| Headphone Amps (full-size) Discussion of desktop headphone amps. |
08-28-2008, 03:53 AM
|
 |
Headphoneus Supremus
|
|
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: San Jose, CA
Posts: 7,381
|
|
So, are intergratted amps the 'new' flavor of the month?
 I actually bought my Receiver to get HD audio with speakers, but I been pleasntly impressed with the performance with headphones, especially with a all digital connection & lossless audio files with my PS3.. I do know it has multiple huge power supplies.. The craftsmanship looks very clean..
|
08-28-2008, 03:56 AM
|
|
Headphoneus Supremus
|
|
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: San Jose, CA
Posts: 7,381
|
|
Since Yamaha takes so much pride in their SC technology through headphones, it would make sense that they treat the headphone out as more then just an after though..
|
08-28-2008, 06:36 AM
|
|
1000+ Head-Fi'er
|
|
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: gorokan, nsw, australia
Posts: 1,054
|
|
Integrateds could be the new Flavour Of The Month. Depends on how open minded posters here turn out to be.
Meantime we'll add your receiver to the growing list of good-sounding models. 
|
08-28-2008, 06:48 AM
|
|
Headphoneus Supremus
|
|
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: San Jose, CA
Posts: 7,381
|
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by pp312
Integrateds could be the new Flavour Of The Month. Depends on how open minded posters here turn out to be.
Meantime we'll add your receiver to the growing list of good-sounding models. |
Thank you. I just wish there was a list of relic receivers that are uniquivickly.. Or however it's spelled..  good with headphones.
|
08-28-2008, 02:53 PM
|
 |
1000+ Head-Fi'er
|
|
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Houston, TX
Posts: 1,284
|
|
Wow! I'm so far out that I am "in" again! Go Team OAF!
__________________
Phones: Sennheiser HD800 with Blue Dragon v3 cable / Denon AH-D2000 recabled / Sennheiser HD600 + Blue Dragon
Home Rig: FLAC via Foobar/WASAPI/optical --> MHDT Paradisea+ DAC w/ WE396A --> Woo Audio 6 SE w/ Sophia Princess
Portable: iPod Touch 32GB --> ALO Cryo Dock --> RSA Predator --> Westone UM2 / Koss KSC75
My Feedback: Head-Fi ; eBay ..... My Head-Fi Blog: Orcin's Blog
Current Head-Fi threat level is orange. Intelligence indicates a high risk of money being spent, but a specific target has not yet been identified.
|
08-28-2008, 03:28 PM
|
 |
Headphoneus Supremus 10*2kaiHead-Fi's Most Prolific Poster |
|
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Oslo, Norway
Posts: 32,184
|
|
Maybe! They sure looks to be popular these days...
I just bought one myself, a Red Wine Audio Signature 30.2, to be mainly used with the AKG K1000.
__________________
:: Feedback ::
MacBook Pro → Isabellina → Signature 30.2 / β22 → K1000
MacBook Pro → Isabellina → Signature 30.2 / β22 → SRD-7 Pro → SR-007BL
|
08-28-2008, 04:37 PM
|
 |
Headphoneus Supremus
|
|
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: North.Waaay north.
Posts: 1,756
|
|
My favourite integrated to date is the TEAC A-H500. Nice size, great sound and an excellent headphone stage. In fact, it's the best headphone stage on a non headamp specific component I've yet heard save for the Tandberg 3018A Preamplifier.
The A-H500 can drive 4 ohm speakers at 80 watts per channel and 50 watts per channel at 8 ohms. It's a beefy little amp.
This would be the ideal small amp/headamp for a student dorm or small office.
While not found on any street corner, they do come up on Ebay fairly regularly for $200 or so. Well worth the investment.
Last edited by IceClass; 08-28-2008 at 08:21 PM.
|
08-28-2008, 05:27 PM
|
 |
1000+ Head-Fi'er
|
|
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: The steamy south
Posts: 1,236
|
|
I wouldn't hold my breath on anything as simple as plugging into your existing integrated or receiver becoming the FOTM here in spendyland. You'll turn blue. But at least some old myths that just assumed they all sucked have been broken and some people are plugging in and listening with open ears and minds. It's all good...if it sounds good.
Tim
__________________
Apple laptop>Trends UD-10>vintage HK>HD580
iPod Nano>Etymotic ER6
Last edited by tfarney; 08-28-2008 at 05:41 PM.
|
08-28-2008, 06:08 PM
|
|
Headphoneus Supremus 10*2kaiHead-Fi's Most Prolific Poster |
|
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Oslo, Norway
Posts: 32,184
|
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by tfarney
I wouldn't hold my breath on anything as simple as plugging into your existing integrated or receiver becoming the FOTM here in spendyland.
|
Probably true!
But one thing for sure, integrated amplifiers (especially old vintage ones) get quite some love around here these days. Probably for a reason, since they seem to sell for reasonable money and are well made.
While others like me went for a brand spanking new integrated amplifier. 
__________________
:: Feedback ::
MacBook Pro → Isabellina → Signature 30.2 / β22 → K1000
MacBook Pro → Isabellina → Signature 30.2 / β22 → SRD-7 Pro → SR-007BL
|
08-28-2008, 06:36 PM
|
 |
500+ Head-Fi'er
|
|
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Helsinki, Finland
Posts: 801
|
|
I sure hope integrated amps become the new FOTM. I think the emphasis on dedicated Headphone Amps (full-size) in this forum is a bit over the top. 
__________________
Headphones: ATH-W5000, AKG K501, Grado RS1i & HF-2, Shure SRH840, Yuin PK1, Sennheiser IE8
Amps: RudiStor RPX33 EV-08, Graham Slee "Green" Solo, MiniBox-E+, iBasso D10
Source: Bel Canto USB Link - Lavry DA10, Mytek Stereo96 DAC, Benchmark DAC1 USB, Valab DAC
FS: Grado HF2
|
08-28-2008, 06:56 PM
|
 |
Headphoneus Supremus
|
|
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: The Beach, California
Posts: 15,588
|
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Headphony
I sure hope integrated amps become the new FOTM. I think the emphasis on dedicated Headphone Amps (full-size) in this forum is a bit over the top. |
Receivers (especially vintage ones) are a good intermediate step between portables and dedicated headphone amps. The users here are trending younger, which means less disposable income, and many full-sized headphones are not driven adequately by portable amps.
There are a couple other benefits, too. One, people will get FM coverage. FM is underrated. All you need is a quality antenna (super simple DIY project under $15, by the way) and you get a source with free music. The other benefit is that most vintage receivers have a phono stage. One less thing to buy when you're getting into increasingly popular vinyl.
Still, there is a lot of value in dedicated headphone amps. Being able to run class A (most receivers are class AB), using a handful of premium parts, low output and highly linear tubes and chips, etc. all have sonic benefits.
As the population here ages and moves into career-level jobs, the market will open up for dedicated headphone amps. Hopefully, we'll get a new crop of top-end headphones, too.
__________________
UNCLE ERIK
"If you cannot measure it, you cannot improve it." Lord Kelvin
Orbe SE -> SME IV -> Fi Yph -> Zana Deux/Si2A3
HF-1, HF-2, HP-2, K-1000, K-340, K-240DF, HD-800, HD-414, DT48, MDR-SA5000, MDR-7509HD, ATH-6, Omega II Mk.1, Aperio Alpha 1, e3c
ProAc Response 2.5 (cloned), Verhagen Ribbons, Quad ESL-63, Linkwitz Orion+ (under construction)
|
08-28-2008, 07:15 PM
|
|
Headphoneus Supremus
|
|
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: The Beach, California
Posts: 15,588
|
|
.
__________________
UNCLE ERIK
"If you cannot measure it, you cannot improve it." Lord Kelvin
Orbe SE -> SME IV -> Fi Yph -> Zana Deux/Si2A3
HF-1, HF-2, HP-2, K-1000, K-340, K-240DF, HD-800, HD-414, DT48, MDR-SA5000, MDR-7509HD, ATH-6, Omega II Mk.1, Aperio Alpha 1, e3c
ProAc Response 2.5 (cloned), Verhagen Ribbons, Quad ESL-63, Linkwitz Orion+ (under construction)
Last edited by Uncle Erik; 08-28-2008 at 07:20 PM.
Reason: The mysterious double post!
|
08-28-2008, 08:29 PM
|
|
Headphoneus Supremus
|
|
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: North.Waaay north.
Posts: 1,756
|
|
Interesting thoughts there Uncle although I think you may be seriously underestimating the disposable income of this generation of kids.
Usually along with the careers people also get mortgages, bills etc..
Crikey, I know I do.
|
08-28-2008, 09:35 PM
|
 |
Headphoneus Supremus
|
|
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Arlington, VA
Posts: 4,953
|
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by IceClass
Interesting thoughts there Uncle although I think you may be seriously underestimating the disposable income of this generation of kids.
Usually along with the careers people also get mortgages, bills etc..
Crikey, I know I do.
|
And wives 
|
08-28-2008, 09:53 PM
|
 |
Headphoneus Supremus
|
|
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: northern NJ
Posts: 5,356
|
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by IceClass
Interesting thoughts there Uncle although I think you may be seriously underestimating the disposable income of this generation of kids.
|
I think you mean overestimating.
Anyways, the whole integrated 1-box thing can be a nice place to start, and holds some gems, BUT there is too much variability from brand to brand and different models within the brands for there to be a REALLY consistent trend. The stuff that will have the truly exceptional headphone outputs most likely has everything else built to a similar standard. Buying this gear is either a once in a lifetime deal or in the budget range that puts you back to buying a nice headphone amplifier which will likely provide better documented performance.
If you know what to look out for the deals in "one box stereos" can be very good, but its a hobby all of its own really.
__________________
Grado owners please help!
Quote:
Originally Posted by blackie
keep 'em heated, ninjas
|
No, I will not fix your SP amp.
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
|
|
|
All times are GMT. The time now is 04:43 AM.
|
Head-Fi's Sponsors
(Premier Sponsors bolded) |
|
|
Head-Fi Blogs
and Facebook |
|
|
Head-Fi's Sponsors
(Premier Sponsors bolded) |
|
|
|
