Would this amp be suitable for use connected directly to my CD player?
I have no amplifier for this CDP
Presumably 2x phonos (?) The reason I am confused is because of what the Rega web pages say about connection ...
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... if it will work with my CDP how would this combination compare to a newer CDP with headphone output - like the Marantz 5000i (?) - my old one - a Marantz CD52 was bought at least 10yrs ago
Paul

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I use it connected directly to my PC soundcard (M-Audio Transit). Using it directly from the CDP is no problem. The headphone out of my CDP sounds clearly worse (way too little bass) than when I plug the headphones (Sennheiser HD 600) in the Rega amp instead. Which headphones are you planning to use the Rega with?

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sTisTi - thanks for your reply - the 'phones I will be using are Senn555's
I have compared the sound from my CDP with my main system which uses a Pioneer 575a SACD / DVD-A player as source which I can listen to "direct" (via analogue) on the AV amp (Denon 3801) Compared to this the CDP lacks bass & overall detail - I'm not expecting too much from this setup as only a 2nd setup in the bedroom but I would like some noticeable improvement over the basic CDP sound (?)
Paul

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Paul,

I enjoyed using my Rega Ear connected directly to the output of a Rega Planet 2000. You should be able to connect the Rega Ear directly to the output of any CD player. At $225 MSRP, the only fault I can find with the Rega Ear is that it has a very high gain (21dB, I believe), which makes it unsuitable for use with relatively sensitive phones like in-ear-monitors (Shure, Etys) and Grados. There is not much volume control with sensitive phones. With high impedance cans, such as the HD580/600/650, the Rega Ear is a great match. The Rega Ear drives the HD650 with authority, piercing the so-called "veil" and tightening the bass. I am not familiar with the HD555.

I cannot tell you whether the difference will be noticeable to you -- it was to me using the Rega Ear with the HD650 versus the HD650 with the built-in headphone out of a Denon DM-31. However, if you cannot tell the difference using a Rega Ear, I doubt you will with another headphone amp costing under $500.

Pat

Pat - thanks for your input - The HD555 have the following spec (as listed on their web site)

Nominal impedance 50 Ohm
Contact pressure 3,5 N
Weight w/o cable 260 g
Jack plug 6,3 mm stereo (3,5 mm Adapter)
Transducer principle (Headphones) open, dynamic
Ear coupling circumaural
Cable length 3 m
Frequency response (headphones) 15.....28000 Hz
Sound pressure level (SPL) 112 dB (1 kHz and 1 Veff)
THD, total harmonic distortion < 0,2 %

Not sure if they would be classed as "high impedance cans" (?)
Further pointers & suggestion still appreciated ... Paul

50 Ohms is not high impedance in my book. How sensitive is it? I mean, can you drive it pretty easy with a portable source? Sorry can't help you much here as I have no experience with the 555. Just from the relatively low impedance of the HD555, I would hesitate to recommend the Rega Ear without an audition. Don't get me wrong, it is an excellent headphone amp for the HD580/600/650 -- but I don't consider it a versatile amp.

Another amp in a similar price range is the headamp.com Gilmore Lite. I have not heard it but may be worth your while to do a search on it.

The Rega Ear will work (i.e. amplifiy the signal) directly from CDP to headphones. I think it even has a loop out send cdp signal to other eqpt. like your main amp. I cannot recommend the Rega EAR with the HD555 or any phones for that matter except some old Koss jobies I had. The sound was distant and thin. THe EAR uses a dual channel single op amp and it's implementation is utilitarian to say the most.

I own a Rega EAR and use it with Senn HD580's and Grado SR 60's. It works great with the both cans, even though the Grado's only use a little of the usable volume control. I find the sound very detailed, with excellent PRAT, though I'm sure some may find it slightly thin or dry. I don't, but if you are a tube lover and need that luscious midrange, this amp doesn't have it. However, if you like rock n roll music- holy cow this amp is great!

Michael

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Michael (& others) Thanks for your replies! I cant expect people who havent tried the 555's with this amp to recommend them but Michaels comments are most helpful as the 580's and SR60's have vastly different impedances
I do favour rock music but have mellowed over the years (more Larry Carlton & less AC/DC!) I will also investigate the Gilmore Lite although I am in the UK so dont know if they are available here (?)
Paul

PB:
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No worries. What they're describing there is just the "how would I integrate this headphome amp thingy into my existing stereo system"-situation. But, of course, you can directly connect that headphone amp to anything with a line-level analogue output just as well. And that "link socket" thingy translates into a loop-through output - that means if all your tape-outs on an integrated amp/receiver/pre-amp/whatever were already in use, you'd still be able to integrate the headphone amp in the tape loop.

Greetings from Hannover!

Manfred / lini

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lini - thanks for clearing that up (pretty much what I suspected but always nice for someone to concur!) Greetings from the UK (I have updated my profile to show where I am - how rude of me not to before )
Paul

Paul,

I listened to the SR60 last night with the Rega EAR just to check exactly where the usable volume control range is for this high efficiency can. If you think of the volume control as being a clock, 6:30 is no gain on the volume control. I don't listen to insane levels on my headphones, but I'd say the usable range of the volume control with the Grado's is from 6:30-8:00 on the dial. It's not very bothersome to me, as it's pretty easy for me to find the appropriate level on each CD. The Sennheiser HD580's use about 6:30-9:30 on the volume dial, which isn't that much more. It's definitely a high gain amp, but, again, no problems on my end. I actually like the Grado SR60's more than the Senn's with the EAR once I find the proper level on the volume control. The SR60's really come alive with an amp on them IMO.

Finally, I normally use the EAR in the tape loop of my Nait 5i, but I have been plugging both my phono stage (Dynavector P75) and D/A convertor (Ack dAck 2.0) directly into it lately and it works great.

Michael

Michael thanks for taking the time to post your findings - as long as there's enough volume adjustment to give some control as some discs are very "quiet" on my CDP whilst others (like Gaucho on SACD) are LOUD!
Ideally I'd try my Senns in the amp first but to be honest I am stuggling to find anyone in my area that has one
I think I will end up buying blind but I know Rega stuff from my TT days & this amp is widely recommended ...
Paul

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If you've ever heard Rega's integrated amps (i.e., Brio or Mira), you will know what to expect with the EAR. Since you are in the UK, I'd assume you may have a hi-fi shop to stop in and hear normal Rega electronics. The EAR is voiced in the same way IMO. All Rega's I've heard (i.e., Planar 9, Planar 3, Planar 25, Jupiter, Planet, Brio, Mira, and Cursa/Exon) have nice tonality and incredibly good rhythmic drive.

Michael

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Michael - thanks again - despite producing some gr8 hifi here in the UK hifi shops (good ones at least) are few and far between! As I said in my last post I am prepared to buy a Rega Ear "blind" based on reputation & that no-one here has slagged it off - my old CDP is playing up so I think the Ear will soon be paired up with a newer CDP (I've already spotted a couple of good 2nd hand ones online!)
Paul