New amp search help

[SennFan]

Hey guys...love the site-- I'm looking into head amps to replace my Creek OBH-11SE. This has served me well but I'm looking for something a bit more engaging and natural (tubes, possibly?). I've found the Creek to be a bit lacking in the mid-range and find vocals to be somewhat dull and lifeless at times. Imaging seems to be a bit unconvincing, too. I mainly use a pair of Senn HD-600's, Cardas cabling and a Carver CD player--when not using my multi-channel/stereo setup

. Does anyone have any specific advice for/against tube-based head amps? Also, which tube-based amps would you reccommend?

 

[mrarroyo]

Look into the Ear Purist + HD by Mapletree. http://mapletreeaudio.com/

 

[SennFan]

The website is somewhat unclear--are these already built or do they require assembly as I'm looking for something that DOESN'T require assembly. Also, how does one go about choosing various tubes--are some tubes better than others? I've heard some of the GE and Sovtek tubes are pretty sweet

 

[Capt. Z]

Being a tube guy I do prefer tube amps. I have a WooAudio 3 headphone amp to go with my Senn 600. Together they produce a very full and warm sound. The Woo 3 also works wonderfully together with my 20 year old and modded Beyerdynamic DT 990.

www.wooaudio.com

 

[SennFan]

I've used tube-based amplifiers when using my guitar (Vox etc) and I liked the sound they produced especially for that pseudo authentic 'blues sound'. I also use SC Analog II interconnects with Eichmann terminations which I have found to be incredible in terms of conveying the most information possible from the source to the listener. The eichmann terms also stay on any single ended output which at times is taken for granted since there are so many god awful analog cables out there. Does anyone have experience w/ Antique Sound Labs stuff?

 

[mrarroyo]

Quote:

Originally Posted by SennFan The website is somewhat unclear--are these already built or do they require assembly as I'm looking for something that DOESN'T require assembly. Also, how does one go about choosing various tubes--are some tubes better than others? I've heard some of the GE and Sovtek tubes are pretty sweet

You can have it your way

He can build it for you or at a price cut he sends you the kit which you build. Good luck.