[tometran]

I am looking for an amp for an se530 and HD580/HD650. Budget is $500. Most seem to be recommending the sr-71A blackbird or p-15. I would like to know if there are any others that are known for being paired with them. ty for ur time and reply
 
"New guy"

 

[jamato8]

That is a hard one as they both do a good job. The 71a sounds slightly leaner, in a good way, of the two and with the HD650's it might be a better coupling but listening is such an individual thing I can only express what it sounds like to me. 

 

[brendon]

From what I have read I believe the Headphonia Arrow can drive the HD650s reasonably well.
 
And you can save $$$ as its just $269 shipped to your home.

 

[Young Spade]

iBasso PB1. Very, very high output power and has a balanced input/output as well if you want to go that route.
 
12.6(?) volts output SE and ~25v out balanced.

 

[jamato8]

The Protector with a balanced HD650 has a very good synergy. It brings that phone to life. 

 

[EddieE]

I have a Corda Cantate.2 and that does a great job with the HD650; I'm a big fan of the Meier crossfeed and the amp itself has a clean sound with a nice bit of warmth. Since you can't turn it on and off I don't know how the "active balanced ground" affects the sound, but the idea sounds good. The built in DAC is a nice touch too.
 
When Jan Meier designed that amp the HD650 were his main phones so it figures it would go well with them.
 
Some say the HD650 does best with a tube amp, but funds don't permit me to test that hypothesis just get.

 

[Jalo]

I have both the SR71a and P51. I don't know why someone would recommend the P51, it is a very nice amp but it just doesn't have enough power to drive the 650. Your option is between SR71a and the Protector for the RSA lineup. If you don't mind to go the balance route, the Protector is a much better option for your price point. There are other offerings from ALO (Rx Prescription), Lisa-III, iQube, or Ibasso D4 can fill the need also.

 

[GreatDane]

Quote:

 I don't know why someone would recommend the P51, it is a very nice amp but it just doesn't have enough power to drive the 650. 

I agree. When I owned both I came to that same conclusion.

 

[Young Spade]

I have both the SR71a and P51. I don't know why someone would recommend the P51, it is a very nice amp but it just doesn't have enough power to drive the 650. Your option is between SR71a and the Protector for the RSA lineup. If you don't mind to go the balance route, the Protector is a much better option for your price point. There are other offerings from ALO (Rx Prescription), Lisa-III, iQube, or Ibasso D4 can fill the need also.

Well...I had the alo rx and in my opinion it does an alright job at powerijg the k702s but I wouldn't buy it for those phones; the samegoes for the hd600/650s.

Anything weaker than the Alo Rx isn't doing the cans justice.

 

[sonitus mirus]

What is the source you are using?  What type of environment will you be in?   
 
With your budget, perhaps a better solution might be 2 different devices?  Maybe something light and prortable to pair with the SE530s if you are using an mp3 player, and something with a bit more power to drive a pair of HD650s if you are listening through a computer in an office or someplace with acces to electrical outlets.
 
How portable do you need it to be?  Does it just need to fit in a bag so you can travel with it, or does it have to run on batteries for extended periods of time?

 

[Jalo]

Well...I had the alo rx and in my opinion it does an alright job at powerijg the k702s but I wouldn't buy it for those phones; the samegoes for the hd600/650s.

Anything weaker than the Alo Rx isn't doing the cans justice.

Well fair enough, that being the case, I would say then in the portable domain, may be a LISA III or the Protector in balance mode are better and known to be able to drive the 650 well. I do have the HD600 and the Protector. Of course, we are talking only about portable amp here.

 

[wagen]

iBasso PB1 Toucan
 

 

[RockinCannoisseur]

Quote:

I have both the SR71a and P51. I don't know why someone would recommend the P51, it is a very nice amp but it just doesn't have enough power to drive the 650. Your option is between SR71a and the Protector for the RSA lineup. If you don't mind to go the balance route, the Protector is a much better option for your price point. There are other offerings from ALO (Rx Prescription), Lisa-III, iQube, or Ibasso D4 can fill the need also.

so r u saying the protector is a  lot more powerful than the p51? and is alo rx also more powerful than p51, protector, pico?
 
thanks
Quote:

I agree. When I owned both I came to that same conclusion.

damn just when im about to pull  
and do u also find the protector to have more ppower than the p51 and is the alo rx more powerful than  protector/p51/pico?
 
thanks

 

[GreatDane]

Quote:

so r u saying the protector is a  lot more powerful than the p51? and is alo rx also more powerful than p51, protector, pico?
 
thanks

damn just when im about to pull  
and do u also find the protector to have more ppower than the p51 and is the alo rx more powerful than  protector/p51/pico?
 
thanks

I have no experience with RX or Protector. The Pico has more power than P51. P51 has better synergy with HD650 IMO but lacked enough power to drive them to levels that I wanted.
 

 

[Young Spade]

Quote:

and do u also find the protector to have more ppower than the p51 and is the alo rx more powerful than  protector/p51/pico?
 
thanks

If you are referring to the Rx and driving the HD650s, I wouldn't advise it. I had the Rx and powered my K702s with it. When I first got them thought they were getting great power and I loved it. However going to the iBasso PB1 (which has a lot more power) I realized that they weren't getting all the power they deserved.