Olivier11986
New Head-Fier
- Joined
- Aug 6, 2013
- Posts
- 31
- Likes
- 10
Hi,
I'm new here and I want to upgrade my less than modest headphone setup but have a hard time choosing a headphone amp.
Just to put you in context, my source is a Thorens 126 mkIII turntable with an Orthofon 2M blue cartridge plugged into a Pro-Ject tube box II (stock tubes replaced by Telefunken tubes) and I plan on replacing my Grados SR60 by some hifiman HE-400 (not 100% sure yet, this might change). I listen mostly to classic rock, jazz and classical music.
Now, since I have a tube preamp, some people think that I should go with a SS amp so that the sound from my preamp + telefunken tubes wouldn’t be modified by a second set of tubes. However I really love the sound of tubes and a tube amp might be good as well. This is my first “problem”. I don’t want to go into the evergoing SS VS tube debate, just thoughts about putting amp X after my tube preamp.
Second is which amp to choose... I’ve read lots of reviews and every amp has its fans and at a 500-1000 price point every amp should at least be a big step up from what I’ve got right now. Some SS that caught my attention were: Burson HA160 / Burson Soloist SL / SPL auditor and Musical Fidelity M1HPAP. On the tube side the Woo audio WA3 or WA6 really got my attention. The Lyr is also an option.
This is the big picture and I’d like to have your thoughts (on anything, even the headphones) since I can’t really test all this stuff for myself and I'm aware that in the end it all depends on personal tastes.
Thank you very much!
Olivier
I'm new here and I want to upgrade my less than modest headphone setup but have a hard time choosing a headphone amp.
Just to put you in context, my source is a Thorens 126 mkIII turntable with an Orthofon 2M blue cartridge plugged into a Pro-Ject tube box II (stock tubes replaced by Telefunken tubes) and I plan on replacing my Grados SR60 by some hifiman HE-400 (not 100% sure yet, this might change). I listen mostly to classic rock, jazz and classical music.
Now, since I have a tube preamp, some people think that I should go with a SS amp so that the sound from my preamp + telefunken tubes wouldn’t be modified by a second set of tubes. However I really love the sound of tubes and a tube amp might be good as well. This is my first “problem”. I don’t want to go into the evergoing SS VS tube debate, just thoughts about putting amp X after my tube preamp.
Second is which amp to choose... I’ve read lots of reviews and every amp has its fans and at a 500-1000 price point every amp should at least be a big step up from what I’ve got right now. Some SS that caught my attention were: Burson HA160 / Burson Soloist SL / SPL auditor and Musical Fidelity M1HPAP. On the tube side the Woo audio WA3 or WA6 really got my attention. The Lyr is also an option.
This is the big picture and I’d like to have your thoughts (on anything, even the headphones) since I can’t really test all this stuff for myself and I'm aware that in the end it all depends on personal tastes.
Thank you very much!
Olivier