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Post by theadmans on Feb 14, 2007 18:09:58 GMT
It's my birthday coming up and I would really like a Headphone Amp to add to the x10d I am already running.
My first choice would be an X-Cans, but my wife is on a budget for my present so this may proove too expensive. Another alternative maybe a Project Headbox has anyone got any experience of this amp?
Does anyone know if the Project is better than the B-tech DT928?
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rickcr42
Fully Modded
Rest in peace my good friend.
Posts: 4,514
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Post by rickcr42 on Feb 14, 2007 23:49:47 GMT
someone want to help this guy ?
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Fergus
100+
Done a David Ike and is now known as Godkin
Posts: 197
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Post by Fergus on Feb 15, 2007 0:24:09 GMT
No experience of the PROJECT HEADBOX (£75). Only what I've read, and that has been very positive. They also make an SE version (£129).
You could also try the REGA EAR (£140), which I have some experience off, and for the money it's very good indeed. There's also the CHANNEL ISLAND AUDIO (CIA) VHP-2 headphone amp. And there's the potential of upgrading with the VAC-1 PSU. Not sure of the price though. If you like valves, you could also go Chinese. The LITTLE DOT 2++ is meant to be quite a good little amp. It retails, on E-Bay for around £75 (plus postage).
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Post by PinkFloyd on Feb 15, 2007 1:12:28 GMT
The Project headbox is a total DOG and I would avoid it like the plague. It sounds tinny, horrible, compressed and decidedly shite.... seriously...... one of the few amps I declined to review as the meat and bones of the review would have essentially reported the SQ as .... "shit" Avoid like the plague. Hopefully Lini will chip in on this one IIRC he wasn't too enamoured with the headbox either. B-Tech BT-928 is a good little amp if £25 seems like a fortune to you..... It'll put a smile on your face but far from quality.
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Post by theadmans on Feb 15, 2007 9:10:42 GMT
Thanks Guys - I'll cross the Project Headbox off the list then ! In fact I have found some comments on the web about the Headbox which seem to confirm PinkFloyds view of it as a DOG.
I will continue to look for a cheap X-Cans on eBay and also the Little Dot looks interesting.
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rickcr42
Fully Modded
Rest in peace my good friend.
Posts: 4,514
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Post by rickcr42 on Feb 16, 2007 2:46:02 GMT
I don't hear much about (and have never myself heard) the Creek Headphone amps that on paper-discrete output stage etc.-look to be a bargain.Anyone here have an opinion ? might be another alternative in the mid-range price area
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Post by theadmans on Feb 16, 2007 9:01:55 GMT
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lini
Been here a while!
Groanings from Han(g)over
Posts: 191
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Post by lini on Feb 21, 2007 12:15:35 GMT
theadmans: I've got one of the original HeadBoxes (which, as the single input & output version has appeared in the meantime, now seems to be marketed as SE version...). I found it a major let-down that that thingy was easily smoked in sound quality by a PortaCorda - and I also found it rather disappointing that the solid appearance of the outside stood in high contrast to the crappy quality of the components inside: el cheapo switch, el cheapo pots, el cheapo capacitors, el cheapo pcb material - definitely not what I would have expected in a 200 Euro amp.
According to some inside pics, the newer and cheaper single input & output version seems to be built ever so slightly better - but I'd still rather recommend to go for the B-Tech or some of the priceworthy portable amps that can also be externally powered (GoVibe et cetera...) instead.
Greetings from Munich!
Manfred / lini
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Post by theadmans on Mar 20, 2007 16:10:28 GMT
Just thought I'd let all you guys know that in the end I took the advice of Fergus and got myself a Little Dot II Headphone Amp. Have to say I am very impressed for the money I paid (£70). I'd been trying to get an X-Cans for the last month on eBay but kept getting outbid - they are just too damn popular!
Anyone else got a Little Dot ? I'd love to know if there is any mileage in tube rolling (sure made a big difference to my x10d).
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Fergus
100+
Done a David Ike and is now known as Godkin
Posts: 197
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Post by Fergus on Mar 20, 2007 19:18:53 GMT
Glad to hear you're liking the Little Dot. Which version did you go for? The Little Dot II++? If so, then the tubes are 2xEF92s and 2x6C19s.
The last of these two types I've some experience of, as they are also in my DARKVOICE 332. I suspect the stock tubes in your Little Dot are Chinese 6C19s (write this in its English form as 6S19). Replacing these will bring about some improvements. There are a limited amount of equivalents, and no western ones, the best ones being the Russian mil-spec versions - the SVETLANA 6S19Ps and 6S19P-Bs and the ULYANOVSK 6S19Ps and 6S19P-Vs. My personal favourite is the ULYANOVSK version, although the SVETLANAs are also very good. You can usually buy these on E-Bay at a good price, although you will have to buy in bulk (usually 8 and above).
The EF92s I've no experience of - my 332 uses the EF95s. The MULLARDs always come highly recommended. Try, if you can get them, the special quality version of the EF92 - the M8161. Other western equivalents are the W77 and the 9D6. There's also a British military valve, the CV131. Again these should bring about good sonic benefits.
Good luck.
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Post by theadmans on Mar 20, 2007 19:31:52 GMT
Thanks for the advice Fergus. My Little Dot is a used example and is the Little Dot II (not + or ++). Does this alter my Tube selection from the options you give above?
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Fergus
100+
Done a David Ike and is now known as Godkin
Posts: 197
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Post by Fergus on Mar 20, 2007 20:44:53 GMT
The earlier versions of the Little Dot uses completely different valves. Power tubes are 4P1Ss and the signal valves are the 1B2s, with older amps using the 1K2s.
I know that a equivalent of the 4P1S is the 4N1NP. These could be tried, but honestly I've no experience of these tubes. I look around and see what I can find.
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Post by theadmans on Mar 21, 2007 17:33:30 GMT
Thanks Fergus - the markings on the valves are a bit difficult to make out but I can now see that I have two large 4P1S valves and two small 1K2 valves.
From a bit of research I have done I believe the 1K2 was used in the LD2 amp to replace the 1B2 valves used in older LD2's. An article I have read suggests 1T4 valves as a direct replacement for 1K2. I can find 1T4 valves on eBay but am struggling to find a replacement for the 4P1S (no trace of 4P1L or 4N1N on eBay at the moment).
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