Amp for SA5000, around $450 range

[deaconblues]

I've decided that I enjoy the SA5000 more than both of my Senns, so I decided to sell them off to fund the purchase of a good amp. I've already sold the HD600, and after the HD650 is sold, I should have around the neighborhood of $450 to spend on an amplifier. I'm highly inexperienced in the world of amps (I only have the cmoys that I've built), so I'd appreciate some input on what would be some good choices for the SA5000 within the $450 price range.

 

[virometal]

Is there any way you would like to tweak the sound? Many opt for warm amps to dull the Sony a little bit.

It depends on what your looking for.

 

[raisin]

Well, my experience was that the SR-71 worked best with those phones. Tube's just didn't seem effective, detracting from the accuracy without warming the 5k's brittleness. Pairing strength with strength was the way to go.

 

[Borat]

OK, I'll just say it to save someone else the trouble....

Bada PH-12!

 

[deaconblues]

lol, the good doctor's unending praise of that amp has not gone unnoticed. Regardless of whether or not it truly is the best amp, the Bada certainly does seem to be a good deal. I'll definitely look into the SR-71 as well, but I'd like something that doesn't use up batteries.

 

[Iron_Dreamer]

The Hornet is a great amp, that is very small and portable, yet can be used at home on AC as well. The sound is a very high percentage of what you'll get from a much more expensive amp, and it is built like a (very small) tank. The sound mates very well with the SA5K if you really like what the SA5K is all about (i.e. speed, impact, detail, etc.)

If you find your SA5K TOO fast, impactful, detailed, etc, well then the answer is a nice slow tubey-sounding amp with a good built-in high-end roll-off. The Perreuax SHX-1 was all about that, so was the standard PPX3 I heard, and some other amps out of your pricerange. I personally can't stand that type of sound, but to each his own.

 

[virometal]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Iron_Dreamer I personally can't stand that type of sound, but to each his own.

Boy, I'm with Dreamer on this one. I used an Earmax Pro with the SA5000, and initially thought is was the answer.

I went back to SS (headcode) and realized the headphone was handcuffed. IMO if one is concerned about harshness, tweak the source (or the recording!) and keep speed in the amp.

Oh if you can stretch your budget, may I suggest a Sony LCD t.v. That is what I'm using now and the synergy is fantastic!

 

[Iron_Dreamer]

Quote:

Originally Posted by virometal I went back to SS (headcode) and realized the headphone was handcuffed. IMO if one is concerned about harshness, tweak the source (or the recording!) and keep speed in the amp.

Definitely the source is responsbile for harshness and digititis, even the well-regarded (and self-loved) Benchmark DAC1 still has some, which the two new DACs around here have eliminated to leave a smooth, sweet, super-extended treble. Get rid of your sh!tty sources, people! Garbage in = garbage out, with the SA5K, bigtime.

 

[sacd lover]

I would look at the Headamp Gilmore Lite. This is a fast, clean sounding amp thats an excellent value at $299.

www.headamp.com

 

[devwild]

Speed and warmth are not tied to each other, it's just most equipment sacrifices one for the other (average SS vs average Tube).

The M^3 is relatively warm while still being very fast and detailed, which is why it is popular pairing for the SA5000 (and right in your price range with a steps PSU depending on the builder). Even a certain well known commercial amp maker commented on this about mine during his tour

It's the best pairing I personally have heard under $450. The SR-71 is way too bright for the 5K IMO. I haven't heard the hornet, but from what I've read it is not as bright.

At least half of the people I've seen sell the SA5000 because they decided it wasn't "quite their style" owned/used it with a Gilmore Lite. While I haven't heard that pairing personally, I don't think that speaks very well to such a setup.

 

[drarthurwells]

Quote:

Originally Posted by deaconblues I've decided that I enjoy the SA5000 more than both of my Senns, so I decided to sell them off to fund the purchase of a good amp. I've already sold the HD600, and after the HD650 is sold, I should have around the neighborhood of $450 to spend on an amplifier. I'm highly inexperienced in the world of amps (I only have the cmoys that I've built), so I'd appreciate some input on what would be some good choices for the SA5000 within the $450 price range.

My headphone system provides the most natrual and realistic sound I have ever heard from headphones.

The SA5000 is simply the best for the money.

For a nice tube sound, the Ming Da MC66AE for about $330 is unbeatable in its price range - Class A with no global feedback and three separate transformers - rich, lush, sweet sound.
http://www6.head-fi.org/forums/showt...hlight=Meixing


For something that combines the best solid state attributes with the best tube qualities, and is a single ended OTL (no sound-degrading transformer in the output) amp, operating in Class A mode without opamps (Toshiba MosFets used with three 6NS7 tubes) and without any global negative feedback in amplification, the Bada PH12 is peerless for about
$450 - perhaps the best amp at any price in regard to natural timbre.
http://www6.head-fi.org/forums/showthread.php?t=136296

Combine using the E5 CD player for $750 and you are in headphone heaven.

 

[PsychoZX]

Quote:

Originally Posted by drarthurwells For something that combines the best solid state attributes with the best tube qualities, and is a single ended OTL (no sound-degrading transformer in the output) amp, operating in Class A mode without opamps (Toshiba MosFets used with three 6NS7 tubes) and without any global negative feedback in amplification, the Bada PH12 is peerless for about $450 - perhaps the best amp at any price in regard to natural timbre. http://www6.head-fi.org/forums/showthread.php?t=136296

Somebody already beat ya to it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Borat OK, I'll just say it to save someone else the trouble.... Bada PH-12!

 

[devwild]

Have there been any comparisons of the Bada with amps that are currently popular on head-fi (M^3, PPA, Dynalo/hi, Headroom's current generation, Woo Audio 3, Ray Samuels, Xin, etc). Everything I've seen thus far only compares to stuff almost no one here uses, which comes off as fanboy praise, not useful description.

Or, If you want to send one to me to evaluate, I'd be more than happy to stack it up against the M^3 with a variety of cans I own or can get my hands on (SA5000, K701, several Senns...)

 

[Azure]

M^3 seems to offer the best synergy with the SA5k's period. However, there's still the issue of the opamps; which opamps do you guys recommend?

 

[devwild]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Azure M^3 seems to offer the best synergy with the SA5k's period. However, there's still the issue of the opamps; which opamps do you guys recommend?

Depends on the source. Regardless, speed is important. OPA627s are the obvious starting point and work well with most anything I've tried (configuring lower gain/higher current bias is better suited for the SA5000 with the M^3 but that rules out using OPA637s in the L/R channels). Since I modded my cd player with OPA627s in the output stage, I have been really enjoying the M^3 configured with AD843s. It's the best synergy I've heard yet for the SA5000s.