A decent but not too expensive amp recommendation for T1

[Priyajeet]

Right now I have a Fubar 4 as well as an Auzentech XFi HTHD card the specs of which state that it can drive 600 ohms headphones.
I am unsure if anyone else here has tried this card for driving such a headphone.
 
In either case I might consider getting a better dedicated amp if you guys think the above wont suffice.
I would want an amp with an optical input, so that I can use that from pc/laptop connection.
 
I don't want to be spending too much on the amp either. Definitely not something thats more than the headphones itself.
Thanks.

 

[DoReMi]

nuforce hdp... great dac ampli combo for the price

 

[kostalex]

I tried multibit DAC > WooAudio 3 > T1 and these were excellent. But I do not think the amp would be enough, you should have nice source too. Pico DAC/amp > WooAudio 3 > T1 were not good. I will probably try T1 from HDP soon and report here.

 

[Priyajeet]

what are peeps here using to amp their T1s?
 
For the auzentech HTHD - This Headphone Amplifier can support up to 100mW/channel output (power) , can drive 600 ohms headphones per its specs...

 

[Ypoknons]

100mW/channel at what impedance? 
 
Also, the question of amping a pair of cans is quite difficult, specs are part of the story but it depends on how heavily filtered and regulated the power supply is, the design of the circuits (e.g. caps in the signal path will warm the sound a bit iirc), the ability to keep current constant (see 'Class A' operation and the like), the dampening factor and so on... It's all quite complicated, a power rating will not tell the whole picture, so I'd suggest sampling different amps and as a second best, ask people who have used different amps with the T1. The T1 appreciation thread looks like a good resource to me. 
 
Last time I tried a T1, it was from a Harmony Design EAR90 and a Marantz CD player. It sounded good, no doubt, but I that's the only combo I tried. I know Skylab has recommended T1 + Meier Concerto a few times. 

 

[musicman59]

Take a look at the Violectric V200. It has the power to drive the T1 better than my GS-1 and it has USB input.
http://aphroditecu29.com/Violectric/V200.aspx

 

[Shahrose]

Quote:

Right now I have a Fubar 4 as well as an Auzentech XFi HTHD card the specs of which state that it can drive 600 ohms headphones.
I am unsure if anyone else here has tried this card for driving such a headphone.
 
In either case I might consider getting a better dedicated amp if you guys think the above wont suffice.
I would want an amp with an optical input, so that I can use that from pc/laptop connection.
 
I don't want to be spending too much on the amp either. Definitely not something thats more than the headphones itself.
Thanks.

An amp with an optical input? I'm not sure I've seen an amp that has that, and for good reason. Amps function in the analog domain, an optical input indicates the device can process a digital signal. A DAC will have an optical input, not an amp (unless the amp is a DAC/amp combo). If you want to connect your laptop to the amp, all you need is an RCA input on the amp, which every amp has.

 

[Priyajeet]

Yeah I mean't dac/amp with combo.
Like the nuforce HDP or the Fubar 4 i have.
 
Though I am willing to get two separate products.

 

[Ypoknons]

When you get into the high-end, things to tend to be separate because people have the money and are very picky with matching. To be frank, in your case I would just have gone for the DT880/600 and saved a bit of money, but there is a report of a T1 owner in th appreciation thread using the Audio GD Fun with the T1, shoot him a PM.

 

[Shahrose]

Quote:

When you get into the high-end, things to tend to be separate because people have the money and are very picky with matching. To be frank, in your case I would just have gone for the DT880/600 and saved a bit of money, but there is a report of a T1 owner in th appreciation thread using the Audio GD Fun with the T1, shoot him a PM.

I doubt the FUN would be much of an upgrade from the Fubar 4 or the X-Fi he already has. All 3 are relatively low-end offerings. If the OP is planning to get a world class headphone like the T1, it would make sense to get a good separate DAC and amp so he can get the most out of it.

 

[Priyajeet]

right now I am inclined towards the violectrics, however I am thinking about re cabling the T1 based on reading the T1 thread in the headphone forum. Now if I am re cabling it to balanced, I might as well go in for the V181 or perhaps wait for the V200 balanced that are due in a month or so...The V200 will have an optional USB input so I guess that can work as the DAC, or I can just use my sound card as the DAC and just use an amp...

 

[musicman59]

Quote:

right now I am inclined towards the violectrics, however I am thinking about re cabling the T1 based on reading the T1 thread in the headphone forum. Now if I am re cabling it to balanced, I might as well go in for the V181 or perhaps wait for the V200 balanced that are due in a month or so...The V200 will have an optional USB input so I guess that can work as the DAC, or I can just use my sound card as the DAC and just use an amp...

Unless Fried has changed his mind I don't think the V200 balanced will come out in a month or so. Where did you hear that?
The last communication I had with Fried he said maybe by the end of the year or sometime next year for the V200 balanced but things might have changed.

 

 

[Priyajeet]

hmm, i heard from him that models from june onward wont have a USB input, so i guess it might just be the current v200 minus the usb. I might have wrongly assumed that those new models will have balanced out.

 

[Skylab]

The Decware CSP-2 is great with the T1, as is the Meier Audio Concerto.