[AudioDwebe]

All right, here we go.

In this hobby I've come to realize that synergy plays a significant role in how any particular headphone sounds, and many of us have more than one (both cans and amp) to mix and match to our hearts' content.

But initially when I got into this hobby, my aim was to get an amp that was considered one of the better ones available (at the time MPX3) to have as my "one and only" to use with any (and all) cans in the future. Naive, I was.

Fast forward some three odd years and now I have a question for all of you: If you had to limit yourself to just one amp, to have and to hold, forever (or at least the next 2-3 years) to drive a variety of cans well, which amp would you choose? What amp do you consider the best overall, though not necessarily the "best" at any one thing in particular?

Thanks.

'Dwebe

 

[krmathis]

I would stick with my β22.
It is able to drive "any" headphone. K1000 through the 4-pin XLR out, other moving-coil headphones (balanced or not) through the TRS or dual 3-pin XLR out, or electrostatics through the speaker level out (and a suitable transformer). Great sounding as well of course.

Versatile, powerful, great sounding, ...

 

[TStewart422]

The amp in my E-MU 0404 USB does everything I ask it to do.

 

[WalkGood]

Any Woo

 

[Jodet]

Quote:

Originally Posted by WalkGood /img/forum/go_quote.gif Any Woo

The models below the WA6 are not good for low-impedance cans.

I'd say the best 'all rounder' in the thousand dollar range would be one of the Blue Circle amps, a 'Thingee', and 'SBH' or a hybrid of the two.

I've owned both a WA6 and an SBH. The SBH was dramatically better, IMHO.

 

[AudioDwebe]

Quote:

Originally Posted by krmathis /img/forum/go_quote.gif I would stick with my β22. It is able to drive "any" headphone. K1000 through the 4-pin XLR out, other moving-coil headphones (balanced or not) through the TRS or dual 3-pin XLR out, or electrostatics through the speaker level out (and a suitable transformer). Great sounding as well of course. Versatile, powerful, great sounding, ...

Are all (how in the hell do you type that funky "B") B22's that versatile, or is it system dependent?

 

[tosehee]

I don't mind WA22. It's balanced, has SE input also. Can be modified as preamp, can take a great selection of tubes, has both balanced and SE output, and it has enough power to drive most headphones, if not all.

 

[krmathis]

Quote:

Originally Posted by AudioDwebe /img/forum/go_quote.gif Are all B22's that versatile, or is it system dependent?

It all depends on the β22. The amount of β22 and σ22 boards, and of course its features and configurations.

Quote:

(how in the hell do you type that funky "B")

I just call the Characters palette (Option+Command+t) and add the Greek β character.

 

[WalkGood]

@ Jodet: No need to quote me, that’s your opinion … and I answered the question in mine, btw I have the WA6 and for my taste am completely satisfied and hope to be for another 2 or 3 years

Quote:

Originally Posted by AudioDwebe /img/forum/go_quote.gif … … I have a question for all of you: If you had to limit yourself to just one amp, to have and to hold, forever (or at least the next 2-3 years) to drive a variety of cans well, which amp would you choose? What amp do you consider the best overall, though not necessarily the "best" at any one thing in particular?

 

[Aimless1]

So many fine amps out there, too many to list. Just some to consider..

Luxman P1 (if you can find one) or the P1u
Headamp GS-X
Blue Hawaii
Beta b22
Eddie Current Balancing Act or Zana Deux
Many a fine used Single Power out there
Moth, if you can find one
Ear HP-4
TTVJ Millett 307A

Source/amp/headphone ... what do you have, what are you looking for, what's your budget?

 

[AudioDwebe]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aimless1 /img/forum/go_quote.gif Source/amp/headphone ... what do you have, what are you looking for, what's your budget?

I'm really not looking for anything right now, as I've got a ZD, and feel it does really well to excellent with all my cans. But, I prefer my K501/500 thru the RKV and Grados through the GCHA.

If limited to just one, of the amps I've had (or have), I would stick with the Zana. I was just wondering what amps others felt were a strong contender for a "set it and forget it" type of thing, that allows a head-fi'er to build a system around, all the while having the ability to listen to whichever dynamic headphones he/she desired knowing that the amp would bring out the best (or close to it) without the requirement of a stable full of amps to use for various cans/music/mood/etcetera.

 

[santacore]

I would put the DNA Sonett near the top of my list. Thanks to the impedance switch and overall design it plays nice with all the phones I've tried. I especially like it with my HD800's lately.

 

[achristilaw]

Quote:

Originally Posted by AudioDwebe /img/forum/go_quote.gif I'm really not looking for anything right now, as I've got a ZD, and feel it does really well to excellent with all my cans. But, I prefer my K501/500 thru the RKV and Grados through the GCHA. If limited to just one, of the amps I've had (or have), I would stick with the Zana. I was just wondering what amps others felt were a strong contender for a "set it and forget it" type of thing, that allows a head-fi'er to build a system around, all the while having the ability to listen to whichever dynamic headphones he/she desired knowing that the amp would bring out the best (or close to it) without the requirement of a stable full of amps to use for various cans/music/mood/etcetera.

Perhaps you might consider (1) Phone and system build around it. I have a various Gilmore's, Bal. Beta and Moth si2A3/45 and they are best with varying phones.

I prefer the Stacker or Gilmore's with the HD800 as they do less damage to the signal. What's your favorite phone?

 

[achristilaw]

Quote:

Originally Posted by santacore /img/forum/go_quote.gif I would put the DNA Sonett near the top of my list. Thanks to the impedance switch and overall design it plays nice with all the phones I've tried. I especially like it with my HD800's lately.

The Sonett is a "jack of all trades" ain't it??!!

 

[SteveM324]

Quote:

Originally Posted by AudioDwebe /img/forum/go_quote.gif If limited to just one, of the amps I've had (or have), I would stick with the Zana.

Stick with what you have because it's an excellent amp. I just got my ZD SE a couple of weeks ago and it is a big step up from the Raptor that I had. Another plus for the ZD is that you can roll the tubes to change the sound without having to buy a new amp. All headphones are different (some are dark and some are bright, some have impedances less than 32 ohm and some have 600 ohms) so no particular amp is going to be the "best" with all of them.