Anthem AVM20 vs dedicated hp amp

[donws]

I just received some AKG K701s and I'm listening to them now via the headphone output of my Anthem AVM20 pre/pro (using the AVM20's internal DAC fed by coax SPDIF from my Sony DVPNS999ES). The phones sound quite good, even though not burned in.

For comparison, I also briefly listened to the K701 driven by the headphone output of an old Adcom GCD575 CDP I had lying around, and the phones clearly sound better from the Anthem. The difference is not subtle.

Is anyone familiar with the AVM20's headphone circuit? I searched but didn't get any hits. I'm wondering how much further improvement can be expected, if I invest in a dedicated HP amp, something in the price range of the Meier Aria or maybe even the new Opera?

Thanks!

 

[Erik_C]

I have the AVM20, too. It has a really nice headphone amp. I prefer my SMIIIv.6 with OPA627s, but still, the Anthem has the best built-in headphone amp I've ever heard in a pre-pro or receiver. It drives my Ety ER4s nicely. I don't know much about it, either. All I could find out is that it is
100 mW into 32 ohms @ 0.2% THD+N and that it is a "high-end" amp with "discrete components."

 

[donws]

Thanks Eric! Not to get too much off topic (in my own thread at that

), but are you using the balanced or single-ended outputs of your AVM to drive your speaker amps? I've been using single-ended with MIT & Kimber cables, but since my Bryston amps (6BSST/9BSST) also have balanced inputs, I just ordered some relatively inexpensive Blue Jeans XLR<->XLR cables to give balanced a try. Should be interesting...