High quality parts, proper engineering, class A headphone AMP recommendations needed

[ThomasWolf]

Hello,

I am in the market for powerful class A headphone AMP (~10wats of class A into 32 ohm). The problem is I don't have a background in electrical engineering or professional audio.
I was hoping to get some pointers.


---


I know that in general, German and Japanese products are made to a higher standard and built with much greater attention to detail.
I want a product that is built to last, uses high quality components, and is built with high attention to detail. I don't mind paying a premium for a premium product, although I do mind paying a premium for junk.

---
I checked Yamahas Japanese lineup and Accuphases product lineup, and they don't have a dedicated headphone AMP. Luxman has one, but I am not too impressed with what I see inside, dated circuit design and wire spaghetti.


---

Also, can someone explain where do I find continuous and peak power specs on amplifiers or how do I calculate them? Or is that usually not revealed?

Let's use this as an example.

P-750u MARKII｜製品情報｜ラックスマン株式会社 - LUXMAN

www.luxman.co.jp

It states that the AMP provides 4+4=8 watts of power into 32ohms through the balanced output. I'm assuming the 4+4=8 watts is continuous, how do I calculate peak power based on that specification?

---

 

[slipperybidness]

Hello,

I am in the market for powerful class A headphone AMP (~10wats of class A into 32 ohm). The problem is I don't have a background in electrical engineering or professional audio.
I was hoping to get some pointers.


---


I know that in general, German and Japanese products are made to a higher standard and built with much greater attention to detail.
I want a product that is built to last, uses high quality components, and is built with high attention to detail. I don't mind paying a premium for a premium product, although I do mind paying a premium for junk.

---
I checked Yamahas Japanese lineup and Accuphases product lineup, and they don't have a dedicated headphone AMP. Luxman has one, but I am not too impressed with what I see inside, dated circuit design and wire spaghetti.


---

Also, can someone explain where do I find continuous and peak power specs on amplifiers or how do I calculate them? Or is that usually not revealed?

Let's use this as an example.

View attachment 51211

P-750u MARKII｜製品情報｜ラックスマン株式会社 - LUXMAN

www.luxman.co.jp

It states that the AMP provides 4+4=8 watts of power into 32ohms through the balanced output. I'm assuming the 4+4=8 watts is continuous, how do I calculate peak power based on that specification?

---

If you really want a true value for continuous power, the best bet is to measure it yourself. Aside from that, find a trusted source that does their own measurements (Audio Science Review, for example).

See, this is (one of) the problems with 1st party specs and power ratings! Unless they tell you the conditions of these ratings, then you must take them with a grain of salt. So, when they give you a power rating, is that peak or continuous? RMS power? (Note that RMS power is a mis-nomer, it has just stuck around long enough that it is accepted now, root mean square for a power rating is completely meaningless, RMS only has meaning when looking at electrical signal like voltage). Is that the power over the full audio band? Or at 1kHz (a very common choice)? And, VERY IMPORTANT-- What is the THD+N for that output power rating???

Now, to get to specific headphone amps. Most of us on here and many other websites are going to tell you to get a JDS O2 and be done with it.

Objective2 Headphone Amplifier _ Shop JDS LABS

Objective2 is an opensource amplifier designed by brilliant engineer NwAvGuy, with emphasis on benchmark performance and low cost. Objective2 arrives fully assembled, hand tested, and ready to enjoy. Made in the USA.

jdslabs.com

Beyond that, personally I would be looking for an Oppo HA-1. This is no longer produced, and still commands about $1k on the used market.

Edit: I can't remember if the O2 is class A or AB, but I also would not get too caught up on that.

 

[TLS Guy]

Hello,

I am in the market for powerful class A headphone AMP (~10wats of class A into 32 ohm). The problem is I don't have a background in electrical engineering or professional audio.
I was hoping to get some pointers.


---


I know that in general, German and Japanese products are made to a higher standard and built with much greater attention to detail.
I want a product that is built to last, uses high quality components, and is built with high attention to detail. I don't mind paying a premium for a premium product, although I do mind paying a premium for junk.

---
I checked Yamahas Japanese lineup and Accuphases product lineup, and they don't have a dedicated headphone AMP. Luxman has one, but I am not too impressed with what I see inside, dated circuit design and wire spaghetti.


---

Also, can someone explain where do I find continuous and peak power specs on amplifiers or how do I calculate them? Or is that usually not revealed?

Let's use this as an example.

View attachment 51211

P-750u MARKII｜製品情報｜ラックスマン株式会社 - LUXMAN

www.luxman.co.jp

It states that the AMP provides 4+4=8 watts of power into 32ohms through the balanced output. I'm assuming the 4+4=8 watts is continuous, how do I calculate peak power based on that specification?

---

10 + 10 watts is an awful lot of power to put into a headphone. If it pushes that much power into 32 ohms the average voltage will be 18 volts with a peak to peak voltage around 50 volts. If something does wrong, that will be electro convulsive therapy! For 32 ohm impedance 4 watts will require 5 volts average and a peak of 14 volts, which is much safer.

In addition modern headphones have very powerful rare earth magnets now, and are very sensitive, and don't require much power to make you deaf.

A 4 + 4 watt amp should be plenty.

 

[Trell]

Which headphones are you going to use with such a powerful headphone amplifier?

 

[ThomasWolf]

Which headphones are you going to use with such a powerful headphone amplifier?

DT 880 600ohm
Susvara
Verite closed

 

[TLS Guy]

DT 880 600ohm
Susvara
Verite closed

So those phones are aimed at the recording studio market. They are high impedance phones and very sensitive.

They are designed to plug into the phones output of a mix panel or tape deck. These decks DO NOT require headphone power amps. These phones are highly sensitive and take little power, as they are designed to work from the voltage gain headphone amp of the mix panel. The amp is these days an small IC headphone amp. Although these chips are very cheap, they provide excellent quality.

I use these type pf phones, Sennheiser in my case, and if I need a headphone check, I just plug it into the headphone output of my RME/DAC mixer. The fidelity of these type of professional phones is excellent. You absolutely do not need a separate headphone power amp to power those phones, in fact it would be a downgrade, as those phones are not deigned to be driven by a headphone power amp, but an inexpensive voltage amplifier, as they take minimal current and power draw.

So any device you have like a disc player, DAC or recoding system with a headphone jack, will be all that is required to get optimum performance from those phones. If you even put a watt of power into them, they would burn out.

 

[Trell]

So those phones are aimed at the recording studio market. They are high impedance phones and very sensitive.

They are designed to plug into the phones output of a mix panel or tape deck. These decks DO NOT require headphone power amps. These phones are highly sensitive and take little power, as they are designed to work from the voltage gain headphone amp of the mix panel. The amp is these days an small IC headphone amp. Although these chips are very cheap, they provide excellent quality.

I use these type pf phones, Sennheiser in my case, and if I need a headphone check, I just plug it into the headphone output of my RME/DAC mixer. The fidelity of these type of professional phones is excellent. You absolutely do not need a separate headphone power amp to power those phones, in fact it would be a downgrade, as those phones are not deigned to be driven by a headphone power amp, but an inexpensive voltage amplifier, as they take minimal current and power draw.

So any device you have like a disc player, DAC or recoding system with a headphone jack, will be all that is required to get optimum performance from those phones. If you even put a watt of power into them, they would burn out.

The open-back planar Hifiman Susvara is not sensitive with a measured sensitivity of 79.2dB for 1mW (specified 83dB) and specified impedance of 60 Ohm.

https://headphonetestlab.co.uk/mobile.php?id=media/HIFIMAN/Susvara/test_table.svg

 

[Eppie]

The DT 880 is only rated at 100 mW and does not require a lot of power:

 

[TLS Guy]

The open-back planar Hifiman Susvara is not sensitive with a measured sensitivity of 79.2dB for 1mW (specified 83dB) and specified impedance of 60 Ohm.

https://headphonetestlab.co.uk/mobile.php?id=media/HIFIMAN/Susvara/test_table.svg

In that case I have no idea what headphones the OP has. I have never heard of Susvara and probably don't want to. When I put his description in, then Beyer Dynamic DT 880 came up, which is a 600 ohm set of phones as he posted.

The ones you linked to are 60 ohm open backed.

 

[Trell]

In that case I have no idea what headphones the OP has. I have never heard of Susvara and probably don't want to. When I put his description in, then Beyer Dynamic DT 880 came up, which is a 600 ohm set of phones as he posted.

The ones you linked to are 60 ohm open backed.

The Susvara are very expensive audiophile headphones costing $6000, and open back like the Beyerdynamics DT 880 (that has several variations).

 

[John Parks]

DT 880 600ohm
Susvara
Verite closed

I would recommend heading over to head-fi.org and typing in a few search terms. I typed in "Susvara amp" and this page came up:

Search results for query: Susvara amp

www.head-fi.org

I am sure you could do the same for your other 'phones and cross reference. If you've got the dough, this one measures really well and can drive just about anything:

Benchmark HPA4 Headphone / Line Amplifier

The HPA4 is currently shipping from stock. Overview The Ultimate Headphone Amplifier Benchmark Media Systems, Inc. and THX, Ltd. have partnered to introduce the Benchmark HPA4 headphone/line amplifier featuring THX Achromatic Audio Amplifier (AAA™) technology. THX AAA™ reduces harmonic...

benchmarkmedia.com

 

[PENG]

Hello,

I am in the market for powerful class A headphone AMP (~10wats of class A into 32 ohm). The problem is I don't have a background in electrical engineering or professional audio.
I was hoping to get some pointers.

For headphone amps, the best pointer I can give you is ASR as they have measured numerous of them using the Audio Precision instrument that are probably still the best available instrument for such purposes. Stereophile, Audioholics.com, and no doubt many high end manufacturers use them too.

Amp for Susvara? | Audio Science Review (ASR) Forum

SMSL HO200 Review (Headphone Amplifier) | Audio Science Review (ASR) Forum

I know that in general, German and Japanese products are made to a higher standard and built with much greater attention to detail.
I want a product that is built to last, uses high quality components, and is built with high attention to detail. I don't mind paying a premium for a premium product, although I do mind paying a premium for junk.

If you don't mind paying more and likely get less bench performance, you may in fact do well going with those German and Japanese products that you perceive to be better in terms of build quality. For specs and bench performance, while it may seem hard to believe, Chines made headphone amps would seem to be much better value. If you look at the top 10 or even 20 products measured by ASR, most if not all are made in China, unfortunately (to some..):

Also, can someone explain where do I find continuous and peak power specs on amplifiers or how do I calculate them? Or is that usually not revealed?

As slipperybidness mentioned, if they don't tell you the basis of their so called "rated outputs", then you have to take them with a grain of salt. Unfortunately, even Luxman's rated output specs are so lacking, worse that a $500 Chinese made Topping A90 that tops the ASR chart based on SINAD(THD+N).

Just take a look of the following example and you can compare the differences (with your Luxman example):
A90 Desktop Headphone Amplifier-TOPPING (tpdz.net)

 

[PENG]

P-750u MARKII｜製品情報｜ラックスマン株式会社 - LUXMAN

www.luxman.co.jp

It states that the AMP provides 4+4=8 watts of power into 32ohms through the balanced output. I'm assuming the 4+4=8 watts is continuous, how do I calculate peak power based on that specification?

As mentioned before, don't assume any rated power output specs are "continuous" unless stated clearly as such and with all pertinent information such as THD+N, and their definition of continuous. In most cased, "continuous" in such context usually mean the following:

- Tested with a continuous sine wave, e.g. 1 kHz sine wave.
- Tested for duration of seconds, or minutes.

Even for some heavy class A, AB power amps, their rated so called continuous outputs are not truly/literally "continuous", but for minutes, perhaps up to a few hours (though that would be rare).

For the calculations you seem to be asking about, it is quite encompassing so unless you can narrow your question down to a specific condition, your best bet would be to take a look of the following site and if you still have questions then come back and ask again. The sengpielaudio website has pretty much all the formula you would ever need for audio amplifier related calculations.

Amplifier loudspeaker ohm impedance output input voltage bridging impedance no matching speakers no matching ohms speaker amp 4 - 8 - 16 resistance ohms connection of power amplifier to speakers There are no 4 ohm or 8 ohm amplifiers convert - sengpielaudio Sengpiel Berlin

Voltage current resistance and electric power general basic electrical formulas mathematical calculations calculator formula for power calculating energy work equation power law watts understandimg general electrical pie chart electricity calculation electrical emf voltage power formula equation two different equations to calculate power general ohms law audio physics electricity electronics formula wheel formulas amps watts volts ohms cosine equation audio engineering pie chart charge physics power sound recording calc electrical engineering formula power math pi physics relation relationship - sengpielaudio Sengpiel Berlin

 

[WookieGR]

Is there any reason affordably priced devices are never considered? I have the Schiit products and they are great while always getting well reviewed.

 

[jinjuku]

Is there any reason affordably priced devices are never considered? I have the Schiit products and they are great while always getting well reviewed.

Topping, SMSL seem to have more instrumented consistency than Schiit products. So if the OP were to purchase Schiit they should specifically look for instrumented review in addition to anecdotal reviews.

 

[lovinthehd]

Topping, SMSL seem to have more instrumented consistency than Schiit products. So if the OP were to purchase Schiit they should specifically look for instrumented review in addition to anecdotal reviews.

Especially in response to some of those instrumented reviews....and they do assemble in the US as a slight added bonus.

 

[Trell]

Especially in response to some of those instrumented reviews....and they do assemble in the US as a slight added bonus.

I've got some "Made in Germany" and "Made in Finland" stuff at home. Does that count?

PS Even some "Made in USA" (Made, not assembled).

 

[lovinthehd]

I've got some "Made in Germany" and "Made in Finland" stuff at home. Does that count?

PS Even some "Made in USA" (Made, not assembled).

Sure, doesn't mean a lot but does matter to some.

 

[Trell]

Sure, doesn't mean a lot but does matter to some.

Sure, as long as it’s made in Europe all is forgiven.