I’m considering buying a headphone amp but need some advice.

[quick01]

I’m currently powering my Senn 580’s with a H/K AVR-525 for SACD/DVD-A/redbook listening. I also use them for late night PC gaming and I plug them into my Klipsch ProMedia 4.1 setup. I would love to be able to buy the Headwise HeadRoom Desktop Amp(dual RCA’s inputs), but at $600, it’s out of my budget. It was suggested I buy the HeadRoom Micro Amp with the “Desktop module” instead. At $300, this is much closer to my budget. I was told they both use the same power supply but I’d be losing the dual RCA inputs. Would I lose anything, audio-wise for SACD/DVD-A listening, by going from a RCA pre-amp out on my receiver to a mini stereo input connection to the Micro amp? Any other amp recommendations in the $300 price range?

 

[HiJon89]

I don't think you would lose any quality by using an RCA->Mini cable, assuming you use a quality cable. As for other amp options in your price range, you may want to check out Head-Fi.org, they have a wealth of information about headphones, amps, cables, etc. and they also have a for sale section where you can purchase custom amps and cables. I think the HeadAmp Gilmore Lite is in your price range and it has an RCA input in the back, an RCA Pre-out in the back which works even when the amp is off, and a power switch. In front it has a 1/4" headphone out plug and a volume knob. Here are some pics:
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y45/rcbmw/IMG_0690.jpg
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y45/rcbmw/IMG_0688.jpg

 

[quick01]

HiJon89: Good info, I'm checking out the link now! I've heard of the Gilmore amp, but thought it was more expensive.

 

[WmAx]

As for other amp options in your price range, you may want to check out Head-Fi.org, they have a wealth of information about headphones, amps, cables, etc. a

Unfortunately, head-fi.org is filled with primarily horrible mis-information, especially where cables and amplifiers are concerned.

-Chris

 

[WmAx]

It was suggested I buy the HeadRoom Micro Amp with the “Desktop module” instead. At $300, this is much closer to my budget. I was told they both use the same power supply but I’d be losing the dual RCA inputs. Would I lose anything, audio-wise for SACD/DVD-A listening, by going from a RCA pre-amp out on my receiver to a mini stereo input connection to the Micro amp? Any other amp recommendations in the $300 price range?

The MicroAmp should be suitable. You might want to consider the Gimore Lite amplifier, also in that price range. If you require crossfeed processing(some people do) to enjoy using headphones and want a versatile unit(it's portable) then the Headroom amp is a fine choice. I would not recommend getting a 'desktop' module, however; why limit it's usefulness in portable application(s)? If you do not require crossfeed or a cosmetically attractive shell, and you only want transparent amplification, I can recommend considerably cheaper options.

-Chris

 

[HiJon89]

Unfortunately, head-fi.org is filled with primarily horrible mis-information, especially where cables and amplifiers are concerned.

-Chris

D'oh, I've been visiting it over the past couple weeks to try to decide on what headphones to buy Do you know of a better site to find info on that stuff?

 

[WmAx]

D'oh, I've been visiting it over the past couple weeks to try to decide on what headphones to buy Do you know of a better site to find info on that stuff?

Head-fi is a valuable resource if you use it in a well thought out manner. It's just that it's a totally unregulated forum(so far as logic or science is concerned). I'll try to give some quick examples of useful and non-useful types of information...

Useful....
-Statements about tonal or soundstage differences between directly compared headphones(that you are also familar with at least one of the units being compared so you have a reference point). Be certain to search lots of thread using the search function and find a high majority of opionions that match. The occasional anomolies must be filtered out by you. For example: 10 users say headphone X has more treble energy than headphone Z. 2 users say that headphone X has less treble energy than headphone Z. It is more than likely that the majority are correct in such a situation. You can almost always find odd variances between user opinons like this, so you need to filter it out for yourself to get the most useful information. For the most part, opinions will be basicly the same overall for relative comparisons of tone balance amounts, headstage, etc.

-Comparisons of amplifiers so far as crossfeed, gain, overall features and noisefloor.

Non-useful...
-Ambiguous terms or descriptions. For example: Reference to a headphone sounding 'relaxed' or 'tight' or 'smooth' really has no meaning that is useful to you, since you can not know exactly what the person was thinking when they made these statements, or what they base it on exactly(you can not assume people have a logical train of thought when making these ambiguous descriptions).

-Comparisons of amplifiers that are accompanied by claims such as 'soundstage', 'grainy' or other such things that are not attributable to amplifiers in the realm of known audio science.

-Any thing claimed about a cable, other than general reliability issues with physical construction.

-Chris

 

[quick01]

WmAx: Thanks for the feedback! Portability is a non-issue. I was only considering the HeadRoom Micro line due to it’s price and sound quality. Actually, it was a HeadRoom rep told me that I would get a slightly “Sweeter” sound at the same price, by going with the Desktop module.

"Crossfeed", is that the feature that could help with headphone fatigue, right? I think I might benefit from that feature, but I’m not sure. How can I tell? Some people, but not me, can wear a set of cans for hours on end with no adverse effects, does that mean that they wouldn't benefit and I would?

 

[WmAx]

WmAx: Thanks for the feedback! Portability is a non-issue. I was only considering the HeadRoom Micro line due to it’s price and sound quality. Actually, it was a HeadRoom rep told me that I would get a slightly “Sweeter” sound at the same price, by going with the Desktop module.

Headphone.com is not a source of good information on some things, for example: amplifier 'sound' is not something they would know anything about; their product pages are filled with highly dubious wording that suggests that they are a marketer of at least some snake-oil products. However, ignoring this detail, they do have some good quality products.

"Crossfeed", is that the feature that could help with headphone fatigue, right? I think I might benefit from that feature, but I’m not sure. How can I tell? Some people, but not me, can wear a set of cans for hours on end with no adverse effects, does that mean that they wouldn't benefit and I would?

Yes, if you are fatigued by any headphone you have tried after a while, then it is probable that you can benefit from crossfeed. I am not affected, and I prefer no crossfeed. But you can experiment to see if this will solve your problem. Look on the player plug-in pages for the audio player you use on the computer(WinAmp, Foobar, etc.) and look for a crossfeed DSP plug-in and give it a whirl. I know that WinAmp has at least one highly customizable plug-in such as this, as I have used it in the past.

-Chris

 

[quick01]

Someone suggested going in on a bulk buy for a Little Dot III for $238usd. Anyone know anything about this unit or the Little Dot II?

 

[WmAx]

Someone suggested going in on a bulk buy for a Little Dot III for $238usd. Anyone know anything about this unit or the Little Dot II?

Honestly, if you are going to spend that much, spend a little more and get the Headroom Micro (www.headphone.com). It's just better, in several ways. It's a linear headphone amplifier(No colorations, but is the Little Dot also nuetral? Or even noise free?) and can be used portably and has crossfeed option that can be enabled. But if you are intent on a desktop decoration as opposed to a more functional amplifier, the Little Dot III seems to be the ticket.

-Chris