[Costas]

I am looking for a tube amp for my HD-600s. I currently use the Corda HA-1.

I don't want to spend too much as this is more of an experiment at this stage. I have set a budget of $550 US. What in your opinion is the best tube amp for the HD-600 up to this price point?

 

[jpelg]

An MG Head, with some nice tubes to roll in will still leave enough left over to get an upgrade cable for the Senns.

 

[antness]

Your budget is really $550 + the HA-1 though, right?

Go for the RKV, just go for it...it's $890, that's really not much over your budget if you sell the HA-1. You'll thank yourself later

 

[Costas]

Hi Antness.

Would you be interested in the HA-1?

 

[ServinginEcuador]

Ditto on the RLV reco from antness. This is simply one awesome amp. Period. I like it more than my Melos, which cost a bit more. If you sell your HA-1 this wonderful amp is within reach new, and easily within reach if you can pry it from some owner's death grip.

 

[andrzejpw]

It really is interesting how you come here, and we quickly and easily boost that budget up, isn't it?

But I agree. If you get the RKV, I don't see you upgrading your am for a good while.

 

[mkmelt]

If you search this forum you will find a wealth of information on the Fisher 400 all-tube receiver, and how it is one of the best sounding headphone amplifiers, tube or otherwise, at any price up to say, $2,500 US.

These regularly show up on eBay, for less than $200, so even figuring shipping, repairs, and replacing the audio tubes, the total cost should be under $500.

If you ever decide to sell it, you should be able to get at least what you paid, but I doubt you will want to part with it once you have heard how a restored Fisher can sound driving a variety of headphones including Senn 580/600, AKG K1000s, and R10s

About the only negative is that these units are fairly large and heavy, so moving them around can be a pain. But the sound, that amazing Fisher sound, makes it worthwhile.

 

[Costas]

Andrzejpw, my wallet is begging for mercy...

 

[puppyslugg]

Quote:

Originally posted by Costas Andrzejpw, my wallet is begging for mercy...

Tell your wallet to quit whinning! Andrzejpw is only trying to 'help'. Right Andrzejpw?

 

[ServinginEcuador]

Mercy - if you buy something lesser in price/performance than the RKV, make sure to buy it used for a good price! That way as you save up for that which you really want you won't lose too much or any money when you finally get the best amp you can afford. You can sell it for just a small oss and buy the RKV.

OBTW, a used RKV should run under $800.

 

[Andrew LB]

Quote:

It really is interesting how you come here, and we quickly and easily boost that budget up, isn't it?

Hehe. Reminds me of how when i came here looking for a penguin tin amp and ended up getting a MG-Head OTL with nice tubes.

 

[antness]

The way I see it, you can buy an MG Head now. Then spend a bunch of extra money buying better tubes for it. Then in 6 months, when you want to sell, you'll be selling the MG Head at a loss because by then ASL will have some new exciting models to choose from or the MG Head will have been upgraded again. And I believe the price of the RKV is going to go up due to it's popularity. Now is the time

 

[jpelg]

Quote:

OBTW, a used RKV should run under $800.

And how many of those have you seen lately (besides yours)? They don't come up too often. And for good reason.

Still, without the upgrade cable on his Senns, he is using only half his 'phone. Even if he sells his HA-1 for what...$230 or so...he still does not have enough for the RKV. As nice as it is (and believe me I concur with all of your accolades over this amp), the MG Head presents a better chance to experiment with tubes (his words, not mine) at a much lower pricepoint.

Unless, of course, his budget is really more flexible than he stated.

 

[ServinginEcuador]

Quote:

Originally posted by jpelg And how many of those have you seen lately (besides yours)? They don't come up too often. And for good reason. Still, without the upgrade cable on his Senns, he is using only half his 'phone. Even if he sells his HA-1 for what...$230 or so...he still does not have enough for the RKV. As nice as it is (and believe me I concur with all of your accolades over this amp), the MG Head presents a better chance to experiment with tubes (his words, not mine) at a much lower pricepoint. Unless, of course, his budget is really more flexible than he stated.

I know they're hard to find, hence I listed in my previous post that you'll have to pry them from someone's death grip.

I concur, and stated so just one post ago, that a used amp easilt within your budget, even like the MG Head, will allow you to go ahead with a really good amp to enjoy while you save up for something else. Even though the MG Head 32 will be out soon, no one knows for sure how it will work with high impedance cans like the 600s. Or, for that matter, if Joe Lau will discontinue the Head OTL once he releases the 32OTL.

Stick with used tubes also since you'll lose less money than buying NOS ones and using them for a while, then selling them.

Following jpelg's and this advice you should have an amp in your hands within a few weeks, loaded with good tubes, and something really good like an RKV or whatever is out when you can afford it, within a year.

 

[smokey]

Costas,

To keep within your budget, I'd take a look at Kelly's review of the Sonic Adventure Reality. (It's in the permanent amp review section.) It's $370 direct, leaving you cash for an upgrade of cables.

That said, everyone, including Kelly, seems to prefer the RKV (at more than double the price it better be better!), so if you can stretch the budget, by all means do so.

Serving,

I noticed in the SAR review thread, before it went to "heck in a handbasket", that you had ordered one of these. I assume this was before you went to the RKV. What happened, did you ever get it? If so, how did you like it. (Maybe I just missed the thread where you talked about this. If so, I apologize in advance.)