Hi all,
 
I'm looking for an amplifier for my Beyerdynamic T1, which is my first high-end headphone. Currently I own a Schiit Lyr 2, from which I'd like to upgrade. My budget is about 3000 euro/dollar, it would be a pro if the amp is easily available in Europe. This budget may seem overkill for the T1, but I'd like it to be future proof, so that it can later be used with other flagships like the Focal Utopia, Audeze LCD-4, Hifiman HE1000 or Mrspeakers Ether, just to name a few examples.
 
I would prefer a tube amp over a solid state amp, for their warm and euphoric sound, although good solid state options can be considered as well. The amp shouldn't necessarily be dead neutral, but more romantic sounding. It would also be nice if it is a balanced amp, obviously for the general benefits of having a balanced connection, like better channel separation and immunity to noise.
 
I've heard that the Woo WA2 has very good synergy with the T1, but with my budget I'm sure better options are available. The music I listen to is really varied: (Hard)Rock, Jazz, Country, Classical, EDM, Pop, Blues, Reggae and Metal. So I guess a good all-rounder is preferable.
 
Thank you in advance,
 
Recursion

The WA2/T1 combo is a very nice one,it smooths out the peaky high end to an extent.The imaging and soundstage are really intense...It is,by far,the most revealing and layered combo Ive ever heard.I highly recommend the WA2 if you have already invested in the T1.

 

  This budget may seem overkill for the T1, but I'd like it to be future proof, so that it can later be used with other flagships like the Focal Utopia, Audeze LCD-4, Hifiman HE1000 or Mrspeakers Ether, just to name a few examples.

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Unfortunately,the WA2 and any other OTL amp will not drive planar headphones,nor any dynamic low impedance headphones....Only 300+ohm headphones have good synergy with OTL amps like the WA2 and others.

monsterzero said:

  The WA2/T1 combo is a very nice one,it smooths out the peaky high end to an extent.The imaging and soundstage are really intense...It is,by far,the most revealing and layered combo Ive ever heard.I highly recommend the WA2 if you have already invested in the T1.

 

Unfortunately,the WA2 and any other OTL amp will not drive planar headphones,nor any dynamic low impedance headphones....Only 300+ohm headphones have good synergy with OTL amps like the WA2 and others.

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In that case I might consider the WA2, but it being a OTL amp would limit it's versatility. I've been looking at the WA22 as well, seeing that it is transformer coupled, it might be a better option. Then again, I have no clue as to whether it would have good synergy with the T1. If anyone has heard the T1/WA22, I would be interested in hearing their impressions. I'm considering the Schiit Ragnarok as well, some say it sounds somewhat tubey. With it being a solid state amplifier I should probably take that with a pinch of salt.

You listen to a lot of the same genres as I do.

Question: How heavily invested are you in the T1?

@monsterzero: I haven't invested that much into it, it's currently paired with a Schiit Lyr 2 and Bifrost delta-sigma stack. It still has the stock cables attached to it as well, with it being second generation the cables could be easily swapped out if needed, although I'm not really a cable believer.

recursion said:

  @monsterzero: I haven't invested that much into it, it's currently paired with a Schiit Lyr 2 and Bifrost delta-sigma stack. It still has the stock cables attached to it as well, with it being second generation the cables could be easily swapped out if needed, although I'm not really a cable believer.

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What I meant was,or should have said was,how attached are you to it? I had the T1 and even though it was beautiful sounding it didnt do rock,blues,reggae,metal very well.

IMO the T1 isnt worth building a specific system around,especially when it doesnt do most of the genres exceptionally well.

Granted I had a T1.1,and I have read the 2nd version has more midbass,so perhaps Beyer has finally struck gold.

Just my pinch of salt opinion.

@monsterzero: Ah I see, English isn't my first language, that probably explains the misunderstanding. I love the T1.2, it sounds really nice to my ears, coming from a DT770 Pro it kind of blew me away when I first heard it haha. The T1.2 does indeed have somewhat more midbass and is less bright than the T1.1. Being new to HiFi however, I haven't heard anything better then it. Having said that, I wouldn't mind upgrading to a better headphone that has a somewhat similar sound signature.

If you are happy with your T1 than dont change it.My point is an OTL amp is really the best choice for the T1,and OTL amps are not versatile amps.If you wanted to get the HiFiMan HE1000 for example,you'd need to go buy a whole new amp.Most of your top of the line headphones these days wont work with OTLs.

There are only a few HPs IMO worth building a system around...Abyss,Stax SR-009,Focal Utopia,HE-6...and thats about it.

My motto is: I date my headphones. I marry my amps.
 

@monsterzero: Yes I'm quite happy with it, so it's probably best to hold off on upgrading amp. Does it absolutely have to be a OTL amp to get the most out of it? I've heard it once with a Naim 272 pre-amp. It sounded really impressive, it was in another league compared to the Lyr 2 and Bifrost pairing. The soundstage and imaging improved significantly, to me it as so convincing that I had an urge to look around me to see where the sound was coming from haha. So atleast it seems to scale up pretty well.

I would try asking in the T1 thread...there possibly could be other amping options that arent as exclusive as an OTL.

 http://www.head-fi.org/t/776332/new-beyerdynamic-t1-2nd-generation

@monsterzero Yeah I will, thanks for your advice, it's been really helpful to me.
 
I'm still open to other suggestions and look forward to hearing impressions from other users who have paired their T1 with high-end amps.

I run T1v2 from Valhalla 2, Lyr 1 adapted to 6SN7 tubes and a Mjolnir 2.  They can sound good with any of these Schiit Amps.  Tube choice is the key.
 
The Mjolnir 2 is a very versatile amp, with single ended (that preforms wonderfully) and balanced in and outs.  It is like the Lyr 2 in that it is a hybrid and thus pairs well with many headphones.  Tube rolling finishes off the tuning for specific headphones.
 
It is well within your budget and you could upgrade the Bifrost to Multibit or sell it and get a Gungnir MB and or more headphones and still stay within your top budget limit.
 
I think you will pay a lot more for another amp that is equal to the versatility, power and sound quality of the Mjolnir 2.
 
But, if the T1s sound good now and you are not set on balanced, the Lyr 2 is a fine amp and has the headphone choice versatility (less balanced) of the Mjolnir 2, so just enjoy.  Or consider more headphones and or a DAC upgrade.
 
JMTC & IMHO,
r2

@r2muchstuff Yeah, the Mjolnir 2 sounds like it's a good option. How does it compare your Lyr and Valhalla 2? Is it a significant upgrade or more incremental in nature? Which 6SN7 tubes are you currently using and how did it improve the sound? I have been considering splitting the budget over a DAC and amp. Upgrading to Gungnir MB or maybe even Yggdrasil after saving up some more sounds interesting as well. I'm not set on balanced, but it would be nice to have nonetheless.
 
Pairing the Mjolnir 2 with the Yggdrasil, I'm not so sure of, as the Mjolnir 2 might be a bottleneck for the Yggdrasil..

I would say with the T1v2 the step is incremental, yet the amp has more to offer for other phones (future proof ?).  ​The Sennheiser HD 650 balanced from the Mjolnir 2, with brighter tubes, is a great combo and has me interested in trying the HD 800S.
 
I have the Gungnir MB which runs balanced to the Mjolnir 2 and single ended to the Lyr 1, Valhalla 2, Asgard 2 and a vintage Pioneer SA 9800.  For me the Pioneer makes the T1v2s sound great, but I did not enjoy a Sennheiser HD650 with it or any of my lower ohm phones.
 
I may upgrade the Gungnir MB to the Yggdrasil someday, I will keep the Mjolnir 2.  I cannot say if this is a bottleneck, but unless Schiit or someone offers a better hybrid Tube Amp option at Yggdrasil or less pricing, I see nothing to make me want to replace the Mjolnir 2.
 
The 6SN7 tubes will not work in the Lyr 2 or the Mjolnir 2.  They may be used with adapters in the Lyr 1, Valhalla 2 (I do not) and the Vali 2.  I find 6SN7 tubes to be detailed, open and balanced.
 
I will quote myself from another thread " Never will I say that 6SN7 are the best or even better than other tubes, just another "Ain't this Schiit fun" rabbit hole. That I am enjoying "
 
I just purchased a used DarkVoice 336SE which runs one 6SN7 as pre and one 6AS7 as power.  This is an inexpensive OTL amp for which the T1v2 (and T90) should work well and I get to play with the "larger tubes".
 
In the end, spend for what makes you happy and satisfies your ears.
 
YMMV,
r2

dont underestimate the sonic differences that can be had by tube rolling...its mindblowing the difference between a stock 12AU7 and a NOS Telefunken...night and day.

tube amps are fun and sound awesome with the T1...Im just trying to save you some $ and frustration down the road that comes with OTLs and what happens when you plug your favorite planar into it.