Beyer DT880: Best Solid State Amp from $200 to $600? [UPDATE III]

[shomie911]

Hey, I haven't been on the Head-Fi much since I got my DT880's and a Minibox-E.

But I've got a bad case of upgraditus (sp?).

I feel like the DT880's aren't reaching their full potential by using the Minibox-E.

My question to you guys (and girls) is what amp do you think would show the most noticeable improvement over the Minibox-E?

I'm hoping not to spend more than $400 on a new amp but I may be able to stretch it a little to about $600.

And also do you think it would be worth it to go ahead and spend $400 on a new amp or whether the improvement is so minute that I should spend the money elsewhere (like my speaker rig.)

Thanks in advance!

 

[shomie911]

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See Page 2 for an updated list.
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I forgot to say that I am using a Sony PCDP Line-Out or a 1st Gen. Nano with a silver plated copper Line-Out.

I've found a few amps that look promising and I would love to hear everyones opinions on them regardless if you've used them with DT880's.

- Meier Audio Arietta
$290.00

- Meier Audio Corda Cantate
$570.00

- RSA Emmeline XP-7
$495.00

- Bada PH-12 Tube amp
$430.00

- HeadRoom Micro Amp
$399.00

Any other amp suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

I am trying to get the most bang for the buck so if a $300 amp sounds only *slightly* worse than a $570 one, than I would gladly take the cheaper one.

 

[dr dougie]

I have DT880s and ordered a Little Dot III to try out. I'll let you know what I think in a week or so! I've never heard an entry level tube amp before so it'll be new for me. You can cruise the Little Dot and Darkvoice threads for reports on other amps in your price range. DT880s in my experience respond *very* well to quality ss and tube amping.

 

[shomie911]

Quote:

Originally Posted by dr dougie /img/forum/go_quote.gif I have DT880s and ordered a Little Dot III to try out. I'll let you know what I think in a week or so! I've never heard an entry level tube amp before so it'll be new for me. You can cruise the Little Dot and Darkvoice threads for reports on other amps in your price range. DT880s in my experience respond *very* well to quality ss and tube amping.

What model DT880 are you using the '03 or '05 model?

I will be using an '05 250 ohm DT880 if that makes any difference for the amp.

 

[slavazh]

I have beyer 880 (250) 03' and I use Vincent KHV111 with 5751 tube, it sounds realy good IMO.

 

[shomie911]

Quote:

Originally Posted by slavazh /img/forum/go_quote.gif I have beyer 880 (250) 03' and I use Vincent KHV111 with 5751 tube, it sounds realy good IMO.

The Vincent KHV111 look interesting, have you compared it to any other amps with your DT880's?

Keep the opinions coming, I'm not even close to making a decision yet.

 

[shomie911]

Not really getting much feedback here...

Anyway after reading through this thread the Octovart DAC/Amp seems to be a decent contender also. But how does it compare to the somewhat more mainstream amps listed above?

A DAC would be a top priority in my amp but it is not an absolute necessity.

I'd really appreciate some suggestions.

 

[upstateguy]

Quote:

Originally Posted by shomie911 /img/forum/go_quote.gif Hey, I haven't been on the Head-Fi much since I got my DT880's and a Minibox-E. But I've got a bad case of upgraditus (sp?). I feel like the DT880's aren't reaching their full potential by using the Minibox-E. My question to you guys (and girls) is what amp do you think would show the most noticeable improvement over the Minibox-E? I'm hoping not to spend more than $400 on a new amp but I may be able to stretch it a little to about $600. And also do you think it would be worth it to go ahead and spend $400 on a new amp or whether the improvement is so minute that I should spend the money elsewhere (like my speaker rig.) Thanks in advance!

Hi

I have found the M^3 and the Woo3 to be tremendous with the '03 880s I have. Used M^3s, not to be confused with the mini M^3s, could run around $250 and are every bit the equivalent of amps twice the cost. IMHO, both amps have a similar warm robust sound signature that works well with the more analytical sounding 880s.

Here's a pic of the Woo3

and here's the M^3

Regards

USG

 

[Dept_of_Alchemy]

Check out the Little Dot MkIV, there's quite an active community of users here on head-fi for that amp and seems to get great reviews. I'd say if you're looking to a tube amp definitely think about the Little Dot.

 

[BushGuy]

Best performance with my dt880/600ohm has been with ASL MG Head OTL MKIII amp. Note, that to get this sound you need to replace tubes with: instead of stock 12AX7 get Raytheon 5751 tube (should preferrably have windmill getter), and the 6BQ5(s) with EL84 by Siemens - some people will say Amperex with D getter (or also Amperex Bugleboy - virtually the same but costlier) - try both and decide for yourself. Flip the transformer off and then have some Grado fun

.

 

[shomie911]

Here's the updated list.

I've decided against tube amps and I'm going the solid state route.

I'd like to hear opinions on which is the best and also which one gives the most performance for the least amount of money.

(I don't mind buying used btw)

- Meier Audio Arietta
$290.00

- Meier Audio Corda Cantate
$570.00

- RSA Emmeline XP-7
$495.00

- HeadRoom Micro Amp
$399.00

- Little Dot MK V "Dual-Mono" Headphone Amp (Solid State)
$299.00

- Gilmore Lite Headphone Amp
$379.00

- Gilmore Lite With Dedicated Power Supply
$579.00

- Lisa III Headphone Amplifier
$500.00

 

[slavazh]

yes I have tryied my Vincent against other amps, like aria, DV336i, pimeta, little dot 2+ ,and others that i can't remember right now. IMO I prefer my Vincent.

 

[tfarney]

Upstate Guy - I see you have a GS1 sitting under the M^3. How do they compare?

Tim

 

[upstateguy]

Quote:

Originally Posted by tfarney /img/forum/go_quote.gif Upstate Guy - I see you have a GS1 sitting under the M^3. How do they compare? Tim

Hi Tim

What you're really asking is how op-amps compare with discrete. The M^3 sounds more robust, goes deeper, jingles better at the top, plays louder and is soniclly more accurate (IMHO only) than the GS-1. One of my test albums is Tom Petty's "Highway Companion" (I still have my old "Damn the Torpedoes" on vinyl somewhere in my garage) and there is no question that my 8065 M^3 does a better Tom Petty than the GS-1, and this applies to the rest of the instruments as well - they sound slightly more like what they're supposed to sound like with the M^3, but the comparison ends there because the GS-1 does something else that the M^3 and the Woo3 can't do, which puts it in another class. Asr called it holography, I don't know what to call it, but the GS-1 plays in a much more expansive space than the M^3 and because of this, it has become my amp of choice.

I would also like to add that it is one thing to rate amps by memory and quite another thing when you have them in front of you and can A-B back and forth for months at a time. I don't want to get in any arguments with anyone so this is just my opinion, listening with my 650s and 880s out of one of my dedicated music computers, and with my ears.

BTW, is that you in your avatar?

Regards

Eric

 

[PITTM]

I've heard the HR Microamp, the xp-7 and the Corda. I think the xp-7 is clearly the best of the ones I've heard.