Hifiman HE-6 + Sonos Amp

[leonroy]

I have a pair of HE-6 headphones, they're notoriously insensitive (83.5db). Many users drive their HE-6's with a speaker amp. Hifiman even sell an adapter for this explicit purpose here:
http://hifiman.com/products/detail/84

Unfortunately my gigantic circa 90s Yamaha amp finally bit the dust and I wanted to replace it with something small and extremely convenient with everything integrated.

Does anyone see any issue with a class D all-in-one like the new Sonos Amp driving these?

 

[garbulky]

You may want to check out the Emotiva A-100. This one has a direct drive mode which outputs tremendous power to headphones.

 

[cjfrbw]

I imagine that's 83.5 db per milliwatt by the standard headphone spec. That would be over 100db at least at a tenth of a watt (100 milliwatts). That's a lot less sensitive than a lot of headphones, but still much more efficient than speakers. A couple of watt amp should do, so I doubt the Sonos is underpowered.

 

[leonroy]

thanks @garbulky that's a good shout, will look for a UK distributor of Emotiva, can't believe the value for money they provide on all their stuff.

@cjfrbw I don't suppose any of the snobbery against Class D is warranted anymore? ie. even for headphones...?

 

[cjfrbw]

thanks @garbulky

@cjfrbw I don't suppose any of the snobbery against Class D is warranted anymore? ie. even for headphones...?

I don't know, some people like particular class D amplifiers. Let your ears be your guide.

 

[Darwin]

I have the new Sonos Amp. How are you expecting to connect headphones to it?

 

[leonroy]

@Darwin hello, are you DarwinOS from the Room forums?

In any case a speaker amp can be used with headphones with this little gadget made by Hifiman:
http://hifiman.com/products/detail/84

 

[leonroy]

Good pic and explanation of its internals here:
https://www.head-fi.org/threads/diy-he-adapter.603433/