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Hi everyone,I primarily listen to my vinyl on headphones (Grado SR80's).
How can I achieve the best sound inbetween my TT's and my Headphones?
Currently, the TT plug in directly to my receiver (Sony STRE-DE897) and then my Grado's plug in from there, however, I'm not too particularly thrilled about the phono stage of my receiver.
The Bellari VP129 Tube Phono Preamp intrigues me because of the headphone out that it has on board, however, I have no way test-driving one of these (I live far from the city), so I'm skeptical about the sound quality.
Another option I'm considering, is upgrading my receiver from the Sony to the Harmon Kardon HK3480 (I'm on a tight budget).
The last option I've considered is a cheap preAmp such as the NAD-PP2, Pro-Ject or Music Hall preAmps.
I don't want to spend more than $250 on this right now. Well, I'd like to....but can't.
Follow Ups:
Check out www.headphone.com These guys know everything there is to know about headphone listening.
And getting insanely expensive.Not to mention insanely fragile (dust) and you're out on the insane price you paid should it fail on you.
I listen to vinyl almost exclusively these days through headphones.Continuing on the vintage idea...the venerable Advent 300 is normally available for around $100, maybe a little more for a pristine one. This little receiver has an excellent phono stage and a none-too-shabby headphone output, but get one in working condition! I lived with one happily for about a year before graduating to a Little Dot II++ and Acurus P10 being fed from a Heybrook TT2. (My current headphones are Senn HD580 and Beyer DT770). Later, you can use the Advent as a phono-preamp only when you upgrade your headphone amp, or upgrade your phono-preamp and use the Advent as your headphone amp.
Use the extra $150 to upgrade to a higher end Grado or better yet the Grado-sourced Alessandro MS-2!
Try vintage Stax electrostatic headphones. The SR-X Mk III turn up on the various eBays of the world all the time, usually accompanied by an SRD-6 or SRD-7 transformer that you hook up directly to the speaker outputs of your amplifier.They are insanely great.
An Accuphase C-200 preamp will solve your problem's. It has a reference-quality headphone amp and MM phono stage.
I've heard that the headphone output on the Bellari is not very good. I too listen to my turntable through my heaphones (Sennheiser 580's). I also thought about getting the Bellari for this use but am glad I didn't. I read many accounts of people trying the Bellari in a turntable/headphone system and finding it was too noisy.I would recommend getting the Cambridge 640P phono stage ($170). You can then get a fairly decent headphone amplifier for under $100. Take a look at this site for more info- http://www.head-fi.org/forums/
My personal headphone system is Technics SL1210mk2, Denon DL160 cartridge, Cambridge 640p, Little Dot 2+ headphone amp, Senn 580's. I'm extremely happy with the sound of this system.
Little Dot II+, Sennhesier HD 580
Cambridge Audio 640P phono, Technics SL1210MK2/Denon DL-160
Rotel RCD950, Rotel RC1070, Rotel RB981, Magnepan 10.1, Velodyne sub
I recently fired up an old Yamaha A-500 that has been in my closet for about 10 years to see how good the phono amp was. I think it was originally purchased in 81 or 82 new. I was contemplating purchasing a Rega Phono that retails for $350 and figured I'd give the old timer a shot first. I haven't used it in a while because it is in need of some repair, but the phono amp works great! It was pretty well respected for its time. I gotta say, I don't know if it was nostalgia or my cheap Irish blood but the yamaha is back in my system as a secodary phono amp and the Rega is back at the shop. I really did like it a LOT better than the Rega. I saw a Yamaha A-500 go on ebay for about $50. There's probably a lot of really good mid/hi-fi stuff from the 70s and 80s that you could pick up for a song.I guess the pitfalls are that older gear will probably break more often. There was a lot of CRAP from the 70s and 80s so you would have to do your homework. Frankly I don't even know if the previous or post models of the A-500 are any good. From my one data point, I'd say look into it.
Vintage indeed - I had an NAD 1020 preamp driving Grado SR60's, fed by The AR Turntable and arm with a Shure V15-V MR. You never forget your first eargasm, it was an awesome combo. While I've since "upgraded", I'm not convinced I've yet matched the magic of hearing the first bars of "Chuck E's In Love" thru that combo.I'd highly recommend the NAD 1020 preamp as what you seek....
"The Bellari VP129 Tube Phono Preamp intrigues me because of the headphone out that it has on board, however, I have no way test-driving one of these (I live far from the city), so I'm skeptical about the sound quality."This is absolutely the way I'd go. It's supposed to sound superb, and the signal path is short. This also makes for a good way to get portable sound. Imagine getting one of those Audio Technica portable tables (Sound Burger) and one of these Bellaris.
There are a number of sources that allow you a 30 day money-back trial for sound equipment such as Acoustic Sounds and Music Direct.
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