Quote:
Why would you go to that much trouble and expense when they are several cheaper headphone amps which will do the job ? The Lyr seems to have been designed for the HE-6, but I have never heard it. Conversely, I wouldn't be building a speaker rig around an amp choice that was based on a single headphone.
Ah ha - I would be just replacing amps. I already have the 2 X UPA-1s, they have just been on the Home Theater system. So I'm thinking should I use them for the HE-6s or get something else and put the UPA-1s back on the HT system.
Now to go into it further. We just a little mini meet with three Headfi-ers. Myself, Happy Camper and SoupRKnowva.
I think we all came out with the same thoughts.
It was all about the HE-6 in the first half. We had 2 pair all together.
The source and amps that was used was.
The source:
http://shop.emotiva.com/collections/processors/products/xda1
I know we could have done better with the source. The Buffalo III was not ready and the D2 didn't arrive yet. So we was stuck with this. However, the show must go one.
Duel UPA-1 Mono blocks runing in balanced mode.
http://forums.audioreview.com/amps-preamps/new-emotiva-upa-1-mono-block-300-watts-4-ohms-%24299-32940.html
B24 - A monster of an amp:
http://www.head-fi.org/t/611385/amb-24-power-amplifier
UPA-2
http://www.electronichouse.com/article/review_emotiva_upa_2_stereo_amplifier/
4-channel Fully Balanced B22
http://www.head-fi.org/gallery/image/view/id/606977/album/80128
Duel Rotel RMB 100 Mono blocks (15+ years of age 125watts each)
http://powerampshop.com/rotel-rmb-100-monoblock-amplifiers-outstanding
First up was the B22: It was Happy Camper and myself at this time: This B22 is an amazing amp. It does drive the HE-6 pretty good. Volume knob at about 2 to 3 o'clock. Sound quality was on par and very good, soundstage was just ok, bass was just ok, the clarity was good as well. The only thing about the B22 was it seemed to run out of reserves at higher listening levels. Other than that everything was very balanced. Overall I give it a C
Next up was the UP-2: The soundstage seem to open up. everything seemed like it was a notch above the B22 except for the clarity. I think the B22 had the best clarity of them all up to a point. This amp sounded good a high volume levels. We used the volume control on the source. This amp had lots of reserves in the tank to go all the way. I didn't think the soundstage could open up any more until we went on. Over all I give this amp an B
Next up was the MONSTER B24: WOW, this is a beast. Lots of power and loads of reserves, it sounds great as well. Soundstage was about the same as the UPA-2, still I think the B22 had better clarity. However, the B24 had more power than the UPS-2 and it showed. This is where the Bass started to kick in. A tab bit more than the B22 and UPA-2 but noticeable. Overall I gave it a B+
Next up was the Rotel Mono Blocks. Man, everything just opened up even more. I mean the soundstage got wider the bass got a little tighter, the highs was crisper, These little mono blocks was doing the damn thing. They get an A
Next, 300 watts each of pure power - The UPA-1 mono blocks. Meet over. I have found my HE-6 rig, this rig did everything better: Bass, Clarity, Soundstage, nice and crisp highs, better Mids. And the differences was very much noticeable. I didn't think about it, but I had them all along in the living room on my Home theater system. SoupRKnova and Happy Camper talked me into trying them out. Yes, this is it. This is the way the HE-6s should sound. A+
What we found out was any speaker amp is what should be used to drive the HE-6s. I could live with any of the 4 speaker amp rigs that we used. Now the B22 will only unleash its power on everything else except the HE-6.
We also found out that all HE-6s don't sound the same. 1 had more base, the other was a little bit sharper. Different phones - different sound.
So other dedicated headphone amp IMO just will not do the HE-6 its just do. I heard the Darkstar does, but at $3,500 no thank you. The Lyr get mixed reports and I don't suspect the Lyr being anymore better than my 4-channel fully balanced 8X gain B22.
So I'm already here.