General purchase advice: Ask your questions/for advice here!

[elliot]

For those that were previously following along on my mission for quality sound while I train… here’s where we landed.

[Doc]

@monochromios I took a look at that machine. Very nice. Do you know if it will run HQPlayer?

[monochromios]

I believe you can use it through Roon

[Cuentos_de_la_Cripta]

Hi, looking for some advice

I’m trying to find a tube amp and a solid state amp

My price range is: $500 - $1k for the tube amp
$1k - $2k for the solid state

I like to listen to: everything except metal

I will be using them for: desk setup/home

I’d like the solid state amp to have a warm and strong character to the sound and it would be best if its not too large, my headphones are the HD6XX as a daily driver and a ZMF Auteur for the weekends lol.

Thanks.

[Nuance]

Hello! I actually recommend swapping budgets, putting $1000-$2000 toward the tube amp and $500-$1000 toward the solid state amp; in my opinion based on my experience, you do not need to spend 1-2K on a solid state amp, as a really good SS amp can be had within that price range. A good example of this is the RebelAmp or Schiit Jotunheim. You’re using high impedance headphones, so you just want to be sure the amp you choose has plenty of power; even better if it’s “high current.”

In my experience, tube amps really start to flex their strengths in the higher end segment; I haven’t been truly impressed by anything under $1000 or so; and that’s why I don’t yet own one.

Have you been able to audition anything yet?

[Cuentos_de_la_Cripta]

Interesting, you know what, I’ll put more budget into the tube but I have not been able to audition anything yet, any recommendations for $1k+ tube amps?

[generic]

See here:

TOTL tubed headpone amp

It’s fantasy island at the moment but I’m thinking about options for a tube headphone amp. However, I have not had any opportunities to hear any, aside from a brief trade show encounter with one of the Linear Tube Audio integrateds. The brands on my radar: Manley Absolute Woo Audio (WA 22, 33, 5) Linear Tube Audio (various) Feliks Euforia ZMF Pendant (and/or other Ampsandsound amps) Coincident Dynamo SE III Did I miss any? The price range seems to be anywhere from just under 2k to just ov…

Favorite Mid-Priced Tube Amp (ie:1k USD or less)?

Hello folks. My situation’s a little unique. I’m new to headphones but not audio: I’ve recorded and mixed my own music for years, but always on studio monitors, studiously avoiding headphones over $100 due to their reputation for messing up mixes, but that’s changed with new tech, so I just jumped from my Sennheiser tracking headphones (HD280 v2, $80 used) to Raal sr1a with Jotunheim R (a wee bit pricier). My primary intended use here is mixing, though pleasure is great too! E ither way, I’m lo…

Tone control vs. Tube amps, which do you prefer and why?

Hey gang! (New to the forum, so if I posted this thread in the wrong place please let me know and I can move the thread. Or if this has been covered before please let me know.) In my quest to get my headphones to sound their absolute best for my ears, I have been researching pairing tube Amps with certain headphones. I already got some great recommendations from a few members and other members have stated to skip tubes and just use EQ tone control in order to alter the sound where a headphon…

[Cuentos_de_la_Cripta]

thanks a lot! ill take a look at that.

[Lothar_Wolf]

[Nuance]

I’ve only heard a few that have blown me away, but I was not able to directly compare them to one another at the same time; and since auditory memory is short, I will defer to people like @generic and others that have had the opportunity to do so. Definitely check out his post and links above. Also, @MRHifiReviews would be a great resource. He has a YouTube channel as well: https://www.youtube.com/user/MarcelloRostagni

[Tchoupitoulas]

@Cuentos_de_la_Cripta

My price range is: $500 - $1k for the tube amp

I’ll agree with @Nuance’s comment and advice. It used to be said that there weren’t many decent tube amp options between $500 and $2K. The Quicksilver Audio and the Feliks Audio amps may have changed that, although I’ve not heard them and I don’t know if they synergize well with the HD 6XX or the Auteur.

A few solid state amps to consider beside the Jot 2 and Rebelamp are the Monoprice Liquid Gold X and maybe the Phonitor One (and perhaps other Phonitor amps). With the Phonitor, do please read up about how to plug in and unplug headphones; the volume pot has to be turned all the way down, I believe, or else there’s a risk of frying your headphones. Beware.

The Monoprice amp varies in price considerably. It’s MSRP is $999, I think, but people have purchased it for much less. Keep an eye out for Black Friday, of course. It also has a DAC in it but you don’t have to use it.

Again, I’m not recommending these two solid state amps specifically for your headphones, but they might be worth looking into.

[hottyson]

@Tchoupitoulas

With the Phonitor, do please read up about how to plug in and unplug headphones; the volume pot has to be turned all the way down, I believe, or else there’s a risk of frying your headphones. Beware.

Very good to know! Thank you very much.

[Clay49]

I have been a long time user of the Sennheiser HD 600 headphones which are open, of course. As a professional musician, I’ve recently started doing more semi hollow guitar and acoustic guitar work, which means that that sound bleeds over into my HD 600 headphones when I am using them with my Kemper Profiler amp. What are some equivalent FRFR closed can sets that might get me in that same tonal zone. Budget wise, would like to keep it under $600.

[frkasper]

SRH1540 has a good midrange. It may be on the darker side music-wise (whole spectrum), but it should be pretty accurate within the guitar frequency range.

It will be a little boomy in the low end – as opposite to the HD600 – then you’d probably want to back it off a little with EQ.

Cheers.

[generic]

@Clay49

What are some equivalent FRFR closed can sets that might get me in that same tonal zone. Budget wise, would like to keep it under $600.

The Dan Clark Aeon Closed X (Drop.com) is $379. It’s a closed back planar and not unlike the HD 600. I own the HD 600 and the very similar ACX predecessor the Aeon Flow Closed. Dan Clark headphones require a dedicated amp for decent performance (e.g., minimum of $100 to $300+).

[wgarbo]

All,

I’m not going nuts here but when I listen to my TOTL DAPs with the Cayin C9, FLAC, balanced. I’m at times hard-pressed to discern that from my desktop setup. Maybe with some songs with a certain headphone but not enough to say holy crap. Anyone else tinker with this idea/experience?

[Clay49]

Hey guys, thank you so much for your quick responses. I’ve tried to post the same thing on Head – Fi, and those guys never respond to anything unless you talk like you have a graduate degree from MIT in audio technology… I really appreciate you guys stepping up and helping out.

[Clay49]

Chasing down these suggestions…any others I should investigate?

[generic]

There aren’t many neutral (HD 600 like) closed headphones in the sub $600 price bracket.

You might find more ideas in these threads:

Drop + DCA Aeon X Open and Closed - Official Thread

Closed: Open: For anyone wondering about the Drop + DCA Aeon X, I figured I’d post the results here: Closed: [DCA Aeon X Closed V2] Open: [DCA Aeon Open X] Notes: These are generally pleasant tunings for both - but the Closed is better in my opinion. The Aeon X Open has better and smoother treble, while the Aeon X Closed has better/cleaner bass and lower mids. The Aeon X Open is considerably warmer/thicker - but once again the treble is very agreeable Driver resonance frequency (Fs)…

Closed Back Headphones under $500

I own the HD1(Momentum 2.0). It’s pretty good with good bass and neutral miss but a little too dark. So I am considering others. I listen to Classical mostly and love my HD650 during the day. For late night in bed listening I need a Closed phone. On my list are: Meze 99 Classic AKG K550 Audio Technica 50x NAD Visio P50 Sennheiser HD598 Cs Would love to hear from anyone with experiences with these units.

The under $500 world

I appreciate the great conversation about the higher end headphones, but what about the “common man” who has limited source devices and limited funds?

Best headphone in the newly fleshed-out $500-$1000 category

With this price category becoming much more popular in the last year or so it begs the question of who’s king?with the aeons, lcd-2c, campfires, and even some Sennheiser and beyerdynamics the price gap from 500-1000 is filling up quickly. My money is on either the m1060c (cheaper but still a contender) or the Mr Speakers aeon but I want to hear what you guys think.

[PaisleyUnderground]

I’d add the Focal Elegia to your list. It’s discontinued, and Adorama has periodic sales for $399. They’re currently selling open box for $379.

I tried the Elegia and liked it a lot, but it didn’t have enough bass for me so I returned it. I tend to like neutral-warm headphones, so YMMV.