Hello everyone, I`m currently using a Denon DM31 and a pair of Grado SR60s. I`m not interested in speakers, at the moment. Can anyone recommend an amp/cd player combination with a view to getting the best out of the Grados. Am I right in thinking that I can use a headphone amp hooked up to a cd player without the need for a proper amp? Would the new Denon all in one be noticeably better than the DM31, or should I go the separates route. I reckon I could stretch to £500, but the cheaper the better, really. As I said, I`m looking to really get the most of the Grados.
headphone only system
- Thread starter daveyjay
- Start date
You don't need a "proper amp". You just need source/headphone amp headphones. Take a look on the HeadFi forum, they have millions of threads on this. If you have £500 to spend your best investment would be to upgrade your headphones to a better Grado spec. You could also use your computer as source and buy a headphone amp/dac combined which is a popular route for headphone only users. Look at the squeezebox route as well. Unfortunatley there is only one ipod dock that allows you to by-pass its DAC and I think it retails for over £300.
With headphone amps its worth looking at tube versions which are very popular. Most headphone heads on their own forum tend not to like the versions commonly recommended (Creek and Project) as very good deals can be had from Chinese and other Asian imorts that would cost 3 times as much if made in UK or USA.
I have some AKG 601s and a Shanling PH100 and I love it, almost my favourite way of listening to music.
Its really worth doing some research though. Dont rush into anything there's lots of combinations for your budget that are worth considering.
With headphone amps its worth looking at tube versions which are very popular. Most headphone heads on their own forum tend not to like the versions commonly recommended (Creek and Project) as very good deals can be had from Chinese and other Asian imorts that would cost 3 times as much if made in UK or USA.
I have some AKG 601s and a Shanling PH100 and I love it, almost my favourite way of listening to music.
Its really worth doing some research though. Dont rush into anything there's lots of combinations for your budget that are worth considering.
OK, there`s alot to think about, there. I did`nt realise there was a dedicated forum, I`ll take a look. Thanks for that.
Keep the SR60s and get these:
http://whathifi.com/Review/Pro-ject-Head-Box-MKII/
http://whathifi.com/Review/NAD-C545BEE/
http://whathifi.com/Review/Atlas-Equator/
jules.
http://whathifi.com/Review/Pro-ject-Head-Box-MKII/
http://whathifi.com/Review/NAD-C545BEE/
http://whathifi.com/Review/Atlas-Equator/
jules.
idc
Well-known member
daveyjay:Hey Catcher, am I being really slow here, where is the headfi forum?
It is here; http://www.head-fi.org/forums/ but you can get all the info you need right here. Music Fidelity and Grado make a good combination for a dedicated system. MF smoothness and Grado livelyness compliment each other, but more than with any other system, as headphones can be very revealing, you should try before you buy.
It is here; http://www.head-fi.org/forums/ but you can get all the info you need right here. Music Fidelity and Grado make a good combination for a dedicated system. MF smoothness and Grado livelyness compliment each other, but more than with any other system, as headphones can be very revealing, you should try before you buy.
Keep the SR60s, for now, and get these:
http://whathifi.com/Review/Graham-Slee-Novo/
http://whathifi.com/Review/NAD-C545BEE/
http://whathifi.com/Review/Graham-Slee-Novo/
http://whathifi.com/Review/NAD-C545BEE/
Yeh, I was thinking along the same lines, Jules. Of course, I`m only getting my ideas from what hi-fi reviews, I`ve not heard any of this kit. I`m waiting for the mag to do a 'headphone only systems' article.
I appreciate there is a lot of information available here but I just thought it was an idea before buying to get all the information you could get. On Head Fi there are thousands of threads on this topic and it might be an idea for the threads originator to have a look there and elsewhere. As the originator said it can be hard to audition all this equipment. No need to be so sanctimonious.
idc:as headphones can be very revealing, you should try before you buy...
Which can be difficult, as many shops either won't let you because of hygiene reasons, or will simply break open a brand new set - HD650s can take 100 hours to give of their best. I ended up buying mine based on recommendations, reviews and comfort - the Grados were ruled out for me because I've never been comfortable with 'on-ear' cans and they're very overpriced in the UK - pretty much the same in pounds as they are in dollars in the States.
Which can be difficult, as many shops either won't let you because of hygiene reasons, or will simply break open a brand new set - HD650s can take 100 hours to give of their best. I ended up buying mine based on recommendations, reviews and comfort - the Grados were ruled out for me because I've never been comfortable with 'on-ear' cans and they're very overpriced in the UK - pretty much the same in pounds as they are in dollars in the States.
I`m confused again, guys. In reader rescue (May 09 WHF mag) they say that they have bypassed the reader`s pre/power amps and plugged the headphones straight into the `phones socket of his Marantz cd player. What`s driving the headphones then? Do I just need to get a cd player with a headphone socket? The reader appears to be very happy with the resultant sound. What`s going on here?
Dave at the risk of annoying the What Hifi is the one and only source of information brigade I really would have a look around Head Fi (as well as here of course). It would be very unusual for a cd player's integrated headphone amplifier to be anywhere near the quality of a stand alone headphone amp.
I'm told some amps do have a reasonable headphone socket, I seem to remember hearing this was the case with Audiolabs amps. Why not see if you can find a dealer who will let you take along your Grados to their shop with some cds and have a listen to a headphone amplifier?
Maybe you would be happy enough with the Marantz's socket, I haven't heard it so can't comment. But headphone amplifiers can be had for a relatively cheap price, some Chinese models are excellent and very reasonable priced.
I'm told some amps do have a reasonable headphone socket, I seem to remember hearing this was the case with Audiolabs amps. Why not see if you can find a dealer who will let you take along your Grados to their shop with some cds and have a listen to a headphone amplifier?
Maybe you would be happy enough with the Marantz's socket, I haven't heard it so can't comment. But headphone amplifiers can be had for a relatively cheap price, some Chinese models are excellent and very reasonable priced.
idc
Well-known member
The Marantz CD5001 has a headphone amp built in to it. This is unusual. For the best sound you are best to go with a dedicated headphone amp as opposed to one built into a CDP, amp or DAC, all of which have other priorities and jobs to do.
As for trying before you buy, I did not realise that now adays, because of health and safety it is harder to to find a shop with headphones to try. In that case I would start with headphones (my recommendation is anything from the Grado range) and you can easily take them out to audition amps and CDPs.
As for trying before you buy, I did not realise that now adays, because of health and safety it is harder to to find a shop with headphones to try. In that case I would start with headphones (my recommendation is anything from the Grado range) and you can easily take them out to audition amps and CDPs.
As already said..Headfi is a great place to start. Regarding amps though....there are lots available from overseas...someone has already mentioned the chinese ones..Little Dot get great reviews and their service is well rated......getting a demo here though is virtually impossible unless you know someone that has one, so its a bit of a gamble if you go that way. I got mine direct from Jan Meier in Germany....took a gamble and it has paid off.
I can't recommend anything other than that shown below....all I can say
is it works well for me and I have no plans to change it.
I can't recommend anything other than that shown below....all I can say
is it works well for me and I have no plans to change it.
Yeh, thanks for these replys chaps. I`m a bit surprised that they did`nt mention anything about getting a much bettter sound from offboard kit in the reader rescue article, though. I guess they can`t mention everything in every article, but considering they were talking about a 250 quid pair of headphones, they might have mentioned that you`re not going to get the best out of them by using the output from a cd player. The sound must have been pretty good for them to recommend the set up, though. As they say, it`s all about sound per pound, I guess.
Raym87 mentioned Littledot and they have great reviews. A headphone amp is also a great place to experiment with some valve amplification in your set up and the whole tube rolling thing. I sometimes wish I'd bought a tube headphone amp. They look great at night and offer a relatively cheap way of upgrading/changing sound.
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