[jamato8]

Yeah, but weight normally isn't going to deter somebody if they really want something. I just find it an interesting criteria for a possible purchase. I guess with the power supply and umbilical to the B-52 they might trip when they run away with it so it has built in theft prevention or you could bolt it down. The case is a pretty good gauge aluminum and you could drill a couple of holes through it, run some nice big bolts down into a substrate and there you go.

To the question: the B-52 is pretty heavy so I guess they won't just put it in a backpack and walk off unnoticed.

With this kind of amp I wouldn't want anyone messing with it, turning it on and playing with it because people can do some weird things at times. It is a beautiful piece of equipment that needs a good home. It is a major work of art, IMO.

 

[Territhemayor]

exactly. I may just go with the raptor and keep this a pipe dream, heh. I dont think I have a good use for it yet. I have no speakers, not good power supply. Forget my previous plan, I think I'll just go with the raptor.

Would you guys say that the Raptor is comparable to the headphone amp part of the B-52?

 

[jamato8]

If so but it were but I doubt it. They use different tubes and just about everything else is different except they both glow when turned on. The Raptor would take up less room and like the B-52, has its own separate power supply.

 

[2deadeyes]

Having heard the B-52 @ the recent NYC meet and from my past ownership of the Raptor, I would say the Raptor is about 50% of the B-52, soundwise.

EDIT: Just wanted to add that I only listened to the B-52 balanced; didn't get a chance with the single-ended outputs.

 

[jamato8]

Ouch! 50%? Well there you go. There are people who have written very good things about the Raptor so I guess the 52 must be heaven sent. :^)

 

[Territhemayor]

thats disconcerting to me. I'll look at other tube amps, since I have another few month or more until I make the purchase. Does anyone have any recommendations (I really just want names that i can research) of high end tube amps? I'm looking for more than the Raptor, but less than the B-52 I think. I wish I could just get the B-52 headamp part.

 

[jamato8]

Well then I am not sure you can compare then since balanced is just a bit different than single ended. I would get more opinions on the Raptor but there are many amps to choose from.

 

[Territhemayor]

There are too many, thats why I have no idea where to start. Amps are a dime a dozen, there are so many I have no idea where to start. Balanced or Single ended is fine.
My only beef with the Raptor is that I sometimes need to power 2 headphones at once, and the Raptor is only single channel.

 

[vcoheda]

a B52 for a college dormroom is ... a bit much.

 

[jamato8]

You might want to start a new thread and explain what you are looking for, price range and ask for suggestions.

 

[Territhemayor]

Yeah, I'll do that tommarow.
Thanks for all your help.

 

[rgs9200m]

Should I be concerned about the wear and tear from inserting/removing my phones in the B52's standard headphone jack every day?
What about the balanced jacks?
Thanks in advance.

 

[vcoheda]

every time you remove a 1/4" plug, you short the circuit. whether that has any effect on anything i'm not sure. the same doesn't apply to XLR jacks though.

 

[Flickster]

Hi Terith,

I was in your same boat only a few days ago looking at a B52 or a Raptor. I really want the B52 but for about 6k I can't justify it at the moment for use only with headphones.

I want to build a balanced Hi-Fi system down the track and that is why I was looking at buying the B52 but once I looked at what it would cost me to buy all the items I want to do my balanced system correctly I was getting little change out of 16k. I don't have that kind of spare money at the time to spend on Hi-Fi equipment, it's needed for more important things.

I came to the conclusion that the Raptor is right up there with the best of them for a single ended headphone amp and im sure I won't be disappointed with it, so I placed an order for one and I can't wait to get it.

The B52 will be great down the track but I think it's a little silly to buy such an amp just for headphones and nothing more when the Raptor is still going to sound great. If we are talking a Stereo speaker setup then we are in B52 country.

I think you can't go wrong with the Raptor headphone amp.

 

[rgs9200m]

Thanks for the replies. Do most folks leave their phones connected all the time?
Is the physical wear on the jack an issue
(on something like the B52, I thought this might be a factor)?
As far as the shorting goes in the B52,
I think this may not occur if the phones are only attached/detached with the power off.
Thanks again for any comments.