Amp for Alpha Dog Headphone?

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jtwrace

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Amp for Alpha Dog Headphone?
« on: 20 Apr 2014, 04:03 am »
What do you guys use?

grsimmon

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Re: Amp for Alpha Dog Headphone?
« Reply #1 on: 20 Apr 2014, 04:45 am »
I'm not able to answer, but do have a question:   what do you think of the Alpha Dog?   

milford3

Re: Amp for Alpha Dog Headphone?
« Reply #2 on: 20 Apr 2014, 05:12 am »
A good place to go is Schiit Audio.  I have never heard of "Alpha Dog".  I tried their web site and they offer no specs that I can find that count. 

http://schiit.com/products/bifrost

brother love

Re: Amp for Alpha Dog Headphone?
« Reply #3 on: 20 Apr 2014, 11:59 am »
What do you guys use?
The Alpha Dogs need more power to perform at their best.  I am using a Schiit Lyr with the Alpha Dogs, & it pairs nicely.  The AD's have a neutral sound, so the tubes add a touch of warmth to help a bit.

The Schiit Mjolnir is SS & balanced & is also considered a very nice pairing.

Mr. Speakers / Dan auditions the AD's with the the Lyr, Mjolnir & Burson Soloist at meets that he attends (also one of the higher end Cavalli Audio head amps I believe).

Many like vintage receivers, like the Pioneer SX- ____ with the AD's (enhances bass).

Steven Stone has a nice review of the AD's:

http://hometheaterreview.com/mrspeakers-alpha-dog-over-the-ear-headphones/
« Last Edit: 20 Apr 2014, 05:38 pm by brother love »

jtwrace

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Re: Amp for Alpha Dog Headphone?
« Reply #4 on: 20 Apr 2014, 04:04 pm »
I'm not able to answer, but do have a question:   what do you think of the Alpha Dog?
I'm impressed with the sq.  The question remains is taking a $110 pair of headphones and paying a premium for mods worth it?  At this point I'm thinking yes.  I was able to hear a bunch at the local headphone meet and must say they sounded really really good.  I was able to compare them to all the other major ones that are similar in price and even triple in cost. 


Here were the two setups
 
  

FullRangeMan

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Re: Amp for Alpha Dog Headphone?
« Reply #5 on: 20 Apr 2014, 04:17 pm »
Any decent amp that would drive a Sennheiser HD600 will work.
Bottlehead would be a nice option??

jtwrace

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Re: Amp for Alpha Dog Headphone?
« Reply #6 on: 20 Apr 2014, 04:34 pm »
Bottlehead would be a nice option??
I don't think it would work well with the Alpha Dogs.  They do like power from what I experienced yesterday. 

Noseyears

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Re: Amp for Alpha Dog Headphone?
« Reply #7 on: 7 May 2014, 07:26 pm »
You bought something? I'm curious about what you decided.  :D

I'm considering them as well and have a few options in mind.

jtwrace

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Re: Amp for Alpha Dog Headphone?
« Reply #8 on: 7 May 2014, 07:27 pm »
You bought something? I'm curious about what you decided.  :D

I'm considering them as well and have a few options in mind.
AURALiC Taurus MKII

grsimmon

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Re: Amp for Alpha Dog Headphone?
« Reply #9 on: 12 May 2014, 11:03 pm »
Dale;
PLEASE do a review of the Alpha Dogs.  In my opinion it's been pretty hard to get a decent review anywhere on the web.  I just don't get it,  the AD's seem like a pretty significant release,  being closed-backed,  unique modifications,  non-dynamic drivers, 3D printed cups, etc.   OK rant over,  you're it.   :D

jtwrace

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Re: Amp for Alpha Dog Headphone?
« Reply #10 on: 12 May 2014, 11:11 pm »
You can see one here.  Also there is a huge thread here and here.


Many more threads here. 

brother love

Re: Amp for Alpha Dog Headphone?
« Reply #11 on: 12 May 2014, 11:32 pm »
Not to mention Mr. Speakers website  :o :

https://mrspeakers.com/news-reviews/

There are at least a half dozen reviews of the Alpha Dogs there ...

jtwrace

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Re: Amp for Alpha Dog Headphone?
« Reply #12 on: 12 May 2014, 11:42 pm »
Not to mention Mr. Speakers website  :o :

https://mrspeakers.com/news-reviews/

There are at least a half dozen reviews of the Alpha Dogs there ...
Good idea.   ;)


Or since this is an audio forum, you can take my word that they're GREAT.   :P   They really are though.

jtwrace

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Re: Amp for Alpha Dog Headphone?
« Reply #13 on: 12 May 2014, 11:48 pm »
MrSpeakers also has a 15 day return policy. 

brother love

Re: Amp for Alpha Dog Headphone?
« Reply #14 on: 12 May 2014, 11:52 pm »
Or since this is an audio forum, you can take my word that they're GREAT.   :P   They really are though.

In the immortal words of Smokey Robinson:  "I second that emotion".   :green:

Jude of Head-Fi's enthusiastic video endorsement in the 1st post of the large thread that you linked was what sold me on purchasing the Alpha Dog's.

jtwrace

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Re: Amp for Alpha Dog Headphone?
« Reply #15 on: 12 May 2014, 11:54 pm »
In the immortal words of Smoky Robinson:  "I second that emotion".   :green:

Jude of Head-Fi's enthusiastic video endorsement in the 1st post of the large thread that you linked was what sold me on purchasing the Alpha Dog's.
Cool.   :thumb: 

brother love

Re: Amp for Alpha Dog Headphone?
« Reply #16 on: 12 May 2014, 11:59 pm »
Dale;
PLEASE do a review of the Alpha Dogs ... OK rant over,  you're it.   :D

OKgrsimmon, you got tagged about 10 times. You're it with a whole lot of reading to do now.  :whip:

jtwrace

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Re: Amp for Alpha Dog Headphone?
« Reply #17 on: 12 May 2014, 11:59 pm »
I did here: http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=125707.0
And just to throw something else out there, I'll respectfully disagree.  This shows how two different ears hear very differenlty.  Further, the measurements will backup that the Alpa is more neutral. 


Bottom line, if you can, listen to them and decide what you like.  To me, the Mad Dog have a bumped up bottom end which IMO does smear the mid a bit.  Still very very good though. 


Dale-
Great work on all that you do for the Headphone community.  I've read and watched a lot of your work.  Good stuff.   :thumb:

grsimmon

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Re: Amp for Alpha Dog Headphone?
« Reply #18 on: 13 May 2014, 02:53 pm »
Alpha Dog vs.  Edition 8?

Ok here's something more specific for Dale or others.  My sole headphone is Ultrasone Edition 8 - uggh I know,  not neutral.   But it works for me at late night in bed due to excellent isolation,  small earcup size if lying down,  and being very lightweight.   Just very comfortable and not very noticeable on my head or to the sleeping wife.  And to me anyways,  it really makes a violin sound like a violin.  For those reasons, and that I got a good price on it at rmcaudiodirect,   I hesitate to part with it.   I'm going to guess that the A.D. is more neutral compared to Edition 8.   But what about in the other 'ergonomic' categories including isolation?  I've read that it's somewhat heavy?

In other news,  I saw that Ultrasone just came out with a $5k headphone - what the hell?  ok maybe that's for another thread.....

jtwrace

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Re: Amp for Alpha Dog Headphone?
« Reply #19 on: 13 May 2014, 02:56 pm »
Yes, the AD's are heavy and very big but extremely comfortable.  No head/ear fatigue from wearing them for hours. My IEM are only good for a few hours until I need to take them out and give my ear a break from having something inside.  Very different though as I used them when I lived on a plane.   :duh: