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What is the best amp (or amp/dac) to pair with the HD6XX?
(Edited by moderator jssullivan)
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keyboard_arrow_downtvr2500m
145
Dec 12, 2023
I scrolled through a bunch of posts but didn't see the Bottlehead Crack mentioned (?) The HD6XX sounds great with lots of different amps and DACs. Like quite few folks in this headphone avocation I've got/had a lot of kit, but my favorite amplifier to use with the HD6XX is the Bottlehead Crack. I bought/built it specifically for use with the HD6XX to explore an OTL SET option designed towards a headphone like the HD6XX. The HD6XX is the only headphone I use with it, because it's kinda the only headphone I have that works with it. The Crack is designed to be used specifically with high impedance headphones, like the HD6XX. Season the Crack + HD6XX combo to taste with your favorite tubes and sonic goodness ensues. FYI, for a DAC I typically use a Denafrips Ares II (with all the latest software), streaming Qobuz or Tidal via Roon/RoPieee/RPi 4B.
(Edited)
gabem
3
Nov 24, 2022
3 years later in 2022 but still a relevant question with plenty of relevant answers.
My top dac & amp pick for the 6xx (and most headphones) would be the atom+ stack (atom dac+ and atom amp+) because of its unbeatable price-to-performance.
For more money and alternative tastes, high-impedance Sennheisers are known to love tubes.
For less money, better portability, and built-in parametric eq, go with the Qudelix 5k.
Honorable mentions:
Soncoz LA-QXD1
- endgame DAC for $200
Modi/Magni Schiit Stack
- direct alternative to atom+ stack
THX AAA One
- another alternative amp
(Edited)
pshanks01
63
Aug 21, 2022
I use the popular Schiit stack (modi DAC + magni amp) with my desktop Linux PC. For my main audio rig (all analog) I use the xDuoo TA-20 amp with various NOS tubes (Brimar, RCA clear top, Sylvania), downstream from the phono section in an Audible Illusions M3B and a 2nd gen Rega planar 3. I use the stock HD-6xx cables with the PC, and Sennheiser 4-pin XLR balanced cables when I play records.
allsmilesb
116
Jan 13, 2022
I hate to be that guy but It depends on what your using the H6XX for and what you want out of the HD6XX. I don't think their is a "best" overall the "best" for you maybe the worst for me. Right now what I have paired to my 6xx is a o2/grace combo with thx 789 amp. I like this pairing it's very intimate, dynamic, and fast. The 6xx has a mid range focus with warmth from the mids to the highs. The vocals are warm with body sacrificing accurate representation of vocals for more easy musical representation. I want to pair denafrips ares ii with balanced tube preamp into my 789. I want a warmer and softer sound with more impact on bass and midrange.
RayF
22218
Apr 18, 2021
Chose either from the list below:
A) any
B) all.
By the way, young Grasshopper, here is no such thing as best.
stantse69
0
Jan 9, 2021
I just have the Topping D90/A90 stack so it better pair up well with that. I just seriously bought these by accident, anymore expensive and I would be scrambling to cancel the order! :S March something?!?! January is just getting warmed up!! WOW! That is seriously a long wait.
Tomcruz
2
Dec 1, 2020
Audiosciencereview.com takes the snake oil out of the equation. After careful research, i decided on the jds atom dac and amp. The thx aaa 789 did well too i believe.
(Edited)
pk500
6
Dec 30, 2022
Well, any recommendation of the JDS Labs Atom+ DAC/amp stack was a case of ASR getting it right. It's a tremendous stack and a steal for the price.
Hearst
170
Jan 23, 2023
pk500Doesn't mean they can't get it right..... This headphone has been around for a long time and combining it with an amplifier is far from rocket science. The JDS Atom has been reviewed and tested ad nauseam... there's no snake oil in the equation, never has been, not for anyone with a intact prefrontal cortex anyway. You are never going to have audio science review introduce you anything other than an amplifier with a low SiNAD calculation as determined by Amir, the glorious leader's, very expensive machine. ASR is never going to tell you about output transformer-less amplifiers or how they might be very well suited for high impedance headphones.
Anyway... The point is: ASR is for idiots that can't make up their own mind, don't know how to actually listen for themselves and for two-digits who love to throw around the term "snake oil" because they think it makes them sound smarter than they ever will be.
(Edited)
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