Stello HP100 headphone amp & pre-amp (SOLD)

This is a nice compact amp that has solid SQ and excellent built feel.  The sound is smooth and yet clear with great dynamic and impact. The soundstage is deep with good focus.  It has ample gain and was great match to my DT880/600. There is a tonal filter at the back to change the sound to be crispier or smoother depending on the synergy to the rest of your system.  The fact that it has stayed on my table longer than many of my other loved amps says a lot about this gem.

It has two RCA inputs and one pre-amp out at the back and one SE headphone out at the front.  A high/low gain switch allow you to use the most of the volume pot.  From the spec, it actually has over 1.2W per channel for the 60 ohm load, which may be nice fit for those power hungry orthos but I have not tried it yet.

I got it used and it has a small paint chipping and light scratches close to the top left corners (see photos, please).  The new one costs $995 at hifi500 web site.  I would like to ask for $400 plus shipping and Paypal fee.  I also have a matching Stello DA100 (but now it is SOLD)

I would agree some posts mentioned about HP100's SQ:

I had Stello DA100/HP100 and PSA DLIII/GCHA at the same time.  The thing about Stello's DAC and AMP struck me as intimate, engaging, and yet detailed sound.  I had PSA combo first for several months and got used to their standoff, clean, and a little bit lean presentation.  Stello's combo gave me quite a SQ contrast and I have hard time to tell which one wins.  Finally I let go GCHA just because HP100 gave me more musicality and involvement with the music.  And the larger dynamic range and more powerful punch were better match to my gears.

HP100 is less known probably due to lack of dedicated thread for it.  However, the description and praise of its SQ may be found at various threads:

http://www.head-fi.org/forum/thread/192530/aprilmusic-s-stello-hp100-headphone-amp

http://www.head-fi.org/forum/thread/238483/headamp-gs-1-vs-stello-hp100

My matching Stello DA100 is now SOLD, and hopefully HP100 can find a good new home soon!

People who like Stello's house sound should also enjoy HP100.  It is very engaging and smooth sound and yet still retains the details.  To my ear, it is has nothing less to offer than PSA GCHA, which I loved a lot when I own it.  Actually GCHA was sold long before HP100.  For some reason, HP100 just did not get a lot of attention here.  However, people who really owns them seem to enjoy it deeply.

This should be an AMP that is worth listening.

Local transaction will be great. It saves us both.  PMed.

Also, some may mistake HP100 as a balanced amp due to its unusual headphone connection.  It does take both 1/4" and XLR connector but it works just like regular single-ended connector.  And HP100 is a SE amp (not balanced).

HP100 just found a good new home.  It is now SOLD!