K1000 Amp Survey - Page 5

The more I looked into the First Watt F1, the more I felt like this is the amp to have. Ordered one this week.

That is not balanced amplification. He was referring to dual-mono single-ended, which is something else again (only one channel of the X-Can used). However, put a transformer on one of the single-ended inputs in each, and you could indeed use a pair of X-Cans as a balanced amp, I think. To use with K-1000, you'd need to have a special four-pin to dual 1/4 inch phone plug adapter cable. The X-Can v2 is capable of some serious performance, particularly with mods. I don't know if the v3 is as responsive to upgrading.

A rather surprising amp to me for the K-1000 is the Wheatfield HA-2, which is good enough with K-1000 to let me sell my RKV. I still think the Pass Labs offerings are the reference standard, though (but only have limited listening experience with the combo).

This whole idea of a "balanced" amp for headphones is a misnomer.

What we're really talking about IS dual mono. Whether or not it accepts a balanced input really is of no consequence in this application.

The Blockhead uses dual Max amps in a balanced push pull configuration to achieve double the headroom/output, but headphone drivers themselves in ALL cases, no exceptions whatsoever, are "unbalanced" devices. This also means nothing in the context for which a balanced system was developed.

A balanced amp, whether dual mono or use of transformer sends an inverted signal to the '-' lead. This doubles the slew rate. It also eliminates the common ground.

And the output is always unbalanced to the cans.

Slew rate is design dependent. Common ground is of no consequence really when driving cans. You're not moving that many electrons

The signals to the phones are equal but opposite, so they are balanced. That's why you need four wires for balanced headphones. Balanced phones however are not grounded, so they don't use the third-pin the XLRs. See balanced 101 in my sig for more.

Equal but opposite...

This is why I'm glad my system is going to be entirely single ended.

We'll see about that

Thanks for the efforts to educate me, but I wouldn't waste your time on me. I appreciate the thought though. Happy listening.

Bridging the X-CanV2

Here is a link to a discussion that I instigated on another forum and how I have done it!!!
http://rockgrotto.proboards39.com/in...ead=1145191837

I have also now had the opportunity to listen to the AudioValve and I must admit that it had excellent bass performance but the rest of its performance, I would rate slightly below that of the EAR V20 but well above the Linn Classik (to put this amp in the context of the others that I have rated)

Note: I'm including some explanations of concepts that I know that you know, but I'm also trying to be comprehensible to others reading this thread.

"Balanced", in terms of headphones, may have originally been a misnomer, in that it referred to a different type of configuration and purpose than pro "balanced" gear, which is primarily used for noise reduction over long cable runs.

However, it is also very different from dual mono in the conventional sense as well. Dual mono would be two single-ended circuits, each with a hot lead and a ground, as long as the circuits were kept completely apart. Balanced headphone amps would have to be described as quad mono, except that doesn't quite fit either.

Push-pull traditionally involves a phase-splitter so that a given output device is not handling the entire waveform of the output. The actual output of a push-pull device is normally single-ended as far as the transducer is concerned, with the output of the push-pull devices combined to form the "signal". What we've got is something a bit different, as with four active channels, each output device is handling the entire waveform. If we attempted to combine these signals within the amplifier, as in a conventional push-pull device, we'd hear nothing but noise. By combining them at the transducer, they complement rather than cancel each other, with some effect on common mode noise as an almost incidental byproduct (reduction of common mode noise is the raison d'etre of balanced signals in pro audio).

Balanced headphone amps do provide a different kind of signal, as there is active amplification on both sides of the driver. Although the driver itself is not altered (electrostatics excepted, it makes no sense to call a headphone balanced or unbalanced, except as a reference to the type of connector attached), the nature of signal is indeed different in a balanced configuration. A + and - active signal is indeed different than a + signal and ground.

So, balanced headphone amps do not neatly fit into any of the existing categories. Since they use the same + and - signals as balanced pro gear (but drop the ground as unnecessary), "balanced" seems to be as good a terminology as any.

New from Red Wine Audio -- battery powered T-amp for $1,400. Sajan at 6moons loves the amp -- even with K1000s. Has stepped attenuator removing need for separate preamp.

Looks very promising for K1000s.

anyone know if a Moth 2a3 with drive a k1000
this amp drives the akg 340 really well but is only about three watts?

other choices I will have would be the speaker terminals from my krell 400 intergrated ammp and a ASL 300b amp?
I'll have my answer next week when I spend the better part of Sunday trying out the in house options just curious what your thoughts are?

I am also hunting down a 60s fisher 100c tube intergrated as a fairly inexpensive alternative

Amps I have tried at home, from best to worst:

1. Cayin HA-1A: sweet sound from EL84 in triode mode
(tied) Almarro A205A: good bass and resolution from EL84 pentode
3. PreSonus Central Station's headphone jack
4. Asian version of Sophia Baby with EL84 output tubes
5. Modified Jolida JD102B
6. Jolida JD301A
7. Sonic Impact T-amp
8. Benchmark DAC1's headphone jack