What's the best headphone amp you have heard?

[Thieliste]

I would certainly pick the the Aries Cerat Genus as best headphone amp but i'm very happy with a Chord Hugo TT2 with a great FPGA DAC built in.
My priority is still speaker system.

 

[thomask]

There is no best amp for headphone.

It is a matching between headphone and amp.

 

[F208Frank]

For me personally it was the WA33 Elite Edition Tube Amp, I am sure there is better out there, but I am happy with mine.

 

[Alrainbow]

The best headphone amp is based a a few things.
For one the headphones you will use. Some headphones need a low output imp and some a high. Some need a high voltage some high current
Even the noise level at the output on a given imp of a headphone matters. If you have a headphone picked out that you have heard comment on it. it’s far more possible to pick and amp then pick headphone or Vicversa but you must have one ??. pOst and ol help.

 

[audiomonkey777]

I'm fairly new to all of this really but it seems from my reading that you need to match your headphones to your amp really? And your own taste? Surely it's subjective?

A friend of mine swears by his Pro iCAN (amp) and Pro iDSD (DAC/streamer) stack from iFi audio - he would say that for his ears, this the Pro iCAN with the Pro iDSD is the best he's ever heard. I heard it and thought it was pretty awesome but I know I've also heard other things I like.

 

[Thieliste]

I'm fairly new to all of this really but it seems from my reading that you need to match your headphones to your amp really? And your own taste? Surely it's subjective?

A friend of mine swears by his Pro iCAN (amp) and Pro iDSD (DAC/streamer) stack from iFi audio - he would say that for his ears, this the Pro iCAN with the Pro iDSD is the best he's ever heard. I heard it and thought it was pretty awesome but I know I've also heard other things I like.

Chord Electronics is in another league compared to iFI Audio in terms of headphone gear trust me.

 

[Alrainbow]

Chord is better no doubt. it’s a tough time to evail stuff at stores or meets. maybe mail order is now

 

[adamaley]

I enjoyed my time with a DNA Stratus I owned a few years ago. I'm sure the new Stellaris sounds glorious.

 

[adamaley]

 

[moby2004]

May I know

View attachment 64121

May I know which cable are you using with your Hifiman.
Amp-wise I have great expectations for the forthcoming universal headphone amp from Viva Audio!
Alex

 

[adamaley]

I believe it was one of the Norne Audio cables. I sold off my headphone system in 2017. Headphones were the HE1000 V1.

 

[Audire]

While I hesitate to call anything "best" the one I've enjoyed the most is the Pass Labs HPA-1, paired with Focal Utopias ...

 

[DetroitVinylRob]

HeadAmp Blue Hawaii amp driving Stax SR-009S until I eventually auditioned and purchased Feliks Audio Euforia EVO OTL headamp and ZMF Verite open headphones.

 

[tom539]

Riviera AIC-10 with Hifiman Susvara, connected via special adapter cable from speaker-output.

One of my headphone-Friends using this combo since several years - I should Visite him again…

atb, Tom

 

[Rexp]

You know when you add a world class pre amp to your speaker system and the listening experience becomes far more addictive/engaging, is it the same with headphone amps?

 

[adamaley]

I don't see why not. Keep one wide open and attenuate with the other.

I'm back to using headphones, and I keep the volume control on my Pacific DAC at full tilt and attenuate with a Misho Wooden Preamp. I'm using monoblock speaker amps via a Zynsonix headphone adapter to power Susvara OGs. Best sound I've ever had.

 

[flez007]

Quite some, my list includes units from T+A, Pass and even Sennheiser Orpheus. The real bummer is the affordable Manley Absolute Headphone Amplifier. I use an Auralic Taurus class A headphone/preamp.

 

[Bonesy Jonesy]

HifiMan EF1000 Amp with Susvara headphones.
Have had them from new for over four years now and still love them from the day I bought them (both linked to my Chord Dave DAC (fed from my Chord Blu CD Transporter with M Scaler) and my CH P1 Phono Stage).
The EF1000 Amp also performs very nicely as a speaker amp too so double the bang for the buck !

 

[Alrainbow]

Ma

HeadAmp Blue Hawaii amp driving Stax SR-009S until I eventually auditioned and purchased Feliks Audio Euforia EVO OTL headamp and ZMF Verite open

That amp looks gorgeous, but I'm not a fan of OTL especially on headphones
Had the bhse sold have a woo wes upgraded
Love tubes and phones

headphones.

 

[rgmd11]

Riviera AIC-10 is an extremely good headphone amp, very musical and hits all the right notes (excuse the pun), though for the time being am very happy with my Simaudio 430HA driving my T+A Solitaire P headphones.....