Head-Fi.org › Forums › Equipment Forums › Headphone Amps (full-size) › Is Creek 5350SE a good headphone amp?
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:

Is Creek 5350SE a good headphone amp?

post #1 of 13
10/1/04 at 4:36am
Thread Starter 
I am looking at getting a small integrated with a good headphone socket. The Creek 5350SE is a nice integrated but I am not sure as a headphone amp. I can't try before I buy so I was wondering if anyone has experience and can compare it to dedicated headphone amps. If, for example, its only as good as a $100 dedicated unit, then there is not really any point.

Also if anyone has any ideas on small integrates that would be great. The Brinkmann looks nice but at $4k is to much money. Looking for something in the under 2k range.

Cheers, Shawn
Reply

Head-Fi's Best Sellers

post #2 of 13
10/1/04 at 5:38am
5350SE is a good amp and works well on the headphones, however it has a high output impedance (470 Ohm) on the headphone socket and offers plenty of voltage. So the quality may depend on particular headphones used. It may be useful to connect a resistor about 47 Ohm in parallel to each headphone (inside the amp or as an adaptor outside) - it will reduce the output impedance and may improve the sound quality on some headphones.

Cheers

Alex
Reply
post #3 of 13
10/1/04 at 8:10am
The question about integrateds gets asked a lot around here. You can probably search and find quite a few opinions.

For under $2,000 you can find a used Cary SLI-80. A lot of folks like it for both speakers and headphones. I know I liked mine when I owned it. Additionally, you might find a used VTL IT-85. For less money, some have said nice things about the Sophia Baby Electric.

Good luck. BTW I've never used my 5350 for regular headphones. It does well with regular speakers. I did not like it with the AKG 1000s however.
Reply
post #4 of 13
8/14/11 at 6:28am

I just got a 5350SE and it sounds fabulous with the HD650. ANd I have heard the HD650 on quite a handful of amps by now. Higly recomended. Crisp, clear, punchy, full bassed, detailed, nice seperation and soundstage - and still keeping enough of that warmth.... 

 

If you need an integrated AND a headphone amp - just get this an keep it all in one box :)) The newer Creeks I haven't heard, but they are worth checking out.  


Edited by ardilla - 8/31/11 at 3:42am
Reply
post #5 of 13
8/31/11 at 2:59am

Probably a dumb question, but here goes anyway:biggrin.gif
Is "A5350SE" the official type number? A store near me is selling that one for 600 euros - good value for money? Looking for a good all-in-one (solid state) integrated + headphone solution, for space and budgetary reasons. Headphones: HD 650, SR225i.

Reply
post #6 of 13
8/31/11 at 3:48am

Only thing I find on googling A5350SE is this 

http://studio107.enstore.com/item/a5350se

 

But there seems to be two versions:

 

images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQaEXXlW3rrvKJ9wiNOk0WOAPqSNW8x5dmozu5ajLdkG2Okm4rcEg

images?q=tbn:ANd9GcR-6cCIb8thf1M_mxmRmoymC7dT_JgFj3bONg0m6b_Ypf6epiYA

 

 

 

 

 

I have the above. Probably they're identical inside, only different is the output-selector knob


Edited by ardilla - 8/31/11 at 3:52am
Reply
post #7 of 13
8/31/11 at 4:37am
Quote:
Originally Posted by ardilla View Post

Only thing I find on googling A5350SE is this 

http://studio107.enstore.com/item/a5350se

Yeah, that's the one I'm after. Back off! ;-)

 

Quote:
Originally Posted by ardilla View Post

But there seems to be two versions:

 

<snipped pics>

 

I have the above. Probably they're identical inside, only different is the output-selector knob

If I recall correctly from Google searches the newer model is also a (slight?) improvement over the older one sonically.


Edited by rappard - 8/31/11 at 4:40am
Reply
post #8 of 13
8/31/11 at 11:55am

I have no idea.  Just get it :)

Reply
post #9 of 13
8/31/11 at 1:49pm

There are two amps - The original Creek 5350SE and the newer Classic 5350SE.

The original was favorably reviewed in Stereophile. Some users think the newer amp is less musical, more clinical sounding. I did own a Classic 5350SE briefly. It did sound a little clinical, a bit disappointing considering its high retail price. But it is very dynamic and punchy, and enjoyable to listen to.

It had a very good headphone jack, I was quite impressed with it when used with my HD580. It also has an excellent passive preamp section.

 

Reply
post #10 of 13
8/31/11 at 2:16pm

Which is which - is this the newer one?

images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQaEXXlW3rrvKJ9wiNOk0WOAPqSNW8x5dmozu5ajLdkG2Okm4rcEg
 

Quote:
Originally Posted by vrao81 View Post

There are two amps - The original Creek 5350SE and the newer Classic 5350SE.

The original was favorably reviewed in Stereophile. Some users think the newer amp is less musical, more clinical sounding. I did own a Classic 5350SE briefly. It did sound a little clinical, a bit disappointing considering its high retail price. But it is very dynamic and punchy, and enjoyable to listen to.

It had a very good headphone jack, I was quite impressed with it when used with my HD580. It also has an excellent passive preamp section.

 



 

Reply
post #11 of 13
8/31/11 at 2:37pm

Yeah thats the newer one - Classic 5350SE

Reply
post #12 of 13
8/31/11 at 4:30pm

I do not find it "clinical" - it has a nice mid-range... but I think it can get on the bright/cold/bass light side if paired with the wrong speakers. It does a very nice job on two of the three sets I have available. 

 

@ vrao81  -What speakers did you use with the Creek?

 



Quote:
Originally Posted by vrao81 View Post

There are two amps - The original Creek 5350SE and the newer Classic 5350SE.

The original was favorably reviewed in Stereophile. Some users think the newer amp is less musical, more clinical sounding. I did own a Classic 5350SE briefly. It did sound a little clinical, a bit disappointing considering its high retail price. But it is very dynamic and punchy, and enjoyable to listen to.

It had a very good headphone jack, I was quite impressed with it when used with my HD580. It also has an excellent passive preamp section.

 


 

 


Edited by ardilla - 11/23/11 at 2:09pm
Reply
post #13 of 13
11/24/11 at 4:49am

I emailed Creek about the output impedance: 

 

"The impedance of the headphone output is 47 Ohms. Regards, Creek Audio Ltd & Epos ..."
 

Quote:
Originally Posted by antonik View Post

5350SE is a good amp and works well on the headphones, however it has a high output impedance (470 Ohm) on the headphone socket and offers plenty of voltage. So the quality may depend on particular headphones used. It may be useful to connect a resistor about 47 Ohm in parallel to each headphone (inside the amp or as an adaptor outside) - it will reduce the output impedance and may improve the sound quality on some headphones.

Cheers

Alex


 

Reply
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:
  Return Home
  Back to Forum: Headphone Amps (full-size)

Head-Fi's Best Sellers

Head-Fi.org › Forums › Equipment Forums › Headphone Amps (full-size) › Is Creek 5350SE a good headphone amp?