[wicked.ludicrous]

I'm set on getting some speakers, but would love it if I could get some amps for them that could go with some headphones (Koss DJ 100, Grado, among other cheap ones). I honestly would not care if the amp isn't designed for a specific set or type of headphones. If the amp is just 'good' with headphones and speakers, that would be great
 
For under $200, are there any good headphone/speaker amps? If not, I guess I'd be willing to spend $300 if that's the case.

 

[RexAeterna]

for 200 you can get a great speaker amp that will sound good with headphones as well but not the opposite cause headphone amps are very low power amplifiers and will not handle heavy speakers loads when impedance dips and spikes. best to get a stereo amp or receiver for what you want.

 

[Uncle Erik]

Yes, but most are for specialized high-efficiency speakers like horns. They typically are priced into low four-figures, too.

You'd be better off buying a vintage receiver. Something from NAD or Marantz will do well with headphones and power lots of speakers for $200 or less.

 

[Lavcat]

Quote:

I'm set on getting some speakers, but would love it if I could get some amps for them that could go with some headphones (Koss DJ 100, Grado, among other cheap ones). I honestly would not care if the amp isn't designed for a specific set or type of headphones. If the amp is just 'good' with headphones and speakers, that would be great
 
For under $200, are there any good headphone/speaker amps? If not, I guess I'd be willing to spend $300 if that's the case.

I recently got a Crown D-75A.  The application was for driving speakers from a balanced source with no thought at all for driving headphones -- but I confess the front panel headphone jack of the D-75A seduced me.  I have yet to connect the speakers.
 
Sold new, the Crown is out of your price range.  It was certainly out of mine.  I still went with new, however I recall Full Compass is selling B stock (factory returns) near your range and the slightly lower powered D-45 for less.
 
The headphone amp circuit of the Crown is very simple:  the headphone jack is a direct connection to the amplifier outputs.  You might say a straight wire without gain.
 

 

[xxhaxx]

You can check out the Musical Paradise MP-301 MK2
 

 

 

[AudioDoctor]

There is this Marantz SR5003 Reciever on Audiogon, perhaps you can talk him down a bit...
 
http://www.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?miscrcvr&1313958539&/Marantz-SR5003-receiver

 

[Sorensiim]

I use a Maverick Audio Tubemagic A1, a headamp with speaker terminals. It has no problems driving my Monitor Audio Bronze B2 studio monitors (6.5" + 1" tweeter) comfortably and with power to spare. Check out the reviews here on Head-fi. There's even one in the FS forum right now...

I'm using a matched pair of Mullard tubes and it has a very full, lush sound.

 

[alexsj]

I've been using the audioengine N-22 amp with the audioengine P-4 speakers on my desktop for a while.  They make a great sounding pair and the N-22 amp has a pretty decent headphone amp. The N-22 runs $200, has 2 rca inputs, one variable out, takes up little space on your desk, and has a headphone amp.  It's an A/B amp that does 22 watts per channel so you'll have to pair it with an efficient pair of speakers.

 

[project86]

I'll second the opinion for the Maverick A1. It's around your price range and sounds quite nice with both headphones and speakers. The limitation is with power output - I don't know what speakers you intend to use, or what size room you need to fill. But if you need tons of power a vintage receiver will probably be the best choice.

 

[fasterthanafish]

what I do is to setup one tube preamp, one solid preamp, one solid headphone amp, and a active stuido monitor.

 

[sacd lover]

Here is the original Sound Quest SQ-84 .... now on the MK2 version. This amp was a 10 watt 6V6 output tube based Integrated with a  very good sounding headphone output. The amp is transformer coupled but the headphne out is not. Seems we all thought the headphone out was transformer coupled but I talked to the builder and he told me the headamp section was actually cap coupled. There is a switch to disconnect the output transformers for headphone use. If you see one of these used they are usually priced very reasonabl\y and perform very well overall.
 
http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j124/6bx7gt/076.jpg
http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j124/6bx7gt/075.jpg
http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j124/6bx7gt/074.jpg
http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j124/6bx7gt/073.jpg
http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j124/6bx7gt/1178127935.jpg 
 
 

 

[ccklone]

Hey Now,
 
 I have been using a Parasound Zamp v.3 with some speakers in a near field environment and it has a headphone out, but I don't use it with headphones. I tried it, I need to adjust the gain 8^). You would need a pre-amp.
 
--
Finest kind,
Chris

 

[project86]

Quote:

what I do is to setup one tube preamp, one solid preamp, one solid headphone amp, and a active stuido monitor.

???????
 
What does this have to do with the original question?


Quote:

Here is the original Sound Quest SQ-84 .... now on the MK2 version. This amp was a 10 watt 6V6 output tube based Integrated with a  very good sounding headphone output. The amp is transformer coupled but the headphne out is not. Seems we all thought the headphone out was transformer coupled but I talked to the builder and he told me the headamp section was actually cap coupled. There is a switch to disconnect the output transformers for headphone use. If you see one of these used they are usually priced very reasonabl\y and perform very well overall.
 
http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j124/6bx7gt/076.jpg
http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j124/6bx7gt/075.jpg
http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j124/6bx7gt/074.jpg
http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j124/6bx7gt/073.jpg
http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j124/6bx7gt/1178127935.jpg 
 
 

I don't quite understand this recommendation. I'm sure it is a nice amp, but the OP mentions a budget of $200, possibly as much as $300. The SQ-84 is over $1000 new - http://soundapproach.com/soundquestsq84v2integratedheadphoneampwremotevolum-p-1440.html And I have a hard time believing they drop under $300 used, or that they even appear on the used market very often at all (there are none on Audiogon right now, for example). 
 

 

[wicked.ludicrous]

Quote:

I'll second the opinion for the Maverick A1. It's around your price range and sounds quite nice with both headphones and speakers. The limitation is with power output - I don't know what speakers you intend to use, or what size room you need to fill. But if you need tons of power a vintage receiver will probably be the best choice.

That looks really nice and affordable. The range of speakers I'm looking to get will be mostly for home theater speakers, so some semi-large standing speakers.
If you have any input on speakers as well, that would be awesome !!
 

 

[project86]

I wouldn't know where to begin with speakers..... no matter you budget, you can usually find a dozen or more good choices. If you want to buy new, many of the internet direct companies offer in home trials where you can return them if you don't like them. Aperion, Emotiva, Axiom, Ascend, Home Theater Direct, SVSound, and HSU are all worth looking in to. 
 
If you are serious about wanting floor-standing speakers, the Maverick A1 might not have the power you need. At that point a used older receiver will probably be the way to go.