Which headphone amplifier with balanced input?

2 agreements: head-fi.org (also check out headwize.com), and the XP-7 from www.raysamuelsaudio.com

I got it. It is superb ! Balanced, organic (NEVER thought I'd use that term) sound, detail galore, even some good in-skull soundstaging !

OK, single-ended only, but you don't need balanced with this baby.

Wmcmanus: hope you're enjoying your XP-7's. And thanks for the pointer on Mikhail. Just a couple notes:

It's raysamuelsaudio.com, Emmeline is the "major" model name (?). I LOVE mine, and I'm even past the honeymoon stage.

I also picked up the Perraux SHX-1 from Audio Advisor. Maybe I'm just spoiled by the Ray Samuels, but I want to save up for that or Ray's HR-2 and perhaps replace the SHX-1. The Perraux is very good, don't get me wrong. But it's not in the XP-7's league (and it's 50% less, so well it shouldn't be).

I'll play with it some more, I have enjoyed using it with the Sennheiser 580's (which can be a little fuller sounding). But perhaps you'll see the Perraux up for sale here sometime :-)

FYI, regarding the Sugden. I haven't heard it, but I bought my Cardas Sennheiser replacement cable from a nice gent who also sold his Sugden. He liked it a lot, but went with a small tube amp and the AKG K1000's. He only had great praise for the Sugden, though. I'd love to compare it to the Ray Samuels someday.

Thanks,

Todd - chams_uk