El Cheapo Headphone amp...what should I get?

[Cujobob]

Hm...well I guess I should write less obvious titles.

I got a good deal on a pair of M-Audio headphones...whats a cheap amp to use them with?

Let's say....price-range $50-200...just for options. Obviously not shooting for the moon performance-wise.



Thanks!

[dvenardos]

Did the x-head ever get fixed? Of course, with shipping and handling it will be over your budget. I would be willing to bet there are better options out there.

Hm...well I guess I should write less obvious titles.

I got a good deal on a pair of M-Audio headphones...whats a cheap amp to use them with?

Let's say....price-range $50-200...just for options. Obviously not shooting for the moon performance-wise.



Thanks!

[bunnyma357]

I've been happy with my ZeroDAC which is also a head amp for Coax or Toslink sources, although someone said that there may have been recent quality issues recently - the Head Fi thread has a lot of info.

I also use a M-Audio Fastrack Pro as a USB ADC/DAC and as a head amp also and that works well for me, but I only use it for work and haven't listened for music quality.

I always hear people mention the Little Dot, I think a MKII fits the budget, but have no experience with it. (No Affiliation with any of the links)

http://cgi.ebay.com/09-NEW-VERSION-ZERO-24-192KHZ-DAC-HEAD-AMP-USB-OPA627_W0QQitemZ130336304723QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item1e58a62e53#ht_5860wt_1167

http://www.head-fi.org/forums/f5/review-zero-24-bit-192khz-dac-headphone-amp-pre-amp-269458/

http://www.little-tube.com/forum/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=315&posts=11&start=1

Jim C

[corndog71]

my resource is www.headphone.com

I got the bithead for cheap and it's pretty good. I heard it with a pair of AKG701s and the sound was incredible!

[Sparky14]

Desktop or portable?

What's your primary source?

[Sandbagger]

Cujo

I spent a bunch of time in the canjam room at RMAF on sunday. I got to listen to a bunch of stuff, including a $6,000 Electrostatic Staxx set up.

But I also heard this little guy., thinking about building one myself

http://www.cavalliaudio.com/cth/main.php?page=overview

http://www.head-fi.org/forums/f5/cavalli-compact-tube-hybrid-amp-review-416776/

[Cujobob]

I'm honestly open to portable or desktop...I will be using my netbook or IPhone (now relegated to ITouch duty) most likely. Just trying to establish some low-budget choices...eventually, when I get some extra cash, I'll get a better system with AKG K702s which I've lusted after for a while. The new Mapletree Headphone amp must be crazy good...but alas, no money for it.

And hey Kevin, did you pick up the new Ref 2 networks? I'll check out your links..

[HAL]

Did the x-head ever get fixed? Of course, with shipping and handling it will be over your budget. I would be willing to bet there are better options out there.

Yes, the X-Head I have here is one of the updated units from AV123. Very quiet and sounds very nice driving my Sennheiser HD-650's.

[Sparky14]

I'm honestly open to portable or desktop...I will be using my netbook or IPhone (now relegated to ITouch duty) most likely.

OK, then I'd point you to either the Zero (desktop) or iBasso D2+ Boa (portable). They both have decent DACs and headamps, and are around $200

If you are planning to get nice cans though, you might consider upping the amps to either an Audio-gd Compass or iBasso D10. These both have a nice increase in quality, and run $300-$350.

[Cujobob]

Anyone heard the M-Audio Q40s?

As usual, thanks for the help....probably going to look for one of these mentioned used to save some cash. I had a nice separate DAC a few years back with a headphone output...and I sold it because it was sitting around :no clue:

[Cujobob]

If I up my budget, the RSA P-51 Mustang seems like a nice amp...small, good bass, lasts a long time on a charge. Looks about $400-ish with shipping and all unless I find one used, though.

[SnowmaNick]

The Total Bithead seems like a solid contender for an all around headphone amp/ USB DAC. I thought it sounded pretty good at CANJAM for the money.

[Cujobob]

After reading up on Head-Fi for a long time, I decided to pick up a used http://www.raysamuelsaudio.com/products/predator

Lifetime warranty, built in DAC, long battery life, and supposedly very good sound.

Blew my budget and it costs more than my current headphones...but hey, when is overkill ever a bad thing? :yes::yes:

[Sandbagger]

While out at RMAF I wanted to check out the JH audio in ear phones http://www.jhaudio.com/promusic/

got to listen to the JH 13's and the JH 5's they were using this little battery amp hooked up to a ipod touch.... didnt think anything of it but figured hey I should get one of those to use on the motorcycle. so I wrote down the make and model of the amp. BTW I was totaly blown away by both headphones

oh and the amp, was the SR71 blackbird:yes:

they were doing free earmolds and would even keep them on file for at least 2yrs ( I had mine done) and the chicks working the booth were HOT

[SnowmaNick]

and the chicks working the booth were HOT

Were they the booth that had the girls in the shirts that read "nice high end" and the shorts with "nice bottom end" or something to that affect?