[DDDamian]

  l just noticed in the recent images of the thread shown in box to the right that there are no HD650's shown just pictures of pets lol!

Yeah things got a little FB lol. Here....
 

HD-600's but nice cans all the same

 

[pietcux]

Yeah things got a little FB lol. Here....



HD-600's but nice cans all the same

She could have extended the headband a little more, couldn't she?

 

[Billheiser]

She could have extended the headband a little more, couldn't she?

I don't see a headphone.

 

[Guidostrunk]

The lyr is a great amp for the hd650's. With the right tubes, it'll bring you to your knees. I had the Valhalla. IMO, the lyr smokes it. Especially in dynamics , and soundstage. At least that's what my ears tell me. Others may differ on opinion.
Cheers

Hi guys, whixh amp do you consider the best for 150-350$ for the HD650(mostly for rock/some live concerts/movies, fps games)
I've got some choices in my mind:
Valhalla 2, Bottlehead Crack, o2+odac,modi 2+magni2? One of the amps that I have listed with some other DAC?
BTWI did forget to mention that I have a Creative Sound Blaster ZX, I don't know if that's enough as a dac but I'll let you guys decide, moreover I have both Audio Technica ATH-A700X and Shure SE215 that I would like that my amp be able to drive, It'll be nice if the amp will be able to drive them but not a mandatory.
Thanks a lot guys

 

[DavidA]

The lyr is a great amp for the hd650's. With the right tubes, it'll bring you to your knees. I had the Valhalla. IMO, the lyr smokes it. Especially in dynamics , and soundstage. At least that's what my ears tell me. Others may differ on opinion.
Cheers

Using Lyr2 with NOS 68 Telefunken, bass tighter and sound stage wider than stock tubes, NOS 72? Amprex/Bugle Boy, Bass goes lower and hits harder, highs a little rolled off and wider sound stage.
Alternative amp: Project Ember with Telefunken or Holland/Amperex

 

[Koolpep]

The lyr is a great amp for the hd650's. With the right tubes, it'll bring you to your knees. I had the Valhalla. IMO, the lyr smokes it. Especially in dynamics , and soundstage. At least that's what my ears tell me. Others may differ on opinion.
Cheers

Good choice as well.

 

[Guidostrunk]

Once you get to the top tier , tubes, you start to get into a better balance in sound. Then it boils down to preference. Some of the standard vintage tubes offer hints of what the primo tubes offer combined. Right now I'm pretty content , with both sets of Holy grail tubes I have. Well worth leap frogging the basic. Rolling can get costly. Lol
I just sold a pair of 68 tele ecc88's. They had hints of the CCa's, but "hints" is all they could muster.
It's amazing how well the lyr , scales with the best of the best tubes, and to think that I only paid $259 bucks for it. Lol. My Valhalla didn't produce the same scalability, when rolling.
I haven't read much about the ember. From what I have read, it seems to get some pretty good praise.

Using Lyr2 with NOS 68 Telefunken, bass tighter and sound stage wider than stock tubes, NOS 72? Amprex/Bugle Boy, Bass goes lower and hits harder, highs a little rolled off and wider sound stage.
Alternative amp: Project Ember with Telefunken or Holland/Amperex

 

[olor1n]

I quite liked the Lyr driving the HD650. Amperex A-frame Orange Globes were my favourite tubes for the HD650. Coloured signature but incredibly textured mids playing to the headphone's strengths.

 

[Anavel0]

I know we all agree about the Crack and Valhalla 2 as good amp pairings for the HD650. I'm a little tired of worrying about vacuum tubes though. Is there any concensus about best solid state amplifiers for HD650?

 

[cuiter23]

I know we all agree about the Crack and Valhalla 2 as good amp pairings for the HD650. I'm a little tired of worrying about vacuum tubes though. Is there any concensus about best solid state amplifiers for HD650?

Some 650 owners here have the Asgard / Asgard 2. I have it and it is plenty powerful for the 650s. If you like the Schiit design and want to save a few bucks the Asgard is a good choice.

 

[Mr Rick]

I know we all agree about the Crack and Valhalla 2 as good amp pairings for the HD650. I'm a little tired of worrying about vacuum tubes though. Is there any concensus about best solid state amplifiers for HD650?

 
If you want to go balanced the Schiit Mjolnir will get the job done nicely.

 

[MattTCG]

Best SS amp that I've heard with the hd650 is the Headcode amp by Phillip LaRocco. 

 

[Oregonian]

I know we all agree about the Crack and Valhalla 2 as good amp pairings for the HD650. I'm a little tired of worrying about vacuum tubes though. Is there any concensus about best solid state amplifiers for HD650?

I'm partial to vintage speaker amps.................Pioneer to be specific on branding.  Love how they drive the 650 and has great bass as well. 

 

[Anavel0]

I'm partial to vintage speaker amps.................Pioneer to be specific on branding.  Love how they drive the 650 and has great bass as well. 

Not all of us can luck in to a SPEC system. I also can't solder and don't have a local repair shop. So, I don't know about vintage.

 

[pietcux]

Oh you don't need to solder and also don't require a repair shop. Most of those vintage amps or receivers are built to last for decades without any maintenance. Go to Ebay and buy.