Best Value Amp for CD3000

[lizzardfire]

I am looking for an amp for a pair of CD3000's, one not too expensive.

The three amps I am interested in are as follows (in order from most interested to least)

Homesave Classic
Rega Ear
Gilmore Lite

I listen primarily to rock music, with computer as source.

Thanks

 

[cmascatello]

I am really liking my XP-7 with the CD3K. It performs equally well with my SACD player, computer, iPod, and Redbook player. The warmth and wonderful "blackness" of this amp pairs well with the CD3000 and helps to tame any of the harshness or sibillance that some folks complain about. You also may want to look into the Ray Samuels SR-71 which is purported to be on par with its bigger siblings, the XP-7 and HR-2.

 

[pbirkett]

Well I am sure everyone by now knows I like the Rega Ear, however, I could not say how it goes with the CD3000, it may or may not be a good match - from what I hear the Ear is designed mainly with high impedance headphones in mind, and the gain is sensitive on this amp, so you may have troubles getting the right volume on a CD3000, since the transition between no volume and very loud might be very small on the Rega Ear.

To give you an idea of how much it would affect the CD3000, when I had the Perreaux, I used to listen to the CD3000 at 9 o clock on the volume, and with the Beyer DT531 to get the same volume I had to listen at 3 o clock (almost full volume). I no longer have the CD3000 or Perreaux, but with the Ear, I listen to the Beyer at about 4 o clock on the volume, so as you can see, the Ear has a pretty high gain, so I just though I'd warn you about that. Easily solvable with attenuators though, but I'm not sure you'd be happy with that solution, and how it sounds, I couldnt tell you to be honest.

 

[acs236]

I think the BADA amp (see the for sale forum) sounds really nice with the CD3000, and I can be had for under $200. I've listened to the CD3000s on my Go-Vibe, but only a little bit, so I don't really have too much of an opinion on it yet (I don't use my CD3000 in portable settings)

 

[Zoide]

What about the PPA? I have one that I use with my HD580s, but my listening volume with them is with the knob turned only 1/4 to 1/2 of the way up. If I used the CD3K, wouldn't I have to use the knob almost at zero?

 

[Zoide]

Bump.

 

[lizzardfire]

The gain in the PPA can be adjusted for the CD3k's.

BTW, the amp I'm getting for mine is a ppa... see this link:

http://www5.head-fi.org/forums/showthread.php?t=76997

 

[tom hankins]

As great of an amp as the Rega is it is hard to get the volume right with the CD3000 with it. The Perreaux would be a better choice.

 

[tiberian]

xp7

 

[AdamZuf]

my XP-7 sounded aweful with the CD3000. way too fatiguing and sibilant, and that was out of the modded ART DI/O, which is far from being either, or with my old soundcard (not a good source yet a second one to varify the sonic signature of the XP-7 with the CD3k's).
the XP-7 displayed same characteristics with both and i returned it very quick. maybe it was defected, or the CD3000 i love are not the CD3000 that people that like the combo love.

 

[Old Pa]

My CD3Ks sound best with my MOH(R). Don't know what price range you are in with "inexpensive", but I would think about a HeadRoom Cosmic or something (too bad the HeadRoom sale ended over a month ago

). Depending on your source (or plans for a new source), you could go for a standard or reference module on the HeadRoom.