While my end game headphone will undoubtedly be an Audeze, for now I've settled on a second hand Hifiman HE-500, due to budget. The HE-500 can get a little sparkly in the treble according to most reviewers. Swapping the stock silver cable for the copper Canare apparently helps out. Still, I'd like to know which budget amps with a warmish signature could help out a bit further in this area. To put my taste in treble in perspective, I currently use a Senn RS220 and HD600. The HD600 is used with a Schiit magni / modi combo. The Schiit combo is too trebly for my taste, probably due tot the magni. Using the HD600 on an iPad (don't laugh) produces acceptable treble for me. The RS220's treble is also fine, although it's a little veiled compared to the HD600.
I realize that I won't do the HE-500 proper justice until I get something like the Violectric V200, or Cavalli's new Liquid Carbon, but that's out of the budget for now. Max €300 for an amp will need to do. The Schiit Modi will probably stay as DAC. My preference goes to solid state or hybrid amps, since tube amps in this budget will most likely underpower the HE-500.
So which amps under €300
- have a warm, smooth sound signature, "polite" or "rolled of" treble
- provide enough juice to drive this Ortho
I realize that I won't do the HE-500 proper justice until I get something like the Violectric V200, or Cavalli's new Liquid Carbon, but that's out of the budget for now. Max €300 for an amp will need to do. The Schiit Modi will probably stay as DAC. My preference goes to solid state or hybrid amps, since tube amps in this budget will most likely underpower the HE-500.
So which amps under €300
- have a warm, smooth sound signature, "polite" or "rolled of" treble
- provide enough juice to drive this Ortho