The problem you face is that most all tube headphone amplifiers are OTL(Output Transformer Less) are & not designed to drive very low impedance headphones..
What you want is a Transformer Coupled amp...
Also do you have a source like a DAC to drive the amp?
A lot of folks will recommend the a Woo Audio WA6 but I do NOT like the 13DE7 tubes it uses..
If you already have a source I recommend:
at very low budget I HIGHLY recommend the APPJ PA1502A(about $250.00),re- tubed with good NOS tubes(a couple hundred more)...
At about $900.00 I can also HIGHLY recommend the Cayin HA-1A,leaving $ in your budget for some good NOS small signal tubes,with an eye to upgrade the power tubes later to a pair of Gold Lion or Mullard new production EL84's...
There may be others but these 2 are the ones I have personal experience with...
You could also go with a Hybrid,using Class A Tube pre drive & Class A solid state power but they don't compare to a true tube amp when it's all said & done...
ISO: Tube headphone amp for Planar headphones
Hello everyone. I recently purchased set of Audeze MM-100 headphones.
https://www.audeze.com/products/mm-100
At 18 ohms and 98 dB/1mW sensitivity they shouldn't be difficult to drive. I'm currently driving them with a beyerdynamic A20 Headphone Amplifier that I was using with a pair of beyerdynamic DT 770 PRO 250 cans.
While the new headphones sound okay with the A20, I can't help but feel that the current amp isn't driving the MM-100s to their potential. Granted, the MM-100 are analytical as they're meant to be studio monitors but I'm thinking that perhaps a decent tube amp would warm them up a bit.
So I'm looking for a tube headphone amplifier that will work well with the planars.
Budget is $800-1100. Thanks in advance!
Happy listening.
Showing 2 responses by freediver
I've owned both the HA-1A & the CS-55A integrated amplifier..Both were SUPERBLY built & in 5 total years of ownership never a single problem or hiccup.. |