Poor Source...what amps would be overkill?

[LanceTX24]

Hello and thanks for reading. I am a total newbie to headphone listening.

Source (poor) = Sony DVP-S550D
Cans = Senn HD600 (will order soon...don't have yet)

Question: At what point is a better amp just going to show the inadequacies of my source? For the sake of my lack of amp knowlege and time, lets say in the headroom line for example. Is a Cosmic too much, a little, TA???

I know there are tons of variables. I have read and lurked here for a long time so this is not just a total out of the blue thing...I have gained much info from you guys but I thought I would just ask directly since I want an amp and know these cans will sound better with an amp but am worried about my source.

Anyway, thanks for any help. Perhaps my source is so poor with these cans that I should start there.

Probably can't spend much more than $700 on either a source or an amp right now. (cans allready budgeted prior)

Thanks for any help guys (and gals).

Lance

 

[usc goose]

welcome to head-fi

, hmmm... i'll get back to you. (non standard greeting around here)

ok, i've had some time and dude, your source destroys any of mine.

(check my profile) well, it should anyways. it's nice that you have your priorities straight though. kind of crazy when some people spend so much time on headphones and amps and forget source. i don't think anything inside of 700 bucks will be too overkill for you right now. i'm running a meta42 w/ stacked 2002 buffers and dual 843 opamps with 24 volts and a mg head otl-h with a triblack 5751 ge tube and they work great with my admittedly lower end sources. both cost me about 200 which is what my source cost.

any ideas about what you want to get? diy or commercial? tube or solid state?

 

[darkclouds]

I'd advice spending all of that money on an amp. Choose one with the qualities you like. At that price range, you should end up with something pretty good, whether tube or ss.

Then use it for 6 months or so. By this time, you will know what's missing and what you really want to add or subtract from what you have. You'll have a good reference point. And you'll have time to raise some money for a better source/dac. It'll also be easier to choose a source that will improve your system at this time.

As for amp choices, there are quite a few at that price point. Do a little more research, pick a few from the selection, then post your choices with questions. This will make it easier for others to give you suggestions/advice; and for you to sort out your choices.

 

[LanceTX24]

Thanks for the replys.

I am interested in DIY amps with tubes. However, the Cosmos looks like a nice piece of equipment.

Any recomendations for tube amps of quality for $700 or less? Especially interested in DIY to save $$.

Truthfully, I am not sure why I want tubes except I have experience with them from way back (building radios for HF transmiters) and I like that "glow". I think I would be very happy with a solid (pun intended) built amp like the Cosmos too. The crossfeed option sounds intriguing.

I appreciate the recomendations,

Lance

 

[screwdriver]

buy a very good amp and just upgrade the source later on .
im pretty sure after a while - the upgrade bug will get you....

 

[tom hankins]

I'd split the money up on an amp and upgrade the HD600 cable. Either the Singlepower MPX3 or Gilmore V2 amp and the Cardas or Equinox cable. If you can wait a little while on the cable, ZuCable is working on cable upgrade for the HD600 now.

 

[CRESCENDOPOWER]

LanceTX24,

Get ahold of Jan Meier of Meier Audio, and see what kind of deal he can swing you for a RKV/HD-600s combo. I only have two words to say about the HD-600s, and a good tube amp; Oh Yeah!

 

[JaZZ]

I'd wait for the soon to be released HD 650! You'll probably get even better sound than from HD 600 + aftermarket cable. And consider a Corda HA-2 (or HA-1 MkII), which has crossfeed, too, and a great, transparent sound. Ask Jan Meier for a special package price! Another wonderful match with the HD 600/(650?): the Earmax Pro (a cute little OTL tube amp) - maybe slightly out of your budget.

 

[andrzejpw]

Is there a chance that you could be doing a source upgrade in the future? If so, I say go all out and get an RKV tube amp. Many have been quite satisfied with the results, and who knows, perhaps you'll get the urge to try out the k1000s one day

.

If 700 is your limit for a while, I'd say split it on a source/amp upgrade. If you buy a refurbished philips 963 for $300, that leaves you with $400 for an amp, where you could consider a maxed out meta42 or a corda ha-2. Good luck!

 

[peter braun]

Why not split the money on say, a NAD cd player, and a Corda HA-1 MK.II?

 

[kuma]

There is no such thing as bad *overkill*.

 

[darkclouds]

Sure there is. Try running Stax with an audigy platinum. It's baa-ad.

 

[LanceTX24]

Thanks again...I will post a longer response later and update you on my thoughts. Just wanted you to know I was reading these. I am leaning toward a tube high quality amp and possibly the combo headphone/amp purchase to get a little bit of a deal.

After pouring through threads..the RKV tube amp and the Corda HA-2 look to be near the top of the list.

Any more info on the HD-650?

Also, Music: I like all sorts but LOVE Jazz; Coltrane, Ellington, female voices...like Dianna Krall (love to listen to here...what passion in her voice!) Old Springsteen too...Classical...

Thanks again...you guys are really great...

Lance

 

[tom hankins]

The last email I got from Senn. said they would be out by 1rst week of november. There is a thread in the headphone forum "news on HD700" I think is the name of it and it gives alot of the details on the HD650.

 

[kuma]

Quote:

Originally posted by darkclouds Sure there is. Try running Stax with an audigy platinum. It's baa-ad.