adrockthewalrus
Head-Fier
- Joined
- Aug 13, 2007
- Posts
- 67
- Likes
- 10
I'm looking to add a tube headphone amp to my vinyl listening. Current setup is/will be:
Project Essential 2/Debut 3SE/Rega RP1 (imminent purchase to be based on previewing where possible)
NAD 3020i (I've tried various other lower end amps and I just prefer this one for the phono stage)
Allesandro MS-1/Head-fi RE-0/RE-400 (400's are on the way to replace the RE0s).
I pair the amp up with various bookshelf speakers which I still need to do some comparison testing with. All this stuff is pretty much set, but I'd like to add a tube headphone amp, preferably using the tape loop out on the NAD (I've read this is the preferable way of connecting them). I'm currently using a numark ttx (and occasionally a tt-1650) as the source, hence the imminent purchase of a better tt.
the one thing I've struggled to find anything for is recommendations for entry level tube amps. My soldering skills are poor, so DIY isn't so much an option, and everyone seems to rave about the Aune T1, but the tube only comes into play on the DAC. Could anyone recommend me something, preferably available in the UK but international shipping is more an inconvenience than a difficulty. Budget would be up to £200. I'd like to get some bigger/better cans sometime next year so something that can drive what I've listed.
Purchase wouldn't be imminent, I'd just like to have something to aim for, and having sorted my preferred amp, having the speakers and tt lined up, gotten new ICs and made up some reasonable speaker cables, this is the next thing on the roadmap.
If it's of any relevance, genres of music I'll be listening to are pretty varied, but classic through to prog rock via some metal with a sprinkling of jazz is the mainstay. It's for stuff I'd sit and listen to while relaxing, so not so much pop/hiphop/electronic which I'd listen to at work or while commuting.
Project Essential 2/Debut 3SE/Rega RP1 (imminent purchase to be based on previewing where possible)
NAD 3020i (I've tried various other lower end amps and I just prefer this one for the phono stage)
Allesandro MS-1/Head-fi RE-0/RE-400 (400's are on the way to replace the RE0s).
I pair the amp up with various bookshelf speakers which I still need to do some comparison testing with. All this stuff is pretty much set, but I'd like to add a tube headphone amp, preferably using the tape loop out on the NAD (I've read this is the preferable way of connecting them). I'm currently using a numark ttx (and occasionally a tt-1650) as the source, hence the imminent purchase of a better tt.
the one thing I've struggled to find anything for is recommendations for entry level tube amps. My soldering skills are poor, so DIY isn't so much an option, and everyone seems to rave about the Aune T1, but the tube only comes into play on the DAC. Could anyone recommend me something, preferably available in the UK but international shipping is more an inconvenience than a difficulty. Budget would be up to £200. I'd like to get some bigger/better cans sometime next year so something that can drive what I've listed.
Purchase wouldn't be imminent, I'd just like to have something to aim for, and having sorted my preferred amp, having the speakers and tt lined up, gotten new ICs and made up some reasonable speaker cables, this is the next thing on the roadmap.
If it's of any relevance, genres of music I'll be listening to are pretty varied, but classic through to prog rock via some metal with a sprinkling of jazz is the mainstay. It's for stuff I'd sit and listen to while relaxing, so not so much pop/hiphop/electronic which I'd listen to at work or while commuting.