[ardilla]

In my experience the best integrated headset are those (few) with rear headphone output ...

Greetings
Nik

I always found that very awkward....

 

[The Fed]

I just wanted to chime in on this thread as I've been researching integrated amps to drive a new pair of Zu Omens but wanted something that could work with speakers and headphones. My criteria for my search has been. 
 
A. At least 20 watts
B. Tubes
C. Tube connected headphone out.
 
Rogue Audio gears looks sweet but all the units I tested use a PCB mounted Opamp for the headphone driver.... I want to tap tubes directly. I found that out about Rogue while auditioning the Sphinx last week... I wasn't terribly impressed using LCD2's with the Sphinx
Musical Paradise and Opera Audio have both been covered by the writing team at Inner Fidelity but I wanted to throw a couple more out there for anyone looking
 
Audio Space has a few intergrated from $800 to $2000 with direct connected headphone outs.
Reviews of their units from Positive Feedback and Dagogo.
http://www.positive-feedback.com/Issue27/as_3i.htm
http://dagogo.com/audio-space-mini-2se-integrated-tube-amplifier-review
 
 

Also Line Magnetic 218 Mini (although I really wish they would put a headphone jack on their full size integrateds.... the 211ia and 216ia
 

 
Another one that us Yanks may not know very well. Triode Corp. makes a number of tube integrateds with headphone out.
All three of these units can be had for under 
 

 
And Icon Audio who is gaining market traction in the US has a 20 watter for right around $1K with a headphone jack that uses the EL84 glass... for about $500 more you get the EL34 and 5 more watts per channel. 
 

 
Just wanted to put these out there in case someone else was on the same hunt. 

 

[2leftears]

Nad 3020 series. I have the 'i' model and it is stellar with the HD800's. Warm and organic yet detailed without any hardness. Loads of voltage swing and always sounds effortless. Always needs a good warm up period though. 

I second this. I was once sold a NAD1020 preamp to use as a headphone amp, which is the preamp section of the 3020 (or the 3020 with the power amp ripped out , which is pretty much what NAD did ). The dealer told me it would make a surprisingly good headphone amp for the new HD540's I just bought from him. He wasn't kidding, that thing sounded great! Velvety yet very detailed. The dealer was kind enough to make a photocopy of the 1020 schematics. I roughly used that as a basis for designing & building my own headphone amp, which I have used for the last 20 years. That competes really remarkably well when set against my Lehmann Linear headphone amp, both when using the Hd540 as well as the HD800! I like to think a bit of the NAD1020 magic rubbed off on it.

 

[LugBug1]

I second this. I was once sold a NAD1020 preamp to use as a headphone amp, which is the preamp section of the 3020 (or the 3020 with the power amp ripped out , which is pretty much what NAD did

). The dealer told me it would make a surprisingly good headphone amp for the new HD540's I just bought from him. He wasn't kidding, that thing sounded great! Velvety yet very detailed. The dealer was kind enough to make a photocopy of the 1020 schematics. I roughly used that as a basis for designing & building my own headphone amp, which I have used for the last 20 years. That competes really remarkably well when set against my Lehmann Linear headphone amp, both when using the Hd540 as well as the HD800! I like to think a bit of the NAD1020 magic rubbed off on it.

Great stuff! Yup I do love the 3020. I want to try the new one. 
 
I've recently bought a Rotel 820BX2 and QED 230S (going through a bit of an 80's phase). Both very good headphone stages. Especially the QED. However it is sooo loud I can't use my HD800's unless I have a very low level going in. But the SQ of the QED is probably the best I've heard with hp's yet including HP amps. I use it with K701 as they can handle lots of power and really appreciate it. Never heard them sound so real! I wish I still had some orthos to try with it, I imagine it would work a treat with LCD2 or Hifiman. 

 

[JoMoCo]

The lower priced one box bakoon sca 7512 looks interesting...not much review/user experience out there on it though.. at least at the time of. this posting.
 
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Bakoon-Products-SATRI-Compact-Power-Amplifier-SCA-7512-/140905265626

 

[ardilla]

  The lower priced one box bakoon sca 7512 looks interesting...not much review/user experience out there on it though.. at least at the time of. this posting.
 
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Bakoon-Products-SATRI-Compact-Power-Amplifier-SCA-7512-/140905265626

 
 
Indeed! So does the more elegant (but more expensive) 12R, which has a headphone output on the side
http://www.bakoonproducts.com/product/amp-12r/

 

[jamiebiese]

I've found the (quite new) Sony TA-A1ES amplifier to have an excellent headphone output. Tried it with different cans, sounded great on most. I especially liked the combination with the HiFiMan HE400. The TA-A1 is also one of the few amps in this category that has an selection switch for different impedances (three positions, low-mid-high, which Sony told me translates to 8, 150 or 300 ohm).

 

[ardilla]

  I've found the (quite new) Sony TA-A1ES amplifier to have an excellent headphone output. Tried it with different cans, sounded great on most. I especially liked the combination with the HiFiMan HE400. The TA-A1 is also one of the few amps in this category that has an selection switch for different impedances (three positions, low-mid-high, which Sony told me translates to 8, 150 or 300 ohm).

 
Looks like a nice device How is it with speakers?
 
btw - found a nice informative review, http://andreweverard.com/2014/02/19/review-sony-ta-a1es-amplifier/

 

[jamiebiese]

It's a great amp for speakers too. I tested the TA-A1ES for a few weeks, in combination with Teufel Definion 5-speakers (which have quite low sensitivity & need some driving), and quite liked it. It looks and sounds great, the build quality is very good. Only takes analogue inputs though, which might put off some people.

 

[Monsterzero]

Can anyone recommend a good 2 channel amp to drive GoldenEar T2 fronts and have anough power to make the Beyer T1 sing?
 
Ive read the thread and a lot of the amps mentioned are no longer available either new or on Audiogon....please assist....desperate!

 

[Espresto]

Has anyone had any experience with the Music Hall A25.2? 

 

[kokushu]

Anyone know if the marantz 1152 dc or a yamaha ca 1010 have good headphone amp section.  Saw these on sell and was wondering if it worth while to get it for my headphone.

 

[diamondears]

No love for Roksan Kandy K2 integrated amplifier? Excellent value for speakers and headphones. And its HP jack is 1/8!

 

[Savant]

The Symphonic line Kraftwerk MK 2 Special Selection is the very best integrated/headphones amplifier to date !!! I have adopted it for my HP2is, better than two box dedicated amplifier i have built for them.

The Kraftwerk has the output headphones on the back and has two separated power supplay, one for each stage, so you have a two box headphone amplifier.

Best!
Nik

And all that for a mere €15K? That's a bargain! 

 

[Nik]

But now the fabulous HP2is know new life with the McIntosh MHA100