Which headphone amp to buy?

Just a thought but have a look at the hifiman HE headphone adapter. It’s a little box that allows you to safely connect and drive your headphones off of the speaker terminals it’s about £90 new on Amazon here in the UK I have one and it works a treat. Probably need a XLR to TRX adapter but they are easy and I expensive.

Neat solution that will actually let you enjoy your Nait


I have this. It’s made by the same company, Lake People (ignore the silly name :grin:), that produce the Violectric range. For a price of 250 GBP, it’s a really cracking, well-made headphone amp… Made in Germany, the company is based at Lake Constance in Germany. Check out their website.

You can buy it on the Thomann.de (3,111 Kr) website or direct from the company. Easy delivery to Sweden.

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@Bipen I have a SMSL SP200 and a Headline 2 with Teddy Headline. The SP200 can drive tough phones really well (my favourite Audio Technica ATH 911 600ohm phone work great), but is so super neutral as to be sterile IMO. Depending on your age, I’d say its a Audiolab 8000A - utterly competant, but also the reason I went Naim 30 years ago and never looked back…

I’m quite partial to my Manley Neo-Classic 300B pre/headphone amp. Especially when rolling better valves.

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If I ever buy another HP amp this is the one I want to try based strictly on reviews and the minimalist styling.

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I use the Arcam rHead and highly recommend it. Easily drives my Beyer T70 HPs (250 ohm). I also have a Beyer A20 HP amp which did well with the T70 HPs, but a bit more “closed-in” sound vs the rHead.

I know you have probably decided now much I must flag Graham Slee products. The HP amps are excellent and they offer a try out period before charging you.

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That is unfortunately only for low efficiency headphones. My SoHo 45s is 16 ohm 116 dB.

That one is interesting. I will add it to my shortlist.

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Thanks for all your suggestions so far and please keep them coming. I am not in a hurry.
I think I should explain what I am looking for:

  • A new unit.
  • Available from a dealer within the EU.
  • Appropriate gain for my SoHo 45s (16 ohm, 116 dB) at normal listenig levels when volume pot is set at about 12 o’clock.
  • *As I am a LP12/NAIT/Kan user PRaT is very important, measurements not.

My shortlist so far:

  • Lake People G103 S MkII
  • Topping LS30 II
  • Pro-Ject HeadBox S2

I bought a Pro-Ject DS2B headphone amp at the start of the Covid pandemic. It was all a bit of a rush as I feared supply issues during lockdown!

Now to be honest I have nothing to compare it with but I am very happy with it. It is well built and performs well.

I added a MCRU power supply to it which did take it up a level. My headphones are Quad ERA1 and Meze 99 Classic. The ERA1s definitely benefitted from the added power supply.

Good luck in your search :slightly_smiling_face:

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