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Amps that can drive the HiFiMan HE-6 planar headphones - Page 71

post #1051 of 1322
3/16/13 at 3:05pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Benjamin6264 View Post

Have you considered a device such as the HiFiMAN HE-Adapter? Should bring the volume down to adequate levels.
since I already own amps that I consider to be perfect matches with my closed cans, I don't have the need...but future buyers should take it into consideration.
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post #1052 of 1322
3/19/13 at 7:57pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Benjamin6264 View Post

 

Warning: Spoiler! (Click to show)

 

 

I have just received this Unison Research Simply Two tube amplifier. It is Italian, and I will have to change the fuse before I can use it in Canada. I have already purchased many NOS tubes as well as Herbie dampers. I can't wait to see the results with the HE-6 and HD800. The tubes inside the amplifier right now are Mullard EL34's (XF2's) and Telefunken 12AU7's. The Valvo CCa isn't meant for this amp but it fills the hole in the box.

 

I have also purchased a HiFiMAN HE-adapter as this is originally a speaker amplifier.

 

How is the Unison tube amp with your HE-6s? I've been looking at a few EL34 based push-pull amps as well and wondering how you find the pairing.

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post #1053 of 1322
3/19/13 at 8:28pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by twizzleraddict View Post

 

How is the Unison tube amp with your HE-6s? I've been looking at a few EL34 based push-pull amps as well and wondering how you find the pairing.

 

I'm still waiting for a fuse that will allow me to use it in Canada. I'll post some impressions with the HD800 and HE-6 once that's arrived.

 

I have just won an auction for some Telefunken EL34's, which should be fairly interesting: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Set-of-two-Telefunken-EL34-Tubes-oo-getter-great-condition-6CA7-Germany-/111031394761?nma=true&si=1L3K3Xs34mP%252B5krIhItY0rxgK4Y%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

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post #1054 of 1322
3/26/13 at 7:32pm

Hey guys i just ordered the Hifiman He-6 today from Crutchfield. Should be here tomorrow, i am planning on using these headphones on the IBasso DX100 as my source. I understand i need a really powerful headphone amp. Any Bang for the buck amp recommendations you guys have for the He-6? I've read the Ef-5 will do it justice but im not to sure yet.


Edited by Poetic - 3/26/13 at 7:37pm
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post #1055 of 1322
3/26/13 at 8:59pm

I tried the EF5 with the HE6, it's not an ideal pairing. The EF6 was designed for the HE6 but is in another price class. For EF5 $, you can get a speaker amp or an old receiver/integrated amp that will do a much better job with the HE6. Just read through this thread and perhaps the HE6 and vintage receiver threads to learn more.

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post #1056 of 1322
3/26/13 at 10:32pm
The good Dr. has been accused (falsely) of sandbagging on the sensitivity rating of the 6s. They do use some juice. Is it needed is a matter of speculation/experience/expectation. I strangle the Fers with more than is needed. I've also paid for a repair for blowing them. redface.gif But they do need more power than a "headphone". The worst thing is that when you do start hearing what these things do with power, you will start listening louder. Not because you have to but because it sounds so damned good. biggrin.gif

prepro and I were talking about some "amply supplied power amps" and the number 80w @ 8 ohms seems to be a common number. And I don't mean a mid fi 80 watts but a good current reserve 80 watts that can drive a Maggie panel well. If the amp has plenty of current on demand, you can get by with much less wattage. An example is the First Watt F1 (J). It's a 10 watt amp and it drives the 6s as authoritatively as I've heard them. On the other side, the most 3D I've heard from a headphone was using them from a Simaudio I600 @ 125w. The imaging was startlingly speakerlike and powerful. A few of our members run the Darkstar for them and have nothing but superlatives. Others are using 25-80 watt tube amps up and down the product lines, Krell monoblocks, etc. Now what I've given you are extremes in finding what the 6s can provide as you scale up to better gear. They will scale about as high as you care to spend. If you've not heard that level of performance from the 6s, then you wouldn't have that expectation or reference to compare.

Bang for buck is a receiver or integrated that gives you volume control. You would need a speaker terminal to 4 pin XLR adapter. Once you get used to them with what you have, take them down to a A/V store and audition a high end amp and quality material/source. You may leave dejected by the price as I did the $8500 I600.......mad.gif but you would experience what the 6s are capable of, and that's very impressive.
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post #1057 of 1322
3/27/13 at 1:53am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Poetic View Post

Hey guys i just ordered the Hifiman He-6 today from Crutchfield. Should be here tomorrow, i am planning on using these headphones on the IBasso DX100 as my source. I understand i need a really powerful headphone amp. Any Bang for the buck amp recommendations you guys have for the He-6? I've read the Ef-5 will do it justice but im not to sure yet.

 

http://www.head-fi.org/t/650912/hifiman-he-6-ultimate-review-write-up-3-2-13-updated-comfort-pads-and-sound-lows-mids-vocals-expanded

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post #1058 of 1322
3/27/13 at 3:53am

I have not heard it myself but from what I have read all over head fi is that the Emotiva mini X is your best bet going budget.

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post #1059 of 1322
3/27/13 at 4:09am

The Topping TP60 is also a very fine amp if on a budget. It also doesn't take much desk space and is very efficient.

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post #1060 of 1322
3/27/13 at 9:21am

I use the Nuforce Icon speaker amp and have been very happy with the result, and that's after comparing with various integrated amps. I've heard the Dacmini PX is an excellent pairing as well. 

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post #1061 of 1322
3/27/13 at 12:50pm

The Alesis RA150 blows away the EF5, Lyr, and WA22 with the HE6 in my experience. It's much less expensive than even the first two mentioned, is fully balanced, and is rack mountable.


Edited by grokit - 3/27/13 at 12:52pm
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post #1062 of 1322
3/27/13 at 6:07pm
Hi. Not sure if bang for buck means budget or value. If value, I would consider the blue circle Katlas over on audiogon. I have not heard it but I have blue circle products and like them. The reviews of the Katlas are quite good -- you can google the soundstage hifi review , for some reason I cannot paste the link. May be worth considering depending on your price range.
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post #1063 of 1322
3/28/13 at 3:54pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Happy Camper View Post

The good Dr. has been accused (falsely) of sandbagging on the sensitivity rating of the 6s. They do use some juice. Is it needed is a matter of speculation/experience/expectation. I strangle the Fers with more than is needed. I've also paid for a repair for blowing them. redface.gif But they do need more power than a "headphone". The worst thing is that when you do start hearing what these things do with power, you will start listening louder. Not because you have to but because it sounds so damned good. biggrin.gif

prepro and I were talking about some "amply supplied power amps" and the number 80w @ 8 ohms seems to be a common number. And I don't mean a mid fi 80 watts but a good current reserve 80 watts that can drive a Maggie panel well. If the amp has plenty of current on demand, you can get by with much less wattage. An example is the First Watt F1 (J). It's a 10 watt amp and it drives the 6s as authoritatively as I've heard them. On the other side, the most 3D I've heard from a headphone was using them from a Simaudio I600 @ 125w. The imaging was startlingly speakerlike and powerful. A few of our members run the Darkstar for them and have nothing but superlatives. Others are using 25-80 watt tube amps up and down the product lines, Krell monoblocks, etc. Now what I've given you are extremes in finding what the 6s can provide as you scale up to better gear. They will scale about as high as you care to spend. If you've not heard that level of performance from the 6s, then you wouldn't have that expectation or reference to compare.

Bang for buck is a receiver or integrated that gives you volume control. You would need a speaker terminal to 4 pin XLR adapter. Once you get used to them with what you have, take them down to a A/V store and audition a high end amp and quality material/source. You may leave dejected by the price as I did the $8500 I600.......mad.gif but you would experience what the 6s are capable of, and that's very impressive.

 

This is the kind of story I like to read with a fine meal and drink... or after. Very satisfying, Happy Camper. wink.gif I've got a question regarding the sound stage: When you listened to the cans with these different amps, did width-height-depth of sound stage get larger, remain the same or smaller? On my two Pioneer amps the stage appeared a bit small. While I don't need my stage to be "Super sized," a bit larger would be nice.

 

I'm sooo very close to pulling the trigger, I'm trying to find out as much as I can from you and preproman. 

 

Lastly, I'd like to see more WA5/HE-6 impressions out of the K1000 jack. And wonder if anyone has heard the HE-6 off the speaker taps of a Yamamoto A-09S...


Edited by Silent One - 3/28/13 at 4:45pm
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post #1064 of 1322
3/28/13 at 6:27pm
The stage got larger with specific positioning. The depth of sound from the stage and crowd noise was more realistic. You could hear a bench squeak and want to look down. When you begin moving your head when you hear an instrument start in an off axis position, you feel puzzled at first. This was a small jazz ensemble recorded live.

The soundstage is important for me and the speaker amps do it better than the smaller gear. I think it's the larger transformers and capacitors of speaker amps that are better able to pull that off.
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post #1065 of 1322
3/28/13 at 7:33pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Happy Camper View Post

The soundstage is important for me and the speaker amps do it better than the smaller gear. I think it's the larger transformers and capacitors of speaker amps that are better able to pull that off.

 

Probably a lot more than the above, especially the circuitry and design and the ability to recreate spatial cues captured on the source material correctly. 

 

Are you, by any chance, getting this same effect on your Rotel amps? And have been following your HE-6 ordeal and glad you finally got them back! 

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