Ikarios
1000+ Head-Fier
- Joined
- May 23, 2006
- Posts
- 1,408
- Likes
- 20
Hi folks,
I love my 12AU7 SSMH, as it performs quite well above its price bracket. However, one of my main gripes about it is that the gain is quite high; for low-impedance headphones (32ohm Grados, Audio-Technicas, most portable and DJ sets), there's a pretty audible hiss at normal listening values. Also, since I typically listen at a very low volume, I don't have a whole lot of volume knob usage before it either gets too loud or hits the channel imbalance on the Alpha pot. However, the amplifier runs 300-600ohm and low sensitivity cans just fine (AKGs, Sennheisers, Beyers), and it's a personal DIY creation, so I'd like to keep it around. What I'm looking for is a low-gain solid state companion to the amp, i.e. something that isn't always preferable to the SSMH, and won't cost me an arm and a leg (ideally <$200). I've been looking at some DIY possibilities like a CK2III, PIMETA, PPAv2, maybe even an A47, but I'd like to see what commercial possibilities there might be. Anyone have suggestions? TIA!
I love my 12AU7 SSMH, as it performs quite well above its price bracket. However, one of my main gripes about it is that the gain is quite high; for low-impedance headphones (32ohm Grados, Audio-Technicas, most portable and DJ sets), there's a pretty audible hiss at normal listening values. Also, since I typically listen at a very low volume, I don't have a whole lot of volume knob usage before it either gets too loud or hits the channel imbalance on the Alpha pot. However, the amplifier runs 300-600ohm and low sensitivity cans just fine (AKGs, Sennheisers, Beyers), and it's a personal DIY creation, so I'd like to keep it around. What I'm looking for is a low-gain solid state companion to the amp, i.e. something that isn't always preferable to the SSMH, and won't cost me an arm and a leg (ideally <$200). I've been looking at some DIY possibilities like a CK2III, PIMETA, PPAv2, maybe even an A47, but I'd like to see what commercial possibilities there might be. Anyone have suggestions? TIA!
