[xz123]

Which drawbacks does balanced amplification have, besides the need for new cables?

By the way, I'll use a Symphony, too - should be just good enough

 

[immtbiker]

There are no drawbacks.

 

[JaZZ]

Quote:

Originally Posted by immtbiker /img/forum/go_quote.gif There are no drawbacks.

Yes, there are: price, weight, dimensions, (power consumption maybe?), cable (keyword HD 800)...

Some more? -- Maybe Jap can chime in again.
.

 

[grawk]

None of those drawbacks except cable are specific to balanced amps. You can get inexpensive, small, light low power balanced amps. And he stipulated "except cable"

 

[JaZZ]

Quote:

Originally Posted by grawk /img/forum/go_quote.gif None of those drawbacks except cable are specific to balanced amps. You can get inexpensive, small, light low power balanced amps. And he stipulated "except cable"

Are you saying balanced amps sound generally better than single-ended amps of the same price category? I expect them to be compromised by budget and therefore to rather sound worse than less compromised single-ended amps of the same category.
.

 

[Jap]

Quote:

Originally Posted by immtbiker /img/forum/go_quote.gif There are no drawbacks.

[size=small]One of the drawbacks is that balanced operations tend to have higher distortion than well designed SE amplifiers.

I am going to defer to the words of the master here. I am referring to Mr. Phil LaRocco. Here is a link from the TriadAudio web site:

FAQ - Balanced vs TRIAD Operation

The above link contains a further link to the following discussion:

Balanced vs Single Ended

Finally, here is an interesting Head-fi discussion on the benefits of balanced amplification. The link begins on page 6 where Phil gets involved about halfway down the page:

What are the technical advantages of a balanced headphone amplifier?

Enjoy!

[/size]

 

[grawk]

I'm saying it entirely depends on the individual amps. But balanced amps don't have any drawbacks inherrent to the architecture except for the need to reterminate your headphones, and the need to be careful in matching when building the amp.

 

[The Monkey]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jap /img/forum/go_quote.gif I am going to defer to the words of the master here.

The master of what exactly?

 

[Jap]

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Monkey /img/forum/go_quote.gif The master of what exactly?

[size=small]
The master at designing the type of amps that I love---very transparent, highly detailed, and extremely powerful for their respective classes.

[/size]

 

[xz123]

Thanks for the links, will read them asap

 

[billyearle]

Well, after reading this entire thread, and a few reviews I went with the Zana Deux. Should be ready to ship this Weds. Hope it sounds good with the other phones too (I need to find at least one great closed one with wide soundstage).

 

[Tokaji]

My first post -- I am new to headphones and this forum.

I am planning to plug the HD 800s into the headphone jack of my Leben CS300. I've never used it with headphones before, and don't currently own any decent headphones to try out.

Any thoughts from the experts here as to whether that will work out well?

Thanks.

 

[ghostmusic]

Your Leben CS300 should work very well with the HD800 (I have the CS600). You never know until you actually try the pair, obviously, but in my experience, there weren't too many cans that Leben CS600 didn't sound great with, except for the Denons.

 

[Tokaji]

Thanks! I love the Leben with my speakers and I'm looking forward to trying it with a nice set of headphones. Patience is the key at this point, I guess.

 

[Lucabeer]

I can tell you how I will amp them... I plan to buy them before the end of the year after hearing some more impressions (and possibly testing them personally), and I will amp them with my Solo SRG!