[Emono]

Hi, I have a pair of non-stealth Ananda headphones on the way. I have the DacMagic200m so what I am looking for is a good quality pure headphone amp for the Anandas. I can purchase a soloist 3xp for around $1150 CA second hand, or a Conductor V2 for $800, or a JadeII amp for $800 CA. I can find no data on the JadeII amp. Even Hifiman offered absolutely no specs for me, however, they were very polite. So, I have no way to compare. Where I live, in the mountains of B.C. Canada there is absolutely no support for audiophiles. No stores etc. So I need to research online and then make a purchase and this headphone stuff is sending me into a black hole! I have spent a good week 6 hours a day researching and I feel as confused as ever, except I now have a bunch of names and technical jargon in my head with no way to make sense of it. I like classical, jazz, opera, vocals and guitar. I love the Cello, so I am looking for warmth and clarity. I would like to get the most from these headphones. Can anyone help?

 

[pbui44]

Check out the Topping A90 Discrete with an xlr cable for your Anandas and a pair of xlr interconnects for your DACMagic200M:

https://www.amazon.ca/Topping-A90-Discrete-Balanced-Headphone/dp/B0B4N7RBXX/ref=mp_s_a_1_12

https://www.amazon.ca/Replacement-Compatible-Hifiman-SUNDARA-4PIN-XLR/dp/B09WHVGJTQ/ref=mp_s_a_1_7

https://www.amazon.ca/Coluber-Balanced-Cable-Male-Female/dp/B07L9PD551/ref=mp_s_a_1_24

Edit: According to this review:

https://www.enjoythemusic.com/magazine/equipment/0521/Cambridge_Audio_DacMagic_200M_Review.htm

The DACMagic200M’s class A/B headphone out can power the Hifiman Devas, so you should try the Hifiman Ananda on the DACMagic200M headphone out and if there is anything missing in the sound, then check out the Topping A90 Discrete and balanced cable sets above.

 

[plmon]

Hi, I have a pair of non-stealth Ananda headphones on the way. I have the DacMagic200m so what I am looking for is a good quality pure headphone amp for the Anandas. I can purchase a soloist 3xp for around $1150 CA second hand, or a Conductor V2 for $800, or a JadeII amp for $800 CA. I can find no data on the JadeII amp. Even Hifiman offered absolutely no specs for me, however, they were very polite. So, I have no way to compare. Where I live, in the mountains of B.C. Canada there is absolutely no support for audiophiles. No stores etc. So I need to research online and then make a purchase and this headphone stuff is sending me into a black hole! I have spent a good week 6 hours a day researching and I feel as confused as ever, except I now have a bunch of names and technical jargon in my head with no way to make sense of it. I like classical, jazz, opera, vocals and guitar. I love the Cello, so I am looking for warmth and clarity. I would like to get the most from these headphones. Can anyone help?

You can safely eliminate the Jade II amp from your options . It is an electrostatic amp for electrostatic headphones, so it will not work with the Hifiman Ananda.

I haven't heard the Bursons, but judging from the specs, they provide much more power than the Ananda actually needs. The Ananda can take a decent amount of power, but too much power and it introduces hissing in the background. Whichever amp you choose, I'd make sure it has the ability to change low/high gain so that you can reduce the amount of power going in.

Some cheaper amps that I've heard have a "warm" sound are the Monolith Liquid Spark and the RebelAmp.

 

[Emono]

Thanks very much. I purchased them because of the reviews and that they are designed dor such a wide use on devices due to their sensitivity. Then I could find absolutely no info on the Dacmagic200m used as a headphone amp. Then when I contacted Hifiman asking if the JadeII amp would work for the Ananda their response was we can't inform you of what to use????! I had no idea of the power aspect causing possible humming or that the JadII is electrostatic vs planar... I had no idea of the difference and would have been so very very mifted st Hifiman for not telling me these things... at the least. I will contact them again and inform them. This really helps. I was hoping that the 200m would do the job... but we shall see, maybe a little extra would or could be good. Mostly, I want to bring out the best of them.

Thank you so very much for this information!

 

[Emono]

Check out the Topping A90 Discrete with an xlr cable for your Anandas and a pair of xlr interconnects for your DACMagic200M:

https://www.amazon.ca/Topping-A90-Discrete-Balanced-Headphone/dp/B0B4N7RBXX/ref=mp_s_a_1_12

https://www.amazon.ca/Replacement-Compatible-Hifiman-SUNDARA-4PIN-XLR/dp/B09WHVGJTQ/ref=mp_s_a_1_7

https://www.amazon.ca/Coluber-Balanced-Cable-Male-Female/dp/B07L9PD551/ref=mp_s_a_1_24

Edit: According to this review:

https://www.enjoythemusic.com/magazine/equipment/0521/Cambridge_Audio_DacMagic_200M_Review.htm

The DACMagic200M’s class A/B headphone out can power the Hifiman Devas, so you should try the Hifiman Ananda on the DACMagic200M headphone out and if there is anything missing in the sound, then check out the Topping A90 Discrete and balanced cable sets

Check out the Topping A90 Discrete with an xlr cable for your Anandas and a pair of xlr interconnects for your DACMagic200M:

https://www.amazon.ca/Topping-A90-Discrete-Balanced-Headphone/dp/B0B4N7RBXX/ref=mp_s_a_1_12

https://www.amazon.ca/Replacement-Compatible-Hifiman-SUNDARA-4PIN-XLR/dp/B09WHVGJTQ/ref=mp_s_a_1_7

https://www.amazon.ca/Coluber-Balanced-Cable-Male-Female/dp/B07L9PD551/ref=mp_s_a_1_24

Edit: According to this review:

https://www.enjoythemusic.com/magazine/equipment/0521/Cambridge_Audio_DacMagic_200M_Review.htm

The DACMagic200M’s class A/B headphone out can power the Hifiman Devas, so you should try the Hifiman Ananda on the DACMagic200M headphone out and if there is anything missing in the sound, then check out the Topping A90 Discrete and balanced cable sets above.

Finally, a review on the 200m as a headphone amp. I spent days looking and at burnout! So, my inclination was right to grab the 200m for $560 CA on eBay! Furthermore, I was trying to figure how to use it to augment my 851n - which I love - and was going to try it via the SPDIF connect and pass the out from its XLR's to my 840W, but was not so sure what to expect and then on the Cambridge Audio site they specify this very thing, which then really enhances the 851n... that is upgrades it's conversion capabilities. Especially for the MQA. Nice! I am now so happy! Thanks again!!!!

 

[pbui44]

Finally, a review on the 200m as a headphone amp. I spent days looking and at burnout! So, my inclination was right to grab the 200m for $560 CA on eBay! Furthermore, I was trying to figure how to use it to augment my 851n - which I love - and was going to try it via the SPDIF connect and pass the out from its XLR's to my 840W, but was not so sure what to expect and then on the Cambridge Audio site they specify this very thing, which then really enhances the 851n... that is upgrades it's conversion capabilities. Especially for the MQA. Nice! I am now so happy! Thanks again!!!!

So my MD x Hifiman Edition XX is kind of tough to drive, so it definitely shines with a lot of given power. However, your integrated Class A/B headphone amp on the DACMagic200M should be a great start to using the Ananda that you bought. Once you get your Ananda, you should check to see if the DACMagic200M will work with at least 10 of your most favorite recordings with the cello as a solo instrument, then move onto smaller ensembles, and finally listen to larger ensembles. Over time, you will probably start to hear things that either sound like the amplification could be improved or you just want just a more clean sound. By this time, you might be able to find a used Topping A90 Discrete on eBay, so keep that in mind!

Also, if you don't have the DACMagic200M manual, then get it here:

https://manuals.cambridgeaudio.com/en/dacmagic-200m

Do make use of the Auto Power Down (or APD) feature by holding down the volume knob for at least 10 seconds and you see 5 blinks from the LED source lights. Do post your impressions of everything after you receive your Ananda!