4c
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Posts: 24
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Post by 4c on Oct 7, 2019 22:36:41 GMT
I'm in my mid forties and I've never heard a valve amplifier
So, I spotted a thread here about the WAD HD83, and quickly set up a search on eBay that's going to email me as soon as one is being auctioned. Genius.
But that got me thinking that I should find out what the top 5 'Valve Headphone Amps you should hear before you die' are, and then set up the searches on eBay, so I'm ready to pounce.
Anybody brave enough to suggest what that top 5 list should be?!
I want to keep it to auctions of 2nd hand amps, I can't afford to go 'new' at the moment.
Oh, and a suggested maximum price would be handy, so I don't rip myself off!
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Post by freddypipsqueek on Oct 8, 2019 18:08:46 GMT
Very good question - Mike ??
The last WAD HD83 went on ebay for £275 - it had been pimped a bit though (TKD volume pot etc).
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Post by PinkFloyd on Oct 8, 2019 21:22:51 GMT
Very good question - Mike ?? The last WAD HD83 went on ebay for £275 - it had been pimped a bit though (TKD volume pot etc). I'm out of the loop these days Adrian (my choice / I'm turning into an old f**ker) but the WAD is an amp I wish I had kept (and then some!) it was a TRUE valve amp with PROPER voltage / current applied to the valves (not a starved hybrid). I wouldn't have a top "five"........ If I wanted to experience audio nirvana on a reasonable budget I would most definitely have the WAD HD83 on my "ebay" watch list (FULL STOP HERE!) Done right it's a magical experience...... fit some "genuine" NOS ECL83 valves and it will blow your mind in a way your mind has never been blown before...... done wrong (ie: shoddy soldering / slap and dash build) it will possibly sound like shite BUT (ever the optimist) I am assuming the OP (original poster) knows one end of a soldering iron from the other and will do a stellar job on the fine detail of the build I have PLENTY of hybrid valve amp contenders (starved voltage) but that's not what you're looking for. A "Proper" valve headphone amp at a cheap price on ebay? My ebay radar would be tuned into "world audio designs WAD HD83 headphone amplifier / amp) What to pay? Anything from £50 to infinity...... all depends on "what" has been done (or not done / badly done) to the amp....... Mike.
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bullpup
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Post by bullpup on Oct 15, 2019 15:29:32 GMT
Well I'm very biased as I listen to my WAD HD83 while typing. I was very fortunate: my Amp was very poorly described on ebay and then our in-house expert worked his magic!! This was not a subtle transformation!
I used to use it only for best but life is too short so it is in daily use usually fed by Radio Paradise while I'm working: it has that rare ability to sound fantastic at all volumes with most headphones. However at higher volumes you are simply completely immersed in staggering sound. Think of music in an immersion tank - fabulous. Mine sounds great on Grado sr225s, very good with Sennheiser HD580s but the real symbiosis in my case seems to be with Beyerdynamics. I have 2 pairs the later DT990 PRO 250 ohm and an original pair of DT880S dating from god knows when. While both are fantastic, the originals are just mind blowing on all genres: Slam, Speed, Articulation, Detail and Soundstage are mind blowing.
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Post by PinkFloyd on Oct 15, 2019 20:25:56 GMT
Well I'm very biased as I listen to my WAD HD83 while typing. I was very fortunate: my Amp was very poorly described on ebay and then our in-house expert worked his magic!! This was not a subtle transformation! I used to use it only for best but life is too short so it is in daily use usually fed by Radio Paradise while I'm working: it has that rare ability to sound fantastic at all volumes with most headphones. However at higher volumes you are simply completely immersed in staggering sound. Think of music in an immersion tank - fabulous. Mine sounds great on Grado sr225s, very good with Sennheiser HD580s but the real symbiosis in my case seems to be with Beyerdynamics. I have 2 pairs the later DT990 PRO 250 ohm and an original pair of DT880S dating from god knows when. While both are fantastic, the originals are just mind blowing on all genres: Slam, Speed, Articulation, Detail and Soundstage are mind blowing. You've got me tenting
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4c
<100
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Post by 4c on Oct 23, 2019 18:02:42 GMT
Thanks chaps,
Sounds like the WAD HD63 is my only option then! I've had my search running for a months now, and there hasn't been a single hint of one for sale. I can't even find one going through eBay's history of sales. I think it will be a long wait.
On the positive side, it gives me more time to spend with my new Panda HA.
Is there anything else I should add to my list? Maybe a top 5, rather than a top 1, will give me more chance to find something?!
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bullpup
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Post by bullpup on Oct 24, 2019 12:03:16 GMT
An x-can is a very nice starting point with plenty of upgrade options available. I am still more than happy with mine.
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pingu
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Post by pingu on Oct 24, 2019 14:40:34 GMT
Thanks chaps, Sounds like the WAD HD63 is my only option then! I've had my search running for a months now, and there hasn't been a single hint of one for sale. I can't even find one going through eBay's history of sales. I think it will be a long wait. On the positive side, it gives me more time to spend with my new Panda HA. Is there anything else I should add to my list? Maybe a top 5, rather than a top 1, will give me more chance to find something?! There was an hd 83 for sale on flea bay b3gining of August this year and one several months before that but not seen for sale often So as you say may be a long wait Good luck Martin
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Post by PinkFloyd on Oct 25, 2019 11:04:26 GMT
An x-can is a very nice starting point with plenty of upgrade options available. I am still more than happy with mine. Agreed! There's a half decent looking X-CAN V2 on ebay at the moment Here
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pingu
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Post by pingu on Oct 25, 2019 16:51:16 GMT
Offer him £90.00 as an opening offer see what you get. You never know 🙀
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Post by freddypipsqueek on Oct 25, 2019 19:18:12 GMT
The WD83 in August went for £275 as referred to above - I just missed it. These are meant to be very good but no first hand knowledge - www.ebay.co.uk/itm/143417918905An X-CAN is obviously the obvious choice !! They are fetching around £90 - I have been looking and have been tempted however only done a cable since I buggered up my Ben Duncan.
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Post by PinkFloyd on Oct 25, 2019 20:35:23 GMT
Offer him £90.00 as an opening offer see what you get. You never know 🙀 Probably a f**k off you cheapskate bastard type reply?
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Post by PinkFloyd on Oct 25, 2019 20:50:55 GMT
Sod it...... I've bought it for myself Pingu..... £125 is "peanuts" for an amp of that pedigree......
Sorry guys but I paid the £125 asking price (mug that I am) and am looking forward to it's arrival.
My "three" V2 amps are getting a bit tired (with regard to the solder pads / tags) and this one is needed to display my latest mods ;-)
£125? I feel more than happy with that.
Mike.
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bullpup
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Post by bullpup on Oct 25, 2019 23:42:19 GMT
I must say I have been resisting temptation to buy that Bottlehead Crack.
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pingu
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Post by pingu on Oct 26, 2019 16:58:45 GMT
I must say I have been resisting temptation to buy that Bottlehead Crack. Ha ha ha so have I in the end plumped for a dark voice that needs to be repaired. Just got some new 100v 220uF caps to replace originals but first going to replace the electrolytes and shorting resistors. Tried new glass but no better so guess it’s the caps The speed ball upgrade (or a version of it) I’m told will work on a DV Martin
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pingu
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Post by pingu on Oct 28, 2019 10:17:14 GMT
An x-can is a very nice starting point with plenty of upgrade options available. I am still more than happy with mine. Agreed! There's a half decent looking X-CAN V2 on ebay at the moment Here Ha ha ha I might be a cheapskate Mike but of you are not open to offers why put it on the add I would ask? Don’t get a bargain if you don’t ask;) Surely you do not offer the asking price if you buying a car. If he was sensible he would negotiated, however if you happy with your purchase who am I to criticise All the best Martin
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pingu
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Post by pingu on Oct 28, 2019 10:23:33 GMT
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bullpup
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Post by bullpup on Oct 28, 2019 10:49:08 GMT
Has anyone tried the eufonika h4se headphone tube amplifer? There is one listed on rbay?
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Post by PinkFloyd on Oct 29, 2019 20:27:10 GMT
An x-can is a very nice starting point with plenty of upgrade options available. I am still more than happy with mine. Hi David, Is yours an X-CAN V2? If so, I will be uploading a few tweaks over the next few days which REALLY do add some fizz into the mix!! The tweaks are cheap and easy to employ but really do bring about major sonic improvements. Tweak 1 is the gain mod..... a couple of resistors........ gives you full use of the volume control Tweak 2 is the 3D mod....... 4 capacitors and 2 resistors ...... It totally widens the soundscape to an almost holographic (walk around each individual performer) 3D "real" presentation. Two very simple tweaks which I will share over the next few days (in a separate thread). I've worked on a couple of V2's in the past month (and have incorporated the latest tweaks) and without prompting any type of response with regards to imaging it was good hear when these two separate comments were made: "Great, really good. fired it up on Friday night listening initially to some “well-worn/listened to” music of mine to get a “feel” of the new sound differences. 3D soundscape definitely revealing more.""Almost an out of head three dimensional soundstage! What a difference! Pure genius!"Will upload details over the next few days (separate thread). Mike.
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pingu
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Post by pingu on Oct 31, 2019 11:25:18 GMT
Hi Mike, Be interested to see those mods, as would many on here. The work on the DV continues, look for way to replace the 6 film caps without taking out PCB at the mo. Martim
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bullpup
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Post by bullpup on Oct 31, 2019 11:59:52 GMT
Hi Mike Sorry I missed your post earlier. My X-can is a V1 which was your Samwha Guinea pig way back in 2007!! I am vaguely keepng my eye open for a V2 so will be following your updates with interest however I am aware that I really need to practice my soldering skills first. I think I may try to repair / upgrade my QED and HFNOO9 amplifiers first before going much further.
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Post by PinkFloyd on Oct 31, 2019 20:07:00 GMT
Hi Mike, Be interested to see those mods, as would many on here. The work on the DV continues, look for way to replace the 6 film caps without taking out PCB at the mo. Martim Hi Martin, The £125 (seller accepted £115) V2 has arrived and it's immaculate inside and out...... I'll strip it down on Saturday, fit my usual mods as well as the latest tweaks, and post some photos in a separate thread on Sunday. I don't remember ever owning a Darkvoice but apparantly I tweaked one I "owned"? I must search Google for that one!! So many amps in the "sweetspot" of this forum..... it's hard to remember them all with intimacy..... I'll see if I can find the darkvoice thread and may be able to help you with the 6 film caps thang. Mike.
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Post by PinkFloyd on Oct 31, 2019 20:10:05 GMT
OK..... I didn't want to show my hand. I went in with a £95 offer (more than fair low ball offer) and the seller responded with a £120 counter offer....... he wasn't going to budge a lot so I countered with a £115 FINAL offer and he accepted.
Trained eye (and ear on the seller) told me that this would be a MINT example (inside and out) so (afaiac) it would have been bad form to offer him £65 (for example)....... I knew what I was buying and he deserved the full asking price (and then some!)
May sound cocked up Martin but when you know the seller and the provenance of the item they are selling it's best not to lowball them and give them close to their asking price........ I feel bad for shaving a tenner off of the asking price but will repay that with help with his new amp.
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Post by freddypipsqueek on Nov 1, 2019 12:50:59 GMT
If there is an offer option on an Ebay listing then its open to make an offer. I have picked up a few bargains with a low offer but equally found sellers who are thinking 2% is their only wiggle room.
The big problem with Ebay is the money back guarantee. On receipt the buyer can say the item did not match the description and Ebay will uphold this whether true or not. The seller must then pay the return postage and buyers then say they will accept the item if they get a discount - usually the return postage etc. Ebay are using the Distance Selling Regulations to justify their policy. I don't sell on Ebay at all now. I got done along these lines selling a DAC despite the buyer being a private trader.
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pingu
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Post by pingu on Nov 1, 2019 18:43:07 GMT
OK..... I didn't want to show my hand. I went in with a £95 offer (more than fair low ball offer) and the seller responded with a £120 counter offer....... he wasn't going to budge a lot so I countered with a £115 FINAL offer and he accepted. Trained eye (and ear on the seller) told me that this would be a MINT example (inside and out) so (afaiac) it would have been bad form to offer him £65 (for example)....... I knew what I was buying and he deserved the full asking price (and then some!) May sound cocked up Martin but when you know the seller and the provenance of the item they are selling it's best not to lowball them and give them close to their asking price........ I feel bad for shaving a tenner off of the asking price but will repay that with help with his new amp. Not at all Mike your offer was only £5 higher than this cheapskates suggested starting price of £90.00 lol A way so long as your happy that’s what counts And to Freddy yes always good stragergy to make an offer I too have picked up a couple of amazing bargains Ah well Christmas’s is coming so people selling stuff to buy pressies and after Christmas getting rid of the unwanted stuff lol lol Goddhunting all
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