Headphone amp pet peeve/under $350

[ScottVT]

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[PurpleAngel]

Are you looking for a desktop or portable headphone amplifier?
What sources will you be plugging the amplifier into?

 

[ScottVT]

Empty

 

[Monsterzero]

Grab a vintage receiver,research the ones listed in my signature..all of them drive 600 ohm headphones effortlessly...even use a vintage receiver to drive the HE-6!

 

[buke9]

If your a bit handy a Bottlehead Crack will also work for you.

 

[PurpleAngel]

 
Desktop only. 
 
I have a variety of digital and analog sources with HDMI, USB or analog connections.
 
My primary concern is effortlessly driving 600ohm cans.

 
Darkvoice 336SE OTL tube headphone amplifier, $214-$250
https://www.massdrop.com/buy/dark-voice-366se
 
It drives my 250-Ohm Beyer T90 to a decent volume with the volume knob at around 35%
600-Ohm versions of Beyer headphones are usually only a little more power hungry.

 

[ScottVT]

Deleted

 

[ProtegeManiac]

  As someone shopping for a headphone amp that will drive 600 ohms, let alone 250 PROPERLY it's been a drag.
 
My pet peeve is when you find an amp, portable or desktop and no 250/600 ohm specs are published.

 

 

Just approximate 250ohms as slightly lower (OTL) or higher (any other topology) than 300ohm output.
 

 
The portable amps all seem pretty sad for driving 250 ohms, at least the dozens of under $350 models I have looked at.

 

They're driven by a low voltage battery that the manufacturer needs to be able to run for a reasonable time rather than have a Lisa amp on their hands that is humoungous and yet burns through its charge after about three hours. That's like expecting Lotus Exige performance of a Miata. Something has to give at that point, and they decided for the sake of it being usable for buyers, that it won't be the battery life.

 

[ScottVT]

   

 

Just approximate 250ohms as slightly lower (OTL) or higher (any other topology) than 300ohm output.
 

 

They're driven by a low voltage battery that the manufacturer needs to be able to run for a reasonable time rather than have a Lisa amp on their hands that is humoungous and yet burns through its charge after about three hours. That's like expecting Lotus Exige performance of a Miata. Something has to give at that point, and they decided for the sake of it being usable for buyers, that it won't be the battery life.

​The Valhalla 2 was the $350 price point. The other tube amp mentioned in the thread is less costly, but likely needs a tube roll.  I think the V2 would crush the cheapo grado I had years back.  That was a more expensive amp in 2000 $$$, but made with cheap parts. 

I'm all about parts first.  I knew that a USB style or portable would be sad for 250, let alone 600 ohms. SCHIIT is one of the few affordables  that pubish specs above 200ohms.

 

[atarione]

The DV336SE with some NOS USA tubes .. it quite a good option.. I have had mine since xmas.. love it use it w/ my DT880 250Ohms headphones.. very nice indeed.  good match with the DT880's
 
The Schitt amp is probably quite nice as well (haven't heard one) .. I bought a few tubes off ebay for my DV for pretty low prices $5~10 per tube..  I am currently running a GE 6AS7GA (got this and a RCA 6AS7G for $15~ total on 2x tube deal) and a RCA 6SN7GT (got it and a 6SN7GTA for ~$12 on a combo as well)..
 
You can spend a lot more on tubes.. but you can get some pretty inexpensive USA tubes that are much better than the stock DV tubes.
 
I feel like a love a people roll tubes with the schiit amp also..

 

[ScottVT]

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[ScottVT]

Removed

 

[buke9]

NOTE:  I ended up with the full hybrid :LYR 2

Schiit makes quality gear so you did well. There is always tube rolling to get what you want if the stocks don't do it for you. Almost all of their stuff excels in power so that is not a problem. I just found the Valhalla 2 to be bright with stock tubes but the tubes are cheap. I see you went for T90's I haven't heard them so I will say most saw they are bright but as I haven't heard them I don't know how much as I like bright headphone also. Just give them at least a week to let your brain adjust before you decide.

 

[ScottVT]

Empty space

 

[buke9]

I have not tried the V2 in person, but all to often I find stuff that measures flat has been called "bright"  where the listener is after rolled off.  I'm not kidding when I say I wish i had a dollar for every recommended thing that nose-dived in the treble.  It's as if "flat"  is too bright.  

The V2 (as told to me)  lacked the impact and depth of the Lyr 2.  


I prefer it when people don't speculate about things they haven't heard.  I can't stand advice based on "I haven't heard this but..."

All I can say as when I had the Valhalla 2 in my house hocked up to my Teac HD-301 it was very bright to me. What is your problem? I never said this is that or this. I always said others said this about that and not what I have heard. Do you think everyone has heard the exact same combo that you want ? There are too many for everyone to hear everything don't you think? When I say I have not heard that that is what that means. I don't lie to people as saying that I've heard something that I have not. I said I have not heard the T90's and I said that and by most accounts they are bright. This is not my opinion just going on other reviews. I stated that I have not heard them . You are trying to buy something that you can not audition correct? Then you only have those how have heard them or the other part as you are buying. So what is your concern?