Which heaphone amp should I buy?
Posted by: faz on 28 June 2003
I'm looking for a headphone amp to go with my 32.5/140/hi-cap and recently purchased CD3.I know the Naim Headline is the obvious option but are there any viable cheaper options? Even secondhand (if I could find one) the Headline & power supply is still over £300.00.I was thinking of the little Pro-Ject amp or possibly the Rega.
Posted on: 28 June 2003 by Stevo
There's a Creek on ebay at the moment, and a Headline/NAPSC in Loot for IIRC £200.
Hope this helps,
Stephen.
Hope this helps,
Stephen.
Posted on: 28 June 2003 by undertone
Creek have a new model called OBH-21SE. I listened to it recently and it is really quite good. Creek claims that this new model has a wider output impedance range, so it is more compatible with a wider range of headphone models. It is supplied with a higher current, regulated power supply as well (compared to the standard model OBH-21). You could even build a larger capacity higher current "super" spec power supply later for a few quid. I think the Creek units are very good value for money.
Also, give a fair listen to Beyerdynamic headphones as well before you decide. Over the years I have found them to be as good as Sennheiser in all areas, and more comfortable to wear over extended periods.
Also, give a fair listen to Beyerdynamic headphones as well before you decide. Over the years I have found them to be as good as Sennheiser in all areas, and more comfortable to wear over extended periods.
Posted on: 28 June 2003 by Mr_Sukebe
If you're in headline cash areas, how about just buying a pair of Stax lambdas with an energiser. I heard a pair a number of years ago, and they were simply light years ahead of the Sennheisers I have (which are not far adrift from a pair of HD600s).
Posted on: 29 June 2003 by Laurie Saunders
I have heard a few headphone amps, including the Headline. I think the Headline is worth saving for.
Laurie S
Laurie S
Posted on: 29 June 2003 by faz
Thank you everyone for your responses.I did email the chap flogging the Headline on Loot; still waiting for a reply.
May I assume that all the amps mentioned run off the 'tape out'off my 32-5 as per the Headline?
The Musical Fidelity price is more what I had in mind although my previous experience with a MF A1 amp has left me a little biased against their products. Still, if I can find one I will give it a go.
If I do buy a secondhand Headline is there a cheapo way way of powering it until I can afford a Naim power supply?
May I assume that all the amps mentioned run off the 'tape out'off my 32-5 as per the Headline?
The Musical Fidelity price is more what I had in mind although my previous experience with a MF A1 amp has left me a little biased against their products. Still, if I can find one I will give it a go.
If I do buy a secondhand Headline is there a cheapo way way of powering it until I can afford a Naim power supply?
Posted on: 30 June 2003 by Gavin B
Faz
The Rega Ear is another at around the £100 mark. It sounds fine to me!!
(And yes, it uses the tape out)
Gavin
The Rega Ear is another at around the £100 mark. It sounds fine to me!!
(And yes, it uses the tape out)
Gavin
Posted on: 30 June 2003 by Fraser Hadden
How important is the quality of the sound via headphones? For the sums being bandied about, and if quality is not paramount, you could buy any secondhand tape recorder or MD recorder and simply use its headphone facility while obtaining a 'free' tape or MD recorder.
Fraser
Fraser
Posted on: 30 June 2003 by Pictish
I had a home audition of the Headline recently. I found out it worked off the back of my Nait 5 but for some reason was "not recommended" by Naim. At £150 new (but old style) it was a good price until the cost of a NAPSC was added.
I ended up with a valve WAD HD83 bought off ebay for £75. Great sounding amp, perhaps not as goodas the Headline but not far off it.
I ended up with a valve WAD HD83 bought off ebay for £75. Great sounding amp, perhaps not as goodas the Headline but not far off it.
Posted on: 01 July 2003 by headline
Gosh. Do get my namesake, you won't be sorry. It's just sensational run off a HiCap (-- don't think seriously of running it off the back of the pre-amp). I know of someone who's running it off a Supercap, that's how far the Headline's esteem has reached.
Quality headphones can be great. Happy listening.
Cheers.
Quality headphones can be great. Happy listening.
Cheers.
Posted on: 01 July 2003 by Rasher
A mate of mine has very small children who are very light sleepers. When we get stuck into a listening evening, headphones can be a good way to go, and the Creek has two headphone jacks. May be a consideration..?
Posted on: 01 July 2003 by faz
Just to let you know that I ended up with a Pro-ject Head Box. The reasons?
I could just about afford it.
It was available.
It sounds good (to my ears).
My local Hi-Fi dealer said to bring it
back if I didn't like it.
The last reason is important to me. He already sorted out a good deal for me on my amps and CD3. If he has that much faith in a product I hope that his advice in the future is going to be good and hopefully he can do more deals.
I'm off now to get my Monitor Audio 352 speakers rebuilt by a sound engineer. If anyone is interested I'll post an update.(And if you're not, I won't!)
Thanks again for your advice folks.
I could just about afford it.
It was available.
It sounds good (to my ears).
My local Hi-Fi dealer said to bring it
back if I didn't like it.
The last reason is important to me. He already sorted out a good deal for me on my amps and CD3. If he has that much faith in a product I hope that his advice in the future is going to be good and hopefully he can do more deals.
I'm off now to get my Monitor Audio 352 speakers rebuilt by a sound engineer. If anyone is interested I'll post an update.(And if you're not, I won't!)
Thanks again for your advice folks.
Posted on: 01 July 2003 by Paul Hopkins
Faz
May I suggest the Creek SE. I have the MK1 which I bought for £90 at the start of the year. Mainly because the headline is not cheap - but boy it is good.
I consider that the OHB11SE is better than the Reag Ear (although I think that has been revamped) and anything else below the headline. Over the years it got good reviews in the Hi-fi press
The main difference between the two SE models is the casing on the later version is a bit longer, I cannot comment on any change in the sound quality, although you can checkout the Mike Creek's website for more gen. If you buy the OHB21 try and get the better quality PSU that is intended for the OHB21E. Although this may be a chance for Russ Andrews PowerPak 1 or 2 to star.
Two headphone user forums that you may like to check out are:http://www.head-fi.org and http://www.headwize.com.
They may help your decision.
Paul
[This message was edited by Paul Hopkins on TUESDAY 01 July 2003 at 19:49.]
[This message was edited by Paul Hopkins on TUESDAY 01 July 2003 at 19:51.]
[This message was edited by Paul Hopkins on TUESDAY 01 July 2003 at 19:53.]
May I suggest the Creek SE. I have the MK1 which I bought for £90 at the start of the year. Mainly because the headline is not cheap - but boy it is good.
I consider that the OHB11SE is better than the Reag Ear (although I think that has been revamped) and anything else below the headline. Over the years it got good reviews in the Hi-fi press
The main difference between the two SE models is the casing on the later version is a bit longer, I cannot comment on any change in the sound quality, although you can checkout the Mike Creek's website for more gen. If you buy the OHB21 try and get the better quality PSU that is intended for the OHB21E. Although this may be a chance for Russ Andrews PowerPak 1 or 2 to star.
Two headphone user forums that you may like to check out are:http://www.head-fi.org and http://www.headwize.com.
They may help your decision.
Paul
[This message was edited by Paul Hopkins on TUESDAY 01 July 2003 at 19:49.]
[This message was edited by Paul Hopkins on TUESDAY 01 July 2003 at 19:51.]
[This message was edited by Paul Hopkins on TUESDAY 01 July 2003 at 19:53.]
Posted on: 11 September 2003 by Haroon
A bit late on this one, though - how much can i expect to pay for the Rega Ear and the Creek amps?
At the moment I use my old arcam mk 11 amp connected to the nait 3 using the tape loops - the mini-disc (portable mzr50) isnt strong enough to drive the Senn 590.
H.
At the moment I use my old arcam mk 11 amp connected to the nait 3 using the tape loops - the mini-disc (portable mzr50) isnt strong enough to drive the Senn 590.
H.
Posted on: 12 September 2003 by domfjbrown
quote:
Originally posted by Fraser Hadden:
How important is the quality of the sound via headphones? For the sums being bandied about, and if quality is not paramount, you could buy any secondhand tape recorder or MD recorder and simply use its headphone facility while obtaining a 'free' tape or MD recorder.
He he he - my 1983 Technics RSB85 (£39, Smack Generators, 1998) is almost as good as my Rega Ear at driving headphones...
The Rega Ear is currently £120 isn't it? Mine's the older version, and due to Naim's NAIT3 tape outs not being buffered, I had to give up assuming the headphone amp was bust (it wasn't - c'mon Naim - why can't you provide a decent tape out on the NAITs - can't even use more than 1 deck - could use 3 via QED on my Rega EASILY). Anyway, the headphone out on the Sony MD530 I tried using in the bedroom isn't actually that bad - not as good as the Rega Ear (which now works fine on the Rega Mira - surprise surprise!) - and was good enough to drive the Senn 580s I use no problem - even with the AD-DA MD stage in use - quite surprising...
When the music's over turn out the lights