DanPluck
100+ Head-Fier
- Joined
- Jul 16, 2011
- Posts
- 182
- Likes
- 16
I have a bit of a dilemma on my hands since my Aurex System which I had used as a headphone amp with my PC died.
Traditionally my headphone of choice has either been a Grado sr125i or an Alessandro MS2i and I enjoy them very much. While attempting to broaden my horizons I have purchase a set of Digitech FA-003 clones which are currently burning in, but from my initial impressions I know I’m going to like them. The only potential purchase on the horizon would be a pair of Fischer FA-011, though I would probably die a slow and painful death due to wife aggro.
My budget is a maximum of £200 delivered to my door and the candidates thus far are:
-Little Dot I+ - I have owned this amp previously and was very impressed how it matched up to my Grado’s using an OPA2107 and Voskhod EF95’s. Once I have purchased the amplifier, opamp, tubes and accounting for customs charges I will be looking at around £150 delivered.
-Matrix M-Stage – This has excellent reviews and looks like a solid device with the option of buying the USB/DAC for £199.99 (sure I may not use it now but it’s a useful bit of kit to have available). Alternatively the standard version is available for £165 delivered. I have read through most of the Matrix M-Stage thread there have been passing comments about its use with Grado, there has been nothing to swing me away from the little dot as it is proven to be a great match. I quite like the ability of this piece to act as a preamp for a future power amplifier.
So Head-Fi, please help me decide and suggest alternatives if you think they would fit my needs
Traditionally my headphone of choice has either been a Grado sr125i or an Alessandro MS2i and I enjoy them very much. While attempting to broaden my horizons I have purchase a set of Digitech FA-003 clones which are currently burning in, but from my initial impressions I know I’m going to like them. The only potential purchase on the horizon would be a pair of Fischer FA-011, though I would probably die a slow and painful death due to wife aggro.
My budget is a maximum of £200 delivered to my door and the candidates thus far are:
-Little Dot I+ - I have owned this amp previously and was very impressed how it matched up to my Grado’s using an OPA2107 and Voskhod EF95’s. Once I have purchased the amplifier, opamp, tubes and accounting for customs charges I will be looking at around £150 delivered.
-Matrix M-Stage – This has excellent reviews and looks like a solid device with the option of buying the USB/DAC for £199.99 (sure I may not use it now but it’s a useful bit of kit to have available). Alternatively the standard version is available for £165 delivered. I have read through most of the Matrix M-Stage thread there have been passing comments about its use with Grado, there has been nothing to swing me away from the little dot as it is proven to be a great match. I quite like the ability of this piece to act as a preamp for a future power amplifier.
So Head-Fi, please help me decide and suggest alternatives if you think they would fit my needs
