Easy amp recommendation needed [can newbie]

[Archrr]

Hi guys. Oh, you noticed my post count already huh...I usually hang out at AVS or HTF, but I need some expert can advise here. I realize that Q's like this get asked all the time...I did search and have about 20 windows open right now

If you don't mind helping out, I could use a quick butt kick in the right direction...

After completing about $10K worth of upgrades to my HT, I noticed that my headphones sucked

Enter: HD600's

I use them for loud rock, classical, trip-hop, new age...whatever that isn't rap or country.

I need an amp. It's obvious that the headphone jack on my Onkyo TX-DS696 isn't going to cut it.

I've purchased all the parts to make the CMoy amp and have started building it. I'm used to soldering (used to build 1/10th scale monster trucks). Soldering these teeny tiny wires is a bit harder than I expected. I will finish it, but it's going to take some time.

From what I've read, crossfeed sounds cool.

I'd like to check out one of the amps from Headroom or Corda. I'm in the ~$300 range. Actually, I can't afford this right now, but what the hell.

I was considering: Little or LMP and the Corda HA-1.

I imagine this has been done to death, but comments on these?

Did I miss any info that would help in determining the best one for me (since I cant audition them - tho I did see about the readtrip..coming to SF in July!)


Thanks


Sean

 

[Audio-Me]

Ever thought of a tubed amp? Look into Antique Sound Lab MG Head OTL.

 

[fiddler]

I've no experience with any other amps, but I can tell you that the Corda HA-1 and the HD600 is a wonderful combination. I'm also in the process of building a CMOY... I will post a comparison between these two amps when I'm finished. That could be a while from now... It's my very first DIY project.

 

[KShaft]

the corda or that new gsp looks like a good bet for that much.

 

[merc]

I too have the Senn HD-600s and will be getting my ASL MG Head OTL plus some nicer tubes on Wednesday. I'll also be getting a NAD C-160 stereo preamp and a Parasound Zamp, both of which have an onboard headphone amp, on Friday. I also expected to have a Kora Equinoxe preamp in house but that deal fell through. I'll post what my relatively inexperienced headphone ears hear when I can this weekend. My expectation is that the MG Head(with upgraded tubes) will sound best followed slightly behind, but differently so, by the SS NAD preamp. I will be very suprised if the Zamp sounds even as good as the headphone output from my Sony 555es SACD player.

After reading the glowing reviews of the Senn HD-600s with the MicroZOTL amp, I am tempted to spend the $800 needed to try one...

 

[kelly]

I have not heard the Little yet, unfortunately.

The Corda is a nice amp but IMO, the HD600 doesn't sound it's best on it. The Corda is a fairly well rounded, flat and neutral amp that maybe could be called a little grainy. It's very quick so for me, it's well suited to classical orchestral music. It has a low noise floor, too. Overall, the Corda is worth well more than what Meier charges for it.

The MG Head is also something you should consider. I had one and sold it primarily because for me it was too sluggish. Complex music blended together and overall it didn't image well. The MG Head also lacks the trebble extension of other amps. However, the MG Head has midrange in spades. Nick Dangerous has a $25 tube recommendation that also opens up the upper mids and highs quite a bit making it a much sweeter sounding amp. If you don't mind your music sounding "blended" as most people don't in distortion filled guitar rock, for instance, this is a really good amp and one you should consider. It's widely held to be a bargain amp just as the Corda is.

I'm also told the Grado amp is good for the HD600 in its price range but haven't gotten to hear it yet or compare it to the Corda.

 

[Archrr]

Thanks for all the suggestions. I really appreciate it.

I saw the MG @ Divertech for $329. I've seen Nick's posts. Just PM him re the tubes? Also, no xfeed on that one...suggestions for a standalone unit?

Kelly, one other thing you've mentioned before is the roll off of the highs with this amp...do you happen to know at what freq this begins? I'm guessing you don't mind that roll off at all...? Also regarding bass...I'm listening to rock like Tool, The Doors, Pink Floyd, Sarah McLachlan etc...some trip hop like Massive Attack and Morcheeba...classical like Mozart and Bach...think the MG can handle the bass in these selections?

Sorry for all the Q's

Thanks again.

Sean/Archrr

 

[Audio-Me]

kelly hates the hf roll off, I don't mind it though.

It's upto you wether you can tolerate it. If you order from headphone.com, there's a 30-day money back guarantee, if you don't like it, simply return it for full refund.
When he says blended, I think he means that the bass doesn't seperate different notes and textures very well. It's like with a multicourse dinner, some people can't stand having different stuff getting mixed in with something else. I again don't mind it.

If you want a more detailed comparison between the MG Head and Corda, you might want to private message kelly, unless of course he'd like to type it all out in this thread.

It'd be an interesting read, entry level solid state vs tube amp in the same price range.

 

[kelly]

It is the classical music in which the hf rolloff bugs me the most. In violins and chellos, it's kinda disturbing to have some altogether absent sounds at low volumes. For the bands you listed, I think you'd probably be pretty happy with the MG Head. You'll certainly be spoiled with the midrange. What I wouldn't suggest, for example, is listening to John Williams' Star Wars soundtracks on the MG Head. All those instruments without enough seperation and with some of the highs missing and a sluggish bass just really made me dislike the amp in that application. On the other hand, I liked to a Boston CD on it and it was pretty damned cool.

Experiences with Divergent have been somewhat mixed. If I were you, I'd call Headroom (call, don't email - they have a 1-800 #) and see if they'll match Divergent's price on the MG Head. Then I'd immediately find out from Nick which tube to get.

 

[Audio-Me]

I wouldn't suggest listening to Bach with it either.

 

[MacDEF]

Given your music tastes and your price range, I'd stick with solid state for the better bass response and upper detail. As Kelly mentioned, the Corda gets very good reviews, especially forits price. Also, the Little is a great amp with a killer upgrade path.

 

[merc]

Quote:

If I were you, I'd call Headroom (call, don't email - they have a 1-800 #) and see if they'll match Divergent's price on the MG Head.

Sean: I bought my MG Head from Todd at Headroom. $329 plus only $10 for 2nd day Fed Ex. It is due here tomorrow.
At the same time, the discussion here has me wondering if I am truly gonna like the MG Head when it gets here? I am not young anymore and need all the upper extension I can get in order to make up for my upper freq hearing loss after years of loud music. I am a metal tweeter kind of guy.
If I decide to return the MG Head, I'll sell you some brand new EL84JJ and 5751GE tubes that have been recommended for the MG Head. They arrived today, 1 day before the MG Head.

But, I really do hope that I love my new MG Head OTL!

 

[Archrr]

oops, I didn't realize Headroom sold this model...I would certainly get it from them...I got my HD600's from 'em...

As I expected, I am still bouncing between the two. I saw a user that lives fairly close to me with the 600/MG combo...going to see if he wouldn't mind letting me check it out ( I am always letting other HTers audition my speakers, but I don't know if it's a popular thing here).

I still want to try the MG even in light of the hf rolloff (my hearing tests 20KHz fine) and confused low end.

Thanks for the help.

oh, what about crossfeed with the MG...do you have something for that or do you just not like it? (never heard it myself)


Sean

 

[Driftwood]

based completely on onthers comments and based on my own best guesses, I would probably be inclined to go with the MG Head OTL if I were in your shoes. It seems to be a very nice amp for the money, and Nick seems to think with the right tubes it provides performance close enough to the melos that he doesn't feel the need to upgrade.

Seems like a solid amp to me!

Driftwood

 

[Nick Dangerous]

Guess it's high time I made an appearance!

I'll do my best to publish the MG Head tube rolling guide on my site this morning. I won't be able to get the tube pics until the THSP returns, so you'll have to make do with written descriptions.

There are LOTS of 5751s, 12ax7s, 12at7s, 12au7s, 7025s, 5963s, etc, etc, that the MG Head can make use of. I haven't tried all of the tubes in the entire tube universe... but I have sampled quite a few including the ones in Joe's Tube Lore.

Joe Lau says that the MG Head will work with 12at7s and 12au7s, but in my experience the sound quality was inferior to the "official" 12ax7/5751 spec. I'm going to skip the descriptions of those alternates.

As I said, the formal write-up will be published today if possible. In the meantime, here's the Cliff's Notes version:

The Fabulous Five:

The new kid on the block - G.E. blackplate 5751 (3 mica, no support rods) - An all-around performer. Highs and mids are reasonably satisfying and even. There is a slight boost of deep bass punch, which may or may not be desirable. I certainly didn't mind. Cheap, plentiful, and punchy.

The mellow crooner - RCA blackplate 5751 (2 mica I think, may or may not have support rods) - Provides a "softer" presentation than the G.E.. Highs don't crackle and bass doesn't rumble, but since the midrange is so lush and smooth it hardly matters.

The diva - Tung Sol 5751 (2 mica I think, no support rods) - Very similar to the RCA above, but with *slightly* greater extension in the highs and lows. Can be hard to find.

Propellor of joy - Raytheon blackplate 5751 (2 mica, no support rods, crazy looking "propellor" getter on top) - An excellent tube with strong full-frequency performance. It is only slightly bettered by...

Mozart's best friend - Sylvania blackplate 5751 (3 mica, no support rods, marked JHS 5751WA or similar) - Sure, the midrange and bass sound like the Raytheon, so where's the payoff? The highs. The vocals. So real. So... wonderful. Seek this tube. Know the joy.