Alas, no. I find it extremely difficult to audition headphone amps before buying them, but in this case I think I'll go ahead and place an order. What I know about the amp comes from a review at 6moons: http://www.6moons.com/audioreviews/yamamoto4/ha02.html
The Yamamoto evidently mates well with the Audio Technica ATH W1000 headphones.
I posted the suggestion partly to see if it would stimulate a discussion of alternatives or perhaps elicit a response from someone who does have first-hand experience of it.
Hello, just signed up, brand new member. I just s/w someone today, this morning actually who has this headphone amp. This is amazing because I myself am not familiar with it. The gentlemans name is slwiser, and he showed me some pictures of the 3 headphone amps he has. One, is the Yamamoto.
He said he is using it with Ultrsone 9s, hope that helps. Now, here is my gripe. I am looking to go with either the AKG701`s in white, or the Sennheiser HD600`s, as they are discounted now due to the 650`s and new HD 800`s. My thing is, none of us would buy a pair of speakers w/o hearing them first, right? You can hardly here in New York, (White Plains, Westchester County) demo or audition headphone amps and headphones. Lyric Hi-Fi here in WP, makes you have to go to their location on 83rd, to hear the Sennheisers. But, of course they don`t have AKG, so you can not compare. And they use Vincent or Antique Sound Lab headphone amps, not familiar with, or saw any reviews for these, so what do you do?
Headroom-Right Between your Ears, seems good because these guys eat and sleep headphones all day long. But, you still have to order them, sight unseen and unheard? Can anything change this?
I think one has to purchase Yamamoto products from Japan. These guys made my day with their attention to detail and the following ordering instructions:
"When you want the product of our company
In case that you, are hoped and are purchase the product of our company with the individual the payment in the credit card is possible. As for the credit card only VISA and MASTER are possible use.
We hope the communication in the fax from a viewpoint of the security protection in the case of the order. We do not have the responsibility in our company even if the trouble of the card breaks out in case that you transmitted the card information with the mail. The fax number of our company is 81-794-63-6405."
My impression is that the Yamamoto isn't portable. Is that correct? For portability I see that TAS recommends the Ray Samuels Hornet. Are there others to consider?
There are so many choices these days, I dare to say it is more a personal choice. I would do some search over at www.head-fi.org under the amplifier forum.
Hard to say what is "best", particularly since you don't say what "cans" you'll be driving, but I'd definitely check out:
Fixed position:
- The Zanden (particularly driving K1000s)---The Best in My Book
- The Moth 300B
- Single Power (they've got a bunch of exotic models)
- Todd the Vinyl Junkie's 307A
- Ray Samuels B-52
Portable:
- Ray Samuels has a range of portables, depending upon your budget. I'd start there.
I'm now also on a search for a desktop amp. I can't find any reference to the Zanden on their site, but I probably couldn't afford it anyway. Moth has a dedicated headphone amp, the Xanta, is that what you mean? Single Power seems cool, but where in heaven can you get one?
By the way, headphones are Sennehiser HD650, Denon 5000s, and maybe a Grado (I have the SR60s but I'd like to try an extreme Grado when I can afford it).
I guess Singlepower, like some other small headphone amp makers, must be ordered direct. However, I noticed on 6Moons that Head-Fi has a thread devoted to cautionary tales about Singlepower customer service:
I've listened to about five portable headphone amplifiers and my favorite is the Ray Samuels Hornet or Predator (the Predator adds a USB input). The PortaCorda is very good, but the Ray Samuels is smaller, has better build quality, and sounds better.
Has anyone compared the Benchmark DAC1 Pre headphone amp to others? It isn't under $1k, but since it allegedly is a high quality DAC, the headphone amp only part of the price.
How about the Yamamoto HA-02?
Is this based on experience? Which headphones do you use?
Thanks.
Alas, no. I find it extremely difficult to audition headphone amps before buying them, but in this case I think I'll go ahead and place an order. What I know about the amp comes from a review at 6moons:
http://www.6moons.com/audioreviews/yamamoto4/ha02.html
The Yamamoto evidently mates well with the Audio Technica ATH W1000 headphones.
I posted the suggestion partly to see if it would stimulate a discussion of alternatives or perhaps elicit a response from someone who does have first-hand experience of it.
Hello, just signed up, brand new member. I just s/w someone today, this morning actually who has this headphone amp. This is amazing because I myself am not familiar with it. The gentlemans name is slwiser, and he showed me some pictures of the 3 headphone amps he has. One, is the Yamamoto.
He said he is using it with Ultrsone 9s, hope that helps. Now, here is my gripe. I am looking to go with either the AKG701`s in white, or the Sennheiser HD600`s, as they are discounted now due to the 650`s and new HD 800`s. My thing is, none of us would buy a pair of speakers w/o hearing them first, right? You can hardly here in New York, (White Plains, Westchester County) demo or audition headphone amps and headphones. Lyric Hi-Fi here in WP, makes you have to go to their location on 83rd, to hear the Sennheisers. But, of course they don`t have AKG, so you can not compare. And they use Vincent or Antique Sound Lab headphone amps, not familiar with, or saw any reviews for these, so what do you do?
Headroom-Right Between your Ears, seems good because these guys eat and sleep headphones all day long. But, you still have to order them, sight unseen and unheard? Can anything change this?
I think one has to purchase Yamamoto products from Japan. These guys made my day with their attention to detail and the following ordering instructions:
"When you want the product of our company
In case that you, are hoped and are purchase the product of our company with the individual the payment in the credit card is possible. As for the credit card only VISA and MASTER are possible use.
We hope the communication in the fax from a viewpoint of the security protection in the case of the order. We do not have the responsibility in our company even if the trouble of the card breaks out in case that you transmitted the card information with the mail. The fax number of our company is 81-794-63-6405."
By the way, here's a picture of the Yamamoto:
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My impression is that the Yamamoto isn't portable. Is that correct? For portability I see that TAS recommends the Ray Samuels Hornet. Are there others to consider?
I use an Antique Sound Labs HB-1 and I love it (2 6BQ5s). Headphone Sennheiser HD-280 Pro.
Oh, btw - not portable.
A friend told me that the Corda is very good and portable (key for me), but I can't find it anywhere. Ideas?
There are so many choices these days, I dare to say it is more a personal choice. I would do some search over at www.head-fi.org under the amplifier forum.
I've now found recommendations for the Headamp.com Pico, though it seems not yet to be a product for sale (pre-order only). Has anyone heard this amp?
Hard to say what is "best", particularly since you don't say what "cans" you'll be driving, but I'd definitely check out:
Fixed position:
- The Zanden (particularly driving K1000s)---The Best in My Book
- The Moth 300B
- Single Power (they've got a bunch of exotic models)
- Todd the Vinyl Junkie's 307A
- Ray Samuels B-52
Portable:
- Ray Samuels has a range of portables, depending upon your budget. I'd start there.
Happy Listening,
Jim
I'm now also on a search for a desktop amp. I can't find any reference to the Zanden on their site, but I probably couldn't afford it anyway. Moth has a dedicated headphone amp, the Xanta, is that what you mean? Single Power seems cool, but where in heaven can you get one?
By the way, headphones are Sennehiser HD650, Denon 5000s, and maybe a Grado (I have the SR60s but I'd like to try an extreme Grado when I can afford it).
I guess Singlepower, like some other small headphone amp makers, must be ordered direct. However, I noticed on 6Moons that Head-Fi has a thread devoted to cautionary tales about Singlepower customer service:
http://www.head-fi.org/forums/f5/buyer-beware-please-read-before-buying-...
I'm using Etymotic ER 4s (these are the ones I'm shopping for in portable mode).
I've listened to about five portable headphone amplifiers and my favorite is the Ray Samuels Hornet or Predator (the Predator adds a USB input). The PortaCorda is very good, but the Ray Samuels is smaller, has better build quality, and sounds better.
Have you heard the Pico?
Also, do NC headphones need an amp or effectively is there an amp built-in?
Has anyone compared the Benchmark DAC1 Pre headphone amp to others? It isn't under $1k, but since it allegedly is a high quality DAC, the headphone amp only part of the price.
I am using an Amp Sony TAN 5550 with power FETs and Sennnheiser HD430
Can I tell the diference if I spend more money?
Isn't the Earmax /Earmax Pro just under 1000$ ?
Maybe the Earmax Pro II wil creep over, what ever.
It is rather good I think.
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