[tdogzthmn]

I do not have much knowledge of stereo amps but I would like to find some that are notable for having good headphone output. It would be nice if I could just have one amp for my speakers and headphones. Let me know of some good brands and models to look for. Price would be between $300-$400. Thanks.

 

[Spareribs]

I have a vintage 1971 Marantz 2270 and the headphone jack is excellent! It's not as smooth as a tube amp but for solid state it's really good, clear and has nice tone. $300 I paid. I did an A/B comparison to the Hornet amp and it was much better but let's be fair that the Hornet is a portable.

 

[Uncle Erik]

I'm not too current on these, but you might want to browse through the receiver listings at Audiogon. That'll give you an idea of the brands out there as well as prices.

You should also look through the preamps - some of them have headphone jacks. A member here reported good results with a NAD preamp recently. You'd have to also buy a power amp, but there are many affordable usex solid state amps. That would also leave you room to upgrade later on.

Another option is to check out units locally - there should be some - and take your headphones with you. You know, that might be best.

 

[tenzip]

Integrated amps or receivers would be your best bet. As Uncle Erik said, go by some stores, or even pawn shops/thrift stores locally, taking your headphones with. A 3.5>RCA cord will let you hook up your DAP for a source.

I have an AMC integrated that reminds me strongly of NAD equipment, it has a very nice HP out.

 

[tdogzthmn]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Uncle Erik /img/forum/go_quote.gif I'm not too current on these, but you might want to browse through the receiver listings at Audiogon. That'll give you an idea of the brands out there as well as prices. You should also look through the preamps - some of them have headphone jacks. A member here reported good results with a NAD preamp recently. You'd have to also buy a power amp, but there are many affordable usex solid state amps. That would also leave you room to upgrade later on. Another option is to check out units locally - there should be some - and take your headphones with you. You know, that might be best.

Did a quick local craigslist search : classifieds - craigslist

The prices look good but its hard to know which would be a good model.

 

[leveller1642]

I have a Onkyo integra P-304 pre amp that I am very happy with. It drives my HD-600 the best of all my amps. The noise floor is virtually nil and the sound is balanced and neutral. I use in in combination with Apogee Duet DAC and lossless files. I paid less than $100 for it.

Onkyo P-304 Reviews

I have also tried a 1989 vintage Marantz PM-75 which I find a little dark for my tastes (although I have yet to use the Apogee with it, instead using the PM-75's built in DAC), a Proton 520 (similiar to a NAD 3020) which was quite good except the floor was slightly noisy.

The Onkyo, Proton and probably the Marantz are all better than the Zero, Zhailu and Travigan's Red dedicated headphones amps i have used.

 

[rjoseph]

I have a Denon receiver but the headphone jack from it is crappy. I read elsewhere that older receivers (pre 1990s) have better headphone jacks. So an older model may work better to your needs. All the best.

 

[zotjen]

Check out this

http://www.head-fi.org/forums/f5/usi...ed-amp-329395/

and this

http://www.head-fi.org/forums/f5/man...-jacks-338299/

I'm sure there are other threads as well.

 

[axellone]

Quote:

Originally Posted by tdogzthmn /img/forum/go_quote.gif I do not have much knowledge of stereo amps but I would like to find some that are notable for having good headphone output. It would be nice if I could just have one amp for my speakers and headphones. Let me know of some good brands and models to look for. Price would be between $300-$400. Thanks.

I remember that the Luxman Lv105v has a very good headphone output.
Also Grundig V1700 but is difficult to find a 115V

 

[tim3320070]

Cambridge Audio 640A (not the 540A though) integrated amp (and headphone out) is very good for the money. You can get them new for under $300.

 

[tomb]

I'm sorry, but I don't agree with the idea in principle. Yes, I've heard headphones demo'd through NAD receivers/integrated amps and they do sound OK - unlike most receivers, which sound like junk. And it's not pre-1990's, either, I started buying hi-fidelity stereo systems in 1970 - some of them sound horrible through the headphone jacks, but were OK for the technology at the time (Koss Pro4A's?).

So what am I saying? Just about any amp that's designed exclusively for headphones and is matched up well with the headphones of your particular interest is going to run circles around any receiver/integrated amp/amp/pre-amp.

 

[Phelonious Ponk]

Quote:

Originally Posted by zotjen /img/forum/go_quote.gif Check out this http://www.head-fi.org/forums/f5/usi...ed-amp-329395/ and this http://www.head-fi.org/forums/f5/man...-jacks-338299/ I'm sure there are other threads as well.

Here's the Cliff notes: Almost all integrated amps and receivers, vintage and otherwise, use the main amps, stepped down through resistors, to power their headphone output. Almost all of them are very close to the standard of 120 ohm output, that most headphones are optimized for. If you are using anything but cans of very low impedance, the headphone jack of an integrated amp or receiver should be as good as the speaker terminals.

Period.

Buy a good quality amp or receiver and you've bought a good quality headphone amp. Everything else is myth.

Phelonious Ponk
GrumpyOldArts.com

 

[elrod-tom]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phelonious Ponk /img/forum/go_quote.gif Here's the Cliff notes: Almost all integrated amps and receivers, vintage and otherwise, use the main amps, stepped down through resistors, to power their headphone output. Almost all of them are very close to the standard of 120 ohm output, that most headphones are optimized for. If you are using anything but cans of very low impedance, the headphone jack of an integrated amp or receiver should be as good as the speaker terminals. Period.

While I'll be the first to admit that I'm not an expert on speaker amp design, I know enough folks who are and have spoken to them often enough about this very thing to call ******** on this statement...on several fronts:

1) Most of the folks who I've discussed this with (audio manufacturers and other electronics hobbyists who would be in a position to know) have made of point of saying that it's somewhat rare to find an amp with a headphone jack that was anything better than an afterthought...and that it's TYPICAL that they are NOT tapping the main amp circuitry directly.

2) If it were true that the characteristics of a good headphone amp and a good speaker amps were essentially the same, then we'd all be using this product:

ANTIQUE SOUNDLAB

It effectively adds a headphone jack in the manner that you're describing. I've used it myself, and I've yet to find an amp (tube or solid state) where it produced sonics that were better than an entry level headphone amp.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phelonious Ponk /img/forum/go_quote.gif Buy a good quality amp or receiver and you've bought a good quality headphone amp. Everything else is myth. Phelonious Ponk GrumpyOldArts.com

I'm not so sure...and I've done PLENTY of listening over the years on plenty of vintage stuff.

I think if one buys a quality amp or receiver, one may have a DECENT quality headphone amp...and one may not. That is my experience, and the experience of many others.

For example, I have a Fisher 500C, which taps the main amp circuitry...and it's wonderful. Such has not been my experience with other speaker amps or preamps.

It appears that what your intending to do in actuality is to make controversial statements ("everything else is a myth") with the intent of diverting folks to your own website. It appears that we'll find a lot more of the same at your site - lots of standard garden variety contrarian statements about what vain fools most audiophiles are. YAWN!

 

[Phelonious Ponk]

Well, Elrod, given the frequency with which the myth that modern headphone jacks are opamp afterthoughts and the vintage stuff used the mains and resistors has been thrown around the headphone community, I can't blame you a bit for doubting what I said. Don't take my word for it, email the manufacturers and ask them. Or just accept this guy's research. He's already done the legwork:

http://www.head-fi.org/forums/f5/man...-jacks-338299/

Sometimes these things (hobby myths) get started, get rolling, then take on a life of their own. This is one of those cases. I'm not saying that all integrated amp/receiver headphone sections are better than dedicated HP amps, or even as good. All I'm saying is that the cheap, throw-away, opamp afterthought story that has been presented here, is wrong. And these headphone sections are worth a listen.

PP

 

[leveller1642]

Quote:

Originally Posted by tomb /img/forum/go_quote.gif I'm sorry, but I don't agree with the idea in principle. Yes, I've heard headphones demo'd through NAD receivers/integrated amps and they do sound OK - unlike most receivers, which sound like junk. And it's not pre-1990's, either, I started buying hi-fidelity stereo systems in 1970 - some of them sound horrible through the headphone jacks, but were OK for the technology at the time (Koss Pro4A's?). So what am I saying? Just about any amp that's designed exclusively for headphones and is matched up well with the headphones of your particular interest is going to run circles around any receiver/integrated amp/amp/pre-amp.

I am not convinced. If money was no object, of course a dedicated headphone amp will be better. For people with a budget I'd argue that a conventional amp is far better value. My Onkyo pre amp was cheaper than the 3 dedicated headphone amps (the Zhailou 2 and the Zero have a DAC all well of course) I also own, and I have decided that it is all I'll ever need for my HD-600.

With all due respect, don't you have a conflict of interest in this subject?

Quote:

Originally Posted by OP It would be nice if I could just have one amp for my speakers and headphones.

I should have mentioned I have a 120w RMS a channel Yamaha M45 power amp for my speakers. I paid less than $150 for it.