Which headphone amplifier would you recommend? ~$300

[blakey72]

Hi everyone, as mentioned on my other thread I'm now planning on saving for another few months and getting one of Earles top of the range amps. In the meantime, I'm going to be setting up a mild headphone setup with my networked laptop, a CA 340C and a pair of Grado 325i's.

I've been looking and reading about headphone amps but there's just so many on the market my head is spinning. I want to get something with a reasonable sound, be able to sell without too many problems and be around the $300 mark. I can audition in Melbourne if I can get some suggestions.

Thanks again.
Blake.

[jdh500]

You could always try a secondhand musical Fidelity X-Can V2 or V3 class A tube headphone amp, they come up fairly regularly on ebay between $250 to $350 and seem to be fairly easy to resell. I have an as new Musical Fidelity X-Can V2 I'd sell for $250 + postage if interested. I'll probably get around to advertising it either on this Forum formally or on Ebay over the next couple of weeks. If your looking for a new one possibly something like this on ebay might be a good short term step.

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI....=STRK:MEWAX:IT

I purchased one of these a few months ago to use with a notebook computer, I upgraded the supplied power supply and rolled a couple of the op-amps and it sounds quite good with my HD-600 headphones.

JDH.

[Nada]

If Grados are low impedance they might hum on a valve amp. Why not use an integrated amp/receiver with a headphone out if you have one and save the dosh for Earle's amp?

[blakey72]

If Grados are low impedance they might hum on a valve amp. Why not use an integrated amp/receiver with a headphone out if you have one and save the dosh for Earle's amp?

Unfortunatly I haven't got a spare amp. It's going to be a while before I can afford Earles amp so I want something in the meantime. I thought about a Maverick Tubemagic D1. Still not sure.

Blake.

[stereo.net]

If opamps are your cup of tea, I suggest you put in your shortlist the Audiotrak ImAmp. It's a beautiful sounding headphone amp for a small outlay. A rare gem waiting to be discovered. It even scooped a 2009 JAPAN Audio Excellence Award.

I'm using it in one of my headphone rigs. I upgraded the stock opamp (OPA2134) to an AD8620. Love its sound signature.

[Nada]

This will have the grunt to whip those Grados into behaving and you can recyle on equipment at the same time.
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/MARANTZ-SR-43...item2eae7ae6f6

For a life on the move: http://cgi.ebay.com.au/Little-Dot-MK...item3a5a1acdee

For fun: http://cgi.ebay.com.au/Miridiy-Class...item19bddcc76f

I bet you get something else anyway!