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I have been having some issues powering a set of Grado SR60e's with a Bellari VP129. I've attempted to put it in after a Jolida JD9 pre-amp (basically just using it as a headphone input), but the RIAA balancing on both the Jolida and the Bellari are cancelling each other out and making the signal unlistenable.
So I guess I am in the market for an unbalanced headphone amp to power the Grado's. I can't decide whether I should stick with all tubes with something like the Little Dot Mark II or something solid state like the Schiit Magni. I'm trying to keep it under $150-200, if at all possible.
I'm wondering how much of a difference, over solid state, tubes would make in a headphone amp. If I am running a tubve pre-amp and a solid state headphone amp would that be akin to running a hybrid system with a solid state power amp? Would I be getting the "best of both worlds", conceivably, if the two are paired correctly or are tubes the way to go? (I currently have a tube power amp powering my bookshelves and I love the warmth of tubes, but I'm open to a solid state headphone amp if that will work and sound good).
Follow Ups:
Grados don't need much power, but they need an amp with low output impedance, a low noise floor, and very low gain.
There are tube amps that can do this, but not for $150-200.
There are, however, lots of solid state amps that will do just fine on your headphones within your budget. Hybrid amps are also something to look at, but do be sure not to buy a hybrid that runs on a low voltage wall wart.
perhaps you could explain what you mean by this comment:
the RIAA balancing on both the Jolida and the Bellari are cancelling each other out
This does not make sense to me! Can you restate it?
I have read (and granted I am trying to do more research on the topic as I type) that having two stages with RIAA equalization can (does) have an adverse affect on the signal?
When I run the signal through the Jolida then the Bellari gain is not a problem but the signal becomes bloated with really deep unlistenable lows and "scratchy" highs - sounds almost like white noise mixed in with the music (if that makes sense) - i.e. "double RIAA equalization" (at least I'm assuming that's what it is).
The first phono section will overload the second, and the EQ will be wrong.
What you need is to choose which phono section you prefer, and then get a headphone amplifier that will be driven by the phono section.
"double RIAA equalization"
Yes, that's exactly what it is. Any RIAA phono stage is a FILTER that reduces low frequencies and boosts high frequencies. By running your signal through the filter two times you are getting predictable results: wimpy bass and screechy highs.
The RIAA de-emphasis curve (playback) rolls off highs and boosts the bass.
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