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All around headphone amp recommendations

I am at the final stages of completing a system that will be my place to relax and enjoy the music. 

The main components in the system are Classe Amp and Pre, Project phono preamp, Cambridge Audio DAC/Streamer, Onkyo CD, a TTable and some nostalgia. This room will be more for sitting and listening together, but I always have enjoyed my cans!!! I do have a headphone output on a very nice Onkyo cassette deck I restored which is there more for looks but does serve that function for the entire system.

My current collection includes Monolith Planar Magnetics, Grado RS 1s and some old R350's. There are others laying around but . . .  I would like to explore other options once I get the system complete.

My preference would be to stay close to a standard component size that is black. This is simply for esthetics as my components are "segregated." LOL I listen to coffeehouse cover bands, jazz, alternative and some rock. Standard stuff at all volume levels. That is what I need.

Thanks in advance!!!

boonaroo

Showing 1 response by pastorbob

pastorbob's avatar
pastorbob
80 posts
 

Hi,

The reccomended LTA amp is a splendid sounding piece. I had one for a couple of years (which for me is an eternity). The only caveat I have is that it is not very powerful, It puts out about 1W. That may be fine for now, but perhaps not later if you want to upgrade. It also is only single ended.

That happened when I purchased the HiFi Man HE6SE phones. Granted the HE6SE is a beast to drive. I sold the LTA tried a few other amps with much more power. I tried out an Audio Gd & it was it was a fine sounding piece (9 watts into 40 OHMS!) willl drive any headphone out there. Long story short; I wended up with the Violectric VA222. It is an excellent amp with more than enough power  for hard to drive 'phones. It also images very well with a very wide sound stage, but is not standard rack size. Retail is about 1,200,00.

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