[chodecz]

Hi guys,

I've been recommended the following on a $750 budget...
HeadAmp GS-1, M^3 or CKIII (balanced config), millet hybrid.

These amps are hard to come by, but I'm prepared to wait if necessary!

Any thoughts or other recommendations?

I know there's prob other threads like this and sorry if I don't have the time to search all through them, so even a quick list of suggestions would be great!

Any help will be greatly appreciated!

P.S. I'm looking to buy used, not new!

 

[olblueyez]

Something with tubes and something with plenty of tube rolling options, sometimes you can find a used Raptor for about 800.

Mapletree Audio has a nice headphone amp. Woo Audio would probably be your best bet for an "off the shelf tube amp". Spend some time reading about Woo, he has some really cool stuff. Woo Audio High-End Tube Amplifiers - The Sound of Excellence

 

[Shahrose]

what kind of sound do you like? warm, cold, bright, dark, neutral, transparent etc.

 

[chodecz]

I like a bright sound with huge soundstage, I like to FEEL my music, hehe.

 

[Max F]

Bright sound with huge soundstage - sounds like you need a different headphone.

 

[mbd2884]

Time to try the AD2000, huh

Quote:

Originally Posted by Max F /img/forum/go_quote.gif Bright sound with huge soundstage - sounds like you need a different headphone.

 

[chodecz]

How would you describe the HD650's sound then?

 

[Max F]

Well, i'm working on getting my hd650s to come alive, but so far they are definately not bright. I wish the soundstage was bigger, but I'm getting an amp for that.

Sounds like would like some AKG 701s

 

[Rednamalas1]

Quote:

Originally Posted by chodecz /img/forum/go_quote.gif I like a bright sound with huge soundstage, I like to FEEL my music, hehe.

Stay away from HD650.

K501 might be closer to your liking

Quote:

Originally Posted by mbd2884 /img/forum/go_quote.gif Time to try the AD2000, huh

AD2K are not bright, nor do they have huge soundstage. I'd say they're slightly on the darker side, with not-so-huge soundstage.

 

[jvlgato]

Quote:

Originally Posted by chodecz /img/forum/go_quote.gif I like a bright sound with huge soundstage, I like to FEEL my music, hehe.

Grado. Maybe not a HUGE soundstage, but bright, very detailed, forward, aggressive, like you're on the stage and standing with the musicians. You FEEL the music!

 

[kbug]

K701 is definitely brighter.

 

[mbd2884]

I haven't listened to the AD2000s, so can't say myself.

But that's interesting since my impression from reading all the comprehensive reviews are the opposite. AD2000s being bright forward, emphasis on the Mids/Trebles, more analytical than my AD900s and having soundstage as large as you can get from an Open Air headphone.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rednamalas1 /img/forum/go_quote.gif AD2K are not bright, nor do they have huge soundstage. I'd say they're slightly on the darker side, with not-so-huge soundstage.

 

[Shahrose]

Quote:

Originally Posted by chodecz /img/forum/go_quote.gif I like a bright sound with huge soundstage, I like to FEEL my music, hehe.

GS-1 from the list then.

 

[upstateguy]

GS-1 if you can get one......

USG

 

[Rednamalas1]

Quote:

Originally Posted by mbd2884 /img/forum/go_quote.gif I haven't listened to the AD2000s, so can't say myself. But that's interesting since my impression from reading all the comprehensive reviews are the opposite. AD2000s being bright forward, emphasis on the Mids/Trebles, more analytical than my AD900s and having soundstage as large as you can get from an Open Air headphone.

Think of AD2K as AD900 with slightly reduced soundstage, lush mids, HARD hitting bass that is full of texture (bass amount increased as well) while treble is linear and extended but not over-emphasized. Your description sounds more like K701s, really.

Take a look at ASR and Elephas',reviews in headphone thread. It should give a good description of how they sound.

To OP: I don't think HD650 will ever be bright and fun no matter how bright the amp is (although really amping them makes them fun-ish in their own way) and my suggestion is to grab another pair of cans that can compliment, to your needs. Amping can't make HD650 sound like RS-1s.