A highly detailed, analytical amplifier for the Beyerdynamic T1?

Good day everyone 🙂,

I'm looking for a DIY solide state amp for my Beyerdynaic T1 that has a high resolution and plays extremely clear, detailed and analytical, preferably together with a holographic presentation - (almost) exactly the opposite of my current amplifier for the T1, a slightly modified Darkvoice 336e, which has its own charm with its warm, nicely colored sound (and a nice holographic presentation), but sometimes I would like to experience the other sound of the T1, depending on my mood.

Do any of you have a recommendation or two that I might enjoy?

Greetings
Mike
 
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Some DIY solutions:
ACP+
my favourite - Zen Lite

both will drive anything down to 8 ohm, both very dynamic, Zen real SE amp, perfect simplicity.
I personally have a Zen Lite, a SRPP e88cc and a modified ACA. To my ears the Zen Lite is the ultimate winner.
 
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Hello all,

thank you very much for your answers, I will have a closer look at all your suggestions.

Some DIY solutions:
Considering your goals: Low cost, high performance headphone amp using OPA1656 and LMH6321

This is pretty cool too: HP-22 – Neurochrome

Low cost is relativ (like so many things in life :-D) - i don't want to spend an amount over 1000,- euro, but i am quite willing to invest up to 600,- or 700,- euro, so...

Some DIY solutions:
ACP+
my favourite - Zen Lite

both will drive anything down to 8 ohm, both very dynamic, Zen real SE amp, perfect simplicity.
I personally have a Zen Lite, a SRPP e88cc and a modified ACA. To my ears the Zen Lite is the ultimate winner.

About twenty years ago, when I was young and just studying :-D, I already made experiences with amplifiers from Pass, namely I built a Zen and an Aleph 5.

Both were great amps in their own right, and I enjoyed them especially with my horn speakers - although I don't remember either as being very "analytical", detailed playing amps.

When my girlfriend moved in with me and children came into the house, my big "man speakers" unfortunately had to go, nevertheless I still miss them now and then.

Greetings 🙂
Mike
 
Headphones being (mostly) so easy to drive, the electronics at the heart of a top notch solid state amp will rarely go above 100€ or so.

But then you need to add the power supplies, a nice enclosure, a good attenuator, and so on, and so on. The costs quickly add up. If you have some cash to burn, maybe look at this: HP-2 – Neurochrome It simplifies things by integrating a lot on the main pcb.
 
About twenty years ago, when I was young and just studying :-D, I already made experiences with amplifiers from Pass, namely I built a Zen and an Aleph 5.

Both were great amps in their own right, and I enjoyed them especially with my horn speakers - although I don't remember either as being very "analytical", detailed playing amps.

Mike

Headamp driving either a 32 / 50 ohm cans or 300 ohm cans has a much easier task than a power amp driving 8 ohm speakers, being they vented, horn, or whatever.
No comparison whatsover.
I found that the simpler the circuit the better sounding the headamp is regardless of headphones.
As long as phones do not load the amp everything is hunky dory.
 
This one is simple and easy to build and is neutral and very resolving. I think analytic has the connotation of having dominant third order harmonic distortion.

Simple Class A Headphone Amp Using THAT1646



643817d1509783306-esp-hpa-that1646-hpa-build-testing-jpg


643819d1509784405-esp-hpa-that1646-hpa-1vrms-50ohms-fft-jpg
 
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Hello all,

thank you very much for your numerous answers and suggestions! There was a lot for me to read, especially since I have not made a self-build for seemingly an eternity.

Even though I probably didn't stay true to my original idea of an "analytical" amplifier, as a pass-affected person I fell a little bit in love with the Whammy after I started reading the thread, so I just couldn't resist :-D :-D :-D.

I am already excited how the amp may sound, even if I only have time in the fall to build and test it.

Thanks again for your help!

Greetings
Mike