Best bang for your buck amp?

Discussion in 'Headphone Amplifiers and Combo (DAC/Amp) Units' started by a44100Hz, Jan 29, 2016.

  1. Merrick

    Merrick A lidless ear

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    Not having heard it, would the Mjolnir 2 be a good all-rounder? You could use LISST for orthos and tubes for dynamics?
     
  2. brencho

    brencho Friend

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    @No_One411 man, so many reports of the vali/ vali2 taking care of business :) might try one for the office + a GOv2 or something.
     
  3. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    Yup, Mojo 2 would be a excellent all-rounder. HD800, HD600, Slants, Ethers, etc. Throw anything at it. Definitely a huge value proposition. The Rag does have better technicalities, particularly with microdynamics and volume granularity. The Mojo 2 has the most soul of any Schiit amp to date.
     
  4. brencho

    brencho Friend

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    For sure the Mj2 seems super versatile with tubes (or lsst)
     
  5. Merrick

    Merrick A lidless ear

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    I have heard and used the GOV2 and Vali 2 as a daily driver. It's a very good inexpensive combo. Although personally at work I just use the GOV2 without an additional amp, as all of my headphones have balanced cables with 3.5mm TRRS terminations. Also because the Vali 2 is the only headphone amp I have at the moment, so no way am I going to constantly transport it between work and home.
     
  6. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    Buy two?
     
  7. Merrick

    Merrick A lidless ear

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    I could do that, but I think instead I'll get a Mojo 2 for home in May, then migrate the Vali 2 to the office at that point. Until then, the balanced out of the GO will last me.
     
  8. brencho

    brencho Friend

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    Yeah, I've been using the GOv2 with a balanced cable and it's pretty nuts as is.
     
  9. SteelCannon

    SteelCannon Friend

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    Dynamics have a big advantage right now in terms of amp synergies and options. Theres a lot of smart people in this hobby and a lot of money, so I'm sure that will change if orthos continue being popular. As it stands Im not sure there are many amps for orthos that can compare to what Is out there for dynamics.
     
  10. FlySweep

    FlySweep Friend

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    Outside of TOTL offerings (like the aforementioned Liquid Crimson), I'd get a dedicated amp for orthos and one for (high impedance) dynamics. Despite having to purchase two units (instead of an all-in-one), I feel the value proposition is simply better (i.e. a used Valhalla 2 and a solid upper-mid fi hybrid or solid state ortho amp).. again, if you're not going Liquid Crimson or Liquid Glass.

    I absolutely agree. My personal ortho experience encompases the more popular (modern) offerings (HE-400/HE-500, HE400S, HE-560, LCD-2/F, Paradox/Slants, LCD-X). Of the "ortho-friendly" sub-$1K solid state amps I've heard.. there's precious few, if any, that were satisfying enough to keep long term. I can't speak to many of the >$1K "ortho-friendly" amps that are well regarded (i.e. Black Widow, Cavalli SS, Ragnarok, etc.) since I haven't heard or spent enough time with them. All the well-designed, high current output stuff does a great job of grabbing the ortho drivers "by the balls," bringing focus to the soundstage, etc., but ultimately, some nature of the amp got on my nerves (glare, lack of dimensionality, finesse, etc.). It's part of the reason I moved back to dynamics.. and why I'm basically done with solid state amps (for dynamics, at least). I still dig orthos cause I enjoy their unique presentation..but my inability to find an amp (<$1K) that I'd want to keep for more than four or five months makes it harder and harder to want to get one again. Blame my budget, yeah?
     
  11. Colgin

    Colgin Friend

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    I wonder if this is more a commentary on the amps or the nature of ortho headphones.
     
  12. cskippy

    cskippy Creamy warmpoo

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    @purrin Do you think the Crimson would be a good enough match with the HE-6? I'm also contemplating buying a used First Watt M2 or an Audio-GD Master 10. Would the Crimson be a better universal amp than the Rag?
     
    Last edited: Feb 24, 2016
  13. a44100Hz

    a44100Hz Friend

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    Since I started this, I'll conclude that I am very pleased with my Lyr 2. I recommend this amp to people that don't want to go the balanced route (I pondered it, but the added cost of something like a Mjolnir 2 and new cables for all my cans didn't seem plausible for my personal budget).
     
  14. munch

    munch Friend

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    hello, trying this thread too, lots of recommendations but not enough detailed explanations maybe :p

    What would be a good low-noise amplifier (Vali was a little too 'grey' to me?) able to compete (or beat) the Leckerton UHA-6s MKII
    for Sony MA900 and TH-X00. I don't like boomy bass, and not too thin sounding treble.

    $200-300 budget, new or used doesn't matter much. just like a good blackground, and will be pairing with a GO450.
     
  15. Scubadude

    Scubadude Almost "Made"

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    With you on the Lyr. I have the original model in my collection and it has good slam and snap, tight bass, lush mids and reasonably grain free trebble. Not necesarily the last word in imaging and transparency but a good pair of tubes addresses that comprehensively ... I've had great r3sults with NOS Siemens CCa's. Another top choice for dynamics and orthos would be the Audeze Deckard.
     
  16. JoshMorr

    JoshMorr Friend

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    I will add a third recommendation for Lyr 2 as good all around amp, with moats' caveat of don't go crazy on tube rolling. Quite easy to spend the same money in Lyr and tubes as just buying a black widow / other totl amp which may sound better. I've got six sets of tubes for the Lyr, chasing the perfect sound, when in fact I am quite happy with most of them.

    Lyr was good value to me as it can sufficiently drive high imp dynamics, low imp dynamics, and my ZMF blackwood. Rolling tubes can also tune the amp depending on headphones and music preferences, such as a lisssssst tube and the th-x00 where the faster tighter tube helps the bass heavy headphone from sounding muddy.
     
  17. keanex

    keanex Martian Bounty Hunter - Friend

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    Magni 2 in most cases.

    Vali 2 in some cases. Vali 2 definitely sounds better with the Magni 2 when listening to the HD600, for instance.
     
  18. Gravity

    Gravity Friend

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    Have you tried the Crimson with HD800 and HD650?
     
  19. Priidik

    Priidik MOT: Estelon

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    You are a builder. Try Ehha Rev A. Very few people know but shunt psus put this thing sorta-kinda into totl leaque. With stock it's quite meh. A friend of mine wants mine instead of his EC 2A3. For dynamics EC2A3 imo is superior. That's why i'm buying it from him.
     
  20. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    Yes. Let me dig up something I wrote on it a while back. Changstar is down again, so it will have to be tonight.
     

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