[kugino]

hi vinnie,

i recently acquired a signature 30 from a friend and absolutely love it.  it's beautiful, compact, runs cool, and sounds great with both my k1000 and a pair of inefficient bookshelf speakers.  

my question is about using other headphones with the sig 30.  i bought it primarily to drive the k1000s, which it does beautifully, but can i also hook up other headphones without worry of damaging the headphones?  i'm thinking about getting a pair of audio technica w5000s reterminated with a 4-pin XLR so that it can make use of the pigtail connected to the sig 30.  is it advisable to do this?  i'm thinking that the high current ouput of the 30 matches well with the w5000, but perhaps you can tell me otherwise.

thanks, vinnie!

[Vinnie R.]

hi vinnie,

i recently acquired a signature 30 from a friend and absolutely love it.  it's beautiful, compact, runs cool, and sounds great with both my k1000 and a pair of inefficient bookshelf speakers.  

Hi Kugino,

Welcome to Audiocircle and the RWA forum! 

I am glad to hear that you are enjoying the Signature 30 as a headphone amp for the AKG K1000s and for your bookshelf speakers.

my question is about using other headphones with the sig 30.  i bought it primarily to drive the k1000s, which it does beautifully, but can i also hook up other headphones without worry of damaging the headphones?  i'm thinking about getting a pair of audio technica w5000s reterminated with a 4-pin XLR so that it can make use of the pigtail connected to the sig 30.  is it advisable to do this?  i'm thinking that the high current ouput of the 30 matches well with the w5000, but perhaps you can tell me otherwise.

thanks, vinnie!

The Signature 30 is not a headphone amp.  While it does a great job with AKG K1000s and STAX (and possibly other lower-effiency headphones they are comfortable being driven by a speaker amplifier), I don't think it will be a good match with your audio technica w5000s or most other headphones. 

FWIW, I am also working on a headphone amp design 

One version of it will probably be offered as an option for the upcoming Isabella battery powered tube preamp with built-in dac.  Another version will be a stand-alone product... probably available in early 2008!  I'll be sure to post updates here when available.

Best regards,

Vinnie

[kugino]

hi vinnie,

you're killing my wallet!  a headphone amp?    i look forward to more info on this as it becomes available...but i suspect you have more than enough keeping you busy right now  

thanks for the info...

[Vinnie R.]

hi vinnie,
 a headphone amp?    

Yes, a kick-ass headphone amp!   

I promise to keep you all posted!

Vinnie