In my research, the only time headphones are used is during some type of tinnitus treatment in a controlled environment.
Tube solid state or hybrid with extreme tinnitus
Hello fellow agoners. I’m in the market for a headphone amp and dac. I’ve decided to go seperates. Focal Stellias are the headphones. Cambridge Audio universal disc player is my source. Redbook cds are the medium. I will be buying a seperate transport in the future and am contemplating selling the Cambridge CXU before any hours are put on it. Super Audio is not a medium I’m interested in anymore. The player has never been plugged in so it is new in box in storage 7 years now: I did open it recently yet again never plugged it in.
I need the least digital sounding and lowest noise floor produced amplifier I can afford. I realize this is something we all strive for. I suffer from an extreme case of tinnitus or ear ringing. I’m hoping head/neck surgery will resolve this or at least make it better. I love music. This has taken a toll on my listening enjoyment and even the length I can listen to music. Music is a very powerful form of healing that I will not give up. Music does not make the ringing worse and actually helps as it gets my mind off of the screaming in my ears.
Here’s a rundown of my current headphone setup and the amps and dacs I’m looking at. A separate transport is next. I’ll start with the source. My listening consists of 99% redbook. I do surf the web and listen to some samples as I am an avid collector of cds and a new band or further releases from a band are always in the making. I listen to progressive rock, fusion, some jazz rock and some classic rock.
My source is a Cambridge Audio CXU universal disc player. Headphones are the Focal Stellias.
The following are being considered for amp and dac. One of the products is a combo amp dac yet I would still be purchasing a seperate dac.
- Woo Audio WA 22 2nd Ed.
- Rogue Audio RH 5
- Simaudio Moon Neo 430 HAD
- Woo Audio WDS1
- Benchmark DAC 2DS
- Benchmark DAC 3HGC
- Bryston BDA1
As can be seen most products are used and offered for sale here on audiogon. The Woo WA22, Rogue and DAC3 would be new purchases. I was set on the WA22 but my ears have me concerned with the tubes as they have a hum. I’m also thinking this will not bother me and may even help to hypnotize the tinnitus away from being so bothersome. The music itself helps tremendously. Woo owners could surely help with this. Thanks for your time and any thoughts. I’m open to other brands too.