[Tone Depth]

My AVA EC preamp has gone through several upgrades over the years, thanks to unanticipated windfalls; usually my audio budget is nonexistent these days unless something has broken and needs to be replaced.  I had a chance this past weekend to listen with a new set of AKG headphones, and I came to further appreciate the headphone amp in my preamp.  I don't usually listen with headphones, I do enjoy my old Sennheiser HD 414 open air headphones, but enjoy the imaging of my old speakers even more.  I want to say thanks to Frank for the great headphone amp in my preamp, and encourage those of you whom haven't experienced it to give the headphone amp a listen.

[Wayner]

Good post timing. Today I just replaced my ancient Koss TD65s with a pair of Sennheiser HD 428s (from worst buy). They are rated at 32 ohms and play as loud as anyone would want (unless your a kid). It does play louder then my old Koss at any rate.

Wayner

[trebejo]

I wonder if Frank has ever given any serious thought to building a stand-alone headphone amp? There is a small but "interesting" market there, including musicians. It is a cost-effective path towards good hifi stuff.

Alas, I don't think I'll ever see a Van Alstine amp for the Stax. 

[dB Cooper]

Think I remember seeing not long ago where Frank can stuff an Insight board as a DIY standalone 'phone amp for a hunny-and-a-half IIRC (you would have to furnish enclosure, peripheral parts, and some amount of expertise to execute the project). I guess there is a wiring diagram but sounded like he was offering a complete stuffed board a la the way Dyna used to do with their SS kits. How fancy it would look depends on the builder I suppose.

Any phone jack on any AVA equipment I've ever owned would drive the bejeezis out of any cans I plugged into it so I bet it would sound pretty dang good.

As long as you got me started... Frank, what are the dimensions of that board (I still have one of the old RS enclosures you specified way back when and wonder if it would fit) and speaking strictly as a headphone driver, would I be better off with that project or having my old MosFet CA-80 fixed (it hums (forgot the words- beat ya to it)) ?

[gjs_cds]

I've asked him about this...and as I understand it, it just wouldn't be cost effective.  Pretty much the same price as an Insight SL

[adydula]

Hello,

I just posted my first impressions with a set of AKG702's with the AVA Insight+ preamp:

http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=89112.0

Alex

[bregez]

Today I just replaced my ancient Koss TD65s

I also have a pair of those boomy TD/65s.  The best thing that happened to them was the vinyl on the ear cushions started falling off revealing some plush cloth covered ear cushions.  
Lately I have been using some Sony MDR-V6's which are 32 ohms, have a super flat response, are comfortable, and under $80.00. 
Brad

[adydula]

bregez!!

Thats funny!!

I have a set of audio technica ATH 50's that are the $100 range that are really nice as well, nothng like the AKG 702 open air...if Salk ever made headphones these would be the ones!!

Alex

[gregmav]

I am thinking about purchasing a Insight+ EC preamp.  My question is, will the headphone circuits be able to drive the headphones I am also interested in.  The HifiMAN HE-6.  Anybody have any opinions or information?  Frank?  Wayner?

[saisunil]

I have HE-5, and HE-6 have similar excruciatingly tough load ...
Those phones need a dedicated very powerful headphone amp - some people are driving them connected to the speaker terminal of a power amp ... sure you'll get sound but would not be able to drive it ... I have EF5 hybrid amp - I think it puts out 2 watt ... it dies a good job ... as always YMMV ...

I am thinking about purchasing a Insight+ EC preamp.  My question is, will the headphone circuits be able to drive the headphones I am also interested in.  The HifiMAN HE-6.  Anybody have any opinions or information?  Frank?  Wayner?

[adydula]

The impedance on these are 50 Ohms.
The AKG 702's are 62 ohms.

Frank told me he uses Grados:

The headphones we use, Grado SR225s, are 30 ohms impedance, lower than your AKGs.  Thus your unit will have no trouble driving them.  The musical results should be excellent.

The AKGs can be driven painfully loud, great solid bass, OMG great bass and so accurate, my audio technica ATH 50s' have MORE bass but its BOOMY as all get out....

I dont think the phone amp in the Insight preamp will have any real problems driving these low impedance phones...

All the best
Alex
 

[turkey]

I've asked him about this...and as I understand it, it just wouldn't be cost effective.  Pretty much the same price as an Insight SL

Sounds about right.

Years ago Frank had an article in Audio Basics on how to build a headphone adapter that attaches to the output of your power amp. I built one and found that it worked quite well. Some power amps won't work with these (like bridged amps), so you have to be careful, but other than that it's a very simple project.

Once I got an OmegaStar SL preamp I no longer needed the add-on box. It's now an Insight+, and it has always done an excellent job of driving whatever headphones I've hooked up to it. The two I like best are my Shure SCL2 phones and my Grado SR-80s. I've got a few other pair that I've collected over the years too. The most interesting one of those is a pair of Yamaha HP-1 phones. They're still pretty good, even after 34 years.

[saisunil]

It is the sensitivity that is the issue ... Grados have high sensitivity - 98db and HE-6 have extremely low sensitivity ~83db - also they are different transducer type - Grados are dynamic and HE-6 are Planar ... two different animals ...
 
Cheers

[turkey]

It is the sensitivity that is the issue ... Grados have high sensitivity - 98db and HE-6 have extremely low sensitivity ~83db - also they are different transducer type - Grados are dynamic and HE-6 are Planar ... two different animals ...

My Yamaha phones are also orthodynamic, but they have high sensitivity. I've also listened to various phones from AKG, Sennheiser, Beyerdynamic, Stax, and of course Koss when I was a teenager and parents all bought them from a discount store for their kids to try to get them to use phones.

I suspect my Shure phones are the most accurate of the ones I've tried, but I like the Grados too. In fact, I'm thinking of giving my SR-80s to my brother and buying a pair of Alessandro MS-1s.

[adydula]

Just got done with a 2 hr listening session with the 702s on the Insight+ pre-amp, tried them on an Onkyo SR 805 AVR and a PC with a soundcard. The soundcard had a difficult driving them loud the AVR was VERY loud if needed, the Insight + will BLOW this out if not careful....ablsoutley STUNNING performance...the sound is so OMG nice, accurate, tight etc...u can crawl around in the music and hear the room sounds, recordings are easily picked apart good and bad.

I dont think the cans you mention would not be driven and driven very well by this 'amp'.

Some one send me a set and I will let you know how they work!!

LOL


Alex