I’ve been using a Helot 2x Tube Headphone Amp for a little while in my office. I’ve also been using a JBL speaker system for my PC as well. However, this had developed a fault and needed to be replaced.
Looking around for a replacement, I thought do I need two systems, or could I combine into one. Firstly, I looked at what I could do with the Helot, but there wasn’t much scope.
I then considered getting an integrated amp with a headphone socket to combine the two, but staying with a valve amp. This was great fun, reviewing what was available. To this end, I ended up getting an Icon Audio Stereo 25 PP Mk 2 integrated amplifier. This has three inputs and now allows me to connect my PC to one and my iPhone to another leaving a spare input for future use. With the PC I can use the speakers and then switch over to the headphone side when I want to use them.
Build wise, it is substantial and a tank, but I think that it is a nice design. It is much larger and heavier, being 23kg, than the Helot, so had to do a bit of re-arranging of my desk, but managed to get everything thing to fit.
Still burning it in at the moment, so I’ll see how it develops. I know that it’s not strictly a headphone amp per se, but they do make dedicated headphone amps as well. So far, I’m enjoying it and it fits my current needs, plus it acts as a heater as well so planning for the chilly nights.....
I will post some photos of it in situ and working a bit later on. But in the meantime, this is a photo of them side by side, so you can see the fun I had fitting it in.
Looking around for a replacement, I thought do I need two systems, or could I combine into one. Firstly, I looked at what I could do with the Helot, but there wasn’t much scope.
I then considered getting an integrated amp with a headphone socket to combine the two, but staying with a valve amp. This was great fun, reviewing what was available. To this end, I ended up getting an Icon Audio Stereo 25 PP Mk 2 integrated amplifier. This has three inputs and now allows me to connect my PC to one and my iPhone to another leaving a spare input for future use. With the PC I can use the speakers and then switch over to the headphone side when I want to use them.
Build wise, it is substantial and a tank, but I think that it is a nice design. It is much larger and heavier, being 23kg, than the Helot, so had to do a bit of re-arranging of my desk, but managed to get everything thing to fit.
Still burning it in at the moment, so I’ll see how it develops. I know that it’s not strictly a headphone amp per se, but they do make dedicated headphone amps as well. So far, I’m enjoying it and it fits my current needs, plus it acts as a heater as well so planning for the chilly nights.....
I will post some photos of it in situ and working a bit later on. But in the meantime, this is a photo of them side by side, so you can see the fun I had fitting it in.