RetroGraid
New Head-Fier
- Joined
- Mar 24, 2006
- Posts
- 4
- Likes
- 0
Hello all! Just a quick beginner question, if no one here minds.
I have been listening to various vintage headphone outs on my old school receivers and all of them sound really great, at least to my ears! I have bought every single receiver/integrated amp for less than 50 dollars, so for these prices I wonder if they will be easily beaten by dedicated amps (I love the thrift stores here!). Just as a beginner listener and newbie head-fi'er, I can hear some distinct and subtle differences in many of the amps I have... However, on average, all of the headphone outs on the vintage receivers are really exceptional! To me, the sound stage with my HD580s
is adequate, although seem to lack some “center” stage sounds, plenty of dynamics for bass transients, more than enough output power and just an overall great sound! (Nothing to me sounds "laid-back" as many seem to say about the Sennheiser HD-580s but then again, these are my first "hi-fi" cans and this is my first attempt at getting into head-fi!) Well, getting to my question... Is it worth to purchase a purely dedicated amp for headphones only? What advantages could I be looking at? Considering I've only paid at MOST 50 dollars for the receiver/integrated amps I do have, would it be worth it sonically? Or building something that is strictly headphone only? Something like this looks very promising... http://headwize.com/projects/showfil...orgen2_prj.htm
Any comments and thoughts are appreciated!
Some other information:
Just as a few examples of the receivers I have an unmarked Fisher (funny amp, has a “dual 6800+6800uf Nichicon cap” and massive transformer, equally large hybrid ICs) circa 1970's with output rated >75W/channel, older JVC 4.1 receiver 100W/channel, Mitsubishi black face 80W/channel, an HK330C rated 10W/channel, many Kenwoods, Sansuis etc... Each have their own distinct sound, some more neutral than others, while others are warmer and slightly rolled off in the treble end, presenting a slightly “tube” like sound. Many older and vintage amps, if this helps with any idea of wondering what the sound is like. As explained, the headphone outs sound great. Sound is better on the higher wattage/higher quality amps!
Using few things for sources:
1)Foobar2K with Kernel streaming (FLAC)
2)Pioneer TX-9500ii (a vintage tuner, 20 bucks!)
3)Technics SL-1311 (15 bucks!) Direct Drive, Quartz locked with AT130E.
Also using an AudioSource Model EQ Eight/Series II (20 bucks!!) whenever I feel the need for vinyl eqing or some "phat" bass. Using ghetto 2 dollar interconnects from a local electronics store...
Thank you for your time!
I have been listening to various vintage headphone outs on my old school receivers and all of them sound really great, at least to my ears! I have bought every single receiver/integrated amp for less than 50 dollars, so for these prices I wonder if they will be easily beaten by dedicated amps (I love the thrift stores here!). Just as a beginner listener and newbie head-fi'er, I can hear some distinct and subtle differences in many of the amps I have... However, on average, all of the headphone outs on the vintage receivers are really exceptional! To me, the sound stage with my HD580s
Any comments and thoughts are appreciated!
Some other information:
Just as a few examples of the receivers I have an unmarked Fisher (funny amp, has a “dual 6800+6800uf Nichicon cap” and massive transformer, equally large hybrid ICs) circa 1970's with output rated >75W/channel, older JVC 4.1 receiver 100W/channel, Mitsubishi black face 80W/channel, an HK330C rated 10W/channel, many Kenwoods, Sansuis etc... Each have their own distinct sound, some more neutral than others, while others are warmer and slightly rolled off in the treble end, presenting a slightly “tube” like sound. Many older and vintage amps, if this helps with any idea of wondering what the sound is like. As explained, the headphone outs sound great. Sound is better on the higher wattage/higher quality amps!
Using few things for sources:
1)Foobar2K with Kernel streaming (FLAC)
2)Pioneer TX-9500ii (a vintage tuner, 20 bucks!)
3)Technics SL-1311 (15 bucks!) Direct Drive, Quartz locked with AT130E.
Also using an AudioSource Model EQ Eight/Series II (20 bucks!!) whenever I feel the need for vinyl eqing or some "phat" bass. Using ghetto 2 dollar interconnects from a local electronics store...
Thank you for your time!
