Little Dot III headphone amp

[GeoffreyW]

Hi, Brisk, and welcome to our thread. Did you also go down the Mullard route, prior to the Tung Sols? As you have probably read I'm awaiting what I hope are Tung Sols, but I may have some "possibles", "possibly"made by them. If they're not as good as I hope, then I may be asking you for your source, if thats ok?

Which phones are you using, Brisk? Or do you have several from which to choose?

Is the LD3 part of your system evolution?

 

[GeoffreyW]

Brisk, I've just got my new tubes, and they are quite small. Can you tell me how your Tung Sols compare with your Mullards, for size, please? Mine are about half the size of my Mullards. I rolled them (?) a couple of hours ago, and they haven't caught fire yet, but I haven't yet had a critical listen - been watching Dr Who. Oh, yes, I swapped the jumpers back to where they were with the original 5654 tubes.

 

[Anonymous]

Hi Geoffrey,

Have I owned a few set of tubes, two pairs of Mullards, the M8161, M8083 and of course the Tungs. As you have found the Tungs are a lot smaller than the Mullards which is nothing to worry about, they are much the same size as the stock tubes.

I only have the one set of phones the Sen HD650 but previously I have used the Grado SR60s and I own the Audio-Technica ATH-ES55 for portable use. Mainly I use the full sized setup listed in my signature but since moving recently I haven't had chance to set this up I've been using headphones a lot more. I may eventually have more to choose from but at this moment in time the Senns are more than enough for me. I use my Mac Mini as a source with WAV AIFF and Apple lossless files (a few 24bit tracks too) fed into my modified DAC magic via optical and connected up to the Dot with a pair of Merlin Bach Mk4 interconnects. You might find, depending on your setup that the Tungs are prone to picking up interference unlike the military tubes like the Mullards. I don't mind this too much because I much prefer the sound of the Tungs. If I roll back to the mullards I find the sound a little more harsh in the HF a bit narrower in the soundstage and a bit cleaner but more clinical. If you have any more questions ask away, I by far not an expert though

 

[crusaderlord]

I have my Little Dot III set up as a pre amp for use with my PC in my small cellar.
An older NAD C320BEE provides the power to some Epos M3 speakers. For the amount this cost to set up (all for under £400 - i got very lucky with the speakers) it does a superb job.

I generally use the stock tubes but i do have a set of Russian 62H1P which to be honest ive never really tried out properly despite their good recommendation. The stock tubes sound good anyway but its useful to have a spare set.

What i can confirm is that using the Little Dot as a preamp is so much better than just using the NAD on its own.

 

[GeoffreyW]

Hi, Brisk. My new tubes are National 5654s, which the seller said he thought were made by Tung Sol, and which was what prompted me to buy them. They've only got about 12 hours on them just now, so it's a bit early to make any definitive comment, but lastening last night I felt they were still quite bright, without much bass, but things will change, I'm sure. I did compare them to my Little Dot original 5654s, and they're the same size, so no probs there.

How do the HD650s compare to the SR60s? I've gone from SR80s to Alessandro MS1, and now that theyre fitted with Grado SR (ring) pads, they're sounding better than the 80s, much airier, more refined, but plenty of well-structured, controlled bass

for my taste. I've considered getting some closed phones, either AKG or Senns, out of deference to my long- suffering wife, but would hate to spend quite a bit only to find I've lost the airiness and spacious sound of the Alessandros.

Cheers, Geoff.

 

[GeoffreyW]

Hi, Crusaderlord. I'd like to try my LD3 as a pre-amp, but I think it would not be easy with my Naim set-up. As my system is available to my family, with phono, tuner, CD, TV, DVD and Humax all being fed to it, having CD only to LD3 would prevent anyone else listening to CDs in my absence. As I'm happy with the Avondaled Naim set-up, I'm not sure whether the LD3 could improve on it, and another power amp fed by the LD3 would have a completely different sound. One day, though.....

I think Graham has tried the Russian power tubes, but felt that their contribution to the sound was minimal, compared to rolling driver tubes. Still, at least you've got spares, if the need arrives.

 

[Anonymous]

That's right Geoff, about 80% of the sound is the driver tubes, so I didn't hear any difference, for me...... Still, spares as you say.

 

[GeoffreyW]

Hi, Graham. How are your new cables bedding in? My new tubes are sounding good at the moment, only about 20 hours, but sounding potentially quite good. Perhaps still a bit on the bright side, but that could change.

 

[Anonymous]

The CrimsonPlus is a lovely warm yet detailed sound Geoff. Very nice cables for the money considering I've been all the way up to Chord Anthem and down again!

 

[GeoffreyW]

Sounding good, then, Graham. Looks like I'll need to compare them against my Flashbacks, direct from CDP. My Crimson is Din - phono, from amp to LD3, and so far I'm happy with the synergy, but nothing ventured......

 

[GeoffreyW]

Graham, did you look any further into Tung Sol tubes? If not, you could be missing a trick. The tubes I've recently bought, even if they're not actually marked Tung Sol, are sounding very dynamic and detailed, even at lower volumes, and the ole liquid quality of valves is very clear, from bass right through to treble, now they've got around 30 hours on them. They're still available on fleabay, and the same chap also has some used Tung Sol 5654s available, and I must admit I'm tempted, even though the National 5654s sound good.

Well worth considering for your next step, methinks.

 

[Anonymous]

Geoff, I've sold the LD III now so no more tube rolling for me. Good luck with yours. I can get by with my Denon M38 DAB and Senn HD 380 Pros.........

 

[GeoffreyW]

Sorry to lose you, Graham, your Denon/Senn combo must be really something, then. BTW, out of curiosity, will you be keeping the new Crimson i/c? Is it good?

 

[Anonymous]

Hi Geoff, yes the little Denon/Senn 380 Pro is really good, to the point where no difference = sell! I also sold the ChrimsonPlus although I liked the sound very much. Take care and enjoy the LD III.

 

[Paulq]

I am looking at an LD III or a Graham Slee Novo at the moment. I like the look and reviews of the LD III but reading this thread and being a complete technophobe I need to ask some newbie type questions please:

1. I assume that a new LD III will come with a set of tubes?

2. Do different types of tube/tube combinations result in didderent sound? If so how do you know what gives you what?

3. How do you know whic replacement tubes to buy?

Sorry if these are basic questions guys - just want to get one ordered this week whichever I choose.

Cheers.

 

[Anonymous]

paulq

1. I assume that a new LD III will come with a set of tubes?

Yes.

2. Do different types of tube/tube combinations result in different sound? If so how do you know what gives you what?

Yes.

Trial and error and other user reviews.

3. How do you know whic replacement tubes to buy?

Little Dot have their own forum http://www.littledot.net/forum/viewforum.php?f=3 and there is a dedicated thread at headfi.org.

 

[GeoffreyW]

Hi, Paulq, you're opening a whole new can of worms with a valve amp! Due to the alternatives available, comparing valves could be worse than comparing 'phones. The Little Dot 3 has two pairs of valves, power tubes and driver tubes, both of which can be changed, but it's the driver tubes which are those which are most often swapped. Mullards are those most commonly the first port of call from the OE valves, but as Graham says, check out the LD website forum for their experiences. Been following your other thread, having SR80i alternatives - Alessandro MS1 - and would like a less leaky pair with the same characteristics, in a similar price bracket; not possible, I fear. Good luck with your quest.

 

[Anonymous]

Ho Geoff, hope you are well. It sounds like you're still enjoying the LD! I've still got the Denon and now a DAC (Fiio E10 - tempted to order the E17.....) to listen on the PC (with AKG K450s - excellent).

 

[GeoffreyW]

Hi again, Graham, yes, very happy with the LD3. I got the E7 for improved listening in the car, and together with the L7 have a USB DAC now have a low-cost solution to listen to downloads and internet radio from my laptop via my main system. Isn't the E17 a combined E10 & E7?

It's certainly more compact though. Verrrry interesting....

 

[Anonymous]

Hi Geoff, good to hear from you. Emerging reviews place the E17 as better SQ than the E10. At almost double the price it should be but the portability appeals for my iPod Classic as well as PC listening. We're still waiting for UK stock.... ray:

 

[Anonymous]

I recently purchased the Grado sr80 along with a pair of Grado Alessandro MS1 headphones.

The sr80's I purchased on ebay sounded great right out of the box, had already been burned in. I don't think the Grado Alessandro MS1 have enough hours on them yet because they sound a bit more harsh when compared to the sr80's I have.

I will be getting the Grado sr225 soon ... have to share my thoughts once I get to audition them.

Also I am looking for info on reasonable priced headphone amp. I am new to headphone amps.

I need a budget priced headphone distribution amp, and I read that the PreSonus HP4 - 4-Channel Headphone Distribution Amplifier Priced at around $150.00 was a good choice for monitoring voice over recordings and the like.

My question is: can this amp work for everyday listening with my Grado sr225 headphones?

or do I need to get something more suited to and dedicated to audiophile use?

Just thought I might be able to kill 2 birds with 1 stone.

Any help is appreciated.

 

[GeoffreyW]

Hi, etomic. I'm happy with the sound I hear via my Naim + Little Dot 3, in my Alessandros, which are my main-use set, the SR80 in reserve. Unfortunately my budget won't stretch to SR225's. Yet. I did contemplate the Graham Slee Novo, which was available in kit form, but decided to try the valve sound of the Little Dot. Try the Littledot.net forum site. Good luck.