[SpicyMustard]

So in an effort to bring the various discussions I have been reading togeather, I am posting this.

I have a pair of senn600's and am looking for an amp, yes the same $300ish amp everyone else is looking for. However I want a tube amp with bass. The obvious contender is the MG HEAD DT/OTL MKII, and that is the way I am leaning, but what about the Antique Sound HB1, I cant find a review anywhere. And a comparo between the two would be great. Moreover I am looking for a place to buy a headphone tube amp for said price, on the internet or in the San Jose/Monterey Bay areas and can't find a good one. Recomendations??? Please that would be very much apreciated, and I hope this Thread is not too repetitive.

 

[Sean H]

Welcome to HeadFi! Sorry about the wallet.

The HB1 really isn't a headphone amp but rather a tube buffer. It can drive low impedance cans like Grado's but cannot drive high impedance cans like HD600's. this was discussed no too long ago and the manufacturer, Joe Lau, even chimed in. Here's a link to the HB1 discussion thread.

I have the HD600's/Equinox cable and a new MG Head OTL Mk2 and find it to be an excellent combination (it's quite a popular combo). It's hard to go wrong here, the new Mk2 is an excellent amp.

Another popular tube amp is the Maple Tree Audio Ear ++ that's around your price range in kit form, a bit more for a fully assembled version. While I have heard this amp can sound good with the HD600's I have heard it sounds best with low impedance cans like Grado. Here's a link:

Maple Tree Audio

If ~$300 is your budget and you want a tube amp for your HD600's it's hard to beat the MG Head OTL Mk2.

 

[utep10]

Try these guys.

They are in Santa Rosa so it is a ways for you still.

http://www.sonic.net/soundscape/index.html

There are a couple of reputable dealers that are not
local to the bay area that will ship. You may want to
do a search here to find them.

Good Luck