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On another topic, FrankI told us that old receivers have better headphone amps than are now available. I replied that I was impressed with the performance on the headphone jack on my ancient Technics SU-V303, which is a 40 watt integrated amp that's about 25 years old.I've listened more closely to this amp using my LCD-2s and comparing it with my Schiit Lyr, which I like very much. This test impressed me even more than my first kick of the can (no pun intended).The Technics, being more transparent, gives my LCD-2s better resolution in the upper and high end, where these headphones have a little weakness. At the same time, as a result, the LCD-2s are less dark than they are on the Lyr, and give the sense of having a wider soundstage. And because the Technics seems to have plenty of power (can't safely set the volume much above 9:00 o'clock) none of the wonderful merits of the LCD-2 are compromised. Bass still awesome and tight.And unlike my Lyr, the Technics has absolutely no hum at any volume setting. Dead quiet.So an amp I bought decades ago probably for a couple of hundred bucks, seems to do an overall better job with my LCD-2s than the excellent Lyr.Frank, I can't speak about other old amps, or their comparative performance with other amps and headphones, but in the case of my Technics and LCD-2s, you have hit the nail right on the head. I can hardly believe my ears.Has anyone else had this kind of result comparing other headphone amps and other headphones?
On another topic, FrankI told us that old receivers have better headphone amps than are now available. I replied that I was impressed with the performance on the headphone jack on my ancient Technics SU-V303, which is a 40 watt integrated amp that's about 25 years old. ss dark than they are on the Lyr, and give the sense of having a wider soundstage. And because the Technics seems to have plenty of power (can't safely set the volume muc And unlike my Lyr, the Technics has absolutely no hum at any volume setting. Dead quiet.So an amp I bought decades ago probably for a couple of hundred bucks, seems to do an overall better job with my LCD-2s than the excellent Lyr.Frank, I can't speak about other old amps, or their comparative performance with other amps and headphones, but in the case of my Technics and LCD-2s, you have hit the nail right on the head. I can hardly believe my ears. Glad you like the receiver. i have owned three at the same time. The Pioneer SX980,SX650,Sansui G4500 and also had a Marantz 220B and all were good. my favorites are the Pioneer Silver series and they are really special Keep your eyes peeled for the SX50 and 80 series. The higher you go in the series the better they get.
I will second that Frank Who?Some of the old receivers were decent but i don't think they compete with a good dedicated head amp.
It's interesting that the question is asked, "Who's Frank?" Who is Uptown Audio? Who is ecramer or even DaveNote? Does it really matter on a forum where no one knows anyone else? In any case, FrankI is the handle of a person who raised the point about old receivers on this thread:http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=92044.100I have no problem with good new dedicated headphone amps. Indeed, I've owned some that many others found to be quite good. But I discovered, at least for me, that an old amp of mine sounds very good, even when compared to good new ones. Like ecramer, before hauling it out and doing the comparison, I, too, would have assumed, that an old receiver couldn't compete with a good dedicated headphone amp. That's what made the discovery interesting. Dave
LOL I have been active in the hobby for 35 years. i am a 56 old dude from NJ . I have been active on Headfi for the last 3 years and on audio asylum for the last 10 years. My passion is tube gear and headphones these days but I have owned some nice 2 channel in the past including a CAT SL1MK11,CJ Premier !!A and Genesis V speakers with a Classe CDP .5 but since I have had Revel F30, Maggie MMG and now I am in a near field setup using Omega Super v with a Outlaws sub and Decware CSP2 and Taboo setup. I owned all the flagships except stax and have continued to be very active on headfi and trying to become more active here. Hope this at least gives you an idea of what I am all about.
Thanks dave and really people need to be open minded about gear but the headfi site and audio kharma are filled with opinions on the vintage 70/ receivers specifically the Pioneer,Sansui and marantz receivers. There were no opamps and the power supplies cannot be matched or duplicated and the sound is sincredibly good and they all drive the HE6 which there are few headphone amps that can drive then and they do it from the headphone jack and most of them had outstanding FM tuners and phono stages. They are legendary receivers and cannot be duplicated today. The Pioneer SX1250 was 950.00 in the 70/6 and what does that equate to in today dollars. gas was 60 cents a allon. No way a head amp with a 2.900 opamp going to compete with a discrete transistor design with all high quality parts. Hell the Pioneer had Walnut real wood . They outperformed 5 other SS headamp only by a wide margin Check out the threads or better yet check out the gear before saying its no good. I am always amazed at how people who never own a single head amp or any vintage gear make a statement as to whats better. Confuses me all day long.cabinet gallon. I hope frank I WHO IS NOW A LITTLE BETTER KNOWN.
Your assumption on the receiver is incorrect. The Pioneer all used 150ohm resistors in their headphone damp on their receivers and Leben also uses a resistor in their headphone section. My Taboo Decware was custom made for me at my request with no resistor so the headphone would get all the power of the amp. I have the first taboo designed with an amp and now a popular seller for Decware for people who own the lCD2 and Hifiman p,kanars and the infamous AKG K1000. They need power and the Taboo and receivers can drive them especially the hE6. The 70'ds had no opamp 2.00 chip and Ta map crap made today. Most of the stuff being manufactured today is throw away unless you spend lots of money.
one of the best tube headphone amps I've heard was the Grant Fidelity A-534 Integrated Tube Amplifier. which is actually a Yaqin MS-534 Integrated 300B SET Tube Amplifier.
Ilike 300B tube amps like the Cary 300SEI and the WooWA5LE but I was reluctant because the price for good NOS tubes in insanity. WE going for 1000 and up for a single tube. I have little confidence that the newer 300 B tubes from China would be bette ror near as good in quality and they are about 175.00 tube so I have stayed away from those types of amps. My Decware run on EL84 and NOS Sylvania run me about 40-50 tube NOS and I am stacking up on the the blackplates as they are getting scarce. I have enough EL84 for about 8-10 years. So it less expensive to run and granted they don't have the 300B sound but to get the best out of a 300B amp you need to spend lots and lots of money for the NOS. EL34 amps are nice too.
