Which tube amp for SONY MDR-R10?

[a-lber-to]

Hello everyone.
 
As I just managed to get a set of SONY MDR-R10 (bass-light version), I would now like to get a tube amp worthy of these headphones. 
 
For now, I am thinking of getting a Woo Audio WA6-SE... Has anyone tried it with these headphones?
 
Or do you have other recommendations for headphone-only amps that would better suit these cans?  My preference would be for something somewhat compact, and I do not need pre-amp outs, as it would be dedicated to headphone listening.
 
Thank you in advance for any advice.
 
Alberto

 

[Uncle Erik]

I'm partial to the Zana Deux. Check the owner's threads - you will find plenty of impressions.

(I don't have a R10 - congrats on finding one!)

 

[a-lber-to]

Thank you very much for the prompt reply, Erik.  I will definitely search for that thread and read through it.
 
The reason I was asking for people having had experience driving the bass-light R10 is that I understand that they are somewhat unforgiving of the source being fed into them, and they apparently require a high-quality signal in order to shine as they should.  So I was hoping someone might have already tried them with the WA6-SE, and could tell me how this combo works...

 

[kiertijai]

If you have more fund , go to the 300B new Balancing Act of Eddie Current.com
but you have to recable into balanced cable too.

 

[nikongod]

 
Quote:

If you have more fund , go to the 300B new Balancing Act of Eddie Current.com
but you have to recable into balanced cable too.

The outputs are tied together, keep the headphones stock. 
 
I have heard the balancing act with 300b and PX4, PX4 PWNS. Like by a lot. I have not heard the 2a3/45 balancing act, but Id imagine they sound better than the 300b and the tubes cost less than the PX4 (with more rolling options). Im not really a fan of the 300b - most of the time it seems like its only redeeming quality is "more power than smaller tubes". 

 

[project86]

I'll submit the Analog Design Labs Svetlana 2 as a good match. See review in my sig. Unfortunately I sold my (bass heavy) R10 a while back so I haven't tested them together specifically.... but of all the amps I've used, the Svetlana seems like it would be one of the best for the R10. Tons of detail but not overly analytical, superb top end, and a soundstage to die for.  

 

[fasterthanafish]

personally don't like tube headphone amps; prefer tube preamp + solid state headphone amp.

 

[nikongod]

 
Quote:

personally don't like tube headphone amps; prefer tube preamp + solid state headphone amp.
 

 
MELOS SHA-maestro/gold
Much nicer with the R10 than most people would think.
Ooh, and they are inexpensive. 

 

[kiertijai]

I also have the R10 and use with the balanced beta 22 with great result.
However if you like the tube sound I recommend 300B Balancing Act.   Before I ordered
the 300B Balancing Act  I have asked Craig which is better 2A3 or 300B.  Craig
suggested that 300B Balancing Act may be a better fit.  I am planning to have the
cable to be reterminate into balanced XLR  because another Thai headfier suggested
it will significantly improve the SQ, much better than the SE

 

[a-lber-to]

 
Quote:

I'll submit the Analog Design Labs Svetlana 2 as a good match.

Thank you very much, project86.  The Svetlana 2 sounds like an interesting option (I had actually already read your review last night!), as it is more or less in the same price league as the WA6-SE once you get it with the point-to-point wiring option.  This said, did the bass performance of the Svetlana 2 sound adequate to you to properly drive a bass-light version of the R10?  It is this aspect of the WA6-SE performance that was making me lean towards that amp...
 
P.S. I wish I was still living in the Bay Area, so that I could come hear it, but - alas - Europe is a long ways away!

 

[a-lber-to]

Kiertijai, nikongod,
thank you very much for your suggestions as well.  Both amps sound really good from what I read online, but as I would be using this exclusively for headphones, I sort of have this self-imposed ceiling of 1500 USD in my head for now in terms of price...

 

[kiertijai]

Dear a-lber-to,
  You are welcome.   May I suggest one tube amplifier for you and it cost 1450$ and was the highlights of the Venice meeting
this May.  It is called super 7.   It has high praise review in head-fi, was sold 12 units in one day of the meeting,
can drive all difficult headphones except AKG K1000 so it should be no problem with the R10.  It uses one driver
and 6 output tubes, all are 6SN7's.   Here is the links
http://www.head-fi.org/forum/thread/553040/eddie-current-super-7-prototype-impressions-and-pics 
 

 

[kiertijai]

It is still in the ZDT chassis.   Usually Craig like the Tungsol black ground round plate triple mica (the black tube)
and you can find that in ebay, it is not cheap around 150$/tube but is an excellent driver.   Another 6SN7's that
I may suggest is the Melz 1578 6N8S 6SN7's  (many Thai head-fiers love this one)  .  The Melz is considered by some
to match the legendary Swedish Standard 33S30B and a quad may cost only 170$  . You can contact Craig
by using his email cuthus@charter.net.   He always answer the mail promptly and is very helpful and is
a straight shooter
Here is the link of the tubes.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=140538111268&ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT

 

[project86]

Quote:

 

Thank you very much, project86.  The Svetlana 2 sounds like an interesting option (I had actually already read your review last night!), as it is more or less in the same price league as the WA6-SE once you get it with the point-to-point wiring option.  This said, did the bass performance of the Svetlana 2 sound adequate to you to properly drive a bass-light version of the R10?  It is this aspect of the WA6-SE performance that was making me lean towards that amp...
 
P.S. I wish I was still living in the Bay Area, so that I could come hear it, but - alas - Europe is a long ways away!

Bass performance is really clean, organic, slightly on the warmer side of neutral. People have different opinions about what pairs best with the bass light R10 - some seem to want an amp that makes them sound closer to the bass heavy R10. Others just want faithful reproduction as intended by Sony. I think the Svetlana would fall into the latter category. 
 
Other suggestions here seem like good choices as well though - I don't know that you can necessarily go wrong with any of them. Just that some might be a little more right than others.
 

 

[Skylab]

Love the R-10 with the Leben CS-300.  I use that combination every day.  Never ceases to thrill me.