I am currently using a speaker amp for my HEKv2, but as M0N mentioned, I am constantly double and triple checking my connections before I turn on my amp. I am personally using the ampsandsound black box as well. It wasn’t cheap, but it gives me another layer of protection and I just use my normal headphone cable.
2 Likes
Using Decware 341.5 with ZMF and Sennheiser cans. Works excellent in my set-up and most importantly no hiss or noise. Since the amp spends most of her time powering speakers this is only a set-up i do out of boredom. If i only had these headphones i would make a more permanent solution of this But that’s not the case so i don’t need to bother. This particular amp though can be had w/ a HP output if you wanted so it has always been a good match. YMMV, happy listening.
1 Like
I say just get the Emotiva BasX A-100. You can put in jumpers that give you the power of the speaker amp directly to your cans if you need it.
The Emotiva is fun and has a fairly pleasurable Warm sound signature but the hiss and fuzz WILL remind you of 50’s HiFi more than anything else, at least that is the way I experience it…
It’s not about the power. It’s about dual purposing a speaker amp and saving money in the process. Not a big fan of Emotiva (no particular reason, no bad experience with their products).
1 Like
Basically this would be a small class A solid state amp that I would use from time to time on my main rig (its intended purpose) but will likely sit idle a lot of the time so I figure it can do SS amp duty on my cans.
Come on…you know you want one… 
https://www.decware.com/newsite/TABOO.htm
LOL, i’m curious to see what you finally pick and go with…I like class A and almost decided to try my hand at building the little pass labs thing…Now i’m looking at the big pass labs amps…lol…
seriously i need a different hobby.
3 Likes
First watt f8 or j2 are very reasonable (around 2k ish used at this point for the j2, f8 is too new to tell) for driving headphones imo, and would fit your role nicely @A_Jedi. Also you know you want one lol
3 Likes
I do. And I know it lol.
The decware amps pique my interest but I have plenty of toobed amplification. Need some SS.
1 Like
Here’s a 200+ page thread on headfi on this very subject… I normally wouldn’t just say go to another forum but there is a ton of knowledge there.
Driving my 1266 phi tc via speaker taps is part of my '21 financial goals… These two items will be part of my setup so I can switch the amp between speakers and headphones.
3 Likes
More resources and choices…
1 Like
Converter/adapter is not an issue. It’s a very simple little box that I’ve already done. Depending on the amp I settle on, I’ll change resistances for the appropriate attenuation based on power. Currently at 18db based on Stereophile measurements of my amp (NAD C370) doing ~170watts @8 Ohms.
2 Likes
Been using a tube amp for headphones for awhile and it works very well. Be careful with IEMS and sensitive headphones and use a resistor voltage divider in needed.
High Impedance cans “CAN” be safely connected to a speaker amp directly…but please DO NOT do this without knowing or understanding what your really doing…
I drive the tube amp from the pre-amp in the Pass Labs HPA-1
Some folks ask me how does the pre to hpa1 sound vs the direct output from the HPA1.
Well its very similar IMO…the HPA-1 is a tad on the warm side and honestly either one are just fine.
The tube amp has 4/8/16 ohm taps and I have tried them all…
The resistive voltage divider network is easy to throw together.
Alex
1 Like
The Chord TToby has a reputation in some circles as an excellent match for the headphones mentioned so far- HE6, Susvara, etc.
Anyone have any experience with it as a headphone amp?
Anyone ever try class A amplifiers from the car audio world? I used to run Masconi class A’s and man they made everything sound so smooth and lush.
Mosconi ?
They also have A/B class amps but yes, they very good.
I used A/B amps when competing. They still seem to use them for a good reason.
They just sound better than pure Digital amps. Subs can be D-class mainly but sub’s used with A/B amps… Full A. They like sweet sweet candy gold.
Mosconi!! Damn typos lol. I played with their AS series as well!!
I haven’t heard many amps that could do what they could. Maybe the higher end Brax and Sinfoni amps but even then the vehicles they were setup in were tuned very neutral so they didn’t have that lush sound to me.
1 Like
This article nixes the idea of car audio amps except in certain situations. Seems like an unnecessary stretch anyway, considering how many high quality stereo amps can be had. That is unless you happen to have a very high quality car amp sitting around.
Huh? Why?