Alright, lets talk amps... I have decided to up the cash!

[Joey_V]

Alright, I have decided to use one of my summer job paychecks on an amp.

Call me silly but I need to have something that isnt just decent, it has to be pretty damn good.

Anyway, here's what I'm looking at.

SinglePower PPX
SinglePower MPX
WooAudio 3
WooAudio 2 (but I think this has two plugs for balanced headphones (?)... my HD650s have just the stock cable)
Gilmore GS1

I think I covered most of the amps I'm looking at.... I never thought I would spend this much... stupid Headfi.

Now, which do you recommend from the top? I would like to save some money in the process... but if the jump is worth it, then I may go for it (i.e. PPX to MPX jump).

I am particularly interested in the SinglePowers.... but I have heard things about their shoddy build (?), is this true? They do seem to have good CS and good warranty.

Tell me if I should upgrade certain components of the PPX or the MPX.

ADD:
My budget is $1000 MAXXX!! I dont want to go over this bar at all... that is the territory where I start selling my speakers to fund the amp!

Anyway, if I go MPX, most likely it will be stock. If I go PPX, I might be able to fit a few upgrades ONLY if they are worth it.

The thing about the Woo3 is that it looks so small - no heft... makes me wonder if it can even beat the Little Dot II (the budget tube amp from china).

I want fidelity, balance, and neutrality - I dont believe in cables so no cable upgrades with the amps please.

 

[dano1122]

One word, Dynahi.

 

[akwok]

Quote:

Originally Posted by dano1122 One word, Dynahi.

Man, you just want to make everyone buy a Dynahi don't you!

I love my GS-1, but I can't tell if you'd like it or not since my HD650's aren't here yet. From what I hear they seem to synergize very well with almost all types of headphones..

 

[Joey_V]

How much is Dynahi?

 

[akwok]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joey_V How much is Dynahi?

Too much

 

[Jazper]

What music do you listen to?

do you want tubey sound? do you want fast sound?

What sound do you like? (warm and lucious? direct and fast?)

How much do you really want to spend? 1k is a lot in anyone's money for an amp, a dynahi is nice, but it's designed for high impendance/balanced headphones, and it's very very fast. That would bug me.

 

[Joey_V]

That's it!!! I post $1000 limit and someone recommends me a Dynahi.... *grumbling*.

 

[akwok]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joey_V That's it!!! I post $1000 limit and someone recommends me a Dynahi.... *grumbling*.

dano recommends it for everybody.. I bet if I ask opinions on a cmoy he will recommend I get a Dynahi

 

[Joey_V]

I've never had tubes so I kind of want to go in that direction. I have the 650s and I dont find them veiled... go figure.

I like to listen to hip hop, pop, some vocal women (like norah, dido), a little classical.... pretty much everything but hard rock/metal.

 

[Jazper]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joey_V I've never had tubes so I kind of want to go in that direction. I have the 650s and I dont find them veiled... go figure. I like to listen to hip hop, pop, some vocal women (like norah, dido), a little classical.... pretty much everything but hard rock/metal.

This may sound a bit strange, but see if someone in your area has an M3, and try rolling some opa637/627 opamps in it, might get you the sound you are looking for a lot cheaper than your budget. Test listen it.

there's also the S.E.X amp in that range(well half that money), it's a kit, but it should be easy enough to make... http://www.bottlehead.com/et/adobespc/S.E.X./SEX.htm and people seem to be pretty happy with it

For what you're saying, I wouldn't go a dynahi, really does not seem to fit the bill.

 

[lan]

What source do you have? The money maybe better spent on a better source also.

 

[Jazper]

I came upon this: http://www.moon-audio.com/For%20Sale.htm

so you can get a dynahi for 1000$ (abeit used)

I'm posting it because there are other products there that you've mentioned (eg the ppx) for sale cheapish

http://www.moon-audio.com/ <-- details for contacting there

(no I am not affiliated with the person/place - I'm on the other side of the world *** )

 

[n_maher]

If it were me, and granted it's not (but you asked

), and I was looking for something to throw a grand at I'd contribute $50 to head-fi and then have Headroom build you a maxed out desktop amp complete with the home module and home internal DAC. I lust after this combo but my wife *cough* *cough* I mean wallet won't let me do it just yet. Then start saving for the upgraded power supply, or skip the DAC and buy the PS first, your call.

You want tubes? Look no further than the Headroom's Millett, I personally use a maxed out DIY millett and it's a heck of an amp. I can only imagine what Tyll's boys cooked up for theirs.

My guess is that you wouldn't be at all disappointed with either of those choices.

My 0.02 and good luck. There really are a lot of good choices out there.

Nate

[EDIT] Just in case anyone doesn't know Head-Fi contributing members get 10% off at Headroom [/EDIT]

 

[n_maher]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jazper I came upon this: http://www.moon-audio.com/For%20Sale.htm

Just to add to what Jazper said, Drew has a Mall-Fi add for his Dynahi. While I've never bought an amp from Drew I have purchased other things and he's been great to deal with.

N

 

[Joey_V]

How about Eddie Current's DM prototype? (btw, what is eddie current's site address?)

Also, how does the PPX stack up against the other tube amps? Any experiences?

Anyone recommend the WooAudio 3 or 2?