[ShawnSmith]

It seems live every tube amp I do any research on there are piles of people saying that it won't work well with low impedance cans. So can anyone recommend sub $600 Tube Amps for low impedance cans.

I'm specifically looking to to run 40-50 ohm cans

 

[Orcin]

Woo Audio 6 = $585 plus shipping

It is output transformer coupled and will drive low impedance headphones effectively. It has a two-position (high/low) impedance switch.

 

[rlanger]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Orcin /img/forum/go_quote.gif Woo Audio 6 = $585 plus shipping It is output transformer coupled and will drive low impedance headphones effectively. It has a two-position (high/low) impedance switch.

x2. Work well with my Denons.

 

[ShawnSmith]

sorry, I should have excluded the wa6 from my search. It's literally the only tube amp in that price range I've seen people recommend for low impedance cans, and I was hoping that I'd have some more options. Not that the woo isn't great I'd just like to see what else is out there

 

[Orcin]

Cayin HA-1A and Trafomatic Head One are worth investigating, although both of those are over $600 new.

Maybe someone else will have more ideas for you...

 

[Icarium]

I think those Maple Ear amps have something at that price range.. at least used anyway. Melos also traditionally are supposed to work well with low impedance cans aka Grados... I've never heard either myself.

 

[Orcin]

Ah yes! Mapletree Ear+ HD is a good option. It's $740 assembled. PM kydsid about how it works with low impedance phones, he has one. It's a nice amp.

 

[sacd lover]

I have owned the Mapletree Ear + and Woo 6 both and I much prefered the PPX3 SLAM for my low impedance Alessandros ... and actually for any of my headphones. A used SLAM is usually right around $600.

 

[fatcat28037]

There's also the Woo 3+ at about $100 less than the 6.

Woo Audio 3+ High End Headphone Amplifier

 

[ShawnSmith]

anyone else have any suggestions?

 

[melomaniac]

maybe not directly competitive with the WA6, but worth a mention is the Lunchbox Pro, which has an impedance switch now

 

[malldian]

Enjoying a Melos SHA-1 with my Grado's right now. Might be hard finding one though.

 

[orkney]

Used EarMax Pro -- great match with both DX1000s and RS1s in my setup. The EF1 hybrid seems to be getting good press, might be another option. MAD Ear is excellent too but can sound less overtly tubey (for better or worse) than some competitors. As an all-rounder it's hard to beat at the price.

o

 

[MikeW]

Im in love with my EF1 at the moment.. only 299$ too.

 

[Skylab]

Yeah, for low impedance cans, a hybrid amp like the EF-1 can be a very good choice.