Head-Fi.org › Forums › Equipment Forums › Headphone Amps (full-size) › Headphone amps that are also pre-amps
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:

Headphone amps that are also pre-amps

post #1 of 21
5/17/09 at 9:57am
Thread Starter 
Who has experience with amps such as the B-52, Apache, Zana Deux, Headroom models, etc. that also double as pre-amps?

I'm wondering what you thought of their performance as a pre-amp, compared to a dedicated high end pre-amp?

Considering a system re-arrangement and want to know if these headphone amps can really stand up as a pre-amp, or is it a compromise since the primary function is a headphone amp?
Reply
post #2 of 21
5/17/09 at 12:07pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Todd R View Post
Who has experience with amps such as the B-52, Apache, Zana Deux, Headroom models, etc. that also double as pre-amps?

I'm wondering what you thought of their performance as a pre-amp, compared to a dedicated high end pre-amp?

Considering a system re-arrangement and want to know if these headphone amps can really stand up as a pre-amp, or is it a compromise since the primary function is a headphone amp?
I'm very interested in the answer to this quesiton as well!
Reply
post #3 of 21
5/17/09 at 1:03pm
The best tube headphone amp that's also preamp is LD MK IV SE for the price range.
Reply
post #4 of 21
5/17/09 at 1:07pm
I've been using the Zana Deux as a preamp for a bit over a year now. I run it into a Conrad-Johnson MV52.

The combination is very good - the Zana is exceptionally quiet (as fitting a headphone amp) and its pre out has the same clarity and excellent sound as the headphone jack.

Headphone amps are generally very good preamps. A good headphone amp must be very quiet, since you've got the transducer 1cm off your ear. If there's any hum or noise, you'll pick that up. You can get away with a little hum and other noise in a speaker preamp. I'm not saying that all dedicated preamps bad (some are excellent), but you're guaranteed a little extra quiet if you're running a headphone amp as a preamp.
Reply
post #5 of 21
5/17/09 at 1:24pm
I am currently using a Melos maestro heavily modded as a pre amp now.
That said My Zana is sitting in its box due to rack space,I need to buy a new racks.due to incorporating Video

I like the Zana as a preamp,matches well with the Bel amps .
The melos is a ok preamp but the Zana is better.
I had a Hovland HP100(5K Preamp) before the Zana,The Zana while not as good, gives up a little in holographic imaging & soundstage ,but gained in bass impact.
Immtbiker borrowed my Zana & thought it was a better preamp then then headphone amp .
I don't regret a selling the hovland & replacing it with the Zana,Highly recommended as a preamp & you get a outstanding headphone amp to boot.
Reply
post #6 of 21
5/17/09 at 2:08pm
the gs-x is a very capable pre-amp. lots of options with balanced in/out, SE in/out as well...
Reply
post #7 of 21
5/17/09 at 2:22pm
Thread Starter 
Hmm.
The Zana pops up in my mind every so often. I have heard it with headphones, and I like it.
There's one for sale here & Craig has a used one on his site as well.
Very tempting if it will equal my deHavilland Ultraverve when serving as a pre-amp.
Wish I could get a loaner first.
Reply
post #8 of 21
5/17/09 at 3:12pm
I use my LD MK III as a preamp in my living room system (running into the 'main amp in' jack on an HK 3390 integrated receiver). I really enjoy it and it sounds WAY better than the receiver on its own.
Reply
post #9 of 21
5/17/09 at 9:12pm
I'd like an answer to the same question, but since space is limited on my desktop, I'd be lookin only at solid state.
Reply
post #10 of 21
5/24/09 at 3:13am
I use Darkvoice 337 as a pre amp as well.
Reply
post #11 of 21
5/24/09 at 1:07pm
Darkvoice doesn't use all tubes in Preamp mode I think but Little Dot amps do.
Reply
post #12 of 21
5/24/09 at 1:28pm
I think headphone amps can make perfect preamps. I used to use a budget Little Dot amp as a preamp and it sounded great.
Reply
post #13 of 21
5/24/09 at 1:37pm
I use my Rudistor RPX-100 as a preamp in my main system. It is probably (at least in my system) even better as a preamp than as a headphone amp. This is compared to an Audio Research LS17 for instance.
Reply
post #14 of 21
5/26/09 at 1:55am
The Amphora is a very good preamp. Very clean and agile.
Reply
post #15 of 21
5/26/09 at 2:11am
The Woo Audio 2 is also a preamp.
Reply
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:
  Return Home
  Back to Forum: Headphone Amps (full-size)
Head-Fi.org › Forums › Equipment Forums › Headphone Amps (full-size) › Headphone amps that are also pre-amps