Sensitive Headphones and Tube Amps

[G8YU]

For everyone here with a tube headphone amp and sensitive, low impedance headphones; I'd like to know if you hear hiss or static and how loud it is?
Also, what model headphones and amplifier do you have?

The story behind the question: I recently got a Fosgate Signature headphone amp which sounded quite good with my 600ohm Beyer DT880 headphones. The rest of my headphones are under 100ohm and have such loud hiss that it covers up much of the music. I was sent new tubes to try, but the new tubes sounded the same. I understand that tube gear won't be as quiet as solid state; but, especially with classical music, I had to concentrate on listening through the hiss to try to hear most of the song. The Fosgate is going back for testing but I'm afraid that the only thing wrong is my headphones. Even if they do find something wrong with it; if they send another one with intrusive, obscuring hiss I will feel silly. Then I won't know whether to try another brand of tube amp or just give up on using sensitive headphones with tube amps.

Thank You,
Galen

[howiebrou]

Originally Posted by G8YU

For everyone here with a tube headphone amp and sensitive, low impedance headphones; I'd like to know if you hear hiss or static and how loud it is?
Also, what model headphones and amplifier do you have?

The story behind the question: I recently got a Fosgate Signature headphone amp which sounded quite good with my 600ohm Beyer DT880 headphones. The rest of my headphones are under 100ohm and have such loud hiss that it covers up much of the music. I was sent new tubes to try, but the new tubes sounded the same. I understand that tube gear won't be as quiet as solid state; but, especially with classical music, I had to concentrate on listening through the hiss to try to hear most of the song. The Fosgate is going back for testing but I'm afraid that the only thing wrong is my headphones. Even if they do find something wrong with it; if they send another one with intrusive, obscuring hiss I will feel silly. Then I won't know whether to try another brand of tube amp or just give up on using sensitive headphones with tube amps.

Thank You,
Galen

I think the tube amps would be more suitable for high impedance headphones. Some amps just will not match with some phones although i did notice that the review of the Fosgate on InnerFidelity mentioned that it was dead silent.

howie

[djwhog]

My Tube amp has a high and a low port for the phones to plug into. That said the HD700s are not very low, but less than 1/2 of my 800s. There are dead silent plugged into the Woo Audio WA-6SE with Sophia Princess & matched pair of 6GL7/6EM tubes I am running

[G8YU]

Originally Posted by howiebrou

I think the tube amps would be more suitable for high impedance headphones. Some amps just will not match with some phones although i did notice that the review of the Fosgate on InnerFidelity mentioned that it was dead silent.

howie

I saw that review as well. He even tried the ATH W3000ANV which should have revealed noise if there was any.

Originally Posted by djwhog

My Tube amp has a high and a low port for the phones to plug into. That said the HD700s are not very low, but less than 1/2 of my 800s. There are dead silent plugged into the Woo Audio WA-6SE with Sophia Princess & matched pair of 6GL7/6EM tubes I am running

I've considered the WA-6SE. If the Fosgate doesn't work out then I'll be deciding between the WA-6SE and another similarly priced headphone amp.

Hopefully this thread can grow into a resource for finding out which headphones and tube headphone amps have good synergy.