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Author Topic: Need an amp for my girlfriend!  (Read 2732 times)

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Elysian

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Need an amp for my girlfriend!
« on: June 30, 2012, 09:03:48 PM »
I'm about to steal the gamma2 back from my girlfriend as the source for my ortho rig (it's not as bad as it sounds; she bought the gamma2 for me as a present :) ), but she's gotten hooked on good sound and responded positively when I offered to get her a headphone amp to replace the gamma2 she's been using to drive her headphones.  She was using my SR225i for awhile before getting tired of the poor ergonomics, and now she's using Audio Technica ATH-ANC7b noise-cancelling headphones.  In the future, I'll probably get her a better closed-ear set of headphones, or ask LFF nicely about one of his Paradox modded T50RPs (actually, come to think of it, would love to get one of those for her based on feedback from people I trust).

I need help from you guys to find a good $150-500 new/used headphone amp (or integrated or DAC with a good headphone-out) for her.  I have a few guesses but am not sure the best way to go: Gilmore Lite, Yulong A100, she liked CEE TEE's Audio-Gd Sparrow, etc.

Some notes on her tastes and setup:
- Music genres: anime/jpop, Disney soundtracks, rock, some heavy metal
- Prefers clarity and transparency, detail, and musicality; lifelike vocals are a big plus, decent soundstage would be nice
- Cannot be bright; SR009 is unlistenable for her
- Does not listen at loud volumes, should sound good around 8-9 o'clock
- Really disliked the LCD2.2 and LCD3; sounded congested and muddy to her
- Loves Stax/SR007, thinks Grado is okay but too uncomfortable to wear
- Solid state
- Will be using the computer as the D/A, unless there's an economical paired DAC+amp solution; prefer separates
- Okay to generally leave on 24/7 and forget about; should be reliable and well-made
- Preferably not too large since it'll be on her workstation desk (no vintage receivers)
- Will not light art supplies on fire

Thanks for any suggestions.  You all have sensible tastes and I don't omgwtf here like I do at the other place, so I'm going to take any recommendations very seriously.
« Last Edit: June 30, 2012, 09:17:20 PM by Elysian »
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DaveBSC

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Re: Need an amp for my girlfriend!
« Reply #1 on: July 01, 2012, 05:25:51 AM »
I've got a Paradox on the way. I'm curious to see how it compares to the O2 MK1. I imagine it would absolutely destroy the ANC7b. The 300Hz square wave that Tyll posted on that is really, really weird.
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Elysian

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Re: Need an amp for my girlfriend!
« Reply #2 on: July 01, 2012, 06:31:02 AM »
Yeah, she only uses the ANC7b for the noise cancelling and comfort fit while working.  It's not terrible, but it's pretty utilitarian.

I guess I'm kind of putting the cart before the horse, asking for amp recommendations while being unsure of the headphone.  I haven't read the entire T50RP modding thread elsewhere, but are there specific SS amps that pair well with the Paradox?  I was originally considering grabbing something like an HE-400 down the line given all the positive comments its getting, but if the Paradox is even better, it might be a good idea to match an amp for that.
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MuppetFace

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Re: Need an amp for my girlfriend!
« Reply #3 on: July 01, 2012, 06:34:44 AM »
My recommendation would be something like the Leckerton UHA-6S. It's a portable amp, so it pairs well with IEMs, but it also drives many fullsized headphones quite well (including the HE-400). It's small, easy to work with, and has a DAC and amp built into it so she just needs to connect it straight to her computer via USB. Easy peasy.

I end up using the UHA-6 a lot for convenience's sake. It's like $250-350 used generally, and they've made a MKII version which is supposedly improved slightly.
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Elysian

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Re: Need an amp for my girlfriend!
« Reply #4 on: July 01, 2012, 06:41:59 AM »
Very cool, thanks for the recommendation Muppet!  I've never heard of Leckerton and am now looking around for impressions and reviews :)  If there are portables that compare well against the more robust Class A designs like the Yulong A100, that'd be great.  She actually really likes the gamma2, and I'm sure the form factor is part of that.

Do you feel it compares well with the more popular options like the Pico, the RSA portable amps (they seem a bit pricey), or the iBasso?  I think I heard an iBasso D6, and a few other iBassos here and there, but the brand didn't leave much of an impression on me.

Edit: I was also considering one of those cheap 2-board b22s that go up around $500 every few months, but I've been reading so much about dicey build quality that I'm unsure whether to be tempted or not.
« Last Edit: July 01, 2012, 06:44:51 AM by Elysian »
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Anaxilus.

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Re: Need an amp for my girlfriend!
« Reply #5 on: July 01, 2012, 06:59:36 AM »
You can see what I use in my sig on the other site.  You can also check out the portable amp thread here.  I have a mk2 coming out so I'll be able to AB it w/ the mk1.


I do think you are putting the cart before the horse considering the phones.
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CEE TEE

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Re: Need an amp for my girlfriend!
« Reply #6 on: July 01, 2012, 07:19:31 AM »
OP, I can lend you D12 with Top Kit and shipsupt's Gilmore Lite...he knows you well so won't mind.  ::)  Can give to you when I lend my HD800 if you wish...


After hearing RD's T50RP (first time I didn't like but this last time had me really interested), LFF's Paradox seems more of a serious consideration.
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Elysian

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Re: Need an amp for my girlfriend!
« Reply #7 on: July 01, 2012, 07:39:10 AM »
Analixus: Neat.  I read up on the Arrow 4G after looking at your sig.  Do you prefer the UHA-6?  I saw the UHA-4 vs Arrow 3G thread and it seems like the UHA-4 won that shootout, but a lot of folks said that the UHA-6 is quite a bit better than the UHA-4.  I'd be very interested in reading your impressions of the mk2 vs mk1 when you get it.  The used UHA-6s barely have any depreciation and I like that Leckerton is Made in the USA, so I'm leaning towards a new UHA-6 MK2 with the stock opamp.

CEE TEE: That would be awesome, if you don't mind lending me your D12 and Gilmore Lite with the HD800 :)  It'll be nice to spend more time with the HD800 to get to learn the sound better.  That spot you recommended apparently makes amazing sandwiches.  Is the D12 comparable to the UHA-6?

I'm looking to expand my collection to 3 headphones.  I already have the SR007 MK2 and am pretty committed to buying the HE-6 (seller is kind enough to let me trial them first), so my shortlist for the 3rd is a HD800, LFF Paradox, and possibly HE-400 or LCD2.2 or whatever.  The HE-6 is going to stick with the speaker amp, so my gf will use whatever the third is.  I've been generally impressed with the HD800, but I've heard them sound everywhere between expansive and assured, to thin, bright and shrill, based on setup.

Tbh, I was just going to go with the HD800 until a lot of people I generally trust say that the Paradox really is all that, so now I'm having some indecision on the more versatile headphone (though I'd like to listen to the Paradox before making a call).
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eugenius

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Re: Need an amp for my girlfriend!
« Reply #8 on: November 02, 2012, 01:19:15 PM »
You could just get an AD900 and skip the amp. :)
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shipsupt

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Re: Need an amp for my girlfriend!
« Reply #9 on: November 02, 2012, 01:31:33 PM »
Ha, I missed this whole thread while I was moving... I hope you grabbed the G-Lite if it was needed!   CEE TEE has my full proxy while I am out of town...

Did you settle on an amp for your GF, or are you still searching?
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Yeah, well, you know, that's just, like, your opinion, man.
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