[iznogud]

It would be great if there was some kind of 'shoot-out' between these amps-- or some more comparisons/description generally. Guess it's hard to find the wherewithal and time/expense commitment to do a 'meta' test like that.

I believe Sandu (Soundnews) is cooking up some shoot-out you might be interested in. Keep an eye in the next few months.

MidFi Guy on youtube did some series of comparisons aswell, i really enjoyed those.

 

[xirxes]

I got to TT2 feeding Enleum 23R and I’ve been unconvinced to chase thousands more in the chain for the next step for over a year now.

Likely endgame.

 

[vulup]

Not on the current list, but the Sparkos Labs Aeris Headphone Amplifier is the best solid state I have listened to thus far.

 

[rmsanger]

Solid thread… I’ll throw a few into the ring

http://ojispecial.jp/products/BDI-DC44B-GT.html

2023 edition upgraded sil and sparks opamps and upgraded silent power modules

https://www.bursonaudio.com/shop/soloist-3x-gt/

http://www.wellsaudio.com/headtrip-ii-level-ii

https://zeppelinandco.com/products/...c-dap-music-player-tws-mass-kobo-model-394-ii

hybrids

https://www.trafomaticaudio.com/products/head-2/?portfolioCats=15

https://pathosacoustics.com/en/product-en/amplificatori-inpol-en/amplificatori-inpol-12-en-3.html

http://www.wellsaudio.com/dragon

 

[helljudgement]

Solid thread… I’ll throw a few into the ring

http://ojispecial.jp/products/BDI-DC44B-GT.html

Have you heard this or are you basing it on price?

 

[rmsanger]

Have you heard this or are you basing it on price?

sadly I have not It’s very hard for us to get in the US and eye watering expensive. If I won the lottery this would be on my purchase list

https://www.ebay.com/itm/185443601298

 

[rmsanger]

A few more nominees

questyle cma800r golden duo stack

crayon cha-1

leaf


https://www.releaf.co.jp/e/img/products/E3_hybrid_dC_en.pdf

 

[ClicketEKlack]

One vote for the Nitsch DSHA-3FN. (With OG Focal Utopia)

 

[jeankuss]

Schiit Mjolnir 3?

 

[ChJL]

@smallcaps

https://saeq-audio.com/amplifier-hyperion-ge

The hyperion must be added to the list, although no reviews... just because of it's story...

but also
HSA-1c
because it's connect-ability for ribbons also
https://saeq-audio.com/amplifier-hsa-1c

and
PDA-1b
https://saeq-audio.com/amplifier-pda-1b

Don't know if headonia best SS award counts though

 

[bunsw]

Has anybody considered using integrated speaker amps like the Pass Labs INT-25 or even an old YBD Integre DT. I'm thinking of getting a set of Modhouse Tungsten and probably need more amp. Maybe these amps don't have enough voltage gain though. But they make more sense because there's a huge market out there for them.

Currently using Susvara driven by Audio Note UK Meishu 300B single ended integrated amp. It's a speaker amp with 8 ohm output taps. I had to install 8 ohms of resistors on the output to eliminate a brightness that was from ringing in the output transformer. I'm at 11 o'clock most of the time and up to 1 o'clock if the recording is quiet so I doubt I could drive the Tungsten.

With speaker amps you don't have selectable gain or output matching but then these headphone amp manufacturers never tell us how they achieve these adjustments. We'd like walk away if we knew what they were doing. I don't know how a sonically neutral gain adjustment is possible if optimum sound quality is to be maintained at each setting. To do it right would require entirely different gain stages to be switched in and out and that would cost serious money and require a shutdown to make the change.

If I had to I could build any tube amp topology I want and taylor the sound to the headphone. I can't believe there are all these options today and I can't find one that is suitable for me. I remember when the only headphone amp you could buy was a Grado carved out of a 2x4 and run off batteries.

I'm looking at the Lenjonklou Gielli Pi as an alternative. A local dealer picked the brand up recently and told me it sounds way better then the Enleum 23R for 1/3rd the price. I heard the Enleum driving my Susvaras at his place and was hugely underwhelmed. There must have been an issue or maybe I'm just used to the Audio Note and solid state doesn't do it for me anymore.

 

[572217]

Has anybody considered using integrated speaker amps like the Pass Labs INT-25 or even an old YBD Integre DT. I'm thinking of getting a set of Modhouse Tungsten and probably need more amp. Maybe these amps don't have enough voltage gain though. But they make more sense because there's a huge market out there for them.

Currently using Susvara driven by Audio Note UK Meishu 300B single ended integrated amp. It's a speaker amp with 8 ohm output taps. I had to install 8 ohms of resistors on the output to eliminate a brightness that was from ringing in the output transformer. I'm at 11 o'clock most of the time and up to 1 o'clock if the recording is quiet so I doubt I could drive the Tungsten.

With speaker amps you don't have selectable gain or output matching but then these headphone amp manufacturers never tell us how they achieve these adjustments. We'd like walk away if we knew what they were doing. I don't know how a sonically neutral gain adjustment is possible if optimum sound quality is to be maintained at each setting. To do it right would require entirely different gain stages to be switched in and out and that would cost serious money and require a shutdown to make the change.

If I had to I could build any tube amp topology I want and taylor the sound to the headphone. I can't believe there are all these options today and I can't find one that is suitable for me. I remember when the only headphone amp you could buy was a Grado carved out of a 2x4 and run off batteries.

I'm looking at the Lenjonklou Gielli Pi as an alternative. A local dealer picked the brand up recently and told me it sounds way better then the Enleum 23R for 1/3rd the price. I heard the Enleum driving my Susvaras at his place and was hugely underwhelmed. There must have been an issue or maybe I'm just used to the Audio Note and solid state doesn't do it for me anymore.

Maybe you have found it already, there is a thread on speaker amps for headphones. The thread degrades after the first dozen pages, but contains some valuable information.

 

[bunsw]

Maybe you have found it already, there is a thread on speaker amps for headphones. The thread degrades after the first dozen pages, but contains some valuable information.

No I hadn't, so thanks. Will check it out.

 

[iznogud]

Has anybody considered using integrated speaker amps like the Pass Labs INT-25 or even an old YBD Integre DT. I'm thinking of getting a set of Modhouse Tungsten and probably need more amp. Maybe these amps don't have enough voltage gain though. But they make more sense because there's a huge market out there for them.

Currently using Susvara driven by Audio Note UK Meishu 300B single ended integrated amp. It's a speaker amp with 8 ohm output taps. I had to install 8 ohms of resistors on the output to eliminate a brightness that was from ringing in the output transformer. I'm at 11 o'clock most of the time and up to 1 o'clock if the recording is quiet so I doubt I could drive the Tungsten.

With speaker amps you don't have selectable gain or output matching but then these headphone amp manufacturers never tell us how they achieve these adjustments. We'd like walk away if we knew what they were doing. I don't know how a sonically neutral gain adjustment is possible if optimum sound quality is to be maintained at each setting. To do it right would require entirely different gain stages to be switched in and out and that would cost serious money and require a shutdown to make the change.

If I had to I could build any tube amp topology I want and taylor the sound to the headphone. I can't believe there are all these options today and I can't find one that is suitable for me. I remember when the only headphone amp you could buy was a Grado carved out of a 2x4 and run off batteries.

I'm looking at the Lenjonklou Gielli Pi as an alternative. A local dealer picked the brand up recently and told me it sounds way better then the Enleum 23R for 1/3rd the price. I heard the Enleum driving my Susvaras at his place and was hugely underwhelmed. There must have been an issue or maybe I'm just used to the Audio Note and solid state doesn't do it for me anymore.

Hey there, may i ask you if there's a reason why you go with integrated instead of something like power amps + tubes pre ?

I don't know if you know about this one (because very few are aware of it) but recently they released this HAA Resolute by Thrax, it's basically a power amp specifically made for headphones (and iems) users. I'm not exactly sure if it has the voltage requirement for Tungsten but from what i have seen it sure can drive Susvara and 1266 TC. I feel like it's a great option for owners of those (very) hard to drive headphones out there, as it gives you the possibility to tweak the sound with your favorites HPs amps as long as they have pre outputs. Without the risks of speakers amp and the use of resistors and whatnot.

I will be able to listen and compare the Giella Pi to a couple of others amps in a few months. I believe it is one of those hidden gems that no one talks about, we'll see. For now i can say that it drives Susvara and 1266 TC because Mister Fredrik Lejonklou pushed his Giella (OG) to it's limit specifically for those HPs.

 

[Whazzzup]

Subbed, my list violectric 550 pro in the 5g cad $ range

dcs lina hp amp in the 9 grand range

msb premier hp amp in the 15 g cad range that’s the upper limit

cfa3 Not sure how much.

there are others but must be balanced or at least offer 3 pin xlr in and 4 pin out.