Headphone crew

Ok best i can find is £145, I'll do some ringing around next week

[Macc]

I got mine from ASK

I went with the 650s. Paid about £200.

Check out this article by the way, if you haven't already.

[Macc]

Cheers Croms, some good tips in that article

Looks like it is worth getting a dedicated amp as well then

[denaris]

Martin Walker - Commodore 64 legend.

[Macc]

Cheers Croms, some good tips in that article

Looks like it is worth getting a dedicated amp as well then

I think the 580's are very similar to the 600's etc but with a lower impedance. They get a lot of love from cangeeks, that's for sure

Will check em

ironically i was just coming on here to ask if headphones degrade over time, and here's this thread at the very top which basically covers my question.
i just bought a new pair of headphones (sony v500dj) after spending two weeks using various types of tape and wire to hold on the cup that broke off... and the difference is crazy. the mid range and bass is way louder on the new ones, but the highs seem muffled. going to be quite difficult to adjust to.

[Macc]

leave them playing on loop while you're out

leave them playing on loop while you're out

£150 for the headphone amp

Why so much?

I could have made you one for a fiver!

[Macc]

£150 is absolutely nothing for a headphone amp bhima

How many ins/outs do you need?

[Macc]

You're missing the point a bit, bhima. Thanks though

Well, what do you need the amp for? I just plug straight into my interface's headphone out, which has it's own gain.

...I'm just wondering why you'd need to spend so much...? I have a Behringer one with 1 in/4 out (each out with a gain knob) for when I record bands which cost me £14 and the sound quality is superb.

[Macc]

Well, what do you need the amp for? I just plug straight into my interface's headphone out, which has it's own gain.

Does it have the right impedance to drive high quality, high impedance cans? My RME only rates at 75 Ohms, and the HD600's want a 300Ohm load to be driven properly. Most - if not all - audio interface/CDplayer/ipod /etc headhone amps are insufficient to run the cans to their full potential.

...I'm just wondering why you'd need to spend so much...? I have a Behringer one with 1 in/4 out (each out with a gain knob) for when I record bands which cost me £14 and the sound quality is superb.

You think £150 is a lot for a proper headphone amp? <---- That's not even the most expensive I have seen.


This is a different thing bhima, we're talking about different things. Yes, they are both headphone amps, but they are not both headphone amps It's not just a simple gain box! Component quality, construction quality, intended output, switchable crossfeed circuits, balanced connections, valves or solid state, blah blah.

Let's put it this way - you're effectively saying;

I can get a dynamic mic from Maplin for £15 - what do I want or need, say, an AKG C414 for?

Found the 650s for £160.00. Think I'll be getting them

Thinking done! They are on the way to me now

[Macc]

Got my headphone amp today

I'm sticking with the HD270's until the 600's are properly broken in, and the geek who made the amp (a doctor in err... audio stuff) says the amp will take 100 hours to fully open up. But even with the 270's (which the RME is easily able to drive), WOW.

I swapped between the RME and the amp a few times at different levels, and just didn't go back to the RME (and won't!). Much more effortless-sounding at loud levels, and better defined. Plus the crossfeed circuit is MAD! You switch it in and it's not just L/R as I have got so used to, it's a full field! Bonkers.

This is going to be a lot of fun

[Macc]

Yeah man, just done a few more listening tests, and there's no question about it - the RME sounds a bit crisper, but crisper in a sort of Antares Tube way Crispier, perhaps

The Arrieta is smoother and definitely warmer - and more consistent throughout the volume range (right up to ear-bleeding ).

Yeah man, just done a few more listening tests, and there's no question about it - the RME sounds a bit crisper, but crisper in a sort of Antares Tube way Crispier, perhaps

The Arrieta is smoother and definitely warmer - and more consistent throughout the volume range (right up to ear-bleeding ).

Got my cans in today, still waiting on my Apogee Duet. I can't seem to find any info on the impedance of its headphone output other than "one high-level stereo headphone output." I will have to contact them about this.

Are you using stock cables or have you replaced them with balanced ones? Also, I'm wondering if these headphone amps have any effect on the 'neutrality' of the signal?

i have been using headphones alot recently due to not having a purpose built studio right now, so i just dug out my hd 535's that i brough when i got my emu about 1999 and they need

New cables,
new ear pads
new headband pad,

total to fix up £100

price i paid £90

so looks like a new set for me , but at least the drivers are ok

[Macc]

got my cans in today, still waiting on my apogee duet. i can't seem to find any info on the impedance of its headphone output other than "one high-level stereo headphone output." i will have to contact them about this.

it will have it in the manual, i'm sure... i can't find anything either

high-level probably means it outputs at +4dbu, ie not really related to impedance.

are you using stock cables or have you replaced them with balanced ones? also, i'm wondering if these headphone amps have any effect on the 'neutrality' of the signal?

i'm using the stock cable atm, but i hear it is worth getting the 650 cable for the 600's. i ain't spending a million pounds on a cable... yet.

as for neutrality, well, it depends on which amp you buy :d i bought a solid state no-frills amp in order to avoid tube flavour etc, which i don't want. if i were just buying it to listen then i might do... mine doesn't seem to colour the output in terms of tone, it just sounds easier or less stressed than the rme - and that is with the 270's especially as the volume goes up, there's a degree of distortion that creeps into the rme, and not the arietta

having said about no frills, i do like the fact mine has switchable 'natural' crossfeed. that's fucking badass, but i am not sure if i should use it or not atm

it will have it in the manual, i'm sure... i can't find anything either

had a look in the online manual: nothing. same words.

high-level probably means it outputs at +4dbu, ie not really related to impedance.

i will have to read up on all these more technical terms. will probably have to pick up that katz book.

i'm using the stock cable atm, but i hear it is worth getting the 650 cable for the 600's. i ain't spending a million pounds on a cable... yet.

i'm really curious about the audible differences of all of these modifications and additional devices. someone should record variations of different setups and put it online for a/bing.

as for neutrality, well, it depends on which amp you buy :d i bought a solid state no-frills amp in order to avoid tube flavour etc, which i don't want. if i were just buying it to listen then i might do... mine doesn't seem to colour the output in terms of tone, it just sounds easier or less stressed than the rme - and that is with the 270's especially as the volume goes up, there's a degree of distortion that creeps into the rme, and not the arietta

having said about no frills, i do like the fact mine has switchable 'natural' crossfeed. that's fucking badass, but i am not sure if i should use it or not atm

i saw amps with tubes which led me to this question. i reckon it makes sense that that's not the route to go for mixing. after reading about the subject for the past week i'm wondering where the line between 'audiophile' and mixing engineer is drawn.