Cheap, light amp for dt880 600omh, suggestions.

Check out portable headphone amps. That is your answer!

Fiio E9?

A cheap SS/Hybrid amp for the DT880 600 ohm edition will resulting in sibilance and plenty of it. Tell him to get a sound card with a dedicated headphone amp. It worked for me pretty well with my DT880 until I got a tube amp.

It doesn't exist. Suggest a different phone or expect an under powered headphone.

Cheap and light may be attainable, but it's not likely to perform well. We always pay for miniaturisation, one way or another.

At best your friend could go for a portable that runs on 9V batteries, to achieve more voltage swing. It's either that or a E9...maybe.

I wouldn't listen to any of the advice people are giving for portable amps. Not unless they actually have the 600ohm 880's and have tried it (which I have, in a bunch of different amps)

for $200 his best bet is to find an inexpensive OTL tube amp like the Little Dot MKII. With 600ohm monsters you need a desktop amp plugged into a 120v outlet that can output the voltage that a high-impedance can needs. Using a portable amp, or a solid state will give you similar results to plugging them straight into your laptop or ipod.

There are small single tube headphone amplifiers (AC powered) sold on eBay, prices stat at $45, better quality ones start at $75.

They very easily power my 250-Ohm headphones, so I'm thinking a 600-Ohm should be no problem.

They ship from China, takes 10 days. Only for those that really do not care about warranties.

As it would be to much of a hassle for shipping back to China.

Quote:

Originally Posted by PurpleAngel 

There are small single tube headphone amplifiers (AC powered) sold on eBay, prices stat at $45, better quality ones start at $75.

They very easily power my 250-Ohm headphones, so I'm thinking a 600-Ohm should be no problem.

The 250 is much easier to drive, also what leads you to believe they are sufficiently powered?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Graphicism 
The 250 is much easier to drive, also what leads you to believe they are sufficiently powered?

Using 250-Ohm headphones, I barely have to turn the volume control to get decent sound level.

So i know there is lots of untapped power.

They are Class A amplifiers.
 

Quote:

Originally Posted by Graphicism 

It doesn't exist. Suggest a different phone or expect an under powered headphone.

4 Vrms is a lot, but it's hardly unobtainable in a small size.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Graphicism 

The 250 is much easier to drive, also what leads you to believe they are sufficiently powered?

The 600 ohm version only needs about 50% more voltage.

OP, the Fiio E9 can do about 7 Vrms into 600 ohms, which is plenty. The DIY Objective2 amp can do about the same on AC, and can do 5.5 Vrms on 9V battery power if you can find one pre-built (or if your friend wants to try making his own).

Sufficient volume doesn't mean your headphones are being properly driven. I'm assuming your talking about the bravo/indeed amps on ebay. They do sound better than just plugging straight into a laptop with 250/600 ohm headphones but it pales in comparison to an OTL amp that can actually give the headphones the required voltage. 

Plus the build quality on those bravo amps is terrible, they're more for tinkering than anything in my opinion. I bought one so that I could learn to mod/solder on it without ruining an expensive piece of audio gear.
 

Quote:

Originally Posted by PurpleAngel 

Using 250-Ohm headphones, I barely have to turn the volume control to get decent sound level.

So i know there is lots of untapped power.

They are Class A amplifiers.
 

 

 

Too bad he won't deal with tubes - the Hifiman EF2A sounds perfect for his needs. 

Quote:

Originally Posted by PurpleAngel 

Using 250-Ohm headphones, I barely have to turn the volume control to get decent sound level.

So i know there is lots of untapped power.

They are Class A amplifiers.
 

The response below is the reason I asked, thinking volume is power is a common misconception.

Quote:

Originally Posted by FunyunBreath 

Sufficient volume doesn't mean your headphones are being properly driven. I'm assuming your talking about the bravo/indeed amps on ebay. They do sound better than just plugging straight into a laptop with 250/600 ohm headphones but it pales in comparison to an OTL amp that can actually give the headphones the required voltage. 

 

Plus the build quality on those bravo amps is terrible, they're more for tinkering than anything in my opinion. I bought one so that I could learn to mod/solder on it without ruining an expensive piece of audio gear.
 

Like most headphones synergy is key; linking the right headphone with the right amp. For instance there is a big difference between say an LDIII and the DV336 I have now, the LDIII is completely underpowered in comparison... I couldn't imagine a Bravo amp or Fiio E9 for that matter.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Head Injury 

4 Vrms is a lot, but it's hardly unobtainable in a small size.

 

The 600 ohm version only needs about 50% more voltage.

 

OP, the Fiio E9 can do about 7 Vrms into 600 ohms, which is plenty. The DIY Objective2 amp can do about the same on AC, and can do 5.5 Vrms on 9V battery power if you can find one pre-built (or if your friend wants to try making his own).

The other common misconception is buying gear based on specs, it's pure marketing.