Headphones

[karatestu]

Don't use them (at the moment) but never say never.

What are the best type of headphones to use with NVA amps ? I would guess high impedance models are most suitable as the NVA amps provide headphone use via a 1K resistor from the power amp output.

This is a quote from somewhere else about this arrangement. Could be all bollocks. Any views on this

"AIUI this results in the headphone output having a high output impedance (low damping factor). This means that:

a) the amplifier will have less efficient power transfer into lower impedance headphones; and
b) the amplifier will cause in frequency response colourations with headphones that have variable impedance curves (put simply the frequency response will mimic the impedance curve to some extent).

To minimise these effects it is generally recommended that a headphone amplifier's output impedance be less than 1/8th of the headphone's nominal impedance.

Output impedance can of course be used to tailor the sound to taste. Sennheiser's HDVD800 headphone amp, for example, has an output impedance of 43 ohms, presumably because they feel this is the optimum match for their HD800 headphones, which many would argue sound 'overdamped' (i.e. too fast and lean) when driven by a headphone amp with very low output impedance."

[Ithilstone]

I honestly never seen 1k resistor at HPs end of NVA amp

And from my experience NVA works brilliant with planar HPs - it must have something to do with the fact that planars present almost no load to amplifier and like lots of current at tap that NVA can deliver.

[karatestu]

I honestly never seen 1k resistor at HPs end of NVA amp

And from my experience NVA works brilliant with planar HPs - it must have something to do with the fact that planars present almost no load to amplifier and like lots of current at tap that NVA can deliver.

Thanks for the advice Tomasz. Don't know why i said 1K. It's actually 470R.

[montechristo358]

very happy with My Denon AH-D5000

though have an urge to try some Audioquest Nightowls

[Fretless]

though have an urge to try some Audioquest Nightowls

Seriously amazing cans and now very affordable as they have been discontinued.

The Nighthawks have a more open and relaxed character than NightOwls, which are somewhat tighter and more dynamic.

[alfer]

I use an AP10H with sennheiser HD800 and HD600. Love the Docs work

It is so powerful it isn’t worth fussing over. Un like some ‘new’ members I kept my NVA gear after Doc’s demise

*** BTW *** The forum is full of errors just now. Having to sign on and errors when posting

[Ithilstone]

Thanks for the advice Tomasz. Don't know why i said 1K. It's actually 470R.

470 is i think most common but it will be HPs depended
from 330 to 680 usually ;]

[CaterhamKev]

So what sort of current do HiFiman Sundara and othe Planars need?
Just wondering if I should think about upgrading my Graham Slee Solo Ultra Linear.