[riot507]

Hi guys,
My headphone collection is growing and regrettably I still only have my emu 0404 -> Shanling PH100 and the emu 0404 -> mini^3 as my source and amp . I just picked up the 650s so my collection has become: hd650s, d2000s, k701s, re1s, and the ms1s so I'm thinking about expanding my amp collection to be able to better handle these phones. I'm not sure if there's any amp that can drive all these cans well. What do you guys feel I should get next to make my source->amp more well rounded to suit my phones?
Thanks!!!

 

[Rednamalas1]

depends on how much you want to spend....
I'm pretty sure b22 will drive all those, but they're also 1000$+

 

[riot507]

Good call. I forgot to mention the price range! I was hoping to spend less than 400 but I'm looking for the best bang for buck.

 

[LostOne.TR]

I've always liked some of the price/performance offered by the DIY options. The M^3 (which I'm currently using) is something I like a lot. I've heard good things about the CK2III (but have not had the chance to try it myself). Aside from that, from the commercial realm, I'd suggest the gilmore lite as a pretty good amp.



I enjoyed my heed while I had it, but I did not feel it'd do too well as an all around amp. I've been enjoying the M^3 with my audio technicas and akg k240s more so than my presonus amp section.

 

[Rednamalas1]

Gilmore lite (w/ dps or without) is fantastic at 300$/500$(w/dps).
Very neutral and transparent amp imo.

 

[Happy Camper]

I've not heard it but the Heed Canamp with a bit of modding has been called a good amp with the gang you have.

What about a tube amp? Rolling gain tubes lets you shape the sound of each hp to your liking.

Idea. Put $400 into the amps for sale forum search engine, see what comes up. Used will give you more amp per dollar.

 

[TheMarchingMule]

A Little Dot IV/V should sit you fine, as will a Gilmore Lite. But I do feel that a Little Dot will give you more "body" to the music compared to the GL.

 

[riot507]

You guys are awesome. It's time to sit and do some research on the little dots, gilmore lite, canamp, and the m^3!

 

[bada bing]

solid state amps are more jack-of-all-trades types than tubes, especially in the lower $$ range.

I have been most impressed with the M³ + σ11 psu in the sub $400 class as a drive everything amp. It is just barely sub $400 though. Great piece of equipment with the balls to drive anything short of a K1000.

Just as a plug for something I have no connection to - there has been a balanced M³ in the EE that has been reduced to a smokin price although it is still over your range. You have an E-MU 0404 for a balanced source. Just thinking with your money here.

 

[riot507]

That is a hot price and I would be willing to purchase if it wasn't just the down payment. =( Balancing all my phones would take quite a bit of money besides the 600.

 

[QQQ]

Since you have wonderful amp for low-impedaance phones, i guess best way now is to get nice OTL tube amp for high-impedance phones. Little dot MK IV is s good choice. But there's a lot of options...

 

[riot507]

Given that the only amp I ever owned outside of my mini3 was my shanling ph100 recommended to my by the large thread here at head-fi, how do you think they stack up to other amps for low-impedance phones for their cost? I'm asking this because I don't really have much of a point of reference. Do the other amps mentioned do what my shanling does better than it can do?

 

[Maxvla]

Would a hybrid ss/tube amp offer a unique possibility in this situation?

I am also soon to be in this situation with Senn HD580s and a midrange Grado (80-225) on extremes of the impedance graph, and would rather not buy seperate amps.

 

[riot507]

Just curious but will I be happy with this: http://www.head-fi.org/forums/f42/fs...-tubes-369571/ ?