Completely lost on amps and need to buy one..

[fanta]

Ok so I plan to upgrade from my cmoy amp to a ~$400 one for my HD650 headphones.

The problem is, I don't know where to buy other than from headphone.com and the last time I did that I got a bithead that was either broken or worse than the cmoy which cost a fraction of the bithead... they don't sell these things on amazon and all brands seem like obscure ones I've never heard of.

If I had any criteria it would be small, and probably not a tube amp though again I'm not an expert at these things... basically the best I can get for $400. I'd really like to know the performance curve between something like a cmoy and all the way to amps worth thousands, to get an idea of how much performance one gets for their money in amps and at which price would I be paying a lot for tiny bits of performance increases.

also, I plan to buy by the end of october so if there's anything new coming out around that time I can wait... Thanks for any help guys.

 

[fanta]

Ok I did some searching and I'm looking at this one:

Gilmore Lite Headphone Amp

How is it?

And is an extra $200 worth it for the power supply - how much of a performance boost does it offer?

 

[n4k33n]

Headphone.com actually makes very good products. Any of the micro or desktop amps would be great to drive your HD650s.

For that matter, the gilmore lite is a good amp as well. A few months ago, when I was new to the site, I was deciding between a gilmore or something from headroom. I ended up finding a builder to make me a PPAv2 with STEPS, which is an excellent amp as well.

 

[d-cee]

how will you use it?

on the PC? the headamp Pico is $500 but will also give you a top quality source AND amp

amp alone is $299

 

[Cankin]

Ciaudio VHP-2 $349
used X-CANv3 $350~$400
M^3 ~$400
CKKIII ~$300

 

[fanta]

Quote:

Originally Posted by d-cee /img/forum/go_quote.gif how will you use it? on the PC? the headamp Pico is $500 but will also give you a top quality source AND amp amp alone is $299

Yeah, I'll be using it on the PC. Listening to music on iTunes, movies, and games.

The Pico looks good, but wouldn't a desktop amp be better than a portable one? I do prefer smaller ones, but something like the Gilmore Lite isn't too big really.

Anyway, does a separate power supply offer a substantial increase in performance? A lot of desk amps offer that option and usually it's almost as expensive as the amp I'm looking at...

BTW - why don't headphone companies make amps? I know grado have ones but I think they only work with their headphones or whatever. Seriously, if they're so important then why don't companies like Sennheiser sell them along their HD650s on Amazon and such?

 

[pianomav]

For a little extra you can get a gcha which also synergize pretty well with the hd650. I actually have one for sale in the F/S forum. It's way better than the gilmore lite in my opinion plus you get a usb dac built-in.

 

[Dept_of_Alchemy]

http://www.head-fi.org/forums/images/smilies/http://hfimage.head-fi.org/smilies/confused.gif[/img]

Because they're different diciplines, I suppose. It's the same reason why speaker companies (like Wilson or Thiel) don't make amps.

 

[Borat]

Quote:

Originally Posted by fanta /img/forum/go_quote.gif Ok I did some searching and I'm looking at this one: Gilmore Lite Headphone Amp How is it? And is an extra $200 worth it for the power supply - how much of a performance boost does it offer?

If you're really interested in the Gilmore Lite, there always seems to be one available used on the forums here. I'd check there first. Sometimes you can find the amp and PS for under $400.

Other small desktop amps you may want to look at are:

Eddie Current EC/SS - $429

Rockhopper Audio M^3 - $400

Also, it would help if you could describe the type of sound signature that you prefer. This would make it easier to make a recommendation for you.

 

[bonkon]

May we know what soundcard your are using? If you are still using the onboard one then spending 400 on an amp doesn't make much sense. Get something like the arietta from meier audio for 240 and spend the rest on a better soundcard or external DAC, it will make a much bigger improvement than spending it all on an amp. Having a good source and encoding your MP3, FLAC, etc... correctly is just as important if not even more than having a good amp.

 

[Capunk]

Quote:

Originally Posted by fanta /img/forum/go_quote.gif BTW - why don't headphone companies make amps? I know grado have ones but I think they only work with their headphones or whatever. Seriously, if they're so important then why don't companies like Sennheiser sell them along their HD650s on Amazon and such?

AudioTechnica does make amps =)
and some of them are nice.

This is one of the example.
http://www.audiocubes.com/category/H...phone_Amp.html

 

[tyrion]

Try sending an emial to Justin at Headamp and ask him about the Gilmore Lite and PICO. You also should check out the PICO threads that have popped up or meet impressions to see if anyone tried it with the 650s.

 

[fanta]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Borat /img/forum/go_quote.gif Also, it would help if you could describe the type of sound signature that you prefer. This would make it easier to make a recommendation for you.

uh, wow, I don't even know what an 'audio signature' so yeah... that's how much of an audiophile I am...

I just want the sound to be as true to the source as possible.

Quote:

Originally Posted by bonkon /img/forum/go_quote.gif May we know what soundcard your are using? If you are still using the onboard one then spending 400 on an amp doesn't make much sense. Get something like the arietta from meier audio for 240 and spend the rest on a better soundcard or external DAC, it will make a much bigger improvement than spending it all on an amp. Having a good source and encoding your MP3, FLAC, etc... correctly is just as important if not even more than having a good amp.

I'm using onboard sound right now but I'll be getting a dedicated card early next year when I'll be building a new PC.

 

[Gradofan2]

No doubt the Gilmore amps would sound great with the HD650's... and... the right DAC - for example, the Monarchy M24 Tube DAC to warm the Gilmores up a bit. That combo is highly reviewed.

But... if you want the HD650's to sound absolutely... incredible (which they may not otherwise, without a much more expensive amp) - then get yourself a Darkvoice 332 - $400 shipped to your door.

You will be... AMAZED!

Especially with... the RAL Cryo-Silver Senn cable.

Your HD650's will not sound that good for less than about $2,000.

And... you'll be able to simply "blow-off" the DX1000, D5000, Ed 9... whatever!