[davidsh]

Don't tempt me with that lepai. It's like 30€ in eu...

 

[bhazard]

  Don't tempt me with that lepai. It's like 30€ in eu...

Any of the Topping amps would work. Spurxii has the TP60 I think, which is still pretty cheap for what you get. Buying a cable to use on the amp would cost more than the amp does.
 
They're so cheap, it's worth a try. They can be used to make a small bookshelf stereo system if you didn't like them with the headphone.

 

[Zoom25]

  Don't tempt me with that lepai. It's like 30€ in eu...

 
Same. After reading about these $20 amps for a few weeks, finally decided to check it out on Amazon. All under $30. Looks a bit like the O2 in form. Got tone controls as well, so appealing from that aspect as well. Anyone have experience with this and the Audeze pairings? Will probably use it with LCD-3 for bedside rig or something like that.
 
One quick question: does it accept banana plugs?

 

[Zoom25]

  Any of the Topping amps would work. Spurxii has the TP60 I think, which is still pretty cheap for what you get. Buying a cable to use on the amp would cost more than the amp does.
 
They're so cheap, it's worth a try. They can be used to make a small bookshelf stereo system if you didn't like them with the headphone.

 
Haven't followed these amps previously. Are the topping amps better than the lepai?

 

[spurxiii]

I use the Topping TP60 on my B&W 602s as well as the HE500s and they match really well. It's a very very detailed but dry sound. I like it so much I've got 2

 

[bhazard]

   
Haven't followed these amps previously. Are the topping amps better than the lepai?

Topping and Lepai both use the same Tripath Class T type amp. Topping has models that have more power and are more refined, but the Lepai at $20-25 is an awesome value.
 
The bass knob adds that extra bit of bass into the HE-500 when I want it, making it perfect. It does a better job than any software EQ at that.

 

[bhazard]

   
Same. After reading about these $20 amps for a few weeks, finally decided to check it out on Amazon. All under $30. Looks a bit like the O2 in form. Got tone controls as well, so appealing from that aspect as well. Anyone have experience with this and the Audeze pairings? Will probably use it with LCD-3 for bedside rig or something like that.
 
One quick question: does it accept banana plugs?

 
Some of the Topping models, and the $129 Lepai take banana plugs, but the 2020a+ is bare wire.

 

[Zoom25]

Thanks for the info bhazard.

 

[bhazard]

I also just got the Schiit Magni in. Has plenty of power to drive the HE-500 and just about anything else, but lacks the impact of a speaker amp, and lacks the warmth of the Lepai and what some tubes would add. Still awesome for $99 though.

 

[ethan7000]

Do you have a link to a premade cable that will work with the Lepai?

 

[davidsh]

I have a cable already. Well, still not convinced.

 

[bhazard]

I got the Lepai LP7498E 200W Class D $130 working with the HE-500 last night. WAY too much power and hiss. Keep it on your speakers.

 

[nicholars]

  I also just got the Schiit Magni in. Has plenty of power to drive the HE-500 and just about anything else, but lacks the impact of a speaker amp, and lacks the warmth of the Lepai and what some tubes would add. Still awesome for $99 though.

 
Aren't you contradicting yourself there? If it has "plenty of power to drive the HE500" then it should not lack "impact" or "warmth"?

 

[koiloco]

   
Aren't you contradicting yourself there? If it has "plenty of power to drive the HE500" then it should not lack "impact" or "warmth"?

It's head-fi.  Don't worry too much about it.  He also said a lot of other things.

 

[bhazard]

   
Aren't you contradicting yourself there? If it has "plenty of power to drive the HE500" then it should not lack "impact" or "warmth"?

 
Just because it can drive it, doesn't mean it adds to the sound signature or boosts bass. It also lacks tone control, so bass cannot be controlled by the amp alone like it can be through the Lepai. Therefore, the Magni lacks the impact and warmth the Lepai provides with more power and tone control.