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Headphones, Personal Listening Gear Personal Listening at its Best |
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A fabulous headphone amplifier : Manley 300B Neo Classic
I' m not a big fan of headphones listening, but I own a few of them, not big money though, my actual one is a Grado SR325i.
In hifi shows, I always take some time to visit the headphones stands and I listen to some of them on supposed "high end" dedicated headphones amps. It never gave me the will to buy such an amp. Yes, most of the time it sounds good, but no as much as having me spending a fair amount of money on a dedicated amp. Since I got my Manley 300B Neo Classic preamp, my opinion about headphones listening changed because, for the very first time, I felt completely mesmerized by what I heard. I have no words indeed. But the sound I get from my SR325i on the Manley has nothing to do with conventional headphones listening. It is like entering in a whole new universe. Absolutely shocking. Made a search on the web to discover that some consider the 300B, fully designed by David Manley, as the best headphones amp ever made. Well, I surely did not hear all headphones amps on the market, but I think that they are probably not far from the truth. It just cannot be much better than this. If you are serious about headphones, and can accommodate the price tag and the space needed for it, then the Manley 300B Neo Classic should be on your audition list, IMHO. I would see it very well seated on my sleeping table, for listening to a few tracks before going to bed. Too bad that I can't even mention this as a dream to my wife ! I could make a room for it in my office and make it my secret treasure island when my work gets too stressful. I may have to buy a second one one then !
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There are two means of refuge from the miseries of life: music and cats Albert Schweitzer Last edited by Jerome W; 09-27-2012 at 04:13 AM. |
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Jérôme.......This is very interesting news. I can well imagine the Manley 300B sounding fabulous with headphones, and with plenty of power. I notice that it can drive two pair of headphones. That is a nice extra. You are correct about the price, $5850.00 U.S., so one would have to be a serious headphone aficionado to consider the 300B for a dedicated headphone amplifier. A nice option is it can also be considered a spare two channel tube preamp, so it is multi-purpose.
For this to be sitting on your night stand, you would also need a new source component.
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Dan STUDIO - McIntosh C1000C/P, MC2301 (2), MR88, Aurender N10, Esoteric K-01X, Shunyata Sigma spdif digital cable, Sonos Connect, PurePower 2000, Stillpoints, Furutech Flux 50, Michell Gyro SE, Michell HR Power Supply, SME 309, Ortofon Cadenza Black, Wireworld, Sonus faber Amati Anniversario LIVING ROOM - McIntosh C2300, MC75 (2), MR85, Magnum Dynalab 205, Simaudio MOON Neo 260D-T, Schiit Audio Yggdrasil, Aurender N100H, Shunyata Sigma USB cable, Micro Seiki DD40, Ortofon Cadenza Blue, Nakamichi BX-300, Sony 60ES DAT, PS Audio P10, Furutech Flux 50, Sonos Connect, Stillpoints, Wireworld, Kimber, PMC EB1i, JL Audio f113 VINTAGE - McIntosh MA230, Tandberg 3011A tuner, Olive 04HD, Sony DTC-59ES DAT, McIntosh 4300V, JBL 4312A Last edited by jdandy; 09-27-2012 at 11:58 AM. |
#3
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I wish my Jumbo Shrimp had a headphone jack.
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Looks nice.....but whew! Pretty pricey!
Pete
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Pete No. 35 Main System: VPI Prime Signature TT in Rosewood, Ortofon Cadenza Black, Stillpoints LP1 V2, McIntosh: MP100, MR78, MCD1000 Transport on Stillpoint Ultra Minis, MDA1000 D/A Converter on Stillpoint Ultra Minis, MS750 Music Server, C40, MC501's (3), Soundcraftsmen: DC2215 Eq/AS1000 Real time analyzer, DBX 3BX II, Carver C9, Nakamichi Dragon, Crown SX724, Crown D-75A (as headphone amp), Sony XBR55X900E 4K TV, JBL L220A's, JBL B460, Sumo Delilah active crossover, WireWorld Silver Eclipse audio interconnects, WireWorld Starlight and Silver Starlight Coaxial Digital interconnects, Wireworld SuperNova 7 Toslink digital interconnect, WireWorld Aurora 7 and Silver Electra Power cords, Wireworld Silver Eclipse 8 speaker cables, Terk AF-1 Powered Antenna, Oppo UDP-205 4K Blu-Ray Player, Bryson BUC-1 USB Converter, Wireworld Gold Starlight XLR Digital interconnect, PS Audio Direct Stream Power Plant 12 on Stillpoint Ultra Minis, PS Audio Dectect, FuruTech Flux-50 NCF Inline Power Filter, Add-Powr Wizard EM Field AC Line conditioner; Stillpoint Ultra SS's under (3) McIntosh MC501 Amplifiers Florida Room/Art Studio System: Harmon Kardon T60 TT/Ortofon 2M Black, McIntosh: MR77, C32, MC2205; Crown Power Line Four, Wyred for Sound DAC-2 Digital to Analog converter, Soundcraftsmen AE2000 Eq, JBL 4313B's, JBL 2241-based Sub, JBL BX63A Active Crossover, Oppo BDP-105D Blu-Ray Player, Samsung 5500 Series 32" Smart TV, Terk AF-1 Powered Antenna Master Bedroom System: McIntosh: MX120 Theater processor, MC206 6-channel amplifier; MR74 AM/FM Tuner, Oppo UDP-203 4K Blu-ray player, JVC HM-DH40000U D-Theater Digital VHS, Phase Technology PC80 Towers (now used as stands), (2) JBL 4401's, (1) JBL Studio 6IW speaker, (2) JBL Studio 6IC speakers, Sony XBR-49X900E UHD TV, Panamax 1000 Line Conditioner, (2) JL Audio E110 Subwoofers, Wireworld Solstice speaker cables, Wireworld Aurora Power cords, Wireworld Equinox and Solstice speaker cables and various other flavors of Wireworld and Audioquest cabling Office System: Marantz 150 Tuner, Crown DL 2, Crown EQ 2, Crown SA 2, Crown D-75A (as headphone amp), McIntosh MCD7009 (as transport), DBX 3BX Series II, Oppo BDP-103 Blu-ray player, JBL 4401's, JL Audio E112 Subwoofer, Samsung 5500 series 32" Smart TV, Wire World Oasis audio interconnects, Wire World Solstice speaker cables, Wyred for Sound DAC-2 DSDse Digital to Analog converter, Wireworld Starlight Coaxial Digital Interconnect, Sennheiser HD800 Headphones, Sennheiser HDVA600 Headphone amp, Wireworld Silver Eclipse Balanced Interconnects, Wireworld Platinum Starlight USB Cable, Add-Powr EAU-2 AC Harmonic resonator High Resolution Source: HP Omen 17" Gaming Laptop |
#5
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Quote:
As a source I would only need a Squeezebox and a Benchmark or a Rega dac. Could fit on the lower shelf ! I admit that 5850 dollars is pretty high for a headphone amp, that is why I said " if you're serious about headphones". Moreover, there is a good margin of negotiation with Manley. I got mine at a much lower price even with 20 % of VAT and import fees ! Sent from my iPad using A.Aficionado
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There are two means of refuge from the miseries of life: music and cats Albert Schweitzer |
#6
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Quote:
You can pay clearly less for it. Sent from my iPad using A.Aficionado
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There are two means of refuge from the miseries of life: music and cats Albert Schweitzer |
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