Would like to apply. :) Location - Mumbai (bandra) Headphones - Sennheiser HD650, Yamaha YH-100, Yamaha HP-2, Coolermaster Pulse-R, IEMs - RHA MA350i, Audio Technica Sports3, Soundmagic ES18 Portable source - Xaiomi Mi3, Sandisk Fuze Reviews...

Hi, I use an Ibasso P3+. Ibasso has a newer P4 which is much more powerful. Its availabe for $250 + shipping. They ship via UPS.   The P3+ is a very nice amp and I preferred the upgraded version (different OPAMPs) to a Pico Slim I tried. However a Pico Slim was substantially smaller.

From someone who uses a Portable amp almost daily I would think this really doesn't need an amp but if you really want that last 10% increase in SQ its worth trying a good quality portable amp like the Ibasso P4 or a nice RSA amp.   The E7 is not a great amp and frankly I doubt it will...

For me its got to be a dbel84 modded YH-100. Beautiful treble and midrange and really fast footed bass. That I managed to find one for $250 + shipping to India made this a freaking steal !!! Tried the Thunderpants as well but I prefer the more revealing YH-100s.   Only problem is that its 20...

^^ The MS II is a DAC and not a headphone amp. However for a relatively easy to drive headphone like the HD598 an amp isnt really required.   The MS II is available on Amazon.com   About your second query I haven't heard anything in that price range so I cannot comment.  ...

^^ Well the lyr is a tube hybrid rather than a pure tube amp like the Valhalla. For instance I have an EHHA which is also a tube hybrid but frankly it sounds very much like a solid state amp rather than have that 'tubey sound'   I don't have much experience with amps so I cannot comment much.

If you can stretch till $149 I would suggest the Music Streamer II (MS II for short). I have the E10 and the MS II and while the E10 has a far more powerful amp that can drive even my orthos, the MS II is simply better in practically all aspects with soundstage being the most noticeable...

Honestly as much as I love the HD650s. ( They were my first real cans and I still love them even now) I still don't think they do classical too well.   The rolled off treble is probably to blame but I didn't find that I particularly liked its classical performance.   An amplifier will...

Hey I had a HD600 in my home for around a week and I did quite a bit of testing with it. Comparing the sound directly out of my mobile phone (no amp whatsoever) and then connecting it to my desktop setup (Music Streamer II DAC --> EHHA tube hybrid amp) I did not detect a terribly huge...

I would suggest a Music Streamer II DAC. Its a slightly bright DAC that goes well with the slightly laid back signature of the HD650.   The amp I use is a DIY Cavali Audio EHHA amp. The problem is thats a DIY amp so you either have to have the skills to build it or buy it from someone who...

^^ Both are pure amps.   @OP - I have tried a Fiio E10 and it was pretty good. Its not as good as the $149 Music Streamer II (pure DAC) but it has a smoother midrange and it can drive any headphone you throw at it without any problem. It costs just $80 including shipping so its pretty well...

You know I always thought that using a headphone amp makes a night and day difference and after reading this thread I did a quick AB test of running my Sennheiser HD650 straight out of my phone and then connecting them to a Music Streamer --> EHHA amp and you know what ? There wasn't that huge a...

I have used a fair share of budget amps and while they are good, they simply cannot compete with a more expensive amplifier. I have an Audio GD Compass and that can drive everything I throw at it including inefficient orthodynamics.   However the same headphones and source sound noticeably...

Received my pair today and I have to admit my impressions kinda mirror yours down to the T. I had a hard time getting them out of the box and looking at the cables I frowned. However on first listening I became awed by their sound and I kinda stopped what I was doing. I faintly remembered seeing...

Yes, the HD650 can really wow you when you upgrade to better stuff. :D The worst part is that it scales even better with better gear so if you buy a better DAC/AMP it will sound even better. Bad for the wallet. :P