Desktop Amplifiers (for speakers) with good Headphone Amplifiers - Page 2

Perhaps you could get one of the headphone amps that have a preamp out put and use it to power a power amp for speakers. Over at Headroom (headphone.com) they have some dedicated headphone amps with preamp out.

 

 

Isn't it about $800 for the base HeadRoom unit that has a pre-amp out? Might be a bit steep for someone considering $250 speakers. 
 

 

Hey Now,
I am using a Parasound Zamp v.3 that has a headphone out. You can find them used in the FS forum for under $300 sometimes. I use mine to drive a pair of Energy CB5s. It sounds respectable at my computer workstation.
--
Finest kind,
Chris

Hey Now,

The Zamp is a half rack width. They are quite small.

--
Finest kind,
Chris

I'm interested in this thread since I have a similar question.  I've been using the audioengine N-22 amp with the P-4 speakers and the combination works well for a desktop.  The N-22 amp stays very cool and takes up little space.  It also has a pretty decent headphone amp.  It has no problem driving my Beyer DT880 (250 ohm) cans; they can drive 600 ohm cans as well (or at least that is what the manufacturer informed me in an e-mail).  For $200 for the amp, that leaves $200 for a dac (the Music Streamer II runs $150 and I really like it). 

That said, I'm thinking of getting a different amp.  No real complaints about the N-22 but I'd like something with more oomph and perhaps with a tuner as well.  But I'd definitely want something with a good headphone amp as well.
 

 

I'm really interested in the Peachtree line.