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REVIEW: Antique Sound Lab MG Head DT Amplifier (Tube)

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Model: MG Head DT
Category: Amplifier (Tube)
Suggested Retail Price: $290
Description: Tube Headphone Amplifier
Manufacturer URL: Antique Sound Lab
Model Picture: View

Review by Amphead on January 01, 2002 at 14:05:58
IP Address: 216.26.24.137
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for the MG Head DT


I spent the better half of a year deciding whether to purchase the MG Head. I had been listening to my Creek OBH-11/Sennheiser HD580 combo for about a year, and was looking to upgrade. I have always found the rich and fluid sound of tubes to be what I prefer for playback through my speakers, and for what my budget allowed, it made the choice of the Antique Labs MG Head a no brainer. I was not disappointed.

The MG Head DT offers a few improvements over the original. Multicaps, Alps volume pot, and improved transformers on the DT. And they now apparently offer the "Head" in a OTL version also. Mine arrived with a JJ/Telsa 12AX7 preamp tube and two Sovtek EL84 power tubes. The product manual is a joke.
Fit and fininsh are much better than the price tag would have you think. The Chinese made unit is very solid, and parts quality is decent. Noise levels are very good for a tube based headphone amp. Very quiet.

The stock tubes offer a "ok" sound, but you will want to at the very least replace the Sovtek power tubes. Sound quality with them in place suffers. Bass is muddy and not very deep, highs are a bit harsh, and they have compressed dynamics. I changed out the Sovteks for a pair of Yugo Ei's and the bass firmed-up, highs smoothed somewhat, and the dynamics improved.
With this combo, reproduction was rich, full, and much more "alive" when compared directly with the Creek OBH-11. Bass is not as deep or as punchy as with the Creek, but that's typical of a SET tube set-up. The MG Head's power tubes are just barely "coasting",( as far as their outputs ), which results in the top and bottom of the frequency spectrum not being rolled off,(typical when tubes are driven too hard), and very free of distortions.

The mids are typical triode smooth. That nice full and fluid presentation, although not as over rich and wet sounding as I've heard some 12AX7/EL84 based amps sound like. It's "tuby" without getting too fat and oversaturated. Sorry, sounds alot like I'm describing a bad diet!. The soundstage,( as much as you can get one from headphones), is wide and deep, and there is wonderful depth and space around the instruments. The detail is decent for tubes, but not up to the Creeks standards. Overall, the sound through the Sennheiser 580's is less reserved, more open, and very involving as compared to a solid state headphone amp which depends on a op-amp for it's output. Punch and dynamics are pretty decent for a tube unit.

I have switched the preamp tube from the JJ to a Telefunken, and replaced the Ei's with Telefunkens. The balance shifted towards a bit brighter, more detailed sound. With the Tele's, the mids take on a bit more presence and are very natural. Highs are sweeter and cymbals, bells, and brass instruments have a shimmer, which again, sounds so lifelike.
I recommend the Telefunkens witht he MG Head if your headphones lean towards rolled off highs and perhaps a recessed midrange. Along with the Tele's, I also have used Mullard and RCA EL84 and 12AX7's. Both of these combos are warmer sounding sounding than the Tele's wtht the RCA's being the warmest of them all. The Mullards kind of fit inbetween the Tele's and the RCA's. Open and warm, slightly rolled off highs, and a touch of mid bass emphasis. I thought I'd go into detail about the different tubes, due to the fact that tube rolling is half of what tube amps are all abought! Go for some NOS/old stock tubes if you can afford it.

The Mg Head/Sennheiser combo has become my favorite listening preference. Seductive sound and the audiophile playground of tube switching has me hooked for life! Buy a MG Head if your into great sonics and the best bang for your audio dollar! Highly recommend!



Product Weakness: Like most new tube gear, plan on upgrading the tubes for the best sound. Poor product manual.
Product Strengths: Wonderful rich triode sound! Solid build and good parts quality for the price. Has both mini and 1/4 inch jacks, high/low impedence switch, and gold plated high quality RCA inputs.


Associated Equipment for this Review:
Amplifier: na
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated): na
Sources (CDP/Turntable): NAD CDP540
Speakers: na
Cables/Interconnects: Truibutaries SCA300 silvers
Music Used (Genre/Selections): Jazz, classical, rock.
Room Size (LxWxH): na x na x na
Room Comments/Treatments: na
Time Period/Length of Audition: 2 months
Other (Power Conditioner etc.): Sennheiser HD580 headphones
Type of Audition/Review: Product Owner




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Topic - REVIEW: Antique Sound Lab MG Head DT Amplifier (Tube) - Amphead 14:05:58 01/1/02 ( 2)