networkn: Where do you think the diminishing rules start to apply when it comes to headphone AMP's. I am trying to get something really special for my HD650's but I don't want to spend the earth. The O2's rate really well and certainly won't break the bank, though you can spend almost anything. I wouldn't be prepared to spend $100 for 1% difference so if I could get my headphones to 95% for $x that would be a useful guide.

timmmay: My $500 home made dac/amp sounded EXACTLY the same as the $2000 headroom amp to me. I think amps are bit snake oil ish, depends how much power your cans need, what your source is.

What source are you using? Where will you use them?

NZtechfreak:

networkn: Where do you think the diminishing rules start to apply when it comes to headphone AMP's. I am trying to get something really special for my HD650's but I don't want to spend the earth. The O2's rate really well and certainly won't break the bank, though you can spend almost anything. I wouldn't be prepared to spend $100 for 1% difference so if I could get my headphones to 95% for $x that would be a useful guide.

As Timmay says, it depends on lot on what you're trying to drive.

Since you also use an S3 (is that right? I think I recall that), I think it'd make sense to use something that you could pair with that too for portable/transportable use.

Bearing that in mind the Leckterton UHA-6S.MKII could be a good buy at $279US. Works with the S3/Note 2 and presumably the Note 10.1 too and future Samsung high-end Android phones, and in fact fairly ideal for use with them since you can turn off charging via USB completely and just power the Leckterton from it's own rechargeable internal battery. It has an +18 gain setting, which is quite a lot of grunt for virtually anything short of the HiFiMan HE-6. Furthermore it has changeable OPAMPS, which gives you some room to play around with its sound and invest in better OPAMPS/more synergistic OPAMPS with your headphones later as you see fit. Has an excellent reputation - check the review at Innerfidelity. The DAC section is the flagship Cirrus Logic one, may sound better than your ASUS STX, but also means future desktops and laptops can use the DAC from the Leckterton at a pinch which might be handy. Also has 24-bit/96kHz optical and coaxial S/PDIF digital audio (TOSLINK) inputs, which might make it useful for pairing with other devices.

I should have one next week, so you'd have the chance to try it out too :)

networkn: Yup I'll definitely be trying some borrowed kit where possible. I really like Head-Fi, but it's hard to work out the hype and tripe from the reality.

timmmay: Pretty sure your amp is mostly a status symbol, they probably all sound virtually identical.