Amps with Crossfeed Implementation: Recommendation for Planar Magnetic Headphones?

[m0pher]

I listen to music primarily on headphones. Been getting into older recordings recently that have hard left/right channels, I supposed recorded in days when music was primarily mixed for consumption via speakers? At any rate, I've been reading that some amps offer a crossfeed feature that can help with that. Are there any recommendations from this community about amps with good implementations of this feature? All my headphones are planar magnetic and I recently saw a YT review of the Feliks Audio Euforia Evo that has this feature but also said this amp is particularly picky when it comes to pairing with planars, so figured I'd ask here.

 

[staticV3]

Are there any recommendations from this community about amps with good implementations of this feature?

iFi is the only brand that comes to mind with analog crossfeed built into their headphone Amps (called XSpace).

Though I don't particularly like that brand, their headphone amps should do the trick just fine.

 

[m0pher]

Though I don't particularly like that brand

Thanks. Why don't you like the brand?

 

[Vincent Kars]

I supposed recorded in days when music was primarily mixed for consumption via speakers

No, if it is really hard panned, it are often recordings from the second half of the sixties. The boys (producers) had a new toy and use it to the extreme.
Just a matter of a lack of taste.

Wonder what your source is. If it is a PC/Mac/Mobile; crossfeeds by the number https://www.audiosciencereview.com/...ows-linux-macos-ios-ipados-and-android.18450/

 

[m0pher]

Wonder what your source is. If it is a PC/Mac/Mobile; crossfeeds by the number https://www.audiosciencereview.com/...ows-linux-macos-ios-ipados-and-android.18450/

Thanks, will check out the link. Sources are primarily my iPhone and occasionally also my MacBook Pro (with music downloaded to those devices from Apple Music).

 

[staticV3]

Thanks. Why don't you like the brand?

They exploit biases and FOMO for profit, fudge their numbers, and make rookie engineering mistakes when batteries are involved:

Measurements of iFi nano iDSD Black Label DAC/HPAmp - L7Audiolab

台式设备 前几天我测了iFi nano iDSD，确实这台机器的年头有点久了,后来在2018年推出的新版叫做 iFi nano iDSD Black Label ，这台机器倒是淘宝上还有货。考虑到上一代非常有趣，于是我自己下单了一台这个“黑标”

www.l7audiolab.com

iFi iDSD Diablo 2 Measurements - GoldenSound

The iFi Diablo 2 improves upon the original with many user requested features and changes. Though does not meet the claimed power output spec

goldensound.audio

iFi just doesn't strike me as a brand that particularly respects its customers.

 

[JeffS7444]

MiniDSP HA-DSP (discontinued) is crossfeed-capable, but implementing it is somewhat technical in nature, and the last time I checked, there were no howto guides.

 

[kemmler3D]

I use a crossfeed plugin on Windows, but I don't know of a simple and free way to do it on Mac - you can use AU plugins with a utility called Soundsource, which itself costs $40. But, it's doable.

 

[bargainguy]

I believe the SPL Phonitor Matrix has analog crossfeed:

https://spl.audio/en/this-is-how-the-spl-phonitor-matrix-sounds/

 

[m0pher]

I believe the SPL Phonitor Matrix has analog crossfeed:

https://spl.audio/en/this-is-how-the-spl-phonitor-matrix-sounds/

This seems like a good solution for my home office. Thanks!

 

[mermayer]

The RME ADI-2 DAC provides a Crossfeed effect, which reduces the artificial surround ambience that some productions have to make them sound better on speakers, but which sounds unnatural on a headphone. Bauer Binaural method is used, with five selectable strengths of narrowing the upper frequencies.

 

[BeeKay]

In case you are a Roon user, crossfeed is an available DSP option.

 

[Roland68]

I listen to music primarily on headphones. Been getting into older recordings recently that have hard left/right channels, I supposed recorded in days when music was primarily mixed for consumption via speakers? At any rate, I've been reading that some amps offer a crossfeed feature that can help with that. Are there any recommendations from this community about amps with good implementations of this feature? All my headphones are planar magnetic and I recently saw a YT review of the Feliks Audio Euforia Evo that has this feature but also said this amp is particularly picky when it comes to pairing with planars, so figured I'd ask here.

Meier Audio devices have switchable analog crossfeed.
I even have a Corda Jazz on my desk right now.

There are various DIY projects for looping crossfeed into the HPA, as well as plenty of EQ/DSP software that allows for this.

 

[Oldson]

This seems like a good solution for my home office. Thanks!

just be careful when using single ended headphone jack