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Amps that can drive the HiFiMan HE-6 planar headphones
Apr 28, 2013 at 2:06 AM Post #1,172 of 6,061
Quote:
preproman said:
Pre amps anyone?  This is going to be the pre amp for my HE-6 / F1J rig:
 
 

 
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Looks pretty sharp there, Darryl. Would love to see the finished product once you get that done.
 
I've been intrigued by the Lightspeed Attenuator though (thx jazzerdave for the heads-up on it) and have reached out to George about getting one. Specs show it to be a decent match with the equipment I'll be inserting it into.
 
Apr 28, 2013 at 10:11 AM Post #1,173 of 6,061
I got a LDR and a passive pot in da box coming in too (based on the warpspeed). Too poor to try the autoformer stuff however. Cheapest TVC here is the glasshouse kit, which cost roughly ~800 bucks with transformer fitted.
 
Maybe I should just stop experimenting and import an Calypso or Modwright linestage 
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Apr 28, 2013 at 12:17 PM Post #1,174 of 6,061
Quote:
khaine1711 said:
I got a LDR and a passive pot in da box coming in too (based on the warpspeed). Too poor to try the autoformer stuff however. Cheapest TVC here is the glasshouse kit, which cost roughly ~800 bucks with transformer fitted.
 
Maybe I should just stop experimenting and import an Calypso or Modwright linestage 
tongue_smile.gif
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My Modwright is wonderful.  I can't recommend Dan's products highly enough.  I've been burning to try out one of his power amps with the HE-6.
 
Apr 28, 2013 at 1:10 PM Post #1,175 of 6,061
Way too many choices, but if I have to blind buy, I'd go with Modwright. Price is a bit prohibitive, the ls100 retails for 2.7k gbp. The appearance and sound is stunning though. Also putting a 10kg linestage and a 25kg power amp to drive a tiny He-6 seems a bit silly.
 
Still I really want to try some of the old time heavy hitter (modulus 2, 3, audion premier, audio research old sp line, conrad johnson) - and new stuff - doge 8, ear, even Lampizator active preamp. Too bad, some of them got a good phono stage and are usually snatched quickly by vinyl spinner 
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Apr 28, 2013 at 3:48 PM Post #1,176 of 6,061
Hey guys!
Maybe a stupid question, but does the preamplifier does something to the sound?
Would there be a sonical difference if I connect it with a preamp (source-dac-preamp-amp-HP) or without (source-dac-amp-HP)?
I was just looking to add the preamp for the volume control only because technically the amp should be better.
So, will the preamp affect the performance of my amp/DAC in any way?
Thanks!
 
Apr 28, 2013 at 3:55 PM Post #1,177 of 6,061
HI, Am new to this hobby. I have some questions. Appreciate it if someone more experienced can help. I read quite extensively on this thread but could not find any answers. Questions too basic, I guess.
 
 
 
1) Is the $99 HE adaptor really necessary?  I intend to use he HE 6 (not purchased yet) with a SS amplifier. This unit is supposed to protect the amp and headphone.
2) If I use the HE adaptor does it mean that I do not need to use the speaker cable to XLR/1/4" headphone jack?
 
 
 
Thanks a lot.
 
Apr 28, 2013 at 3:59 PM Post #1,178 of 6,061
Quote:
conquerator2 said:
Hey guys!
Maybe a stupid question, but does the preamplifier does something to the sound?
Would there be a sonical difference if I connect it with a preamp (source-dac-preamp-amp-HP) or without (source-dac-amp-HP)?
I was just looking to add the preamp for the volume control only because technically the amp should be better.
So, will the preamp affect the performance of my amp in any way?
Thanks!
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It will affect - for better or for worse is for you to find out. Impedance matching, quality of the pre volume pot and circuit, topology ..etc all will have bearing on the sound.
 
I wouldn't put a preamp between a dac and an integrated amp.
 
 

tigerkg13 said:
1) Is the $99 HE adaptor really necessary?  I intend to use he HE 6 (not purchased yet) with a SS amplifier. This unit is supposed to protect the amp and headphone.
2) If I use the HE adaptor does it mean that I do not need to use the speaker cable to XLR/1/4" headphone jack?
 
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1. Depends on the output of the amp you're plugging the 6 into. Most of the time it's used for impedance matching, and protecting the headphone. If you use a transformer coupled amp then it's used to protect the amp too. For SS,  if you're really careful with volume, and know what you're doing, you won't need one
2. You'll need 4 banana to banana cables to connect the speaker terminal of the adapter to the binding post of the amplifier
 
Apr 28, 2013 at 5:53 PM Post #1,179 of 6,061
Quote:
khaine1711 said:
It will affect - for better or for worse is for you to find out. Impedance matching, quality of the pre volume pot and circuit, topology ..etc all will have bearing on the sound.
 
I wouldn't put a preamp between a dac and an integrated amp.
 
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Correct. Also no pre amp is needed with a amp that has volume control ie.  a-100..  Another question would be:  
 
In a (DAC with digital v control / amp / headphone - speaker rig) would it better with or with out a pre amp?  Depends on the (digital) v control on the DAC and which DACs have good (digital v controls).  I know the NAD m51 is one DAC that has a pretty good digital v control..  Not so sure about others..
 
Apr 28, 2013 at 7:14 PM Post #1,182 of 6,061
Quote:
preproman said:
 
That's understood.
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  However, if you have DACs with v control.  The question is would it be better to use that (digital volume control) or use a preamp?
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Both have their own compromises, I'd go with a separate preamp all the time - that is for speaker though. Headphone use may or may not matter much (personally I would still go with preamp for various reason) .
 
Apr 28, 2013 at 7:22 PM Post #1,183 of 6,061
Quote:
khaine1711 said:
Both have their own compromises, I'd go with a separate preamp all the time - that is for speaker though. Headphone use may or may not matter much (personally I would still go with preamp for various reason) .
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The amp does not have a pot nor does the DAC, so I will have to add a preamp in between (namely the Phoenix probably)
Or I could resort to using digital volume on the PC, which would be rather cumbersome, seeing as the amp outputs 250w into 8 ohms, the control woud have to be very delicate :/
 
Apr 28, 2013 at 7:25 PM Post #1,184 of 6,061
Quote:
conquerator2 said:
 
The amp does not have a pot nor does the DAC, so I will have to add a preamp in between (namely the Phoenix probably)
Or I could resort to using digital volume on the PC, which would be rather cumbersome, seeing as the amp outputs 250w into 8 ohms, the control woud have to be very delicate :/
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PC volume control is most likely the worse of them all.
 
Apr 28, 2013 at 7:26 PM Post #1,185 of 6,061
Quote:
preproman said:
 
PC volume control is most likely the worse of them all.
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Yes that is understandable :)
Who knows the C10 (the master 10 predecessor) might not perform better than the Mini... that woudl be the easiest solution ,albeit unlikely :D
 
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