Amp recommendations for HiFiMAN HE-500 - Page 2

Quote:Originally Posted by zeroeight 

"I'm about to buy a pair of HE-500 to be used with a WA6-SE.  Hope that combination will sound better than the LCD-2 with WA6-SE which didn't wow me enough to want to buy them.  Where I am, the only way to audition is to buy and then return if no likey.  Sucks I know. Impossible to compare T1, Senn 800 and HE-500 all at once."


I had the opportunity to spend time with the HE500 along with my HD800 and the LCD2. The HE500 did quite well with the WA6SE. I think you'll be pleased with the pair. I hope to be getting the HE500 when the new pads become available and then will have more time with it and the HD800. I will say the HD800 is more analytic with a wider soundstage and is more comfortable. The HE500 as more bass impact, greater warmth and notes seem to have greater weight.

Im pretty interested on a nice match for the HE-500's...they are on my buy list. I can see different choices. Subscribed.  

Im considering the Decware Taboo as a buy in the coming months, mainly for the speaker driving option also. Has anyone had a chance to use this amp with the HE-500..??

Quote:Originally Posted by Townyj 

"Im considering the Decware Taboo as a buy in the coming months, mainly for the speaker driving option also. Has anyone had a chance to use this amp with the HE-500..??"


Frank I has the Taboo. I believe it really needs a preamp to perform. Frank uses Decware's own CSP2 as a preamp. He's used the HE500 with the Taboo with good results I think. I'll let him expound on that further.

If it needs a preamp im a tad disappointed, I was hoping to get a speaker amp/headphone amp in one combo. I currently use my DACmini as my amp. If the figures are right, then id get more wattage from the Taboo.

Quote:Originally Posted by Townyj 

"If it needs a preamp im a tad disappointed, I was hoping to get a speaker amp/headphone amp in one combo. I currently use my DACmini as my amp. If the figures are right, then id get more wattage from the Taboo."



Here's some info from their website:


http://www.decware.com/newsite/TABOO.htm

The Taboo will drive both efficient speakers and the HE500 as  a standalone but will sound way better with the CSP-2 as Steve really designed them to be used together. The other advantage of using the CSP-2 for speakers is the sub out on the CSP-2 as most high efficiency  speakers need the bass reinforcement. The CSP-2 is also an outstanding OTL but not best for the HE500 it works better with high impedance cans. The Taboo can drive them without the preamp. I would call Steve and talk to him about your concerns.

To expand just a tad more the HE500 still need some power. to sound their best and work well on my Pioneer SX650 as well without the speaker taps being used. They were also easier to drive on my Decware amps and did not stress out my amp or take out any resistors like the hE6

Based on all of these comments, and those of others, I expected my WA6 SEm to drive my HE-500's very well.

 

But... that is not the case... just way too "rough" in both high and low frequencies - clipping I guess.  That's with the Sylvania Big Bottle 6FD7 tubes and a Sylvania 5U4G ST rectifier - which are great with all my other phones. 

 

The Millett MiniMax with the 12AE6 tubes is "waaay" better with the HE-500's - great, really!

 

So... I'm wondering why so many others find the WA6 SEm drives the HE-500's so well???  What tubes are you using - do they may the difference? 

 

And... I'm even more amazed that some find the OTL WA2 amp drives them well.  To me they seem to need a high current, low impedance SS / Hybrid amp to perform to their potential.  

I'll toss in my opinion. A top end SS speaker amp. Something in the 30-50 watt (8ohm) range. Yes they are more sensitive than the other HEs but will also improve with more power. They are planars after all.
Edited by Happy Camper - 7/17/11 at 9:44am

Quote:

That's pretty surprising I must say.  I had a short audition with the 6SE/HE-500 and had no such problems--even discounting that, Baka1969 seems to have had no problems driving them from his 6SE.  Could it be an issue of source voltage?

I only listened to a couple tracks on the speakers outs on my Marantz 2252 and did not notice any difference versus the headphone out, which is the same conclusion I came to on my HE-4. Did not perform the same tests on my Luxman however, which is a brighter sounding amp (I'd call Luxman neutral and Marantz warm) so I wouldn't use anyway.

Edited by Philimon - 7/18/11 at 9:07pm

Any help would be appreciated - see this link:

 

http://www.head-fi.org/forum/thread/564617/amp-for-he500-s-and-hd650-s-ad2000-s-rs-1-s-and-md5000-s-mission-impossible#post_7637350

 

I need an "all-in-one" amp. But see my post above and let's stay focused on the topic.

No... the source provides 2V output, amplified by the Line Stage to several times that output - which is why the Millett MiniMax drives the HE500's so well. 

 

It's something else with the WA6 SEm - it appears to be insufficient current output to drive somewhat low impedance, inefficient phones.
 

 

 

I can believe that. I didnt like the wa6se driving my LA7000. It just seem to lack control of the driver. Loose bass and smearing on  dynamic fast pieces. It seemed to lack control of the driver. It was great with the sen's that I heard on it.

 

I was trying to think of other powerful amps under $1000. I havent heard this amp, but you might try the RudiStor NX-03. It is only $790 and it has the power. http://www.rudistor.com/NX03-steel.htm