Budget Balanced 4 pin XLR headphone amp

[artismo]

Hi all, long time lurker and appreciative of objectivist measurements and audiophile philosophy. There’s nothing like a clean, accurate rig. However, I personally tend to favor a little warmth and vocal presence when I’m relaxing or commuting.

I live in Japan and have access to some good equipment, but I also find myself surfing eBay and Massdrop to get some hard to get equipment.

I currently have: a Topping D30, MDO2, xDuoo TA-02 with and Voskhod tubes

My cans: HD58X, HE4XX, Focal Elex, Blue Sadie, Blue Ella, Audeze Sine, Oppo Pm-3

My point is, I’m looking for a new budget amp that can power these cans with authority (I know, maybe an oxymoron)~

Planars need current and by my guesstimates of 32 ohm, 1 watt, 5.xx volts, the Atom should put out south of 200 milliamps. Is that sufficient to drive planars in that resistance ballpark?

Also, I was looking at the SMSL SH-8 balanced amp, but I haven’t seen measurements here or a review. What are your thoughts? I’m willing to empty my wallet a little more for quality.

Any thoughts on the CTH with an LPS? Do measurements improve?

-Thankful amateur

[edited for typos]

 

[amirm]

Planars need current and by my guesstimates of 32 ohm, 1 watt, 5.xx volts, the Atom should put out south of 200 milliamps. Is that sufficient to drive planars in that resistance ballpark?

It does. You would go deaf at maximum volume. And I say this with both testing the HD-650 and HE-400i. You get clean power until your ears complain....

 

[amirm]

Also, I was looking at the SMSL SH-8 balances amp, but I saw I measurements here or review. What are your thoughts? I’m willing to empty my wallet a little more for quality.

There is no headphone amplifier out there that competes with JDS Labs Atom, Massdrop THX AAA 780 and Neurochrome HP-1. These are basically distortion free, and amazingly powerful. While I will keep testing to find more alternatives for now, I say for an amplifier limit your choice to these.

 

[artismo]

There is no headphone amplifier out there that competes with JDS Labs Atom, Massdrop THX AAA 780 and Neurochrome HP-1. These are basically distortion free, and amazingly powerful. While I will keep testing to find more alternatives for now, I say for an amplifier limit your choice to these.

Awesome, thanks for the reply. I took a look at the HP-1 and gave myself a goal to look forward to. I’ve been eyeing the THX myself too and will probably pick it up if I can find it used or still available for drop. If I don’t see it for a week or so, I’ll pick up an Atom.

Also, I was looking at measurements for the CTH, well anything budget-ish Alex Cavalli (Liquid Carbon, Spark), and was disappointed by the data.

Any chance you’ll remeasure the CTH with an LPS? Do you think it would matter?