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[Community] Dreamy headphone amps!! Not for the faint of heart!
[Community] Dreamy headphone amps!! Not for the faint of heart!
90
Top of the line? I would have to say McIntosh. The MHA100 headphone amp, is the only one that comes to mind for me. It is made in the USA by a company that was founded in 1949. So for me that is the go-to for high end.
90
You are absolutely right when it comes to the average company out there... However companies like McIntosh and Magnepan are the exceptions and a great example of American companies that are well rooted in tradition, they have been around for about 50 years. It really is hard to find this in companies now a days. Many have "sold out", the quality of the latest products show this (example that comes to mind... Rockford Fosgate).
218
Jay_F
Yeah, I know what you mean. Many of the older companies aren't what they used to be. That said, that doesn't mean that newer companies aren't putting together gear that keeps up with and surpasses the competition from larger companies. It comes down to individual products at this point.
I personally own the Meier Amp + Dac and I am using it with the T1's. I highly recommend this combination.
...Blue Hawaii. :)
205
I prefer DAC + Amp so I'll pass!
90
MusicIsGreat
You would stack an Amp on a DAC. The best set ups are separate systems components.
218
Oh, as a point of reference, I've heard a handful of the amps that I suggested, and have read about virtually all of them. The GS-X MKII is a stand-out to me. I listened to some HD 800's on it, and I was blown away (and the guy from Head-Amp mentioned that people had been praising that combination). The SPL Phonitor 2 also deserves mention for not only being an excellent amp, but that crossfeed circuit is great (and the best I've ever heard). Lastly, I have not heard the Eddie Current Balancing Act myself, but I have read nothing but very positive reviews on it, and I know that it is considered one of the best tube headphone amps out there (as are the higher end Woo's, although I've heard that the WA5 really isn't that great until the tubes get upgraded).
Also, I wouldn't bother putting Schiit products here. They have said that they don't do sales/discounts. That said, it won't be possible to get a drop on them.
Also, I wouldn't bother putting Schiit products here. They have said that they don't do sales/discounts. That said, it won't be possible to get a drop on them.
AudioMan612
Thank's for the heads up on Schiit stuff here so I won't waste my time and votes. I usually pick them up on eBay or when they sell B-stock off on their Amazon store.
218
Yeah, I tried to keep it that way. I think that the only ones I put in there with a DAC are the Oppo and Meier ones...oh, and the Violectric can have a digital input built-in. I probably won't be buying anything for a while after just getting that Grace m920 drop, but I figured I'd vote, as it's nice to see higher end stuff here once in a while.
Let's try to limit the choices to amps only. Not DAC+AMPs. This way we don't dilute our voting power. Although I do like to be introduced to all these goodies. So torn.... Want them all!
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