[bangraman]

I've read through some of the previous posts on this matter but would like to see if the results can be consolidated any further. At the moment I have all DIY amps (one which I bought built). So I'm considering a better amp for the W2002 which I'll have probably by the end of January. I'd like to buy an amp at the same time.
Source will be a Sony CDP-X3000 which is my current dedicated headphone-only CD player. I can shift another unit to headphone-only use but I'm not too keen on that.
I'm playing with the idea of a DAC for the X3000 but that's all I'm doing: playing.
From what I've read so far, tube amps are not a good match with the W2002... Why? And what's the best amp to partner it with for under £500?

 

[antness]

Hirsch posted some comments about listening to the W2002 from the D.C. meet in November...the thread is here:

http://www4.head-fi.org/forums/showt...highlight=meet

 

[bangraman]

I think I read that thread. Same as the other threads with Hirsch and the W2002 in

Not really conclusive and the amps he's referring to are outside my budget for commercial amps.


Here's what is:
Earmax Pro (slightly outside budget)
Grado RA1 (right on budget... Had this before but it was exclusively used with the SR325, which I didn't like... Don't know how the amp would sound with another phone)
Graham Slee Solo (About the same as the above two, never heard of this one, have you?)


Alternatively given my budget is about $600US at the absolute max including insured shipping to the UK, is there one of the ampbuilders here who would be able to make a good partner to the W2002?

 

[elnero]

Quote:

Originally posted by bangraman Alternatively given my budget is about $600US at the absolute max including insured shipping to the UK, is there one of the ampbuilders here who would be able to make a good partner to the W2002?

Look up, look waaaaay up.

Now go here

 

[bangraman]

thanks elnero. I stopped looking at custom titles ever since I got mine

 

[wallijonn]

Bangerman,

it may help to know what DIY amps you have. RVD is running his W2002 through a Melos, so he may have some comments that he can share with you. Greg and I listened to it through his Melos and Greg's SAC.

as to the antness, you may be able to buy the parts from him, sans enclosure, and have them shipped to you for you to build it yourself. otherwise at $500 the antness seems like a great deal. I can't imagine it costing that much to ship.

how much is a sudgen in your neck of the woods? i would think that there are many HAs in UK.

there's a Antness Gilmore for sale in the for sale section for $450 right now.

 

[pigmode]

The W2002 is pretty sweet with the EMP, but the latter is sensitve to tube selection. So coupled, the W2002 reproduces music with clarity and ease, with great reproduction of inner detail.

 

[Hirsch]

Quote:

Originally posted by pigmode The W2002 is pretty sweet with the EMP, but the latter is sensitve to tube selection. So coupled, the W2002 reproduces music with clarity and ease, with great reproduction of inner detail.

I only had a brief chance to hear this combination, but that was my impression also.

 

[antness]

wallijohn,

I didn't build the Gilmore that's in the For Sale/Trade. That's a DIY work by Fyleow

 

[Spad]

I spent a few hours this afternoon with a W2002-->MZ-R50/EJ1000-->Kimber PBJ-->KurtW META42. The amp has a total of about ten hours on the clock and was powered by a 9V alkaline.

The results really surprised me. The META easily trounced the Corda HA-1 and bettered the Sugden in many ways. The Headmaster is a great match for the W2002, but the META's bass performance is noticeably better IMO. It's at least equally deep and seems tighter and better controlled. I assume this is a product of KurtW's recent addition of (optional) triple output buffers to his versions.

More surprising is that this isn't even the top of the possible META versions. I wanted a small, portable amp so got the Serpac H-65 case which necessitates some minor compromises.

Yesterday I played mostly with Ety ER-4s and CD3Ks. The results were equally impressive, but the real story for me was the META's performance with the ATs. I was seriously considering selling them before this. Instead I sold the HA-1--and the Sugden's days may well be numbered.

The W2002 seems well suited to SS amps--at least all that I've tried--and you can expect superb performance well within your budget.

Spad

 

[RVD]

I definitely recommend the Melos. I absolutely love the sound of the W2002/Melos combo. The combo has great detail, bass, and is very smooth. I realize the SHA-Maestro is out of your stated price range, but you can pick up a SHA-1 for around your budget. I know some people found the SHA-1 to be harsh with the W2002, but I cannot comment on that, as I have not listened to the SHA-1.

Also if you go with a Melos definitely replace the stock Sovtek's with something else.

 

[bangraman]

Thanks Spad and RVD. I'm still liking the idea of a solid state amp better, partly because of the minor annoyances of tubes. I like the Gilmore amp most at this stage (if it's available), but the META42 has become an option. Can anyone else chime in?

 

[smokey]

For what it is worth.

My 2002 likes SS much better than tubes. That includes a Cary SLI-80. That said, I haven't heard it out of a Melos.

It likes a very well built META42. It liked, but not quite as much, a Sugden as well. However I've got the Sugden in for serious mods, and I am hopeful that it will like it even better in the near future. I've also got a cheater cable on order from the Equinox folks, so I'm going to try it out of a Blockhead as well. We'll see how it works.

Were it me, given your budget, I'd e-mail Antness on the Gilmore. I've not heard it, but people whose ears that I trust, seem to like it a lot.

 

[bangraman]

I think it's got to be the Gilmore. I'm going to try the phones with my amps first, see how it does and probably buy the Gilmore regardless

 

[Spad]

Quote:

Originally posted by bangraman I think it's got to be the Gilmore. I'm going to try the phones with my amps first, see how it does and probably buy the Gilmore regardless

The Gilmore should be a great choice. In fact, I'm trying to decide between a Gilmore and an HA-2 at the moment myself. I don't know how I came to think that I need a complete headphone system every 20 feet or so throughout the house. I used to be so rational.

Spad