[leftistelf]

Hi folks...new to the forum, but not new to headphones. I have a pair of HD600s and currently have a total airhead for travel purposes. Now I want something for home...

I want a headphone tube amp to connect to my current preamplifier (Thor TA-2000) through the Thor's second outputs (RCA). This would allow me to listen to my main rig (and its volume control) while utilizing my amazing preamp, but without rewiring my system for headphone use.

My budget is about $700. I'd spend a bit more, but would prefer to spend less. Used or new...

 

[Mindless]

Earmax, Earmax Pro, MG Head OTL MKII, MG Head OTL32, Singelpower amps, SHX-1, and so on.

I havent heard any of them but they are highly recommended.

 

[yak_tg]

why would you want to connect them both in chain? other people spend a lot of money to get rid of the one nececcary pot in the signal chain, you want two of them? Most headphone amps i know, even all of them, work on line level signals, unless you need a phono stage you should connect the amp directly to your source and go for a passive switch.

 

[stryker]

Don't forget the Berning MicroZOTL.

 

[Hirsch]

Quote:

Originally posted by leftistelf Hi folks...new to the forum, but not new to headphones. I have a pair of HD600s and currently have a total airhead for travel purposes. Now I want something for home... I want a headphone tube amp to connect to my current preamplifier (Thor TA-2000) through the Thor's second outputs (RCA). This would allow me to listen to my main rig (and its volume control) while utilizing my amazing preamp, but without rewiring my system for headphone use. My budget is about $700. I'd spend a bit more, but would prefer to spend less. Used or new...

With a preamp like the Thor, rather than use a separate headphone amp, you might want to use an interface such as the ASL Reference Tools.

http://www.divertech.com/aqreferencetools.html

This should allow you to connect a headphone to the output of your preamp directly.

 

[leftistelf]

I don't want two pots in the path - I want only one, and I want it to be the one on my $11k preamp, not a $500 headphone amp. Any idea what amps might not have volume control?

 

[agile_one]

The Krell KSA 5 came without a volume control, but is no longer manufactured, and very hard to find.

This thread talked about it.

Edit: NEVER MIND ... just reread thread title, and realized you were asking about TUBE amps - obviously the krell is SS and does not meet your criteria - sorry

 

[daycart1]

What Hirsch said. Or get a custom DIY.

 

[leftistelf]

I'd love some suggestions of either models that are designed without volume pots, or companies that will build a custom amp?

 

[yak_tg]

Get a singlepower amp - Mikahil will build you one without pot for sure, and the amps are top notch.
-or do as hirsch said, sounds reasonable too (and less pricy)

 

[anearfull]

Quote:

Originally posted by leftistelf I don't want two pots in the path - I want only one, and I want it to be the one on my $11k preamp, not a $500 headphone amp. Any idea what amps might not have volume control?

Leftistelf:
That's not a second pot on the ASL impedance matching device pointed out by Hirsch. It's a rotary switch for setting the gain to one a few choices that correspond to different source voltages.

The pot on your uber-preamp would be the only one in the circuit.

Peter