musical Paradise MP-301 (Ken-Rad 6V6GT/Mullard 6AU6)
Portable Amps: Ray Samuels Audio P-51 Mustang; Decware ZenHead; Qables iQube
Sources: Denon DP59L table + Clearaudio Maestro Wood / VPI Scoutmaster + Benz Micro Wood L2 > Audio Electronics PH-1 DJH Phono Preamp; Music Hall 25.2 DAC; Denon DVD-5900;Red Wine Audio iMod iPod (Apple Lossless) & ALO VCap dock; Sony SCD-555ES SACD player
Loudspeaker system: Krell KAV250 Preamp>Sunfire Signature II Power amp > B&W Nautilus 800 Signatures + Velodyne FSR-1500/Martin Logan Descent
Tube testers: B&K Dyna-quick 650 & Dyna-Jet 606
Head-fi feedback
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01-18-2009, 11:37 AM
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Headphoneus Supremus
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Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Los Angeles, California
Posts: 2,683
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Thanks for all the hard work you've put in Skylab! I really appreciate your effort.
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01-18-2009, 12:05 PM
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100+ Head-Fi'er
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Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Mumbai, India
Posts: 475
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Skylab
Thanks! I actually really wish I had ever heard any of the Little Dot amps, but I have not. Their absence from this list is a problem for sure, but I don't want to buy one just to review it, so I'm not sure that there will be a cure.
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Very nice reviews. So the WA3+ is the least preferred; not surprising considering its price. And superb effort on compiling and linking to so many reviews. I read them all!
__________________
Main Rig: Xonar Essence STX ---> LD Micro Tube ---> Sennheiser HD 650
Main Rig 2: Macbook 2008 ---> LD Micro Tube ---> Grado SR 225 / Audio Technica A900
Portable Rig: iPod Touch 1G ---> Grado SR 225 / Creative EP630
Coming Soon: home grown Beta 22, HD600
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