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HeadRoom Airhead, which, along with my Etymotic headphones saves my life on long boring flights.
Judging from the response to last week's poll, <I>Stereophile</I> readers love headphones. Do you use dedicated headphone amplification?
My mbl 7008 integrated amplifier has a headphone jack. How good it compares to a dedicated headphone amp, I don't know, but mbl is no slouch. Sometimes I wonder if it would make a difference, but since I only occasionally listen to headphones, I don't bother. I really don't know why someone with good speakers would bother to listen through headphones. To me, they are for late night listening when I don't want to disturb anyone.
I run my Creative Zen into a Total Airhead for my walks. I use three different sets of headphones depending on outside temperature. Sennheiser HD 600s (really cold out), Grado SR 80 (relatively cold outside), and Sennheiser PX 100's (nice outside). Yeah, I live in North Dakota so the first two get a lot of use.
The Lavry DA10 DAC w/ headphone amp. My McIntosh has a mini-plug jack meaning an adapter is necessary for most serious headphones, in my case Sennheiser 580's. A $2 Radio Shack adapter in-line with $200 worth of Cardas inspired doubt, apparently I would have been happier paying $35 for that adapter! At the time I couldn't find an audiophile-approved one, a market need unfulfilled. Hello? Vampire?
Right now, I don't have the need for a serious headphone system. But as my kids get older (the last one just became a teenager), my quality listening time decreases, so I am going to have to go that route in the near future. When that time comes, it will be Sennheiser 650s, with the best headphone amp I can afford. Headroom's killer Max amps are cool, but there's no way I will be able to afford $4000 for a headphone amp. Still, it looks like I'll need $2000-2500 total, but I've heard spectacular sound from the 650s at the HE shows.
I enjoy laying on the carpeted floor in total darkness listening to music through headphones. I know what you are asking, "How can you find the input jack in total darkness?" Easy, simply glue hair around it. Hey, don't laugh, it works for me!
I believe that the Graham Slee Solo performs extremely well. The bass is deep, controlled and well defined. The treble is crisp and extended without being harsh or splashy. The midrange is detailed and fluid. The combination of the Solo and the PSU1 or as Graham calls it, the Monitor Class, provides your head with a very open and spacious musical presentation. All in all, the Solo Mark III is very smooth and coherent top to bottom. I wouldn't give mine up for the best 'stats available. (Just be sure that your 'phones measure up.)
1997 Audio Alchemy HPA v1.0 Nice and toasty all Class-A circuitry. Makes a nice place to rest your coffee cup, and absolutly locks down the Grado HP-1 'phones, with dynamics right out the ass. I laugh every time I use this set-up. (once the baking temperature is established)