Are $2000 Headphone Amps Worth It?
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- Опубліковано 3 жов 2024
- I'm back! Recently I decided to pull out some of my past review amps for a second listen with some of the best headphones I have here. iFi's Pro iCan has gone up in price to over $2200, and is now the Signature (though I'm comparing the old one). The more obscure Soundaware P1 is still available as it was, as is the popular Headamp GS-X mini, which has also stayed the same in price.
Products in this video: (Buying through these links may support my channel.)
Headamp GS-X Mini - www.headamp.co...
iFi Pro iCan (now "Signature") - www.hear.audio...
Soundaware P1 - www.hear.audio...
Schiit Yggdrasil (original/Analog 2) - www.schiit.com...
Gustard R26 DAC - www.hear.audio...
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Looks like at some point I may have confused model names. When talking about $400-700 amps, I mentioned the Singxer SA-1, Topping A90D and Schiit Jotunheim, but may have mis-named the first one since I was talking about the Soundaware P1. Thanks to people who pointed this out. This is what happens when you don't script your videos.
Truth is, cheaping out early on just winds up costing more, before you’re done
I disagree. High end headphones do not need expensive, powerful amplification.
@@BunnyslippersEUCyeah you don’t need high end amps, or high end headphones, or high end anything.. It’s all lies! The only audio you need is the one from your laptop speakers…sarcasm aside, what are you even on about?
That is an expensive lesson to learn, hence why I’m not learning it.
I own a Schiit Ragnarok 2 and a Jotunheim 2. Although I am not using and Yggdrasil as the source, my Bifrost 2/64 is very capable. I would agree with your assessment. The Ragnarok doesn't blow the Jotunheim out of the water. But, the staging and imaging are marginally better. The Jotunheim can sound a tad thin every once in awhile. The differences are very subtle.
I upgraded from a Jot 1 to a GSX mini a couple years ago. The Mini was used, at a good price. It was a clearly evident upgrade even for me. I don’t think I have a very discerning ear (I really struggle to hear the differences between DACs), but the Jot 1 to the Mini was an obvious step up. More detailed, more dynamic, better separation, more transparent sounding.
Greetings from Toronto ☕️☕️
My Sen’s 650’s get fed from two amps in my headphone stack ( all bring fed from a Wiim Pro being decoded by a Topping E50 DAC ..yes with an IFI power supply on the DAC )
The amps are the Drop 789 and the Xduoo 604 …both give a great performance from the Sen’s .
Same deal with my IEM’s ..but I generally use the IFI Go Blue for portability.
Great video, thank you.
☕️🔥🍕👍
Upgraded from Topping A90D to Burson Soloist 3XGT 2023 with upgraded internal power management chips ($2500). Also listening via Yggdrasil OG (A2). Very worthwhile- good improvements in tonality (less bright on top), dynamics, detail retrieval and soundstage depth/imaging. No regrets.
Agree too though that it’s not yet ‘end game’-I am still looking for something ‘more’ - playing around now with tube pre-amps (Schiit Freya + with upgraded tubes on the horizon) and sub-woofers (3XGT has a sub out, looking at Rel T5X). Another alternative is to use 3XGT as a pre into a high-end tube amp -SERIOUS $$$ involved that route so not in a rush to go thataway
Been using a Magnius and Ragnarok 1 as daily drivers for a while now, picked up a Mjolnir 3 and it blows both out of the water. Simply amazing.
Great vid Amos! GSX Mini is my go to and a nice step up from the Thx AAA789 and topping A90. Probably overkill as my headphones aren’t particularly hard to drive but much less clinical sounding while maintaining detail. Be warned, it’s class A and gets warm! If you’re considering one and want to stack something on top, I’d recommend a component fan to redirect the hot air. The one I have turns on automatically as needed. 🍻
The price point for great sound has certainly come down and $500-$800 buys a lot…..even decent dacs often included. That said….I love tubes and the entry point for good stuff is over $1000.00. I also prefer an independent Dac. I am spoiled as my rig is LTA moz3 thru a Holo Audio spring Dac. Marriage made in heaven 😊. I might note that great headphones quickly expose the short comings which you articulated well. So headphone matching is important.
Love when you do multi-unit reviews! I just upgraded from using a questyle cma400i exclusively to a ps-audio GCHA and the jump in headphone sound performance was similar to when I upgraded my very first amp around $200 price. I managed to get this GCHA for a cool $350 and it's very hard to imagine how it could get any better than this. I'm thinking about upgrading my DAC to a Audio GD R-1 and that's super exciting to me, listening through the AKM4490 in my questyle now. I also would love to shoot for a master 9 but I hope I wouldn't be disappointed given the cost. Having giant block of an amp on my desk has some serious appeal too.
Interesting topic, in the headphone reddit there is a strong echo chamber that is going on that amp and cables don't make a difference. My stance is until I've tried it myself I shall not have a say on it. From my personal experience price doesn't determine something is good or not but a well engineered amp could make a difference. For example comparing a $600 topping and $600 lake people amp, I personally think lake people sounded much better than topping.
Cables can make a big difference, but not because the cable material.
In an average cable, when you compare copper to silver, the difference is like 0.004 Ohm, that is an difference way below 0.1db, so nobody would ever hear that.
But(!), the plugs on the cables somtimes can make an difference of up to 50 Ohms and more (no joke). So some people buy 4000$ cables and the only difference they hear actually come from the 2$ plug that is connecting the cable to the amp. If you would use that plug on any cheaper cable, it would sound identical.
So there is a difference, but it is not caused by the cable matieral, but the cable material is what you pay for. So its kinda 50% scam i guess... not sure.
How it's done makes a difference
@@shirakawamaseru I bought a cable for my ADX5000, did not expect it to alter the sound because I only bought it since I like how it looked, also how it is handmade in Poland not mass-produced in China. Kinda surprised that it adds quite some punch to the bass making the headphone sound aggressive. Used to not have any punch to the bass and sounded super clean and relaxing even at high volume. It is interesting if it is the connector that makes the difference. I opted for furutech 6.3mm single ended connector for my cable because it looks chonky and cool.
I think at some point cable do get to snake oil territory, but spending money to get a decent cable that is nice looking, well built with a decent quality connector and look nice is still an ok for me.
Headphones is a good subreddit to discover new gear coming out but you’re mostly talking to people whose idea of a high-end HP is a 20yo HD600. I get it, I’ve been there having no money to spend on luxury products but if you haven’t heard the good stuff you can’t really honestly evaluate whether it’s worth the money or not. Is the marginal gains worth it to my pocketbook? Absolutely, it’s my hobby and I don’t spend good money on fine clothes or eating out to make up for it.
I have a Master9. Love it. Bought it to use with vintage AKG K-340 (modded by Headphile). Hard to drive. No sweat for the M9. I still have my modded HeadAmp V2-SE in another system. Similar to the results with the GSX. The M9 makes all my cans sound their best.
Short answer - no. Technically vintage yamaha pc2002 (in good condition via xlr with passive preamp) will rip any modern amp less than 1.5-2k$. At least I bet it would. And if you ask, its an power amp, how i can use headphones - use headphone selector, but not vintsge or mode old one, its pretty basic inside, just need to use good wires (any japan branded vintage and some ressistors). It may sound compkex, but in fact its very basic and best way to get maximum qality for less. The downside is its not portable setup, but very relaible.
Schitt mjoliner 3 is coming out soon. Should be interesting
I had a Lake People dedicated headphone amp for a year and enjoyed it. But I eventually decided to sell it off and turn my Arcam SA10 integrated amp into the primary headphone amp. Paired with a SMSL VMV D1se external dac, it produces a very natural, dynamic, and powerful sound. It is also has a very dark background from which the sounds arise. I use the Drop Sennheiser HD 58x, HD 6xx, the Sennheiser HD 560s, and the Beyerdynamic DT 1990 pro (250 ohm) and all sound great with the Arcam headphone out.
(As an integrated amp, it has the advantage of a good analog pre-amp out, which I connect to an external speaker amp.)
It's great that we consumers have so many choices to test until we find the sound we want.
In the same boat here as my (45lbs.)sa8800 is the best I've heard. NOW I would like to find the same sound in a more portable package... any solutions?
I wish Burson would send you their new soloist 3x gt 2023 rev or Holo bliss would send you theirs.
A British Audiophile's rule of thumb is you have to spend 3X$ over what you already have to get a significant improvement for any particular piece. Look at Sundara. "Edition XS-not worth upgrading if you have a Sundara". "XS is an Ananda with swivel cups". That leaves you going to a $1200 Arya. All I know is what I have but when listening to my Sundara/Modi multibit/Nitsch Piety I think, what would I have to spend to get better than that.
Great video, this is something that I wonder about a lot, at what point do diminishing returns fully kick in and it becomes negligible to upgrade further. Really enjoyed this, thanks Amos.
Hello Amos, I bought a GS-X Mini and a pair of Audeze X headphones and was wrapped in the result. This was to be placed in my rack fed by my Ares II dac from PC and used as pre amp on my lounge system and headphone amp. I also listen to music in my study from my gaming/browsing PC through an SMSL Su-9 dac and SMSL Ho200 headphone amp. I took a long time finding an amp at a lower price than the GS-X and it shows. While the Ho200 has the power to drive my cans it just doesn't have what the A class GS-X has. I would have loved to buy the GS-X at a much lower price as money still doesn't grow on trees, I paid $2400 Aussie bucks for the GSX while the US was celebrating a "memorial weekend" and got 15% off.
That's a pretty good deal, considering how weak the AU$ is.
Still have an old Phoenix from AGD that trounces the Lyr3, been thinking of going up to the HE-9 mk3.
Sounds like a smart move
I've spend 2000$ on an amp and it was totally worth it, 100%. Until 2 years later, a new version of my DAP came out which sounds pretty much identical to the amp... Even with very hard to drive cans like the susvara i don't hear any difference, so i no longer use the amp...
I still use it cause it has COAX connection for the bluray player when i watch live bluray, but other than that, barely if at all.
This is the tough truth. To be fair, it applies to most every industry, but tomorrow's advancements in tech will always make yesterday's leaps and bounds obsolete. Not to mention accounting for uncovered revelations of previously reputable companies. **cough iFi cough**
As a practical consumer with finite funds, it's usually in your best interest to delay a purchase for as long as possible, but this industry is known to encourage shopping addictions.
What's the new version of your DAP?
What is your new DAP model? God bless. Sani
@@thunderstar254well there’s only two options, enthusiast or regular. A regular gets the best they can & is satisfying obviously cause that’s logical. Op is talking like an enthusiast but also then talking value..that’s incompatible. If he thought his 2kamp was great then he should be happy.
Of course this is all subjective in regard to value. IME I have yet to hear a headphone amplifier at or near the price of a DNA Starlett that can outperform it sonically. The Starlett is custom built by Donald North and costs $2200. Present wait time to have one built is about 18 months.
I have the TA-ZH1ES and don't regret one bit :)
its interesting to hear you call the GS-X Mini a relaxed sound as an entire forum (SBAF) calls that Amp "sandpaper" and apparently its waaaay too bright for their tastes.
Are you sure they weren't referring to the 2-box GS-X?
Hopefully we will soon have your take on the BLACK ICE ARIES Headphone Amplifier/DAC/WiFi Streamer/Preamp (I don't think I forgot anything.) 😅
Love your videos, hope you will review utopia 2022 in the future👍
I hope so too!
Love my Bifrost 2/Jotunheim 2. It is only beaten for me by my Gungir/Mjolnir 2: my endgame. I could happily live with either combo and nothing else. Though of course I have other gear.
I still really enjoy my soundaware p1
thanks for details but i've got but lost about which one is best out of three
Any chance to try A-Gd master 19 with toroidal transformers?
Can you recommend an amp to drive he6se and susvara？Thanks for the video that made me understand not to waste money on ifi😂
Have a Master 19 in house, wonder how much of an upgrade a Master 9 woluld be?
Didn’t in an earlier vid he says he personally owns a mjolner 3? .. that’s a lower end priced amp, not that go big or go home even if it’s a good performer
I bought the Mjolnir 3 sometime after I made this video.
Please share purchase links to the capacitor thingies. Danke!
Yes please.
Amos, I'm coming from an RME ADI 2/Phonitor XE combo and was thinking of getting a Rag 2 with the Yggy to drive the Susvara--would that be sufficient for them?
I think you meant Soundaware P1.
For the money can’t beat the Naim unity atom he edition
Have you tried the Pathos Aurium?
What is the most analog, less analytical sounding portable combo in your opinion? (Iem+dap or portable dac)
Probably the Cayin RU-6. I have a review on it on my channel.
@@Currawong i read than the Cayin R2R module for the N6 sounds better and more analog than the RU6
Curious whether pro ican will improve with hypsos power supply.
Hey! I’m having a hard time choosing between iCan and Mjolnir 3. Which one is a better amp in your opinion?
Put it this way: I bought the Mjolnir 3.
@@Currawong thank you for taking time and replying! :)
3k is the sweet spot for SS imo
I always wonder does the two volume control option (potentiometer vs 24stepped attenuator) affect the sound of the gsx mini.
I do know that a stock Alps Blue very slightly colours the sound. I've seen quite a few opinions that it's not worth getting the stepped attenuator.
C, My Jotunheim is my EndGame. Best, D.
I have a Jot2 too & if it had a remote it would be hard to beat, unless you pay silly money.
Can anyone give me advice, I have hearing damage from my time in the military, I enjoy music, the amount of loss I have is different in each ear, is there any tips tricks or devices that could possibly compensate and increase my enjoyment? Excuse me if this seems like a daft question I am a music enthusiast but tech novice, thank you all in advance. Ps I tend to use a headphone as often as I can so I don't annoy others with the volume.
Hi there. 8 months late i know but I alter the left and right balance of my DAC in windows to compensate for my dramatic hearing loss in one ear. I had a topping E30 that strangely did not have that function in windows so I upgraded to the SMSL SU-9 that did have the option amongst other features. If your device does not support this function, you can also use PEACE APO which is a parametric equalizer.
Isee the master 9 and gsx mini is always compared. Do you think with acss the master 9 gives a better performance as opposed to the gsx mini?
I don't have the new Master 9 here, but my older one I think is more resolving.
@@Currawong I recently ordered a custom thick acss cable. Hoping to get more out of my master 9. :)
C, I love my Jotunheim...! Best, D. Oops already said that.🤭
Have the gsx mini and Feliks euphoria running into my R26 was wondering if I should replace my r26 for the price since USB is my only option because I’ve heard you mention, it’s actually the worst way to use it ?
Either that, or get something like an SU-6 to do USB to I2S. Half the price of the DAC itself though. Switching to streaming will be cheaper, but would require some reorganising of how you play music.
I'd recommend just getting a quality ext. clock instead. Something like the LB clock will make a much bigger difference than just a DDC. Another cheaper option is running through a Pi2AES to reduce interference, does the job of a DDC but better and cheaper.
Supposedly Optical is slightly better than USB on the Gustard I’d try that connection before you toss it. Personally I’m fine with USB being softer than the Ethernet input, that is why I bought the dac to get away from that etched sound you get from the likes of Chord for a different flavor.
Where would you say the R26 sits in terms of value being using just usb .? Would you place it below 1000$ for example would a bifrost 2 beat out a R26 in usb mode ?
@@Currawong I have decided to use optical and you are completely right the sound quality improved immensely ! Thank you 🙏
Dont you Use a music server?
I use Roon with streaming endpoints that connect to the DACs.
@@Currawonga dedicated server Would bring a lot more sound quality and enjoyment to the table, would be great if you could test some and experience yourself 👌
Singxer sa-1?
Yeah. Having too many names in my head I messed them up.
Short answer: No!
Dude, face way too close to the camera on this one. Feels like you are in a room with me. Bit creepy.
Hence all the b-roll covering a lot of the video. :)
I thought it was cool tbh I like when reviewers switch it up lol
But we _are_ in the room with you, silly goose