[nishan99]

Hi

I am looking for OTL tube amp and pre-amp for my headphones and powered speakers.

I need it to excel at soundstaging and imaging.
Current contenders are MD X Eddie current ZDT jr and the schiit valhalla 2

I don't know what's the next upgrade for those amps as I mentioned the budget is $400-800 and I will be driving 300ohm headphones with it.

 

[aqsw]

Check out the Feliks Audio Echo.

 

[buke9]

Well haven’t heard the ZDT Jr but have the Valhalla 2 as I owned one several years ago and did not like it much but that is me. I have heard a Eddie Current Zana Duex and it was quite very good but have not heard the ZDT Jr so can’t say.

 

[nishan99]

Check out the Feliks Audio Echo.

thanks for the suggestion, the power output specs is low for all of their products, at which ohm do they measure it?
I listen to a lot of classical and I need some power for those quiet tracks.

 

[aqsw]

Don't let those output numbers fool you. I run 32 ohm headphones through my Feliks amps and can get extreme volume. I am not sure how Feliks does it, but they do.Reading the reviews it seems to kill the Schiit, but I have not read any comparison to the Eddie.

 

[LoryWiv]

thanks for the suggestion, the power output specs is low for all of their products, at which ohm do they measure it?
I listen to a lot of classical and I need some power for those quiet tracks.

I listen to primarily classical / instrumental music and can attest that the Elise with stock tubes is more than adequate to drive my 300 ohm Auteur, volume pot. rarely > 1/3 with black background on quiet passages. Hope this is helpful, although of course YMMV.

 

[serman005]

Not sure where on the financial spectrum you are looking to stay, but, if you are trying to be more frugalish, the Darkvoice 336SE is a very good value at its price-point and does well with some thoughtful tube rolling. FWIW.

 

[robert766]

The ZDT Jr. does not have preamp outputs, it's pass through only! Meaning you can't control the volume on your powered speakers with the volume knob!

Edit:

Forgot to mention the ZDT jr. also isn't an OTL. It's transformer coupled.

 

[433521]

I listen to primarily classical / instrumental music and can attest that the Elise with stock tubes is more than adequate to drive my 300 ohm Auteur, volume pot. rarely > 1/3 with black background on quiet passages. Hope this is helpful, although of course YMMV.

I listen to primarily classical rock, acoustic jazz, soul, hip hop and can attest that the Eddie Current Jr. with new tubes is a pleasure to listen to, though it's not the most resolving or bass giving of my amplifiers.