Headphone amp to pair with HD600

I use a Little Dot MkIII valve headphone amp with my Sennheisers and it works an absolute delight... just ensure you correctly match the high impedance of the 600s to the settings on the amp for optimum dynamics and SQ.. instruction with amp make it clear.

There are also options to roll your line stage valves if you want to obsessionally tweak the amp to suit taste.. or you can leave as is. 

The amp is good value for money too.

Iv been looking at this and also the Dark voice. 

FWIW - and I haven't hard either of them - the Dark Voice has a rep for being tricky with valve matching. Good if you get it right, but the stock valves are (apparently) poor quality. The Little Dot has a rep for being better out of the box, although of course you can still swap ('roll') valves if you're so inclined. 

I adore these things - they're just so cute. Steam punk hi fi.

I'd buy one in a second if I could think of even one justification.

A Rega Ear is more than sufficient if you are on a budget. I used one with HD600 for 13 years. Not following the current valve trend it looks unassuming but is a serious upgrade over any built in headphone amp. 

A Headline is even better but after a power supply is added it is 6 times the cost of an Ear. And somehow the Ear was a better match with the HD600s. 

Have you had a listen to the 600's logical partner, the Sennheiser HDVA600 - assuming it falls within your budget? I run a 600 amp (in balanced mode into HD800's) off a Nait XS2 which I note that you have. It works very well, looks good, sounds fabulous, and offers normal or balanced operation, rendering it 'phones-upgrade' proof.

John.

Check mass drop for good offers, otheraise creek and rega are excellent

Slightly left-field, but after having had a pair of HD600s for the best part of 15 years and finding that while I admire what they do I have never really fallen in love with them, I recently tried then with a bunch of DAPs that I was trying out. Lo and behold, I find that they are a rather wonderful match with the Pono player. I was pretty lukewarm about the Pono until I tried it with the HD600s. Crazy. Who would have thought?? 

Not quite the same thing as a headphone amp, but interesting all the same..

Richard Dane posted:

Slightly left-field, but after having had a pair of HD600s for the best part of 15 years and finding that while I admire what they do I have never really fallen in love with them, I recently tried then with a bunch of DAPs that I was trying out. Lo and behold, I find that they are a rather wonderful match with the Pono player. I was pretty lukewarm about the Pono until I tried it with the HD600s. Crazy. Who would have thought?? 

Not quite the same thing as a headphone amp, but interesting all the same..

I do own a Fiio X5 Gen 2. Not tryed it with the HD600's. but i do listen to my Flac though this. Def give this a go later tonight. 

I tried the Fiio. Not for me, wheither with the HD600s or others.

pairing the HD600s with a DAP is not something I would normally recommend. They're far from ideal on most.  It's just that they worked brilliantly with the Pono. 

I have to agree. sound wasn't good, sound was weak and thin. 

When I use headphones at home I use my Hugo, which is superb with my Mezes, but I really do wish I had a need for those valve headphone amps because they look lovely

it could be that investing in the newer line of sennheisers, brings your more

than adding an amp in front of your hd600.

I traded my hd650 for hd700. The hd700 is easier to drive, and is really few steps better.

Simon-in-Suffolk posted:

I use a Little Dot MkIII valve headphone amp with my Sennheisers and it works an absolute delight... just ensure you correctly match the high impedance of the 600s to the settings on the amp for optimum dynamics and SQ.. instruction with amp make it clear.

There are also options to roll your line stage valves if you want to obsessionally tweak the amp to suit taste.. or you can leave as is. 

The amp is good value for money too.

 

Does that mean it sounds better than Hugo as headphone amp?

Innocent Bystander, I'm shocked at the suggestion! Wash your mouth out with soap, and say three Hail Hugos.

IB I have never used my Hugo as a headphone amp so can't really comment.

Solid Air posted:

Innocent Bystander, I'm shocked at the suggestion! Wash your mouth out with soap, and say three Hail Hugos.

In my defence, your Hugoness, I know Simon uses Hugo in his main system so I was intrigued andcurious to learn that he used little Dorothy for headphone listening. I am suitably chastised, and will bow low to Dave (which supplanted the sublime Hugo).

Simon-in-Suffolk posted:

IB I have never used my Hugo as a headphone amp so can't really comment.

Just wondered why the Dot given that you have Hugo.

Different systems.. I use my headphones away from my main system.. my Hugo is indeed plumbed into my main system as you suggest

Hugo is a perfect amp but i would prefer something warmer with hd600/650 but it just me