[LarsHP]

Power is obviously not the reason to go for a speaker amp instead of a headphone amp. Why exactly a high end speaker amp often is better is not easy to tell. Basically there is no general physical / electrical property that you can theoretically say is the key to why HE-6 performs better with a speaker amp than a high quality headphone amp, because the impedance curve of planars is practically flat, which means there is no driver resonance for the amp to control. It's impedance is about 50 Ohms, which isn't particularly low either. The sensitivity is extremely low for a headphone, but very high for a speaker. However, in terms of power - in order to produce undistorted peaks in the music - the high powered headphone amps, that do about or more than 2W in 50 Ohm, actually have what it takes - again - theoretically.

The only useful explanation is that high end speaker amps for some reason are better amps than powerful high end headphone amps.

As a "funny" story, I would like to add something to underline that power is not what it's all about: I have had a high powered (5W class A) Norwegian DIY headphone amp for a year, but the built-in balanced amp card in my HiFiMan HM901S yields better and deeper bass and doesn't have the excess treble either. Go figure that!

There might be one thing that could explain why speaker amps are better, and that is the driving principle: it's push - pull. However, I'm not an engineer, so this is just guesswork.

 

[greenpsycho]

Man, that makes me wonder how far that extends. I'm really liking the ifi ican pro now, but can't help but wonder how it would sound with a speaker amp. Just don't have one, and not sure if there are any sub $500 options out there that would be worth it

 

[jerick70]

Man, that makes me wonder how far that extends. I'm really liking the ifi ican pro now, but can't help but wonder how it would sound with a speaker amp. Just don't have one, and not sure if there are any sub $500 options out there that would be worth it

I've heard the Emotiva mini-X a-100 is a good match for the HE-6, in that price range. Though I've never used one myself so YMMV. It looks like Emotiva has released a new 2 channel integrated amp that may work too. http://emotiva.com/products/amplifiers/pres-and-pros/ta-100

 

[Keithpgdrb]

dont discount the many vintage amps that can be found used.  WELL under 500.  just stick with the around 7-10 watts into 50 ohms and it will be a killer match.  its about quality of amp, not necessarily power.
 
I've heard the emotiva.  it does well, but my vintage amp is better, and cost less.  
 
Only place I'd go from here is trying a monoblock setup.  which I'm way to lazy to do.

 

[Oregonian]

  Man, that makes me wonder how far that extends. I'm really liking the ifi ican pro now, but can't help but wonder how it would sound with a speaker amp. Just don't have one, and not sure if there are any sub $500 options out there that would be worth it

I'm with Keith - a quality vintage speaker amp can be had for much less than $500 and out of the speaker taps makes the HE-6 sound incredible.  I've got the following for less than $500 - Pioneer SX-1050 ($400), SA-9900 ($310), SA-8800 ($240) and my Spec 1 preamp/Spec 2 amp rack system (which I paid $280 for which is a once in a lifetime deal I'm sure) - most of my listening is out of the Spec 2 amp (250wpc) from speaker taps.  So good I've stopped looking for the 'best headphone' - we own it already. 

 

[Keithpgdrb]

sorry, meant to mention.  I'm currently using the Sansui AUX-901 with my HE6.  amazing.  I've also tried the yamaha cr2020, and the sansui 9090db recently.  all excellent.  I tried my fisher 500C (tube amp), which is an amazingly capable amp at about 35W, but I felt it did not control the bass to my satisfaction.  
 
Vintage solid state is the way to go I think.  Unless you want to spend a lot of money.  I'll bet a modern amp from Nelson Pass would be mind blowing.  but I aint spending that bread.

 

[Hansotek]

sorry, meant to mention.  I'm currently using the Sansui AUX-901 with my HE6.  amazing.  I've also tried the yamaha cr2020, and the sansui 9090db recently.  all excellent.  I tried my fisher 500C (tube amp), which is an amazingly capable amp at about 35W, but I felt it did not control the bass to my satisfaction.  

Vintage solid state is the way to go I think.  Unless you want to spend a lot of money.  I'll bet a modern amp from Nelson Pass would be mind blowing.  but I aint spending that bread.

Which Sansui did you have at the last meet, the 9090db or the AUX-901? That thing was beastly!

 

[Keithpgdrb]

Which Sansui did you have at the last meet, the 9090db or the AUX-901? That thing was beastly!

last meet was the 901.  I decided to use it because it has balanced in from the DAC.  the 9090db sounds amazing as well.  I'll bring that to the next meet.  I promise!!

 

[KewlMunky]

 
I'm with Keith - a quality vintage speaker amp can be had for much less than $500 and out of the speaker taps makes the HE-6 sound incredible.  I've got the following for less than $500 - Pioneer SX-1050 ($400), SA-9900 ($310), SA-8800 ($240) and my Spec 1 preamp/Spec 2 amp rack system (which I paid $280 for which is a once in a lifetime deal I'm sure) - most of my listening is out of the Spec 2 amp (250wpc) from speaker taps.  So good I've stopped looking for the 'best headphone' - we own it already. 

 
I got my Carver M500 for $400 shipped off ebay. It gives me 200 WPC into 8 ohms.

 

[Keithpgdrb]

   
I got my Carver M500 for $400 shipped off ebay. It gives me 200 WPC into 8 ohms.

lol.. from a power standpoint, that will do.  

 

[Hansotek]

 
last meet was the 901.  I decided to use it because it has balanced in from the DAC.  the 9090db sounds amazing as well.  I'll bring that to the next meet.  I promise!!

 
I just saw this one on ebay and drooled all over myself: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Pristine-Sansui-AU-11000-Pro-Series-Integrated-Amplifier-/331993629535

 

[Keithpgdrb]

   
I just saw this one on ebay and drooled all over myself: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Pristine-Sansui-AU-11000-Pro-Series-Integrated-Amplifier-/331993629535

man, that is beautiful.  I love the 901, but it doesnt look like THAT!

 

[eschaaf]

 
Wells Audio Headtip - listening to music while drowning in a tar pit.

I've gotta say, now that I've applied most of the modifications you've detailed in previous posts (I can't thank you enough for your contributions to the forum!), I'm finding I like the sound better out of my modest Vio stack w/mods more than the Wells. At the dealers the Wells sounded good with the headphones completely stock - maybe it tamed some of the treble roughness the 6's can have in stock config. 

 

[Keithpgdrb]

I have no mods on my he6 and they are awesome. I wonder if the mods are masking improper amp pairing? Although I e considered taking out the outside padding.

 

[Rockin_Zombie]

What do you guys think of this one?
 
http://www.ebay.ca/itm/Bryston-2B-Stereo-Power-Amplifier/122107811419?_trksid=p2050601.c100085.m2372&_trkparms=aid%3D111001%26algo%3DREC.SEED%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D35909%26meid%3D805ad33c7760417c839f46f2935429f0%26pid%3D100085%26rk%3D3%26rkt%3D4%26sd%3D272393863874%26clkid%3D9150248008853373564&_qi=RTM2247627
 
 
I know Bryston 2B has been mentioned before, but this is an older model. Is this good price? Remember CAD is weaker than USD, in USD it would be less than 500.
 
There's also the Bryston 4B, but it would be overkill no?
 
 
http://www.ebay.ca/itm/Bryston-4B-Stereo-Amplifier/291671939599?_trksid=p2050601.c100085.m2372&_trkparms=aid%3D111001%26algo%3DREC.SEED%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D35909%26meid%3Db136ab14019641979b7f610c8f87868a%26pid%3D100085%26rk%3D4%26rkt%3D4%26sd%3D122107811419%26clkid%3D9150280892563206682&_qi=RTM2247628