Looking for a great tube headphone amp

Any suggestions? I could go up to $1000.00. Also, any thoughts concerning the Grado RS-1 vs. the Sennheiser HD600 headphones?

twopippis08-30-2002 4:09am

tsrart Details Discussions Posts This discussion Message User 79 posts 08-30-2002 at 04:50am Copy Comment URL Report Comment Edit Delete I'm a relative newcomer to the world of serious headphone listening, but I'm using the Antique Sound Labs MG Head OTL with Senn 600s, and it sounds great. You definitely need to upgrade the stock tubes, tho! For $329 new, you really can't go wrong . . . .
tsrart Details Discussions Posts This discussion Message User 79 posts 09-25-2002 at 05:36am Copy Comment URL Report Comment Edit Delete With the Antique Sound Labs, it's important to get the newer OTL version of the MG Head. While I haven't heard the DT, I assume that it sounds similar to the OTL model in "transformer mode," and I find its performance in OTL mode to be much better than with the transformers in the signal path, either with or without feedback. Also, the tubes are critical -- the stock tubes are NOT good, and do the amp no justice at all. I pitched the stock tubes, went to eBay, and picked up a pair of NOS Sylvania black-plate EL84s and a barely used Telefunken 12AX7 for about $75, and the Head sounds like a different (and much better!) amp.