Which amp for the SA5k

[bg4533]

I tried the SA5000 with my Dynalo and PPA with Glassman Diamond Buffers. They sounded pretty weird with the PPA. I wouldn't recommend it. The Dynalo sounded excellent with the SA5000. Usually I am easily bothered by brightness and sibilance, but the combo didn't bother me at all.

 

[TonyTripleA]

Virometal: DM-1 is being talked about on head-fi mini meet thread as an eddiecurrent amp at the prototype stage. A bit early to know much more than how the prototype sounds.

DM-1 thread will give you some more info.

Cheers,

TonyAAA

 

[morphie]

I just bought SA5000 (Iron_Dreamer will diss me if he sees this post for being against FOTM syndrome n buying those but oh well xD couldnt resist the curiosity) hope my RA-1 coupled with the DAC drives them well, or maybe the headroom home will do a good job there who knows

 

[TonyTripleA]

Morphie: you knew you had to... it was only a matter of time. Congrats! Let us know how the RA-1 goes with them. From all reports its a very synergistic match.

Team SA5000 is now plus one

Let us know what you think of the cans as well!

Cheers

TonyAAA

 

[chillysalsa]

I would recommend a Gilmore amp as well so that it accentuates the clean bass and high frequency response of the SA5k's. Though, that was with the Dynahi, so lesser Gilmore amps may not have as much quantity of bass, but it will be clean and defined.

 

[zozo]

Quote:

Originally Posted by chillysalsa I would recommend a Gilmore amp as well so that it accentuates the clean bass and high frequency response of the SA5k's. Though, that was with the Dynahi, so lesser Gilmore amps may not have as much quantity of bass, but it will be clean and defined.

Haven't heard the dynahi (tempted but afraid to) but my gs-1 has more than enough bass for my sa5k's. IMO they mate quite nicely since the gs-1 has just that hint of warmness to slighlty tame the sa5k's while remaining quick all the time. i agree that sa5k's sound best when paired with a fast amp, but source matters first when it comes to the sa5k's.

 

[akwok]

Is the Gilmore Lite a good enough amp for the SA5k's?

 

[morphie]

It depends. You have one, you should know best. If youre asking, then the answer is probably no though

 

[akwok]

I still haven't gotten mine yet, it should be shipping tomorrow.

Just want to be prepared for the worst/best,

 

[virometal]

Quote:

Originally Posted by akwok I still haven't gotten mine yet, it should be shipping tomorrow. Just want to be prepared for the worst/best,

Consider this an adventure then. IME the GLite is is fairly neutral. You will hear your soundcard more than the amp through the SA5K.

 

[audiojoe1]

Wow! Thanks for all the reccomendations! Did you say that the RA-1 works well with the SA5k??...As I already own that amp and use it with my RS-2's. Maybe I wouldnt need a new amp then?
I should be ordering my new headphones sometime next week so I will surely pipe in and let you know what I think.
joe

 

[morphie]

If you have the RA-1 and a decent source, you probably wont need another amp for the SA5000, unless you don't like the RA-1's sound. The RA-1 is made with one of the fastest opamps, and does not color the sound much, so it is ilho a perfect amp for SA5000s if you want to hear your source more than your amp with them. I probably won't buy an amp, only a tube amp for fun, but I'll stick with the SA5000+RA-1+DAC-1 combo most of the time probably.

 

[Iron_Dreamer]

I agree with "old cloth ears" that the DAC1 amp does quite well indeed with the SA5000's, however it is not the end-all. I am listening to them from a Veda Dynahi SA, and it brings out another layer of goodness not present with the DAC1 alone. The sound is more direct, dynamics are most noticeably improved, as are instrument seperation/focus. Of course this is no rig for the solid-state timid, but at least I feel it needs no smoothing over or taming, it's just a great honest transparent sound, even when listening to lesser recordings.

 

[tyrion]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Iron_Dreamer I agree with "old cloth ears" that the DAC1 amp does quite well indeed with the SA5000's, however it is not the end-all. I am listening to them from a Veda Dynahi SA, and it brings out another layer of goodness not present with the DAC1 alone. The sound is more direct, dynamics are most noticeably improved, as are instrument seperation/focus. Of course this is no rig for the solid-state timid, but at least I feel it needs no smoothing over or taming, it's just a great honest transparent sound, even when listening to lesser recordings.

I agree. I've used my SA5K with a Veda Dynahi SA and have found it to be a nice combo. I don't find the SA5K to be bright but maybe I have a tolerence for the high end. Having said that, I don't find the Dynahi/SA5K combo to be bright but there maybe others that might.

 

[audiojoe1]

Ok great. I may end up with a tube amp for fun. Are headphone tube amps generally considered warm like they are for use with speakers? Will a tube amp even tame the sometimes heavy brightness I experience with my RS-2's?
(However after a decent break in time the lower end is really opening up and the brightness is going away...was just a thought though.)
joe