Thanks Zach! I'm trying to find a "tube sound" amplifier for the blackwood. OTLs are pretty much ruled out, I am trying to find output transformer coupled as well as hybrid tube amps, preference to output transformer coupled (however budget might drive me towards hybrid).
Everyone, any suggestions for output transformer coupled tube amps around / within $500 (mainly for the Blackwood)? The lower the price the better
Schiit Lyr 2, you won't be disappointed, it really provides the power the Omni needs (and it needs A LOT of power)
Thanks for the suggestion! I've certainly considered the Lyr, as well as other hybrid tube amps (Project Ember by Garage 1217, for example). However, I'm unable to find any transformer coupled tube amps in this price range, and was just wondering if anybody has any experience with them. I recently started a thread for understanding amp power specs better, and learned a lot from the responses there.
From *approximate* calculations, for the Blackwood to be able to reach around 120 dBSPL, we need an amp that can put out ~1200mW at 50ohm, with 7.5V and 160mA. That current is really high, and nobody wants to be deaf anyway. So checking requirements for 110 dBSPL, the Blackwood would require approx 125mW, with 2.5V and 50mA current. That's way more manageable.
The Magni 2U can put out ~75mA at 50 ohm (1.2W rms, 0.2 ohm output resistance), and the Lyr can put out ~110mA (4W rms, 0.3 ohm output resistance). So the Magni 2U can drive the headphones to ~113 dBSPL (at which point it reaches its current output limit), and the Lyr 2 can drive it to ~117 dBSPL.
(Someone more knowledgeable (
@zach915m?), PLEASE correct me if I'm wrong with any of these calculations / assumptions)
So as far as *power requirements* go, even the Magni 2U (which I own) is enough to drive the Blackwoods to more than listening levels (for me). I just want to try a different (not necessarily "better" than Magni) amp with which I can try the "tube sound" with the headphones, but of course it needs to be powerful enough first.
Lets keep the suggestions coming!