Best headphone amp for AKG K702 under $1000 - Page 2

I'm going to start a "best amp for Grados, tube and solid state" thread.  I guess the Lyr has too much gain.

And too much power. I'd be worried about making the magic smoke with Grados or Ultrasones (not a good thing ). As well, I felt it was a bit too powerful to be fully refined for Grados. For higher impedance headphones like the HD650s or DT880s, I think its a very good amp.

One of the best sub $1000 tube amps out there for Grados that I've heard is the MAD Ear+HD....simply outstanding for driving Grados.

Schiit Lyr.

I actually found myself enjoying my buddies K702s

With respect, this sounds like one of those flaky audiophile beliefs.
It has too much power for K70x series and just about any other 'phone out there..

What does too much power have to do with it?

My Matrix has too much power for most 'phones. And too much gain for most 'phones if you set the gain at 20 dB.

Sorry about these questions, but technically it makes no sense.

Are you really saying it has too much voltage gain and the volume sits at 9 o'clock?

Try the Phonitor with the K-702.

No, I'm saying that I didn't think there was enough resolution for Grados. Your Matrix doesn't have 6Watts of power into 32ohms (it's 400mW MAX by the way)...not even close. FWIW, I heard the Grado/Lyr combination at a friend's place. The amp seemed a bit too heavy handed with efficient low impedance headphones. What's your first hand experiences?

I personally refused to use my Lyr with low impedance cans anymore since it fried my Ed.8 drivers. So how on God's earth is that a "flaky audiophile belief"? FWIW, I wasn't the only one to fry a low impedance/highly efficient pair of headphones....I know of at least one other pair of Ed. 8s and D7000s that suffered the same fate. The Lyr is fine with high impedance cans, but Jason Stoddard has on a few occasions mentioned that the Lyr was not designed for this application. So before jumping on someone's post...try some research and first hand experience.

Oh and gain DOES NOT EQUAL power!

I'm sure it would be a good match...but the Phonitor comes in at more than the OP's budget.

No, I'm saying that I didn't think there was enough resolution for Grados. Your Matrix doesn't have 6Watts of power into 32ohms (it's 400mW MAX by the way)...not even close. FWIW, I heard the Grado/Lyr combination at a friend's place. The amp seemed a bit too heavy handed with efficient low impedance headphones. What's your first hand experiences?

I personally refused to use my Lyr with low impedance cans anymore since it fried my Ed.8 drivers. So how on God's earth is that a "flaky audiophile belief"? FWIW, I wasn't the only one to fry a low impedance/highly efficient pair of headphones....I know of at least one other pair of Ed. 8s and D7000s that suffered the same fate. The Lyr is fine with high impedance cans, but Jason Stoddard has on a few occasions mentioned that the Lyr was not designed for this application. So before jumping on someone's post...try some research and first hand experience.

Oh and gain DOES NOT EQUAL power!

Yes, I'm aware of the OP's budget, but I mean that you can try out the Phonitor ...and I bet you miss the K70XX for Pink Floyd.

Firstly, I started my post with the words "with respect". I guess you ignored that part.

I am asking because I do NOT have first hand experience.

Your post seemed to read a bit ambiguous so I was trying to get some clarification from you.

Your opinion of the Lyr seems to be biased by the fact that it destroyed our headphones. I'm very sorry your headphones were destroyed, but that is no reason to go off on me.

If you think the Lyr does not sound good with Grados and Jason S. thinks so, fine, that's good enough for me.  I was only trying to get an amp suitable for both Grados and Q701s. That amp doesn't seem to exist.

Finally, I do know the definitions of power and of voltage gain and I am well aware that voltage gain does not equal power.
 

Naw...I don't think so.

I love it when people think adding "with respect" at the beginning of a sentence and then call your statement " flaky audiophile beliefs". Its like the "with respect" comment totally absolves them of personal attacks later on.

Naw...I don't think so.