[robinje]

I received my new Ultra SL preamp last week, so I thought I'd post a few first impressions.  First of all, the fit and finish is great!  The new faceplate and chassis width looks very nice and subdued.  All knobs and switches have a smooth feel and positive action.  

I have done most of my listening thus far with headphones (as I often do) for various reasons.  I have been used to using a very highly regarded stand-alone "high end" headphone amp that I have been supremely satisfied with.  I thought that the Ultra SL headphone section would be my "backup" in case something happened to my stand-alone amp.  Well, that is not at all the case!  The Ultra SL headphone section is at least as good, if not better than, my dedicated headphone amp in virtually every aspect!  I can hear details that were previously not there, but the musicality is not lost at all.  Bass is deep and quick, while highs are extended, airy, and most of all...  realistic.  My beloved headphone amp is now up for sale.  By the way, my headphones consist of Beyerdynamic DT-880 and Sennheiser HD-650, both of which are high impedance models with fairly low sensitivity.  The Ultra SL volume knob is usually in the 9:00-11:00 range for my range of listening levels.  

Sorry for rambling, but I thought that those of you who listen to headphones might be interested...  Jim

[elcaptain88]

Agreed - I made a similar post a couple of months ago. I prefer Grado SR-225's - the music is liquid, fast & real out of my Ultra SL. In fact, I sometimes prefer the heaphones now to my speaker set-up given the choice, that was not the case using my Bryston.

[boead]

I received my new Ultra SL preamp last week, so I thought I'd post a few first impressions.  First of all, the fit and finish is great!  The new faceplate and chassis width looks very nice and subdued.  All knobs and switches have a smooth feel and positive action.  

I have done most of my listening thus far with headphones (as I often do) for various reasons.  I have been used to using a very highly regarded stand-alone "high end" headphone amp that I have been supremely satisfied with.  I thought that  ...

what headphone amp?

[robinje]

The headphone amp I have been using is the Ray Samuels Audio HR-2.  It is a fine piece of equipment and I don't want to appear to be bashing it.  It's just that the headphone section of the Ultra SL sounds better...  to me.

Jim

[boead]

The headphone amp I have been using is the Ray Samuels Audio HR-2.  It is a fine piece of equipment and I don't want to appear to be bashing it.  It's just that the headphone section of the Ultra SL sounds better...  to me.

Jim

You’re not bashing at all, why would you say that? You’re only saying something is better then something else, it’s your opinion certainly.

I found my T7’s headphone section quite good too and I’ve compared it to quite a number of amps.

Its fairs well against most but wasn’t close to being as good as a Singlepower MPX amp, in my opinion. Still that says a lot, the Singlepower is over $1500 and highly regarded.  

I too drive a pair of Sennheiser 600’s and am very familiar with the Beyerdynamic DT-880’. All certainly my taste.

Its good to hear.

[robinje]

Do you mean Singlepower MPX3?  If so, that is a fine headphone amp.  But it is a totally different animal than the Ray Samuels HR-2.  The MPX3 is a tube circuit design, and the HR-2 is op amp based solid state.  These are both great headphone amps with their own unique strengths, but I think that Frank's hybrid Ultra design is right up there with 'em.  In my case, I can now jettison my headphone amp to fund other toys!

[plaf26]

Have had the T8 since last fall.  At first I thought the headphone section was a bit on the "bright" side.  Maybe that's because I like bass and probably have my Kensington sub turned up too high.  Anyway, the headphone section has been growing on me.  Last night my old "Beverly Sills-Andre Kostelanetz: Music of Victor Herbert" (Angel SFO-37160) LP sounded better over the Grado SR200's than the speakers.   S'pose I could leave the subwoof on and the main speakers off and still hear (& feel) the bass through the phones for that "earth moving" effect. Will have to try it.