headphone amps

[Ross F]

Recently had the pleasure of hearing kaka's setup. Thinking of updating my headphones. Particularly taken with his Beyerdynamic T1 cans. WAF and environment not conducive to tubes but advice from elsewhere suggests the Talisman amps would make the Beyers sing. Another forum poster places the Violetric amps as class performers in the Talisman's league. I note that these are available from a dealer on TM. Any experience out there to report?

[40Hz]

I suspect the absence of replies may be due to very few people in this part of the world having heard either the T1s or the amps you list. Kaka may well be one of the only local T1 owners, and from what I have read about them it seems they go well with a tube amp...

Anyway, the Violectric amps do seem to have a bit of a following, although the Talismans don't really seem to be mentioned outside Australia, where there is an online retailer. All I can add to avoid this post being entirely unhelpful is that there look to be a few folks that have successfully paired the T1s with the Schitt Asgard amp, which the TM dealer also carries and which look to be pretty well priced. Beyond that, for SS amps you're really looking at the Meier range - Cooksferry loves his, an Opera from memory, the SPL Phonitor, and what have you. There's also the B22 from the DIY camp (Kaka has one of those too, I seem to recall), but they can get up there in price.

The main problem we have I guess is that very little can be auditioned in NZ, unless you happen to know someone who has already taken the plunge...

[Ross F]

Thanks for your comments. Looking at the 6moons review of the Schiit Asgard where a number of headphones were demoed with it - the result with the T1 was only OK. The reviewer thought that the Asgard was rather underpowered and felt a better result was achieved with low impedance cans. While this amp is well-priced, the compromise is the level of acoustic hum from the power supply which is quite high, apparently. That would a problem for me.
The Talisman amps do get mention on the UK AV forums and generally spoken of with some reverence. Their recommendation for the T1 actually came to me from Headphonic themselves. It's marginally cheaper that the Violetric bought locally and would be more aesthetically pleasing to SWMBO. However, will look at the Meier as well. Thanks again.

[kaka]

I've always regretted not starting my phone amp sequence with a Talisman (not that I've heard one) - instead I picked up a Mk 1 Perreaux which was a poor performer. The replacement was a Yamamoto which was substantially better.

The message from Headphonic on the T1 is just what you picked up from 6Moons - you need an amp capable of dealing with their impedance.

[Ross F]

I've always regretted not starting my phone amp sequence with a Talisman (not that I've heard one)

Shortly you will get your chance - when mine turns up. I took the plunge and I'll be in touch. I'd really like to do another comparison with your collection of cans.

[kaka]

Excellent, look forward to it. It will be interesting to fire the B22 up too

[Ross F]

Left Perth this afternoon. Pencil in week of 5/12 for a demo.

[Ernie]

The onboard gain switch of the T-33 will be handy. I'm assuming this is the model you got?

[Ross F]

The onboard gain switch of the T-33 will be handy. I'm assuming this is the model you got?
Yes

[kaka]

Righto, sing out when the burn in settles down.
I've got a clutch of Kimber, Antipodes and Livelines wire if you want to add to the testing confusion

[Ross F]

A second visit to kaka's place was revealing and a highly successful experiment.
I bought the Talisman 33h on the strength of a recommendation from Headphonic for a matching amp to the Beyerdynamic T1 phones. Made by an obscure French company, there is little about these amps on the web. So it was a bit of a gamble but hey, a few mouse clicks and it's all done.

With a variety of material from thick textured classical to small combo blues we tried out each of kaka's cans (shown above). To my ears the T1s were well out front. Yes, Ernie we tweaked the gain switch for the impedance differences.

With the Kimber IC in place, the TIs gave transients significant bite but high strings were a little too bright. You might argue that the brass sounded too bright but I've heard groups like this in the flesh. I think you would find the sound fatiguing after a while. With the Kimber replaced by the Dyaide, the highs were tamed but even then I thought the PS1000s sounded unnaturally bright - with the Kimber, the strings absolutely shrieked using the Grados.
Switching back to the T1s again, there was a warmth that was immediately engaging. Orchestral instruments took on a true to "life" sound and at the same time, the details from a vocal led blues combo were crystal clear but still delivering the emotion of the music.

We both agreed thatthe T1s and the Talisman deliver a great sound and the recommendation was well justified.

[kaka]

I got my B22 amp in the period that Talisman appeared to be deceased - Headphonic was totally unable to get any response from them and were out of stock. Excellent to hear the T33 tonight, it is a lively natural sounding amp, and great value. I got the B22 going later, and in comparison it is too laid back.

If I had started out with a T33 it might have finished up as the only phone amp I owned, shame it was the Perreaux Mk1.

The other cable I slotted in was an Acoustic Livelines - nicely musical and more restrained at the top that the silver Kimbers. I have got the Kimber back in playing via the Eddie Current and it isn't quite right at the top with that amp either.