[LIST][OPINION] Amp recommendations for Fostex/Denon Headphones.

[RushNerd]

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Both are on the list, both have researched by me and work well the Yulong top end products are all designed by Yulong to have a very analogue sound, which is what makes it stand out: A solid state with all the detail and specs of a solid state and the sound of vinyl - go figure. 
 
The Asgard is bang for buck, many have and still enjoy it with the Denons, but its not "wow" level, well its wow in its price anyway. 

Reading over this whole thread and many others, the best choice I seem to have is the Matrix or Asgard unless I missed something. It's really hard to find a damn amp for denons that anyone raves/agrees on, besides maybe $500+ ones.
 
 
Also, differing opinions on this site give me comfort.
 

The Asgard is bang for buck, many have and still enjoy it with the Denons, but its not "wow" level

I am using the HDP as a DAC pre-amp to Asgard as well with a pair of Denon D5000's.  There are plenty of "wow" moments listening to music with this combination. 
 

 

[angelsblood]

hmmm i too have a nuforce icon hd, and planning to use that as a dac. i'm still torn between the much cheaper asgard, or going for totl amps... decisions decisions!

 

[willmax]

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My D5K and D7K pair very well with both CEntrance DACport, O2 amp (aka Objective2) and JDS Labs CMoyBB 2.03R 18v.
 
The Little Dot I+ unfortunately is a no-no with Denons, lovely with Grados though

 
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getting lots of votes for the O2.
 
The Centrance though, do you notice any difference in bass response between the Dacport and the O2? 

 
WiR3D sorry it took this long to get back to your question - The DACport has a warmer signature and a somewhat more lush sound when compared to the O2 imo. 
I can't directly compare bass response between O2 and DACport since the later is a DAC/amp while O2 is only an amp, having said that I find both very satisfying sounding including the bass response. One thing that gives the O2 bass a WOW factor is when I pair it with the ODAC - the O2/ODAC combo really shines with tight punchy bass while maintaining a high level of clarity throughout all frequencies - I believe this is due solely to the ODAC component. 

 

[WiR3D]

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Reading over this whole thread and many others, the best choice I seem to have is the Matrix or Asgard unless I missed something. It's really hard to find a damn amp for denons that anyone raves/agrees on, besides maybe $500+ ones.
 
 
Also, differing opinions on this site give me comfort.
 

 
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The Asgard is bang for buck, many have and still enjoy it with the Denons, but its not "wow" level

 

Just quoting that part of my statement is misleading I tried to say its "wow" for its price, but not compared to TOTL - from my readings. 
In the end I am just trying to narrow your choices and put you on the right path the final decision is yours, I am sure you will enjoy the Asgard
 
 
 
 

hmmm i too have a nuforce icon hd, and planning to use that as a dac. i'm still torn between the much cheaper asgard, or going for totl amps... decisions decisions!

IMHO (the Asgard will be the best value, but if money is no object, why not, just remember the law of diminishing returns, and I think it really kicks in early with Denons, so you will be paying 4x the price for very little improvement.)
 
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WiR3D sorry it took this long to get back to your question - The DACport has a warmer signature and a somewhat more lush sound when compared to the O2 imo. 
I can't directly compare bass response between O2 and DACport since the later is a DAC/amp while O2 is only an amp, having said that I find both very satisfying sounding including the bass response. One thing that gives the O2 bass a WOW factor is when I pair it with the ODAC - the O2/ODAC combo really shines with tight punchy bass while maintaining a high level of clarity throughout all frequencies - I believe this is due solely to the ODAC component. 

Not a problem, Thank you for the feedback, If you are using the Dacport as the DAC for the O2 then it would be a fair comparison, which supports my theory, and it boils down to the same story, ofcourse it works, the Dacport is a great DAC, but you are losing fidelity, so I cannot recommend it. From my following of the ODAC thread from the beginning I would not say the ODAC is significantly better or even better then the DACport, although that point is quite debated.

 

[jamess71]

1. 

1. WiR3D

Just want to say thanks for putting this thread together and I'm loving it. I have one recommendation that I think might be really useful. If you could also sort them, or at least Identify, the price ranges of the amps too.  Thanks again and keep it up.

 

[RushNerd]

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Just quoting that part of my statement is misleading I tried to say its "wow" for its price, but not compared to TOTL - from my readings. 
In the end I am just trying to narrow your choices and put you on the right path the final decision is yours, I am sure you will enjoy the Asgard

Sorry, I like to appear that i'm "more" right lol. 
 
I'll give my thanks as well for keeping up with such a useful thread. Through it all though, I still haven't been able to get a consensus on what the best sub$300 amp is for the denons. If there are more choices than the matrix and asgard, i'd love to hear them. Or maybe I should shut up and be happy with my Schiit

 

[mrAdrian]

What about Meier amps? They have a much lower output impedance, and a clean sound too

 

[RushNerd]

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What about Meier amps? They have a much lower output impedance, and a clean sound too

Those sure look pretty nice, being Euro though i'm having a hard time finding any to buy and i'm sure they are pricey. It seems to have a built-in crossfeed filter though which is a huge plus.

 

[mrAdrian]

Their swing/rock amps aren't that expensive, but do not fair that well against the current offers imo. However, if you check out the for sale forums you would see old models being sold at a great discount

 

[WiR3D]

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Sorry, I like to appear that i'm "more" right lol. 
 
I'll give my thanks as well for keeping up with such a useful thread. Through it all though, I still haven't been able to get a consensus on what the best sub$300 amp is for the denons. If there are more choices than the matrix and asgard, i'd love to hear them. Or maybe I should shut up and be happy with my Schiit

In the end its what makes you smile, the point of this thread is to educate and narrow the list to what works and what sounds great - there will be no definitive winner in any price range because people have different tastes, and prefer different SS's, so if its on the list it will work, now just find what SS you want. 
 
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Just want to say thanks for putting this thread together and I'm loving it. I have one recommendation that I think might be really useful. If you could also sort them, or at least Identify, the price ranges of the amps too.  Thanks again and keep it up.

Thanks I may do that actually, already have TOTL amps will try to separate the rest.
 
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Their swing/rock amps aren't that expensive, but do not fair that well against the current offers imo. However, if you check out the for sale forums you would see old models being sold at a great discount

We have the Arietta, and the Concerto was debunked, the rest... well I will haveto dig into, not much talk going around that I have seen.

 

[Kendoji]

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ahh ok, thanks for the clarification. hmmm then i think i'll go for the a18. i live in the uk, so i can only get it from a unknown dealer on ebay! 
 

 
You should be able to order via Grant Fidelity.  I've bought a couple of things from them - their service is great.  The cost is the same, and it still ships directly from China.
 
http://grantfidelity.com

 

[W0lfd0g]

I am also thinking of getting the Denon D7000.  Currently I have a Meier Corda Concerto (the one with crossfeed) and have a Schiit Lyr.  Do you think by rolling in an appropriate set of tubes (perhaps Amperex orange labels or Lorenz Stuttgard PCC88s) I could compensate for the bloated bass a warmer tube would give?
 
In short, my 3 options are:
 
1. Keep the Concerto (how has it been debunked, WiR3D?) to run the D7000s
2. Sell the Concerto and run the D7000s through the Lyr with an appropriate set of tubes
3. Sell the Concerto, but get a different amp to run the D7000s with as the Lyr is not appropriate
 
Opinions and experiences appreciated. 

 

[WiR3D]

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I am also thinking of getting the Denon D7000.  Currently I have a Meier Corda Concerto (the one with crossfeed) and have a Schiit Lyr.  Do you think by rolling in an appropriate set of tubes (perhaps Amperex orange labels or Lorenz Stuttgard PCC88s) I could compensate for the bloated bass a warmer tube would give?
 
In short, my 3 options are:
 
1. Keep the Concerto (how has it been debunked, WiR3D?) to run the D7000s
2. Sell the Concerto and run the D7000s through the Lyr with an appropriate set of tubes
3. Sell the Concerto, but get a different amp to run the D7000s with as the Lyr is not appropriate
 
Opinions and experiences appreciated. 

The Concerto was one of the it should work but doesn't put its hands down your pants and give a good ruffle amps. In other words *yawn*
 
The Lyr is a bit conflicting, in theory it can work, and some like it, since it has relatively low output impedance, and ample current. But its made to output a lot of current, for thirsty planers, and it has been noted that the noise floor is too high. I don't think tubes can fix that. 
 
If it were me, and the D7000 was your only pair of headphones, I would sell both and step into the TOTL amps, or just get a lower spec amp and start there, O2 or M-stage comes to mind. 

 

[mrAdrian]

Wait so what was the problem with the Meier Concerto?

 

[W0lfd0g]

Thanks for your suggestions.
 
I run a HE-500 off the Lyr and will definitely keep that.  Might get an O2 for the D7000's when the day comes.