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Suggestion for a friend

post #1 of 8
10/11/09 at 12:29am
Thread Starter 
One of my potential fraternity brothers has an HD600. He has been using his Macbook Pro HP out. Needless to say, when I heard of this, I offered to let him try my Compass. Well, now he is intent on buying an amp very soon, and has asked me to help.

The requirements are:
-able to drive HD600 at least as well as the Compass
-$300 tops, although the way he said this led me to believe a little slack is available to get good music.
-A built in DAC or the price goes down to $200 so that he can get pretty good external DAC (gamma 1? please feel free to suggest this, too).

I have given him some recommendations, and he is visiting head-fi, but I am posting this query for him to make sure everything is considered.

I have recommended the Compass so far, but what are the other options? Both tube and SS, as I do not think he has decided which he wants.

Thank you,
Nkk
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post #2 of 8
10/11/09 at 2:32am
the compass is currently on sale at 280usd - i think that's a good deal and a good place to start.
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post #3 of 8
10/11/09 at 3:29pm
Thread Starter 
Any other suggestions?

Thanks,
Nkk
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post #4 of 8
10/11/09 at 3:34pm
A used Pico DAC/amp could be an excellent choice, just a matter of time to get one for the right price.
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post #5 of 8
10/11/09 at 3:58pm
Thread Starter 
Can a pico really drive the HD600 as well as the Compass?

-Nkk
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post #6 of 8
10/11/09 at 5:00pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by nkk View Post
Can a pico really drive the HD600 as well as the Compass?

-Nkk
I can't say, I haven't listened the Compass, but if your friend wants something sounding like the Compass, then he'd better buy one All I know is the Pico does a more than decent job with the HD600 for a portable.
Another good option possibly into his budget is a used X-Cans V2. Not many for sale lately, but I think it can be found in the $200 range.
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post #7 of 8
10/12/09 at 2:37am
Thread Starter 
The point is not to sound like the compass. The point is that he has heard the Compass, and if he spends $300 on something that sounds not as good (especially with the HD600, b/c I do not think he is upgrading those soon), then it is not an optimal purchase.

SO, any other suggestions?

-Nkk

PS: I like your avatar, Torpedo.
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post #8 of 8
10/12/09 at 6:21am
Thanks. Point taken. Not having listened to the Compass myself makes irrelevant any recommendation, maybe it's very good and other amps I've tried aren't up to its performance.
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