Who would buy a VTA-designed fully-tubular headphone amp? I would. Or an interface to use with the SP-13, 14, or 15 to get The Ballz with your Sennheisers?
+5
Peter W.
corndog71
Dogstar
arledgsc
Kentley
9 posters
VTA Headphone Amplifier???
Kentley- Posts : 496
Join date : 2015-03-06
Age : 71
Location : Worcester, MA
Peter W.- Posts : 1351
Join date : 2016-08-07
Location : Melrose Park, PA
You have the means right to hand.
Once upon a time, Koss made a small bakelite box with two pairs of wires going in and a 1/4" jack coming out. On top was a switch (Speakers/Phones). One connected it to the speaker output of an amp, and the speakers to the other pair of wires. Plug the phones into the jack, use the switch, home-free.
Inside, other than a fairly healthy switch, was a pair of high-wattage ceramic 1% resistors - as I remember, about 100 ohms or so. But easily determined as needed. Seems to be a fairly simple exercise. And the level of elegance possible is unlimited, the cost small.
Once upon a time, Koss made a small bakelite box with two pairs of wires going in and a 1/4" jack coming out. On top was a switch (Speakers/Phones). One connected it to the speaker output of an amp, and the speakers to the other pair of wires. Plug the phones into the jack, use the switch, home-free.
Inside, other than a fairly healthy switch, was a pair of high-wattage ceramic 1% resistors - as I remember, about 100 ohms or so. But easily determined as needed. Seems to be a fairly simple exercise. And the level of elegance possible is unlimited, the cost small.
arledgsc- Posts : 496
Join date : 2012-11-30
Age : 70
Location : Santa Rosa CA
That is a great idea... I would certainly consider a standalone tube headphone amp in kit form. Input, output, and a volume knob.
Dogstar- Posts : 361
Join date : 2014-06-23
How about tube powered 'Walkman' kit?
peterh- Posts : 1833
Join date : 2012-12-25
Location : gothenburg, sweden
Kentley wrote:Who would buy a VTA-designed fully-tubular headphone amp? I would. Or an interface to use with the SP-13, 14, or 15 to get The Ballz with your Sennheisers?
It could be a powered box with a cathode follower, feeded from the preamp, and
with outputs to poweramp ( input is routed via a switch that disconnects output when
headphone is active) and headphone. By choosing different tubes and resistors one
could adapt to high and low sensity phones.
It needs to be powered, with 120/240 Volt transformer ( or SPS)
The same unit could make service as a buffer for those that wants to feed
a sand amp from a high impedance tube preamp.
Yes, this product would fill a hole in the market
corndog71- Posts : 840
Join date : 2013-03-19
Location : It can get windy here
I have one of the Bottlehead headphone amps (S.e.X 2.0) and it's terrific.
Schiit Audio makes some nice tube and SS headphone amps.
Schiit Audio makes some nice tube and SS headphone amps.
Peter W.- Posts : 1351
Join date : 2016-08-07
Location : Melrose Park, PA
Bob:
I think the intent is for a headphone amp with the VTA name on it, not 'just any' such device - as there are many stand-alone and at least one add-on device for the purpose.
I think the intent is for a headphone amp with the VTA name on it, not 'just any' such device - as there are many stand-alone and at least one add-on device for the purpose.
peterh- Posts : 1833
Join date : 2012-12-25
Location : gothenburg, sweden
Peter W. wrote:Bob:
I think the intent is for a headphone amp with the VTA name on it, not 'just any' such device - as there are many stand-alone and at least one add-on device for the purpose.
I do not thing there is any complete ( power box etc) that uses sane circuit and a
normal cathode-follower output using any of the known good triodes. Many of them
uses low voltage circuits, some uses obscure penthodes etc. I may be mistaken but
i had to build my own a year ago.
A VTA stamp would also increase it's value, especially if it's as good as the other VTA stuff. And
a low price is not the primary goal, good sound , flexibility and reliability should be premium.
Roy Mottram- Admin
- Posts : 1839
Join date : 2008-11-30
Kent,
where were you back in 2011 ? I made a high-end all tube headphone amp for a couple of customers.
Lots of power, available with EL84 or 6L6 output tubes. See photos below. Around $800 at that time.
And I just found one pair of stuffed boards I had stashed away for the octal version. So could sell a kit cheap!
Or build a new one for no so cheap.
where were you back in 2011 ? I made a high-end all tube headphone amp for a couple of customers.
Lots of power, available with EL84 or 6L6 output tubes. See photos below. Around $800 at that time.
And I just found one pair of stuffed boards I had stashed away for the octal version. So could sell a kit cheap!
Or build a new one for no so cheap.
Kentley- Posts : 496
Join date : 2015-03-06
Age : 71
Location : Worcester, MA
Roy - I was unaware of VTA in 2011, unfortunately.
That is exactly what I had in mind! I'd definitely go for a kit. It might be a few months before I can swing the $$$.
PM me with the details, please. Thank you!!!
That is exactly what I had in mind! I'd definitely go for a kit. It might be a few months before I can swing the $$$.
PM me with the details, please. Thank you!!!
pmarcin- Posts : 128
Join date : 2009-01-20
Age : 76
Roy, I should say I remember it well! It was a steal back then, is now and sounds terrific.
Last edited by pmarcin on Sun Mar 05, 2017 9:12 am; edited 2 times in total (Reason for editing : Added some comments.)
deepee99- Posts : 2244
Join date : 2012-05-23
Location : Wallace, Idaho
Peter W. wrote:Bob:
I think the intent is for a headphone amp with the VTA name on it, not 'just any' such device - as there are many stand-alone and at least one add-on device for the purpose.
Peter, there's no VTA logo on VTA amps. I like your solution, though.
I DID go to a stencil-maker at a flea market and had him make up a couple of VTA decals for my M-125s. Put 'em on slightly crooked, scratched 'em off. So folks say, what's the make of those thangs? I just tell 'em some friend worked them up for me...
Roy Mottram- Admin
- Posts : 1839
Join date : 2008-11-30
Dave,
let's not confuse people. Their may not be a VTA logo on any amps sold by Bob, but on all products sold by me, there is either a VTA logo or a Tubes4HiFi logo on everything!
And I've still got several dozen peel & stick metal-foil VTA labels you can put on anything you want.
Depending on continued interest, I've got 4 possibilities for anyone interested in a Hi-End Tube headphone amp (I'm not talking about a $50 chinese unit or a one tube $250 USA unit, those have from 10mw to 200mw)
There are my original HA14 and HA12 headphone amps for those who want the very best at any price, or I can convert an SP13 preamp into a nice headphone amp for around $1000
(but it won't have the power of the HA14 or HA12), or I'm wllling to build a Bottlehead SEX headphone amp for $150 labor (they go for around $550 as a kit).
The HA14 puts out 2 full watts of power at 30 ohms, the HA12 puts out 500mw of power into 30 ohms (both of these are SE amps with big power tubes and output transformers).
A converted SP13 would put out around 500mw of power at 30 ohms (haven't build one or tried it yet), and the SEX claims to have 2 full watts of power at 32 ohms output (also SE with output transformers).
let's not confuse people. Their may not be a VTA logo on any amps sold by Bob, but on all products sold by me, there is either a VTA logo or a Tubes4HiFi logo on everything!
And I've still got several dozen peel & stick metal-foil VTA labels you can put on anything you want.
Depending on continued interest, I've got 4 possibilities for anyone interested in a Hi-End Tube headphone amp (I'm not talking about a $50 chinese unit or a one tube $250 USA unit, those have from 10mw to 200mw)
There are my original HA14 and HA12 headphone amps for those who want the very best at any price, or I can convert an SP13 preamp into a nice headphone amp for around $1000
(but it won't have the power of the HA14 or HA12), or I'm wllling to build a Bottlehead SEX headphone amp for $150 labor (they go for around $550 as a kit).
The HA14 puts out 2 full watts of power at 30 ohms, the HA12 puts out 500mw of power into 30 ohms (both of these are SE amps with big power tubes and output transformers).
A converted SP13 would put out around 500mw of power at 30 ohms (haven't build one or tried it yet), and the SEX claims to have 2 full watts of power at 32 ohms output (also SE with output transformers).
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