devices with a good head amp hidden inside?

[ken36]

I Have to amend my somewhat ambivalent comment on the Lavry amp, since I have not run through all the settings using the amp. I will do this using the K701 headphones.

 

[kwkarth]

Quote:

Originally Posted by music_man it looks like the dared is the only thing that is seriously worth the money that has been mentioned. i was actually hoping for something solid state and mass produced. it must beat a sr71 and v3 but also be able to power small speakers. if this is not possible i am more intrested in computer interfaces again since i could use a upgrade on one of my machines. how do i know which mainstream ones have outstanding headphone jacks? well, i guess you guys could mention some! there are like 100 of these things offered at guitar center. i already know the minidac is real good. what about maudio,presonus.focusrite,lexicon.... still, like i said i prefer the first option so i can have little speakers. how is something like the mini system onkyo,denon or yamaha? remember, it has to be better than sr71 or v3 level. music_man.

The Dared:

1. easily beats the SR71
2. is mass produced
3. has dual input w/switching (line in & USB in)
4. has an inboard DAC
5. drives speakers very nicely
6. drives headphones nicely
7. has a MOSFET output (so it's mostly solid state)
8. uses 12AX7s for preamp and driver stages. (fast, liquid, & musical)

What more do you want man?

 

[BlindTiger]

Both my Tandberg's have an excellent headphone out.
My 1988 3080A mosfet receiver and my 1983 3002 Pre-amp.
The pre amp was a markdown piece, got it for $169 and has a very nice phono pre.

 

[tbonner1]

I agree with Andrea regarding the Pioneer Elite A-35R being very good for driving headphones as a mass produced integrated amp. Mosfet based headphone amps have had favorable reviews here, They have a reputation for being smooth and tube like but when not designed well also have "mosfet haze" that robs detail from the music. My Pioneer A-35R sounds rich with very powerful and deep bass on the Senn 650's. It sounds smooth on the top end like my M3 headphone amp.
I would not give A-35R as high a rating for use with low impedence headphones such as the Grado's.

I have found the lower powered integrated amps and receivers sound best when driving headphones. The lower power NAD's, for example, sound better than the higher powered units. One of the reasons could be the headphone socket can be powered directly from the amp with minimal buffering/resistance added. You may need to check the schematic to see how the headphone socket is powered. Many modern units are simply powered by a cheap and cheerful opamp, hence the not so happy headphone sound.

 

[Andrea]

Quote:

Originally Posted by tbonner1 I have found the lower powered integrated amps and receivers sound best when driving headphones. The lower power NAD's, for example, sound better than the higher powered units. One of the reasons could be the headphone socket can be powered directly from the amp with minimal buffering/resistance added. You may need to check the schematic to see how the headphone socket is powered. Many modern units are simply powered by a cheap and cheerful opamp, hence the not so happy headphone sound.

Another realistic explanation is that higher power output stages demand higher value series resistors to realize a 'electrically safe' headphone out, making for a higher output impedance (as high as 6-700 ohms), and thus a more compromised performance from the headphones. Besides, likely those output stages distort more at low output levels (such as a headphone load requires) than the simpler, low power ones.

 

[music_man]

i feel safe sticking with nad. although the dared looks like it should cost $2,000. chinese products=all about value!

the c320bee is not really available in the states. any us version nads comparable in the headphone jack? of course i am assuming the nads can do grado's?

music_man