[mod853]

Hey!

I would like some recommendations on what headphone amp I should buy.

Headphones it will power:
HiFiMAN HE4XX
Beyerdynamic DT770
Verum 1
Future purchases might include Sennheiser HD600/HD650 or more planars like Sundara.

Features it needs:
Low output impedance, less than 2ohm, preferably under 1ohm or as low as possible.
Powerful, over 0.5w at 8-16ohm and 32ohm, preferably over 1w though to future proof myself.

My current dac/amp is an FX-AUDIO- DAC-X6 and i will continue using it as a dac. A dac will be a future upgrade.

My budget is somewhere in the range of max 250$ to 350$ preferably the lower but i can stretch it.
I'm also sorry to say but aesthetics are a consideration as well but it falls very low in the order of importance. To get a feel for what i like my personal favourite for looks has to be either the HeadAmp Gilmore Lite Mk2 or the LakePeople Phone-Amp G109-P, too bad i'm not willing to spend that much on an amp. I also like the big receiver style of something like the Asgard 2. I do not like the look of iFi iDSD.

I have taken a look at magni 3 and 2u but i am a bit hesitant because they would cost around 160$ and at that price there might be better things to look at that outperforms them. I also read a few reviews that say they might sound compressed.
I've also taken a loot at the NFB-11.28 but it would cost me over 400$ after toll and tax.

Thank you for any help or recommendations offered! And have a lovely day!

 

[ProtegeManiac]

I would like some recommendations on what headphone amp I should buy.

Headphones it will power:
HiFiMAN HE4XX
Beyerdynamic DT770
Verum 1
Future purchases might include Sennheiser HD600/HD650 or more planars like Sundara.

Features it needs:
Low output impedance, preferably less than 2ohm
Powerful, preferably over 1w at 8-16ohm and 32ohm

My current dac/amp is an FX-AUDIO- DAC-X6 and i will continue using it as a dac. A dac will be a future upgrade.

My budget is somewhere in the range of max 250$ to 350$ preferably the lower but i can stretch it.
I'm also sorry to say but aesthetics are a consideration as well but it falls very low in the order of importance. To get a feel for what i like my personal favourite for looks has to be either the HeadAmp Gilmore Lite Mk2 or the LakePeople Phone-Amp G109-P, too bad i'm not willing to spend that much on an amp. I also like the big receiver style of something like the Asgard 2. I do not like the look of iFi iDSD.

I have taken a look at magni 3 and 2u but i am a bit hesitant because they would cost around 160$ and at that price there might be better things to look at that outperforms them. I also read a few reviews that say they might sound compressed.
I've also taken a loot at the NFB-11.28 but it would cost me over 400$ after toll and tax.

Thank you for any help or recommendations offered! And have a lovely day!

If you can stretch it, go for the Meier Jazz FF, or the Schiit Lyr 2.

If you're sticking to the low end, there's the Asgard.

 

[buke9]

Massdrop Cavalli Tube Hybrid 1W @ 50 ohms output impedance < .5 ohms. A very solid amp for the price. Runs HE-500’s very well and also like it with the HD-650’s (6xx’s in my case) a lot also just behind a Bottlehead Crack. I’m sure it would stretch the budget with import taxes and the other fees but a very nice amp nonetheless.

 

[mod853]

Massdrop Cavalli Tube Hybrid 1W @ 50 ohms output impedance < .5 ohms. A very solid amp for the price. Runs HE-500’s very well and also like it with the HD-650’s (6xx’s in my case) a lot also just behind a Bottlehead Crack. I’m sure it would stretch the budget with import taxes and the other fees but a very nice amp nonetheless.

I don't know how I feel about tubes is the problem. And it's maximum power is 1w at 50ohm. At 8-32 it could be significantly lower but I'd need to see measurements .

 

[kukkurovaca]

The designer is pretty active in the CTH thread, I bet if you asked there he could confirm for you.

 

[buke9]

I don't know how I feel about tubes is the problem. And it's maximum power is 1w at 50ohm. At 8-32 it could be significantly lower but I'd need to see measurements .

The Tube is very inexpensive to replace and readily available. Not sure why you want so much power for the cans you have . The planars yes they like power but the 770’s not for sure they need that much never heard of the other.

 

[kukkurovaca]

How about an Emotiva A-100 with the jumpers in and an iFi IEMatch : )

 

[kukkurovaca]

Oh, maybe you wouldn't even need the IEMatch:

https://www.head-fi.org/threads/emotiva-a-100.825970/page-23#post-14290497

 

[mod853]

How about an Emotiva A-100 with the jumpers in and an iFi IEMatch : )

I think the Emotiva would have too high output impendance and noise floor. Also i would never need the amount of Power that thing pushes. I also heard that it could cause distortion in combination with the verum 1's

 

[mod853]

The Tube is very inexpensive to replace and readily available. Not sure why you want so much power for the cans you have . The planars yes they like power but the 770’s not for sure they need that much never heard of the other.

I will need Power to push the Verum 1's, they require minimum 0.5w at 12ohm recommended is 1w. I also want to set myself up for the future

 

[mod853]

If you can stretch it, go for the Meier Jazz FF, or the Schiit Lyr 2.

If you're sticking to the low end, there's the Asgard.

Yeah i was concidering the asgard, as for the other ones i don't want to spend that much on a headphone amp.

 

[buke9]

Didn’t think I’ve heard of them until looking them up. I believe they were on the DIY thread here as I remember the outside grill .

 

[Oscar-HiFi]

Take a look at the Burson Fun, the basic version is $299 and is quite detailed and neutral, I would recommend going up to the V6 Vivid or Classic op-amps if you can afford it though.

 

[mod853]

Massdrop Cavalli Tube Hybrid 1W @ 50 ohms output impedance < .5 ohms. A very solid amp for the price. Runs HE-500’s very well and also like it with the HD-650’s (6xx’s in my case) a lot also just behind a Bottlehead Crack. I’m sure it would stretch the budget with import taxes and the other fees but a very nice amp nonetheless.

Take a look at the Burson Fun, the basic version is $299 and is quite detailed and neutral, I would recommend going up to the V6 Vivid or Classic op-amps if you can afford it though.

What do you guys think about aune? i could get either x1s or x7s for around 250$, otherwise i'm thinking about the asgard 2 from schiit. Or maybe it's worth it to save up and get the jotunheim with the dac upgrade for around 500.

 

[buke9]

Have not heard a Aune myself so don’t know. I have not heard a Jot yet either been around one several times but didn’t have the time to listen to one. I’m not a big fan of a Schiit amps other than a Mjolnir 2 that one I do like but way over your budget . Not a Schiit hater as I own several other of their products like Yggdrasil,Freya,Mani and a Sys just not a fan of the amps. I have to say I haven’t heard any bad things about Aune so that is something.