Rob80b
Headphoneus Supremus
Posted this over at Audio Circles
http://www.audiocircle.com/circles/v...ic.php?t=28762
The Bryston preamps are obviously capable of supplying enough voltage to all the phones to drive them to fairly loud volume levels.
My Sennheiser HD580’s which are rated at 300 ohms are driven quite efficiently by the BP25P and have never sounded better.
On the other hand my Grado SR325i’s at 98dbs impedance 32 ohms and the AKG k501’s 94 dB impedance 120 ohms sounded better with the Creek OBH-11se Rev B having more body (fullness and bass extension) and clarity in the highs even at lower volume levels.
Ironically the HD580’s sounded ok on the OBH-11SE but much more enjoyable with the BP25.
I guess it comes down to the design of the amp in terms of current draw and impedance matching.
Volume is evidently not everything, an ipod is capable of driving Grado’s at higher than needed levels but comes no where close in terms of getting them to produce the level of sound quality they are cable of, (the Grado’s not the ipod).
Casual headphone listeners would be very content with the BP25/26, it is very good, but those of us who do a lot of headphone listening get obsessed with getting the very best out of all our phones and notice the difference.
So as much as I really like the BP25p it may still need to be augmented with a dedicated headphone amp in order to fully appreciate a collection of different phones
Or.. is there anything that can be done with the headphone output to make it a better match for all phones (Grado's) .
As noted, http://www.audiocircle.com/circles/v...320&highlight=
picked up a Bryston BP25P instead of going for the GS-1 hoping to simplify my setup (Phono, Headphone and Remote). What is interesting is that my Grado SR325i's and AKG K501's do not sound as musically fullfilling as they did with my Creek OBH-11SE Rev B, and my HD580's which have been collecting dust have pulled ahead of my preferred cans when using the Bryston.
Obviously different amps influence one's appreciation for different phones.
Bryston recommends phones of 50 ohms or greater for the, but being a longtime Bryston fan I had to give the all in one a try.
http://www.audiocircle.com/circles/v...ic.php?t=28762
The Bryston preamps are obviously capable of supplying enough voltage to all the phones to drive them to fairly loud volume levels.
My Sennheiser HD580’s which are rated at 300 ohms are driven quite efficiently by the BP25P and have never sounded better.
On the other hand my Grado SR325i’s at 98dbs impedance 32 ohms and the AKG k501’s 94 dB impedance 120 ohms sounded better with the Creek OBH-11se Rev B having more body (fullness and bass extension) and clarity in the highs even at lower volume levels.
Ironically the HD580’s sounded ok on the OBH-11SE but much more enjoyable with the BP25.
I guess it comes down to the design of the amp in terms of current draw and impedance matching.
Volume is evidently not everything, an ipod is capable of driving Grado’s at higher than needed levels but comes no where close in terms of getting them to produce the level of sound quality they are cable of, (the Grado’s not the ipod).
Casual headphone listeners would be very content with the BP25/26, it is very good, but those of us who do a lot of headphone listening get obsessed with getting the very best out of all our phones and notice the difference.
So as much as I really like the BP25p it may still need to be augmented with a dedicated headphone amp in order to fully appreciate a collection of different phones
Or.. is there anything that can be done with the headphone output to make it a better match for all phones (Grado's) .
As noted, http://www.audiocircle.com/circles/v...320&highlight=
picked up a Bryston BP25P instead of going for the GS-1 hoping to simplify my setup (Phono, Headphone and Remote). What is interesting is that my Grado SR325i's and AKG K501's do not sound as musically fullfilling as they did with my Creek OBH-11SE Rev B, and my HD580's which have been collecting dust have pulled ahead of my preferred cans when using the Bryston.
Obviously different amps influence one's appreciation for different phones.
Bryston recommends phones of 50 ohms or greater for the, but being a longtime Bryston fan I had to give the all in one a try.
