[jimmyjames8]

OK. I've read tons-O-posts about Senn HD650's and toob amps. Don't really want to go over to the dark side with their associated (hellish) heat output and toob rolling, biasing,etc. Minor issues to deal with for sure, but I want a tooby sounding SS amp, I think. Recco's?

 

[Thaddy]

I've heard that the Headamp GS-1 has a tubey sound to it. However, you do know the only real way to get that tube sound is to join us on the dark side

I have a feeling though this thread is going to take a turn for the worse (for you at least!), and you'll end up getting a tube amp

 

[cpw]

I feel the HR-2 can sound very 'tooby" depending on opamps (which can be rolled). It's an awesome sounding amp that has great synergy w/ the 650s.
CPW

 

[drarthurwells]

Sennheiser uses the Lehmann to demo their HD650

The Lehmann is an excellent SS amp but doesn't have the rich tones of a tube amp - just very clean and uncolored, with lightening quick transients.

I like a tube with amp with the SA5000.

With the HD650 it is more of a choice of whether you are SS or a tube person.

 

[MikoLayer]

i thought tube rolling was a definite plus

I say just go for a bargain tube/hybrids like BADA amp...

 

[Jazper]

*whispers* M3, with THS4601Ds... *whistles*

 

[jimmyjames8]

Quote:

Originally Posted by cpw I feel the HR-2 can sound very 'tooby" depending on opamps (which can be rolled). It's an awesome sounding amp that has great synergy w/ the 650s. CPW

Which op amps?

 

[Jazper]

Quote:

Originally Posted by jimmyjames8 Which op amps?

lets see

the opa627, the ths4601, the opa604, the opa134.. to name a few..

 

[markl]

Ray Samuels HR-2 with stock AD797 op-amps. Perfection.

 

[creeky]

The best way to get the tube sound is use a tube amp

The small signal tubes that headphone amps tend to use dont get really hot, it's only really power tubes that get scorching hot (I found out the hard way). If you get an amp with auto bias then its simply a case of putting the new tubes in, switching on and enjoying the music

As for rolling the tubes despite what people say the current production tubes are really not all that bad so you don't have to spend hundreds on a set tubes to get good sound from your amp.


Now choose your amp and welcome yourself to the vacuum side

 

[gsferrari]

Go with a hybrid like the Rudistor RP5 / 5.1 or whatever his latest offerings are. I am a big fan of the sound of his amps.

 

[crazyfrenchman27]

ad8397, ad797, LT1028, and LT1122 are all tubish sounding solid-state op amps.

-Matt

 

[recstar24]

Quote:

Originally Posted by crazyfrenchman27 ad8397, ad797, LT1028, and LT1122 are all tubish sounding solid-state op amps. -Matt

LT1115 kicks all of those in the lovespuds - its fuzziness is overwhelming

 

[Voltron]

My Singlepower MPX3 is the first tube product I have owned (other than some really old radios) and it aint that big a deal. Rolling is fun and not as quirky as it might seem. MPX3 sounds nice with the 650s too.

That said, I agree with cpw and markl that the HR-2 sounds great with the 650s, and it has a kind of tubey feel to it. Only heard it once at the SJ meet recently, but the one on the FS/FT lately has had me itching to find an excuse to buy it.

 

[CRESCENDOPOWER]

Quote:

Originally Posted by markl Ray Samuels HR-2 with stock AD797 op-amps. Perfection.

It’s possibly one of the finest solid-state audio products per dollar at this time, and the designer is a genius.