[jgonino]

Here I was thinking I could just sell all of my gear and escape to car audio land, but alas, I am hopelessly sucked into head-fi!

I have several options in this price range, but I have narrowed the field to these:

Woo audio 2
Woo Audio 4
Singlepower Extreme (14 Amp model)
Singlepower MPX3
Eddie Current Zana Deux



I actually don't have any headphones, but I will most likely be picking up either an HD650, D5000, or some Darth Beyers in the future.


Help!

 

[Robonaut]

Um, doesn't it seem a little silly to be spending two to three times as much on your amp as you are planning on spending on your headphones?

Personaly, I'd be more likely to get a $500 amp for $1,500 phones.

 

[jgonino]

I have owned a hell of a lot of headphones. From 10 dollar marshmallows to $700 dollar DX1000's. The only headphones that cost that much ($1500+) are electrostatic, and I am dynamic only. I guess there are also some rare headphones, like the l3000, r10, qualia, etc, but I will never spend more than the price of the edition 9's.

Look at vcoheda: He has the RSA apache, which is well over $2000, and he is using it to drive his HD650! (which is a freaking awesome setup btw)

 

[Asr]

A tricked-out Singlepower Extreme, with a recommended tube complement! Go go!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Robonaut /img/forum/go_quote.gif Um, doesn't it seem a little silly to be spending two to three times as much on your amp as you are planning on spending on your headphones? Personaly, I'd be more likely to get a $500 amp for $1,500 phones.

What, are you kidding? Typically it's only an expensive amp (say about >$1K) that truly opens up the >$300 dynamic headphones. I know I certainly wouldn't want to be you, sticking a $500 amp on a $1.5K headphone. With the exception of DIY amps like the Beta 22, Dynahi, M^3, or PPA, I wouldn't pair any <$1K amp up with one of the >$1K dynamic flagships, every other amp I've seen under $1K just wouldn't be as good as any of those four.

 

[Kees]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Robonaut /img/forum/go_quote.gif Um, doesn't it seem a little silly to be spending two to three times as much on your amp as you are planning on spending on your headphones? Personaly, I'd be more likely to get a $500 amp for $1,500 phones.

No, that is not silly.
Spending $500 on an amp and $1500 on phones, that would be silly.

HD650 are top phones when amped well (with a Zana Deux for instance).

 

[jgonino]

Asr, that was my personal choice. Mikhail has 3 models available:

Regular Extreme with quad-filter power supply - 1049
14 amp Extreme - 1349
14 amp Extreme wth blackgate cathode caps - 1485

Will the caps really make 136$ worth of difference?

 

[Skylab]

I love my SP Extreme. My favorite headphone amp of the ones I own (using ECC32 driver tube and 5998 output tubes). I'd say go for it!