SOLD: Headroom Desktop Balanced HP Amp - $475 *Read Listing*

*Sigh* Well, time for smoke special #2. SOLD to MLegend, who is getting one hell of an amp!

When I loaned out my HD650s to my friend, that wasn't the only thing that I loaned him. I also loaned him one of my favorite amps: a 2007 Headroom Desktop Balanced Amplifier:



I was hoping that this was going to air out, so I didn't put this up for sale right away. But nope, it still has a hint of smokeyness that's a dealbreaker for me. (Which means someone is going to get a deal).

The Headroom DBHA is the predecessor to the Headroom BUDA and the Headroom Ultra Desktop DAC, which were both released in 2009 after the DBHA was discontinued. The BDHA is a balanced input & output amplifier and a balanced DAC rolled into one. The two products were separated in the Ultra Desktop line.

- This unit has the upgraded Home DAC module, which is a very well implemented Cirrus Logic DAC that sounds very similar to some PCM1704 implementations I've heard: detailed but romantic, tonally rich. It has USB, Optical, and Coax digital inputs; the USB implementation benefits greatly from a decrapifier like the Wyrd.

- The amp section is running on their desktop module - it's detailed, dynamic, spacious but with polite, well extended treble. Straight up: The amp section is like a better sounding Liquid Carbon. Moreover, it has the Headroom crossfeed circuit - which is one of the best hardware crossfeed implementations I've heard. The balanced out uses two combo jacks: they can either power 2 single ended headphones or 1 balanced headphone via 2 x 3 pin XLR plugs. I'm including a reterminated HD650 cable with the purchase of this amplifier. The modded HD650 sounds amaze-balls on it, and it also has the headroom for pretty well any non-HE-6 ortho.

I'm going to miss it and I'm pissed that it has to go. Other than the smoke smell, it's in great shape. Price includes CONUS shipping, but not Paypal fees. Gift or add 3% to the purchase.

 

How smokey is it?

 

I start to *smell* the smoke on the amp when it's four inches from my nose. (But, it triggers my allergies any time it's on my desk. I'm pretty damn allergic to cigarette smoke.)

 

So for someone who's less sensitive, probably not a big issue.

 

Yep, for someone less sensitive the amp should be fine. Amplifier not recommended for people who:

1. Carry an albuterol inhaler like they were still in 7th grade P.E.
2. Make their insurance company cry with their Asmanex Twisthaler prescription costs.
3. Have to take a Benadryl if they sit too close to someone who had a smoke on an L train platform before getting on.

Those are all me...so this amp has to go.

 

Does this have rca inputs for use with an external dac?

 

It has both RCA for unbalanced and XLR for balanced inputs. It has a toggle switch for analog or digital input (basically, an on and off switch for the DAC), and another toggle for balanced or unbalanced analog input.

A shot of the back panel so that peeps can see what I mean. The only thing it doesn't have is a set of analog or digital outputs - the DAC can only be used with the built in amp. This isn't a big issue though, because the amp section is better than the DAC section. (The amp section reveals detail differences between DACs all the way up to Gungnir Multibit. I haven't tested it with a Yggdrasil, so I don't know if it makes that last leap or not).

 

I own the Headroom Max and this is a great deal for a fantastic amp. I share AustinValentine's thoughts that this is a great amp for high impedance dynamic headphones.

 

Just jumped on an ultra micro dac for the bedside rig. So tempt!

 

PM'ed

 

Ouch. You have my sympathies Austin. This makes me realize I still have the unbalanced version of this amp in a box somewhere. First serious amp I ever bought. Considering it was designed around the HD6x0, and I now finally have such a headphone, I should probably dust it off.

 

Thanks. Just...arrrgh!! Also, the unbalanced version of this has one great missing feature that they couldn't fit - tone control for brightness. The crossfeed warms things up a bit and without the built in brightness adjustment, unless you *want* the extra warmth, you pretty much need to use parametric EQ to boost 750hz and above by a couple db to compensate.

 

What have you tried to remove the smoke smell?

I'm very sensitive to smoke myself. I recently cleaned off some long cables (bought from some old roadies, so they'd been soaking in grimy smokey bars for years) first with vinegar, then with Lysol disinfecting wipes which worked surprisingly well.

 

Did you try taking off the case and letting it air out? Try getting some compressed air and blast away at it after you've taken the cover off. Also, might try wiping down the interior with damp paper towels.

 

Thanks for the suggestions guys! Here's what I've tried so far:

1. I started with an isopropyl (91%) & microfiber cloth rub down on all external surfaces. I took the volume knob off the pot and sat it in alcohol for a while.
2. I opened the case and blasted it out with compressed air. I used isopropyl on the inside of the case, let it air out, then remounted everything inside.
3. Went to Walgreens and picked up some Lysol disinfecting wipes, some enzyme remover (the kind that you'd use to remove pet smells), and some white vinegar. Did surface rub downs with each.
4. Put the amp in a large box with two open containers of Arm & Hammer Baking Soda.
5. Cussed at it. A lot.

The only two things I didn't try off the top of my head were Ozone (good ozone generators are expensive - I considered going to get my car interior ozoned out and just leaving the amp in the back seat to hope for the best) and professional deep cleaning (which is also prohibitively expensive for a piece of electronics).

Each of these have had varying levels of success and each have helped with the smell but not the allergic response.

 

I have an ozone generator device I purchased for a smokey car... supposedly it will work. FWIW LMK if the purchaser or whomever would like me to give it a go on the amp.

 

You're like an audio agent. Always hustling for these ancillary deals.

 

At this point are you able to isolate which part the smell/allergic reaction is coming from?

Another potential thing to try is just leaving it out in direct sunlight on a bright day. Not as good as ozone, but UV light can do a bit.