Headphone amp recommendations?

[GaryC]

I've just acquireda pair ofBeyer HD880's and was wondering if they would benefit from a dedicated headphone amp? I'm currently using themvia the headphone output on my Bryston BP20 pre-amp.

Budget would be around the £200 mark.

Cheers,

Gary.

 

[Hawk]

Im sure you would notice a big improvement using a dedicated headphone amp. The best ive heard around that price is papa's Gilmore Lite

http://www.headamp.com/home_amps/index.htm

Hawk

 

[Papa Lazarou]

The Gilmore is well worth a look if you're aftera solid state amp.Very well built, sounds clean and dynamic, bags of power. Manyforum membersheard it at the last Bake-off and liked it. Nothing comes close at $299.

Certainly in a different class to the MF X-Cans and Rega Ear.

I'd be happy to demonstrate it to you if you live nearby.

 

[GaryC]

I've had a look at the website, and it does look like good value for money. My only concern would be that it seems to be optimised for Grado phones, which sound quite different to the Beyers.

 

[Papa Lazarou]

Theres a user over at HFC called PBirkett. He's very knowledgable about headphones and amps. I think he uses Beyers with an ANT AMBER amp. It may be worth sending him a PM and asking. The ANT is a british-built amp, supposedly very good (although i believe it costs closer to £290).

I see no reason why the Gilmore wouldn't drive the Beyers pretty nicely though.

Do you live anywhere near Milton Keynes?

 

[PAG]

gonna order one of these at the end of the week, £112 + del.

read a few reviews and supposed to be ace.

review:

http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=it&u=http://www.audiocostruzioni.com/r_s/accessori/ampli-cuffia-ming-da-mc66/mc66.htm&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dmeixing%2BMC66%26start%3D10%26hl%3Den%26lr%3D%26sa%3DN

 

[Davewhityetagain]

Papa Lazarou wrote:

Theres a user over at HFC called PBirkett. He's very knowledgable about headphones and amps. I think he uses Beyers with an ANT AMBER amp. It may be worth sending him a PM and asking.

he hangs around here too

 

[White Pheasant]

pamela andersons gusset wrote:

gonna order one of these at the end of the week, £112 + del.

Are you buying from Ornec?

If so, have you calculated thefinalfigure... once you've added on shipping,VAT, import duty etc.?

 

[PAG]

yup, just shy of £190

 

[White Pheasant]

pamela andersons gusset wrote:

yup, just shy of £190

So you won't be paying any VAT or import duty? (Shipping aloneis £76).

 

[PAG]

not according to ornec, no

(even if i did, i would still be happy to pay)

 

[Papa Lazarou]

I paid just £248 last year for my Gilmore Lite with the offboard PSU inc. shipping etc. You'd still get a Gilmore delivered for about £185 today.

 

[gaul]

Papa Lazarou wrote:

I paid just £248 last year for my Gilmore Lite with the offboard PSU inc. shipping etc. You'd still get a Gilmore delivered for about £185 today.

From?

 

[Papa Lazarou]

From Headamp, you have to buy them direct. Hawk has posted a link at the top of this thread.

 

[gaul]

What about the HeadAmp AE-1?

http://www.headamp.com/portable_amps/ae1/index.htm

 

[Papa Lazarou]

The new AE-1 looks very nice but it costs $50 more than the Gilmore Lite!

It's a portable amp, the Gilmore is obviously a home product.

Personally i'd save money and take the Gilmore.

 

[GaryC]

Some interesting suggestions here.

One thing I've noticed is that I need to have my pre-amp set to about 3/4 of max to get a decent volume (not ear shattering)out of my 'phones (nominal impedence 250 Ohms). Is this normal? Do dedicated head amps have a higher output?

Gilmore looks favourite at the moment, anymore suggestions?

Papa - I live between High Wycombe and Beaconsfield. Not too far, but lack of freetime means I doubt I'll be able to get to MK. Thanks for the offer though.

 

[Papa Lazarou]

Gary, FWIW i can't toleratethe volume any more than about a third of the way on the Gilmore. Volume won't be an issue on pretty much any headphone amp.

 

[Geordie]

A friend of mine runs the ANT Audio Amber along with Beyer DT880's and he absolutely loves it - he's had that combo for quite some time now - and he is almost worse than me for swapping headphone gear.

Only thing is I dont know if you can still buy them - the website is still up, but i think the last time someone asked he was taking a break.

I also have an ANT Amber and it takes some beating for the money.