$200 Solid State Amp

[Octavialicious]

Well, some guy sold me a defective Lyr but that's not too bad as I was hoping to move to solid state anyways (like the pairing with my new headphones)

 

I am open to used or new, and the only requirement is I don't want the amp too be relaxed/slow/mellow

 

Thanks! Obviously the budget is $200 but I can go a tad higher, and the cans are McIntosh MHP1000 which are pretty much beyer

 

@Dackzy @SSL I think you mentioned Project Polaris SSL, but it seems fragile and I knock off amps time to time 

[Gofspar]

Asgard 2 is in your budget used, it's really warm sounding compared to a Magni, O2 and Sap VI.

Only downside is it gets fucking HOT. 45-55c hot

 

Makes stuff alot less harsh.

 

nice cans btw.

[Octavialicious]

3 minutes ago, Gofspar said:

Asgard 2 is in your budget used, it's really warm sounding compared to a Magni, O2 and Sap VI.

Only downside is it gets fucking HOT. 45-55c hot

 

nice cans btw.

Thanks! I was thinking of Asgard but I've heard that too (although O2 was really lacking to me, imo)

 

and yeah, schiit stuff can get pretty hot. The lyr 1 burned my hand almost haha!

[Dackzy]

8 minutes ago, Octavialicious said:

Well, some guy sold me a defective Lyr but that's not too bad as I was hoping to move to solid state anyways (like the pairing with my new headphones)

 

I am open to used or new, and the only requirement is I don't want the amp too be relaxed/slow/mellow

 

Thanks! Obviously the budget is $200 but I can go a tad higher, and the cans are McIntosh MHP1000 which are pretty much beyer

 

@Dackzy @SSL I think you mentioned Project Polaris SSL, but it seems fragile and I knock off amps time to time 

For a second I was afraid it was some fanboy that mentioned me and that he was ready to kill me, because I tell the truth about things. Yeah the project Polaris is pretty nice and yes from my understanding it is a little fragile, you can build it less fragile if you want to. The thing is with used things is that things go for very different prices used around the world, so it can be a little hard to recommend a specific thing, look at used schiit amps. I will comeback later with some more suggestions.

[SSL]

$200? Honestly, I'd go for Magni 2U. If you're any more particular about the sound than that, you're better of trying things yourself until you find what you want.

[Dackzy]

Yeah the Magni 2U seems like the best amp for the budget.

[FloRolf]

Wait, didn't you have the HEX? Why LCD3F now? And why/which one do you prefer? 

[Octavialicious]

37 minutes ago, FloRolf said:

Wait, didn't you have the HEX? Why LCD3F now? And why/which one do you prefer? 

I went HE-X > LCD 3F > and now im getting McIntosh MHP1000 in the mail.

 

They go in the order I got them in (HE-X being 3rd and MHP being 1st), but they're all superb cans. The HE-X had bad build quality and it just sounded bad at times. I can't explain it at all, but it would sound divine and all of a sudden it would sound pretty bleh. You just kinda had to be in the mood for them

 

LCD 3 were stellar as well, but the lack of clarity annoyed me to be honest. I like very good separation and such, but I felt it could be a jumbled mess sometimes

 

Now, the MHP1000. With all of the headphones in the world today the MHP1000 are my end game, and I can't wait for them to arrive! Sure new product may arrive in the future, but with the current market and I can't find any better.  They're an odd choice, but they're my favorite after owning/listening to practically every TOTL can minus the (HD800, HE1000, Ether C/Ether Open, LCD 4, Stax SR009, Tesla T1/T1 2nd gen, all of the other LCD's, TH900, name anything I've probably heard it) Essentially, all I want in headphones are superb clarity and separation with deep, punchy bass. The MHP1000 were very precise, had great seperation, and were detailed as well. This is comparable to the HD800, nothing unheard of yet. But what sold me was all of these features, PLUS very very good bass. Best I've heard ever I'd say, very strong (not TH900 level, but I'd say that's a good thing) but still very prominent and definitely a pleasing experience for bass lovers. For this, it wins the spot on my head  Also should mention it has all the clarity etc. WITHOUT being too airy. HEK and HD800 were too airy/open for me, whilst the MHP1000 is very engaging but still feels like an open can to me!!

 

edit: Also makes sense the McIntosh can was produced by Beyerdynamic, as I've always been a fan of their sound and the T1 had a place in my heart for a longgg time (and still does!)

[Dackzy]

13 minutes ago, Octavialicious said:

I went HE-X > LCD 3F > and now im getting McIntosh MHP1000 in the mail.

 

They go in the order I got them in (HE-X being 3rd and MHP being 1st), but they're all superb cans. The HE-X had bad build quality and it just sounded bad at times. I can't explain it at all, but it would sound divine and all of a sudden it would sound pretty bleh. You just kinda had to be in the mood for them

 

LCD 3 were stellar as well, but the lack of clarity annoyed me to be honest. I like very good separation and such, but I felt it could be a jumbled mess sometimes

 

Now, the MHP1000. With all of the headphones in the world today the MHP1000 are my end game, and I can't wait for them to arrive! Sure new product may arrive in the future, but with the current market and I can't find any better.  They're an odd choice, but they're my favorite after owning/listening to practically every TOTL can minus the (HD800, HE1000, Ether C/Ether Open, LCD 4, Stax SR009, Tesla T1/T1 2nd gen, all of the other LCD's, TH900, name anything I've probably heard it) Essentially, all I want in headphones are superb clarity and separation with deep, punchy bass. The MHP1000 were very precise, had great seperation, and were detailed as well. This is comparable to the HD800, nothing unheard of yet. But what sold me was all of these features, PLUS very very good bass. Best I've heard ever I'd say, very strong (not TH900 level, but I'd say that's a good thing) but still very prominent and definitely a pleasing experience for bass lovers. For this, it wins the spot on my head  Also should mention it has all the clarity etc. WITHOUT being too airy. HEK and HD800 were too airy/open for me, whilst the MHP1000 is very engaging but still feels like an open can to me!!

 

edit: Also makes sense the McIntosh can was produced by Beyerdynamic, as I've always been a fan of their sound and the T1 had a place in my heart for a longgg time (and still does!)

God damn you have a bigger problem than me with headphones  

Dude how much money do you have to spend on headphones? the McIntosh MHP1000 are abour $3k in my country  

[Octavialicious]

2 minutes ago, Dackzy said:

God damn you have a bigger problem than me with headphones  

Dude how much money do you have to spend on headphones? the McIntosh MHP1000 are abour $3k in my country  

You'd be surprised, it isn't as much as it seems! Most of the headphone switches cost me nothing as I sell or trade the headphones towards the new ones. The McIntosh did cost me a bit though, as they were more expensive then I was hoping (they're hard to find so I accepted his offer, and at least I got warranty)

[Dackzy]

3 minutes ago, Octavialicious said:

You'd be surprised, it isn't as much as it seems! Most of the headphone switches cost me nothing as I sell or trade the headphones towards the new ones. The McIntosh did cost me a bit though, as they were more expensive then I was hoping (they're hard to find so I accepted his offer, and at least I got warranty)

Oh I kinda do the same thing, I try to buy things as cheap as possible, so I can sell them at some point and make a profit.  

[FloRolf]

1 hour ago, Octavialicious said:

I went HE-X > LCD 3F > and now im getting McIntosh MHP1000 in the mail.

 

They go in the order I got them in (HE-X being 3rd and MHP being 1st), but they're all superb cans. The HE-X had bad build quality and it just sounded bad at times. I can't explain it at all, but it would sound divine and all of a sudden it would sound pretty bleh. You just kinda had to be in the mood for them

 

LCD 3 were stellar as well, but the lack of clarity annoyed me to be honest. I like very good separation and such, but I felt it could be a jumbled mess sometimes

 

Now, the MHP1000. With all of the headphones in the world today the MHP1000 are my end game, and I can't wait for them to arrive! Sure new product may arrive in the future, but with the current market and I can't find any better.  They're an odd choice, but they're my favorite after owning/listening to practically every TOTL can minus the (HD800, HE1000, Ether C/Ether Open, LCD 4, Stax SR009, Tesla T1/T1 2nd gen, all of the other LCD's, TH900, name anything I've probably heard it) Essentially, all I want in headphones are superb clarity and separation with deep, punchy bass. The MHP1000 were very precise, had great seperation, and were detailed as well. This is comparable to the HD800, nothing unheard of yet. But what sold me was all of these features, PLUS very very good bass. Best I've heard ever I'd say, very strong (not TH900 level, but I'd say that's a good thing) but still very prominent and definitely a pleasing experience for bass lovers. For this, it wins the spot on my head  Also should mention it has all the clarity etc. WITHOUT being too airy. HEK and HD800 were too airy/open for me, whilst the MHP1000 is very engaging but still feels like an open can to me!!

 

edit: Also makes sense the McIntosh can was produced by Beyerdynamic, as I've always been a fan of their sound and the T1 had a place in my heart for a longgg time (and still does!)

 

Cool thanks for your extensive answer!

I never though MCIntosh was a good HP Brand. And now you say it, that Thing really Looks like a Beyerdynamic

They are 2.3k€ here, so still quite pricey.

[Octavialicious]

3 minutes ago, FloRolf said:

 

Cool thanks for your extensive answer!

I never though MCIntosh was a good HP Brand. And now you say it, that Thing really Looks like a Beyerdynamic

They are 2.3k€ here, so still quite pricey.

Of course! And yeah, they don't ever really do HP stuff. They just told Beyer to do the right things I guess!  

[spwath]

16 minutes ago, Octavialicious said:

Of course! And yeah, they don't ever really do HP stuff. They just told Beyer to do the right things I guess!  

I was at a garage sale once, and saw this vintage medical equipment from McIntosh, pretty sure the same One, as the logo looked the same

[Octavialicious]

24 minutes ago, spwath said:

I was at a garage sale once, and saw this vintage medical equipment from McIntosh, pretty sure the same One, as the logo looked the same

yup! They've been in the receiver/stereo equipment game for quite a while  they have tons of vintage stuff

[SSL]

I would love to see a teardown of the MHP1000. Have to wonder if Beyer decided to put damping around their oh so wonderful Tesla driver for once.

[spwath]

11 minutes ago, SSL said:

I would love to see a teardown of the MHP1000. Have to wonder if Beyer decided to put damping around their oh so wonderful Tesla driver for once.

hopefully for $2k