What Amp With Rega Planet/Jupiter?

[WulfmanJax]

Ok, i'm in the market for my first real, great system. I think i've narrowed down my cd player to either the Rega Planet or Jupiter. I've found both fairly cheap at a couple places around here. Anyway, what amp would go good with either of them? I really know nothing about headphone amps.

the only one i've heard much about is the Grace Model 901. I read about it when researching those AKG K1000 headphones. Anyway, it's about in my price range. So would it be a good choice to go with the Regas?

As for my headphones i'm not sure yet. I figure i'll just buy alot of the popular models (Senns, Grados, AKGs), try them out, and keep the one(s) i want and return the rest. But first i need to get a good system/amp to test them out on.

Any recommendations welcome.

 

[tom hankins]

I've used the Jupiter with the Singlepower amps and HD600 and 650 and the system is very nice. I have also used the Rega with the Antique Sound labs OTL32 and the CD3000 or HD600. This system was good also. For solid state amps I used the Rega with the Headroom MOH with reference elec. and a stepped attenuator and the HD600/cardas.
All of these systems made good music but my preference is with the SinglePower amp and the HD650 with Zu cable. You can pick up either a Supra or MPX3 with a bunch of extras in your budget. Heres the website. www.singlepower.com

 

[WulfmanJax]

Quote:

Originally Posted by tom hankins I've used the Jupiter with the Singlepower amps and HD600 and 650 and the system is very nice. I have also used the Rega with the Antique Sound labs OTL32 and the CD3000 or HD600. This system was good also. For solid state amps I used the Rega with the Headroom MOH with reference elec. and a stepped attenuator and the HD600/cardas. All of these systems made good music but my preference is with the SinglePower amp and the HD650 with Zu cable. You can pick up either a Supra or MPX3 with a bunch of extras in your budget. Heres the website. www.singlepower.com

Yeah, those Supras sound really nice. Don't know if i have enough $$$ for one of them though. Guess i could get a lower end model.

No experience with the Grace? I've just heard alot of good things.

 

[tom hankins]

Quote:

Originally Posted by WulfmanJax Yeah, those Supras sound really nice. Don't know if i have enough $$$ for one of them though. Guess i could get a lower end model. No experience with the Grace? I've just heard alot of good things.

Havn't heard the Grace. But have read many good things about it. Do you need the DAC it provides?

 

[WulfmanJax]

Quote:

Originally Posted by tom hankins Havn't heard the Grace. But have read many good things about it. Do you need the DAC it provides?

Excuse me for being Mr. N00b, but what is a DAC?

 

[tom hankins]

It's what converts the signal from digital to analog (digital to analog converter) If you already have a source( CD player, computor source, turntable) whatever you use to make your music. You will not need the DAC in the Grace. (Unless its better than what you have already). What do you use to play your music now?

 

[WulfmanJax]

Quote:

Originally Posted by tom hankins It's what converts the signal from digital to analog (digital to analog converter) If you already have a source( CD player, computor source, turntable) whatever you use to make your music. You will not need the DAC in the Grace. (Unless its better than what you have already). What do you use to play your music now?

Well right now i'm using an old Panasonic all in one home theater system. But it looks like i'm going to buy the Rega Planet or Jupiter so that will no doubt be my cd player for the future. So does that mean i need a headphone amp without a DAC? Will the Grace work for the Rega even if it has a DAC?

 

[Feanor]

Quote:

Originally Posted by WulfmanJax Well right now i'm using an old Panasonic all in one home theater system. But it looks like i'm going to buy the Rega Planet or Jupiter so that will no doubt be my cd player for the future. So does that mean i need a headphone amp without a DAC? Will the Grace work for the Rega even if it has a DAC?

It will work, but the DAC function of the grace will go unused, as you are planning to buy to pretty good Cd players, with (probably) better inbuilt DAC's. If you buy a good headphone amp in the same pricerange(say from Meier Audio or Singlepower), you will IMO get better performance for your money, cause you are not paying for something you won't use.

 

[elnero]

It's not necessary for you to use the DAC in the Grace but you should take into account that the DAC is a major part of the design so if you don't intend to use it the Grace may not make as much sense because you could probably find better dedicated headamps in that price range.

 

[WulfmanJax]

Ok guys, i JUST bought the used Jupiter for $850. Ok, so the Grace isn't what i need. Everyone seems to like Single Power...

Which Single Power do y'all recommend? I hear the Supra is really great. Ok, lets pretend for a second that the Supra isn't over my price range (which, with the money i saved on the Jupiter it may not be), would it be TOO much for the Jupiter? Would it do me just as well to get a cheaper model? And what about the mods?

Basically, which Single Power with/wthout mods would you recommend for the Jupiter?

EDIT: And would the AKG K1000 work on a Single Power? They're one of the main headphones i'm considering buying and i've heard they're difficult to power. Which is why i initially became interested in the Grace because i heard they went together so well.

 

[elnero]

I think it would really depend on your budget which amp you go with. A Supra can easily approach $2000 or more with options whereas a tricked out MPX3 would probably be more in the $1100 + region. You should also take into account tube costs as you will probably want to try some NOS (New Old Stock) 6SN7's which don't come cheap.

I would recommend contacting Mikhail and talking directly with him about a configuration that would best fit your needs and budget. I would recommend phoning him, email is ok but your best route would be to call, it's much easier to discuss the ins and outs with him this way.

 

[WulfmanJax]

Quote:

Originally Posted by elnero I think it would really depend on your budget which amp you go with. A Supra can easily approach $2000 or more with options whereas a tricked out MPX3 would probably be more in the $1100 + region. You should also take into account tube costs as you will probably want to try some NOS (New Old Stock) 6SN7's which don't come cheap. I would recommend contacting Mikhail and talking directly with him about a configuration that would best fit your needs and budget. I would recommend phoning him, email is ok but your best route would be to call, it's much easier to discuss the ins and outs with him this way.

Ok, good idea. Yeah, i'd say right now my budge for an amp is in about the $1500 range. Since i saved so much on the Jupiter. Of coarse if i settled on the Senn HD650s for about $300 or a simular pair, i could probably afford upwards of a $2000 amp. I really don't know any of ins and outs of these things though (tubes and such), being a complete n00b and all.

Would a striaght up Supra (without any mods) be a good idea? I really hate to get to talking mods because, being the n00b that i am, i'm probably not going to know what i DO need and DON'T need. So i thought a striaght up system would be the way to go. I'm willing to pay for quality, no doubt. I just don't know how much "quality" i need.

 

[elnero]

In that case I would be tempted to go with a straight Supra which I'm pretty sure you could send back to Mikhail for mods at any time. That would give you a clear upgrade route whereas the next step from a tricked out MPX3 would be a Supra. Add to that according to the Singlepower website that while the MPX3 has an excellent warranty of 36 months it appears that Supra and above have a 7 year warranty. But again I would highly recommend talking things over with Mikhail, he's great at explaining out which options are available and the expected benefits.

 

[WulfmanJax]

Quote:

Originally Posted by elnero In that case I would be tempted to go with a straight Supra which I'm pretty sure you could send back to Mikhail for mods at any time. That would give you a clear upgrade route whereas the next step from a tricked out MPX3 would be a Supra. Add to that according to the Singlepower website that while the MPX3 has an excellent warranty of 36 months it appears that Supra and above have a 7 year warranty. But again I would highly recommend talking things over with Mikhail, he's great at explaining out which options are available and the expected benefits.

Thanks, will do. Seems they're open right now. Guess i'll give em a ring. Thanks for all the help by the way. No way i could've gotten through all of this without you fine folks here at Head Fi. I suspect i'll be visiting long after my system is setup.

 

[WulfmanJax]

Ok guys, I GOT MY AMP!

My mom called Mikhail at SinglePower amps. I didn't really get to participate since it was her money and credit card and stuff. But it looks like i ended up with the Supra! So, YAY! I'm getting a Jupiter and Supra! Now for the headphones. I feel all giddy.