# TOTL tubed headpone amp **URL:** \ **Category:** I need advice!\ **Created:** [May 12, 2020, 9:50pm UTC](https://forum.headphones.com/t/totl-tubed-headpone-amp/6514 "2020-05-12T21:50:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![Steve\_Dollar](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.headphones.com/steve_dollar/32/6492_2.png) [@Steve\_Dollar](https://forum.headphones.com/u/Steve_Dollar)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2020, 12:11am UTC](https://forum.headphones.com/t/totl-tubed-headpone-amp/6514/101 "2020-06-18T00:11:03Z")
Was lucky to share a block with the best music bar in Brooklyn for many years. The back room only has about 20 seats. For whatever reason, wonderful acoustics for live music. I hope they survive the virus. ---
**Author:** ![endre83](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.headphones.com/endre83/32/11213_2.png) [@endre83](https://forum.headphones.com/u/endre83)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2020, 7:39pm UTC](https://forum.headphones.com/t/totl-tubed-headpone-amp/6514/102 "2020-06-18T19:39:17Z")
That would be a great test šŸ™‚ ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_Dollar](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.headphones.com/steve_dollar/32/6492_2.png) [@Steve\_Dollar](https://forum.headphones.com/u/Steve_Dollar)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2020, 7:46pm UTC](https://forum.headphones.com/t/totl-tubed-headpone-amp/6514/103 "2020-06-18T19:46:51Z")
Would love to hear your impressions with the various headphones and the Bartok. ---
**Author:** ![endre83](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.headphones.com/endre83/32/11213_2.png) [@endre83](https://forum.headphones.com/u/endre83)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2020, 7:48pm UTC](https://forum.headphones.com/t/totl-tubed-headpone-amp/6514/104 "2020-06-18T19:48:25Z")
Yes the Bartok does tickle me now seriouslyā€¦ ---
**Author:** ![MrCypruz](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.headphones.com/mrcypruz/32/2617_2.png) [@MrCypruz](https://forum.headphones.com/u/MrCypruz)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2020, 8:14pm UTC](https://forum.headphones.com/t/totl-tubed-headpone-amp/6514/105 "2020-06-18T20:14:46Z")
> [@tmarshl](#): > > I can bring in the ZMF VCs and see how they sound. Beware!!! You might end up getting a second Bartok for your home rig. Once heard it canā€™t be undoneā€¦ ---
**Author:** ![tmarshl](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.headphones.com/tmarshl/32/13119_2.png) [@tmarshl](https://forum.headphones.com/u/tmarshl)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2020, 8:26pm UTC](https://forum.headphones.com/t/totl-tubed-headpone-amp/6514/106 "2020-06-18T20:26:43Z")
I can tell you that the Raal SR1a and the Focal Utopia are totally delicious with the BartĆ³k. ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_Dollar](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.headphones.com/steve_dollar/32/6492_2.png) [@Steve\_Dollar](https://forum.headphones.com/u/Steve_Dollar)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2020, 8:28pm UTC](https://forum.headphones.com/t/totl-tubed-headpone-amp/6514/107 "2020-06-18T20:28:17Z")
That is Nice to hear! ---
**Author:** ![tmarshl](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.headphones.com/tmarshl/32/13119_2.png) [@tmarshl](https://forum.headphones.com/u/tmarshl)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2020, 8:34pm UTC](https://forum.headphones.com/t/totl-tubed-headpone-amp/6514/108 "2020-06-18T20:34:32Z")
A second Bartok for home? Now there is an interesting concept. šŸŽ§ The nice thing about the BartĆ³k is that it is a streamer, scaler, DAC and amp all in one box. I pair it with a Roon Nucleus and control it with Roon Remote from an iPad. ![IMG_0109](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/uploads/headphones/original/2X/4/431ac6efb82876e92433ca6f27e98a70c8c1419a.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![MrCypruz](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.headphones.com/mrcypruz/32/2617_2.png) [@MrCypruz](https://forum.headphones.com/u/MrCypruz)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2020, 8:45pm UTC](https://forum.headphones.com/t/totl-tubed-headpone-amp/6514/109 "2020-06-18T20:45:44Z")
I mean, if your office / man-cave is at a different location, you might have a Bartok for each spot. That would be over the top but hey, thereā€™s no such thing when chasing that audio nirvana! Thatā€™s a S.W.E.E.T. setup!!! ---
**Author:** ![ValentineLuke](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.headphones.com/valentineluke/32/9729_2.png) [@ValentineLuke](https://forum.headphones.com/u/ValentineLuke)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2020, 9:27pm UTC](https://forum.headphones.com/t/totl-tubed-headpone-amp/6514/110 "2020-06-18T21:27:55Z")
Thatā€™s what I call ā€˜doinā€™ it rightā€™. šŸ•¶ I also usually prefer black components but that silver looks fantastic. Very nice indeed. šŸ‘šŸ½ ---
**Author:** ![endre83](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.headphones.com/endre83/32/11213_2.png) [@endre83](https://forum.headphones.com/u/endre83)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2020, 2:12pm UTC](https://forum.headphones.com/t/totl-tubed-headpone-amp/6514/111 "2020-06-19T14:12:07Z")
Black Components Matter ---
**Author:** ![Animal](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.headphones.com/animal/32/13031_2.png) [@Animal](https://forum.headphones.com/u/Animal)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2020, 8:18pm UTC](https://forum.headphones.com/t/totl-tubed-headpone-amp/6514/112 "2020-06-20T20:18:38Z")
Just in case anyone here was waiting for it to come back in stock, the Cayin HA-6As are fresh off the production line and ready to be ordered at musictek. [Here is the link](https://shop.musicteck.com/collections/cayin/products/cayin-ha-6a-el34-kt88-vacuum-tubes-headphone-amplifier?variant=31520433963070) I already ordered mine and now I am just impatiently waiting for it to arrive šŸ˜† ---
**Author:** ![MrCypruz](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.headphones.com/mrcypruz/32/2617_2.png) [@MrCypruz](https://forum.headphones.com/u/MrCypruz)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2020, 8:30pm UTC](https://forum.headphones.com/t/totl-tubed-headpone-amp/6514/113 "2020-06-20T20:30:40Z")
> [@Animal](#): > > I already ordered mine Get ready to go deep down the tube rolling rabbit hole! That amp has 6 tubes and I donā€™t know if they need to be matched in pairs. If yes, then youā€™ll be going after a pair of tubes at a time but if not, youā€™ll have so many options that it can be a bit overwhelming. eBay is a good source but you gotta be cautious because they might sell you crappy tubes for outrageous amounts of $$. ---
**Author:** ![Animal](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.headphones.com/animal/32/13031_2.png) [@Animal](https://forum.headphones.com/u/Animal)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2020, 8:55pm UTC](https://forum.headphones.com/t/totl-tubed-headpone-amp/6514/114 "2020-06-20T20:55:30Z")
You are correct! šŸ¤£I know that rabbit hole all too well. This is not my first tube amp, but it is my first high end one for my headphones. I have some tubes laying around from tube rolling speaker amps and pre amps, but I have also already purchased some good ones for this amp specifically. I have been buying them from reputable online retailers and friends because I know what you mean about eBay. šŸ˜¬ Whats your experience so far? Have any good recommendations? ---
**Author:** ![ProfFalkin](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.headphones.com/proffalkin/32/1399_2.png) [@ProfFalkin](https://forum.headphones.com/u/ProfFalkin)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2020, 11:53pm UTC](https://forum.headphones.com/t/totl-tubed-headpone-amp/6514/115 "2020-06-20T23:53:36Z")
Hmmmā€¦ One of these days I might get to hear one of those and see if i like it. The DNA Stratus is only a little bit more $ though, and I know that sounds amazing. Has anyone heard both? ---
**Author:** ![perogie](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.headphones.com/perogie/32/13801_2.png) [@perogie](https://forum.headphones.com/u/perogie)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2020, 12:16am UTC](https://forum.headphones.com/t/totl-tubed-headpone-amp/6514/116 "2020-06-21T00:16:36Z")
I think Iā€™d be happy to ā€œsettleā€ for that setup. šŸ˜ ---
**Author:** ![haglabs](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.headphones.com/haglabs/32/6929_2.png) [@haglabs](https://forum.headphones.com/u/haglabs)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2020, 5:53am UTC](https://forum.headphones.com/t/totl-tubed-headpone-amp/6514/117 "2020-06-21T05:53:55Z")
Iā€™m not even sure what ā€œTOTL Tubedā€ even means. Tubed OTL Tubed? I see some amps listed here with transformers, so Iā€™m going to throw my hat into the ring. Tuba uses output transformers to get nice low output impedance. It also works great with high impedance headphones. You donā€™t have to choose. [Tuba](https://www.haglabs.com/collections/amplifiers/products/tuba-vacuum-tube-headphone-amplifier) ---
**Author:** ![Polygonhell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/977dab/32.png) [@Polygonhell](https://forum.headphones.com/u/Polygonhell)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2020, 5:57pm UTC](https://forum.headphones.com/t/totl-tubed-headpone-amp/6514/118 "2020-06-21T17:57:12Z")
> [@haglabs](#): > > Iā€™m not even sure what ā€œTOTL Tubedā€ even means. TOTL = Top of the line - money no object ---
**Author:** ![rrwwss52](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.headphones.com/rrwwss52/32/945_2.png) [@rrwwss52](https://forum.headphones.com/u/rrwwss52)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2021, 11:28pm UTC](https://forum.headphones.com/t/totl-tubed-headpone-amp/6514/119 "2021-03-18T23:28:24Z")
How was your experience dealing with Musictek? ---
**Author:** ![Animal](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.headphones.com/animal/32/13031_2.png) [@Animal](https://forum.headphones.com/u/Animal)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2021, 2:52am UTC](https://forum.headphones.com/t/totl-tubed-headpone-amp/6514/120 "2021-03-19T02:52:36Z")
It was fine. I ordered the amp and it was shipped from Cayin and got here pretty quickly. They are pretty responsive with e-mails too. [Previous page](https://forum.headphones.com/t/totl-tubed-headpone-amp/6514.md?page=5) [Next page](https://forum.headphones.com/t/totl-tubed-headpone-amp/6514.md?page=7)