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Help me choosing power amp for k1000

post #1 of 56
10/6/07 at 4:22pm
Thread Starter 
Right now I use grace m902 for driving k1000 but it seems to be in-sufficient for 1w headphone. So, I need power amplifier to drive k1000 "separately" from grace's preamp. I read about F1 but it's too large and Signature 30.2 is way too music lover. Any suggestion for $2000 budget?
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post #2 of 56
10/6/07 at 5:15pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by WindowsX View Post
Right now I use grace m902 for driving k1000 but it seems to be in-sufficient for 1w headphone. So, I need power amplifier to drive k1000 "separately" from grace's preamp. I read about F1 but it's too large and Signature 30.2 is way too music lover. Any suggestion for $2000 budget?
Congratulations on owning AKG K1000s. Two suggestions:

1) Consider first replacing the entire cabling on the K1000s. It makes a HUGE difference. I would recommend that you look at the Stefan Audio Arts Equinox hardwire for the K1000s.

http://www.stefanaudioart.com/K1000CableHardwired.html

I would change the cabling before looking for an amplifier.

2) You definitely need more than a "headphone amplifier" to drive the K1000s - 10 watts per channel or more. I drive them with both a First Watt F1 and a Red Wine Audio Signature 30. Both of these amps are within your budget if you can find them used.

Here is a comparison of the two that I did:

http://www.head-fi.org/forums/showpo...&postcount=100


What do you mean by "way too music lover" regarding the RWA Signature 30.2?

There are plenty of amplifiers within your budget that will provide satisfactory sound. You should let us know if you prefer tubes or solid state amplification. That would be a good start.
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post #3 of 56
10/6/07 at 5:32pm
yeah, i'm not sure what "way too musical" means...after all, the k1000s with the sig 30 are still way more detailed than my k701s ever were.

if you're into tubes, how about the woo audio wa5? a bit more than the $2K you're looking at, but looks pretty.
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post #4 of 56
10/6/07 at 5:47pm
Monarchy SM70-Pro
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post #5 of 56
10/6/07 at 5:49pm
Balanced Beta22 with a 4-pin XLR output. Don't recable them unless their cable is messed up some how. The stock cable is fine.

And if the stock cable is messed up, I'd talk to Fitz, the AKG god.
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post #6 of 56
10/6/07 at 11:18pm
Well, First Watt F4 comes top on the "to try list" if you have a good preamp.
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post #7 of 56
10/7/07 at 12:58am
Quote:
Originally Posted by OverlordXenu View Post
Balanced Beta22 with a 4-pin XLR output. Don't recable them unless their cable is messed up some how. The stock cable is fine.

And if the stock cable is messed up, I'd talk to Fitz, the AKG god.
I strongly disagree on the stock cable issue. The stock cable is not adequate for quality listening, and even changing from the Equinox tail to the full hard-wire Equinox makes a huge difference. Still, a better power amp would be essential as well. I am not sure how much the hardwire would cost, but you could both get a reasonable amp and recable for around $2K. Good luck.
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post #8 of 56
10/7/07 at 1:03am
Quote:
Originally Posted by OverlordXenu View Post
Balanced Beta22 with a 4-pin XLR output. Don't recable them unless their cable is messed up some how. The stock cable is fine.
what do you base that statement on. have you ever heard the K1000 with a cable other than stock. if so, which one or ones.

edit: it appears that you have never even owned a K1000. maybe you should stick to making comments on things that you have actually owned or spent some quality time with, so as to not confuse people who are seeking useful and relevant advice.
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post #9 of 56
10/7/07 at 8:03am
Quote:
Originally Posted by OverlordXenu View Post
Balanced Beta22 with a 4-pin XLR output. Don't recable them unless their cable is messed up some how. The stock cable is fine.

And if the stock cable is messed up, I'd talk to Fitz, the AKG god.
Have you compared a recabled K1000 and stock K1000? If so which amp?
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post #10 of 56
10/7/07 at 11:32am


Seem to be the right one for K1000?
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post #11 of 56
10/7/07 at 12:17pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by OverlordXenu View Post
Balanced Beta22 with a 4-pin XLR output. Don't recable them unless their cable is messed up some how. The stock cable is fine.

And if the stock cable is messed up, I'd talk to Fitz, the AKG god.
I would strongly disagree with your statement that 'the stock cable is fine".

My K1000s sat in a closet for many years because they just didn't deliver the sound quality that I was looking for. Only after I had them recabled did they really come into their own. I cannot emphasize enough how important this recabling is for the K1000s, and I would have it done before auditioning potential amplifier candidates.
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post #12 of 56
10/7/07 at 3:16pm
While certainly recabling brings out the best in the k1000s better amplification should be the priority. You will get more going from the grace to a sig30, first watt, woo 5, Eddie Current HD2... then the SAA cable and the Grace will provide.

If you have the money then yes you should get the SAA cable it is the icing on the cake but the amp is the cake.

I tried the first watt with the minimax preamp and it was an awsome combo but used you are at around 2k for that rig, the sig 30 is not as detailed but is "musically relaxed in a way that effortlessly lets the music through and used you can get them for 1.5K the Woo 5 comes in at 3k (closer to 3.6 to 4k when you factor in upgraded tubes and IMHO this amp seriously benefits from it) and the HD2 pricing you'd have to email Craig for that and to check that he does overseas sales.

Each rig has it's up and down sides I've owned the sig 30 and first watt and find the HD2 to be better than both also it does balanced cans and single ended as well as speakers . The Woo will do the same with the exception of balanced.
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post #13 of 56
10/7/07 at 11:17pm
i haven't read anyone recommend this amp yet: Bryston 2B LP Pro

I had been using this amp with K1000 for the last several months, it kicks ass! it also has a 1/4 jack for headphone and transform the HD650 to a different sound altogether taking away any perceived veils on the HD650! Don't try this amp with other cans though, your ears will bleed.
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post #14 of 56
10/8/07 at 12:44am
Krell power amp for exaggerated bass. T-Amp for no bass. ICEpower amp for both worlds.

If I would buy now I would get Bel Canto M300 mono blocks.
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post #15 of 56
10/8/07 at 2:36am
equinox cable makes it happen.

first watt may burn your house down. it sounds great but runs way too hot.

peter millit's old wheatfield ha-2 sounds very good, it does not get very loud but it is louder than i can listen & there is no distortion when you run it up all the way.

the old rkv audiovalve mk 2 does a very good job with plenty of power to spare & you can run off the speaker taps or 1/4" jack.

the melos sha-1 has plenty of power to push them.

you could also try integrated amps like the vintage fisher 400 or vintage h.h. scott 222 series which i use & they sound great.

happy hunting.
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