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How good are HeadRoom's AirHead, AirHead Clear, Total AirHead Clear amps?

post #1 of 16
1/24/06 at 7:52pm
Thread Starter 
How good are the HeadRoom's $149 - $199 amps in general?
Would they be a good match for the 50-Ohm Sennhesier HD595?
I am not interested in portable use - only home use.
I'd like like to hook up one of those amps to my Pioneer DV-578A.
I'm also considering Go-Vibe v.4 and Xenos 3AH.

See you on the Amped Side of the Moon

Adam
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post #2 of 16
1/24/06 at 8:33pm
I have a TAH and its great for a portable amp w/crossfeed. I use it with Etys and a pair of HD-600's, and for its class (read portable), it has enough oomph for your Senns. Most amps in that price range are portable so there are not many home amps to consider as alternatives. Headroom has great service and the TAH has two jacks in case you want to plug in a second set of cans. I cannot comment about your other choices because I have not heard them, but they seem to have a good following on the boards.
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post #3 of 16
1/24/06 at 10:25pm
I own both airhead and micro amp w/ desktop module w/ senn 595s
save up another $100 and get the mirco amp...the difference is staggering.
and worth the money many times over. I made this upgrade on the recommendation of Headroom. The airhead is fine for purely portable use like a bike or treadmill or airplane. Once you plug your 595s into the micro amp you will discover why they are such great cans.
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post #4 of 16
1/25/06 at 12:10am
I own the Airhead and the Micro (Desktop Module option), and the difference in sound is indeed staggering. The Airhead does work to improve the sound (better dynamics, crossfeed), but the Micro puts it in the league of hi-fi.

If you don't intend to go portable, the Micro is well worth saving up for because you won't need to upgrade for a while (it will work well and not let you down even if you go to the high end models like the HD650)
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post #5 of 16
1/25/06 at 3:29am
Quote:
Originally Posted by AdamCalifornia
How good are the HeadRoom's $149 - $199 amps in general?
Would they be a good match for the 50-Ohm Sennhesier HD595?
I am not interested in portable use - only home use.
I'd like like to hook up one of those amps to my Pioneer DV-578A.
I'm also considering Go-Vibe v.4 and Xenos 3AH.

See you on the Amped Side of the Moon

Adam
They're not bad, Adam. But for the money I'd prefer to find a used SR 71 or a Perreaux Silhouette. The latter's ac only, so lack of portability would be an issue. The SR 71 is about the same size as the Airheads, but heavier. Downside it doesn't have an AC option, but I get good results using lithium 9v batteries (100+ hours).

Andy
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post #6 of 16
1/25/06 at 3:37am
Definitely consider increasing your budget to include the Micro or find something else in the $149-200 range.
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post #7 of 16
1/25/06 at 6:46pm
Thread Starter 

Is it possible that a DIY-er could make a cheaper "Micro"?

Thanks Guys for your expertise advice!
Naive Question: Is it possible that a DIY-er
could make an amp which would be as good
as HeadRoom's Micro, but cheaper?
Or, perhaps there are some other amps produced by some other companies and as good as Micro but cheaper?

Now, I think that I need to strech my upper limit to $300 to
step into entry level HI-FI amps.

Again I don't care about the portable use.
I want to plug it into the AC wall outlet and
enjoy, say, my Gold CD "Dark Side of the Moon".

See you on the Micro Side of the Moon

Adam
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post #8 of 16
1/26/06 at 12:30am
I personally don't like the headroom micro amp. Also, I think even Tyll admits that the headroom portable line (airhead/bithead) is behind the times and due for an update to compete with all the new stuff on the market. I think a PIMETA (either DIY or from one of the builders on here) is one of the best choices in the $100-150 range.

The headroom MicroDAC on the other hand, is one of the best deals on the market these days.
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post #9 of 16
1/26/06 at 1:18am
Quote:
Originally Posted by AdamCalifornia
Thanks Guys for your expertise advice!
Naive Question: Is it possible that a DIY-er
could make an amp which would be as good
as HeadRoom's Micro, but cheaper?
Or, perhaps there are some other amps produced by some other companies and as good as Micro but cheaper?
It's definitely possible to DIY better and cheaper because all you need is a good design, the cost of parts and your own labour.

But don't forget that the Micro is a commercial product and one of the best thought out proprietary crossfeed circuits around, one you are not likely to replicate in a DIY design (there are other implementations of crossfeed in similar priced portable and home amps, but not as successful IMO). If you decide to get the DAC later, it makes for a killer combo.

It is Headroom's opinion that the Micro competes sonically well against any other production amp in its price range....and I believe it, having heard some of the better solid state amps like the SR-71 and the Gilmore Lite, both excellent products. The Micro with Desktop Module holds its own IMO. If I didn't buy the Micro, I would have bought the HeadAmp Gilmore Lite, although I think now that the Micro works better with my headphones that I own as it tends to have a slightly warmer sound for my more analytical sounding headphones.

Lastly, if you do get the Micro, make sure you get free Desktop Module upgrade. (I suspect that Jar above heard the Micro Module?) Everybody says how much of an improvement the Desktop Module makes.

Lastly, don't forget to become a contributing member....it gives you 10% off Headroom orders.
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post #10 of 16
1/26/06 at 2:02am
Thread Starter 

... AirHead/BitHead is Behind the Times and Due to an Update ...

Quote:
Originally Posted by jar
I personally don't like the headroom micro amp. Also, I think even Tyll admits that the headroom portable line (airhead/bithead) is behind the times and due for an update to compete with all the new stuff on the market. I think a PIMETA (either DIY or from one of the builders on here) is one of the best choices in the $100-150 range.

The headroom MicroDAC on the other hand, is one of the best deals on the market these days.
That's perfect, thanks for the warning! Guys, I appreciate all of your comments. I am learning a lot from all of you!

See you on the 'Updated BitHead' Side of the Moon

Adam
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post #11 of 16
1/26/06 at 2:20pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by jar
I personally don't like the headroom micro amp.
Just curious, what do not like about the Micro?
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post #12 of 16
1/27/06 at 12:58pm
I can't provide too much info, as I haven't heard it since a meet last July. I recall it being kind of dry and not very musical. It just didn't grab me. I can't speak to detail and resolution since it's been so long since I heard it. I'm not a huge fan of the heardroom amps in general, other than the balanced ones. They just don't give me as much of a wow factor as other amps in the price range. Now, the balanced max on the other hand, that blew me away. Also, I love my micro DAC. If they would come out with a standalone max balanced DAC in, say, the desktop portable case, I'd buy it in a second.
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post #13 of 16
1/27/06 at 2:22pm
Keep in mind that Headroom has a 30 day guarantee....if you don't like the product, just return it.
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post #14 of 16
1/27/06 at 2:24pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by warpdriver
Lastly, if you do get the Micro, make sure you get free Desktop Module upgrade. (I suspect that Jar above heard the Micro Module?) Everybody says how much of an improvement the Desktop Module makes.
How long has this been a free upgrade? Does this bring it much closer to desktop performance? Would the only reason someone would want to stick with the micro module be for the extended battery life (or is that so small difference it's trivial)?
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post #15 of 16
1/28/06 at 3:08am
Quote:
Originally Posted by J-Pak
How long has this been a free upgrade? Does this bring it much closer to desktop performance? Would the only reason someone would want to stick with the micro module be for the extended battery life (or is that so small difference it's trivial)?
It's always been available. Yes to your question about battery life....the DM burns through batteries twice as fast.

The DM gives the amp much of the performance of the next higher Desktop Headroom amp, so it's a no brainer if you don't intend to lug it around. I've never heard the Micro module, and have no desire to...but Micro amp/Desktop Module easily is a fair match for any other amp in its price range (portable or not). The fact that it's portable is a bonus.
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