Headphone amp

[Randy Myers]

Looking for opinions. Currently I am using my Benchmark DAC3 HGC purely as a headphone amplifier. I am having my W4S DAC handle the heavy lifting and sending the analog signal to the Benchmark. So the Benchmark is not using much of it's capabilities.

Granted it is one heck of a headphone amp, even receiving Stereophile's A rating, but wasting much of it's functions.

So I am looking for suggestions on headphone amps, without DACs, in the under $1k range.

I have had the Schiit recommended to me. Thoughts? Suggestions? I am not interested in hearing about off shoot products that may be hard to find. I want to know about alternatives that I can be easily obtained.

Or would I be better to just keep the Benchmark even though I am not using many of it's functions. After all, it is a great back up DAC (latest ESS chip), and backup pre-amplifier...

[tutomac]

Keep the Benchmark. Smaller package, solid block of aluminum and steel, great potential with multiple doors open to diversify in the future if ever needed. It can also serve as a backup to your W4S if you ever need to service that or wish to upgrade etc and don't want to be left without music while you do it...

[Randy Myers]

Thank you Hector... I keep going back and forth on this one, although I am strongly leaning that way. Not sure I would find a much better headphone amplifier even without the other functions in the same pricing level!

It seems like such a shame to have all of the other capabilities sitting there not being used, however it is a nice thing having a backup unit if ever needed. At some point I might even want to setup a second system <shrug>... would be a great heart of a second system ...

[Robert_Anderson]

I have a Ray Samuels Raptor.

[Formerly YB-2]

Originally Posted by Robert_Anderson

I have a Ray Samuels Raptor.

Robert - how many hours do you have on your Raptor?
What cans have you used?

The Raptor is currently #1 in my search for a "snowbird" rig for my 3mon in FL over the winter. I like that it has two (2) inputs so can feed from both a DAC and a tuner.

Am also considering his Predator. Have to find out if I can put music from the Sony HAP-Z1ES onto a thumb-drive to feed the Predator. Ray Samuels gear gets excellent reviews in those rare times his gear actually gets reviewed. Getting your gear reviewed is the bane of small suppliers like Ray Samuels. No advertising, no reviews.

[Randy Myers]

Hey Bob, I have never heard of that one so I had to look it up. It looks interesting ...

[Antonmb]

The Woo Audio WA6 is also a good one. http://wooaudio.com/products/wa6.html

[Randy Myers]

I heard that Woo Audio is pretty good equipment.

[Randy Myers]

I have sold the Benchmark and decided on the Woo Audio WA6.

It seems to do exactly what I am looking for. Another amplifier in my system that is designed for and dedicated to powering my headphones.

The Wyred 4 Sound preamplifier is so versatile that it has four outputs (and now I am using them all )... To the ARC amp, the First Watt amp, both subwoofers, and to the headphone amplifier!

With quite a bit of research I have read a lot of good things about the Woo. I also appreciate that it is an American made product. I like that it has the ability to roll tubes if I ever get to the point that I want to play around a little.

[enatai252]

Originally Posted by Randy Myers

I have sold the Benchmark and decided on the Woo Audio WA6.

Congrats and good luck. I have had a Woo WES which I use with Stax 007 and 009 headphones. I find the build quality very high and have had no issues going on 7+ years. And the SQ is very good