headphone amp recommendation

[tamasdragon]

I'm looking for an affordable headphone amp system, which is capable driving sony mdr7506's with enough power. Are there any?
Please recommend.
Thanks Tamas Dragon


mtr audio hpa6?
presonus hp60? (looks very good with the given features, but is it enough power for musicians?
mackie hmx?

[tamasdragon]

Noone use a headphone amp?

[hakanai]

i use the benchmark H1. couldn't ask for more

[tamasdragon]

Ok, I wasn't clear enough. I need it for tracking with musicians. So it needs to be multichannel.
TD

[JazzPipo]

Hi have a SM Pro Audio headphone amp, with 6 headphone channels and 4 selectable stereo inputs per channel. Works great, much more versaile then the behringer stuff.

[drBill]

The Rane HC6 is a good affordable headphone amp.

[vernier]

Probably your only choice is the Rane.

[yoink]

What about Furman's offerings?

[centurymantra]

For cheap...that Presonus headphone amp is surprisingly good. WAAAYYY better than it deserves to be...IMHO.

I expect that new rack mount with expanded features should have equivalent sound...assuming it uses the same headphone amps. I asked about this, as I was interested in the piece, and was told it does.

[alessio]

Aviom!! chek this. It's the best thing I have.(for monitoring)
Alessio
www.spazisonori.com

[IzovAge]

Believe it or not something like this MIXERS / POWERED MIXERS - XENYX MIXERS SERIES - XENYX 502 : Premium 5-Input 2-Bus Mixer with XENYX Mic Preamp and British EQ has been working for me much better than a standard H/P amp. I have the Presonus HP4 and while it's great for mobile stuff I find it's just not versatile enough for the studio. The little mixer has EQ, kinda, and everyone has their own volume as well.

[tamasdragon]

Originally Posted by IzovAge

Believe it or not something like this MIXERS / POWERED MIXERS - XENYX MIXERS SERIES - XENYX 502 : Premium 5-Input 2-Bus Mixer with XENYX Mic Preamp and British EQ has been working for me much better than a standard H/P amp. I have the Presonus HP4 and while it's great for mobile stuff I find it's just not versatile enough for the studio. The little mixer has EQ, kinda, and everyone has their own volume as well.

Thanks for the suggestions. And is the presonus powerful enough? The hp6 seems versatile, but I'm hesitating whether it's powerful enough or not. It's 150mW rms.
Considering the other solutions as well.
Tamas Dragon

[IzovAge]

That's the problem I was having with the HP4. It just couldn't handle the volume for everyone to hear things clearly. Also it didn't handle the bass freq's very well either.

[jwl]

Mackie HMX56. Hands down, best thing you'll find for tracking a band on a budget.

6 headphone outs, 2 stereo and 4 mono inputs, with a separate mix for each musician.

$149.

You won't beat it.

I also use mine to drive my monitors, works just fine.

[tamasdragon]

The mackie look fine too, but it somehow seems to handle less power than even the presonus. How it will handle enough for musicians? Note I'm using many sony mdr 7506s for the talents.
Tamas Dragon

[studilaroche]

I've got a couple of Oz Audio HM6's that work well.
Ben

[TornadoTed]

I had a Mackie HMX56 and didn't get along with it. It was ok but couldn't go really loud without crapping out with my headphones, Beyer DT150's.

I've now got 2x DACS Headlite and no such problems anymore. They are superb and will deliver as much power as you need. There is one 'super' channel which is even louder than the other three if needed. They have apparently brought out version 2 now which is meant to be even better!

[mmcfarlane]

In my experience MDR-7506's don't need much power to drive them to ear-damaging levels. I've used them with many different headphone amps (even an iPod) and never not had enough power. Other headphones may suck power but these seem pretty efficient.

If you need 'crazy loud hearing-loss inducing' headphone volumes maybe it will be a problem, but 'too loud to concentrate' isn't hard to achieve.

[JoRillo]

Hey guys - I'm trying to avoid making a new thread so some advice would be appreciated.

I found a used Rane HC6 for $129 + $50 in shipping. I was really happy about finding it for $129 but then the $50 in shipping kinda made me ehh about it all.

What do you think?

I am looking for a 4-6 channel headphone amp between 100-200 that's rack mountable. I won't be mixing threw it, but I don't want it to sound like sh-- which is what is keeping me away from behringer and (from what I hear) Rane doesn't sound to bad at all. So this fits the criteria and from what I have heard it is a good unit.

Thanks in advance.

[JoRillo]

Gotta love how quick things get buried in the Gear Section. (Read the post above this please)

[mmcfarlane]

Originally Posted by JoRillo

Hey guys - I'm trying to avoid making a new thread so some advice would be appreciated.

I found a used Rane HC6 for $129 + $50 in shipping. I was really happy about finding it for $129 but then the $50 in shipping kinda made me ehh about it all.

If it's in 'like new condition' HC6S, then your total price of $179 delivers to your door is worth it.

I don't know if Rane ever made an HC6 but I have an HC6S in my rack and it works great. I have seen it called HC6 on several vendor sites (even the picture on Sweetwater says HC6) but RAne's site only mentions a 6S and thats what I have.

Maybe the non-S version is an older replaced model... Anyone know? Any differences between a 6 and 6s?

[Enlightened Hand]

The Presonus HP60 is very good and plenty loud, unless you're in need of deliberately being made to go deaf. It's MUCH better than you would think. It's NOT an HP4.

[fifthflaw]

Just had to order another behringer after my current one decided to stop passing stereo signal on all channels. I can get 2 channel or half the stereo image but not full stereo. Shame but suppose its been in regular use for 4-5 years

[JoRillo]

Originally Posted by mmcfarlane

If it's in 'like new condition' HC6S, then your total price of $179 delivers to your door is worth it.

I don't know if Rane ever made an HC6 but I have an HC6S in my rack and it works great. I have seen it called HC6 on several vendor sites (even the picture on Sweetwater says HC6) but RAne's site only mentions a 6S and thats what I have.

Maybe the non-S version is an older replaced model... Anyone know? Any differences between a 6 and 6s?

I was talking to someone else in a Headphone amp thread in the high end section - he asked if it was a newer or older model, so maybe that is what it is?

What color are the headphone inputs (I guess they would be considered outputs) I just googled the HC6S and it looks like they are a blackish color - the used unit I am looking at is silverish. Could be ware though.

[JoRillo]

Bump.

[John Willett]

My headphone amp is the Grace m902b, shortly to be upgraded to the new m903.

[RKrizman]

Years ago somebody gave me one of these 6 channel Rane boxes and it still totally kicks butt.

HC 6S Headphone Amplifier

-R

[JoRillo]

Thanks for the input guys. I just ordered the Rane HS6 - lets hope it is everything I hope it is.

[GordZilla]

Originally Posted by drBill

The Rane HC6 is a good affordable headphone amp.

Amen to this... if you get one of these, you won't have to upgrade... ever.

The HC-6 is a bullet-proof, loud-ass, simple to use, industrial-strength headphone amp... that will simultaneously drive 6 sets of cans (including your Sonys) to ear melting levels... all in one rack space.

They are around $500 brand new... but can often be found used on eBay in great shape for $200-$250.

I have two

[GordZilla]

Originally Posted by JoRillo

Hey guys - I'm trying to avoid making a new thread so some advice would be appreciated.

I found a used Rane HC6 for $129 + $50 in shipping. I was really happy about finding it for $129 but then the $50 in shipping kinda made me ehh about it all.

What do you think?

I am looking for a 4-6 channel headphone amp between 100-200 that's rack mountable. I won't be mixing threw it, but I don't want it to sound like sh-- which is what is keeping me away from behringer and (from what I hear) Rane doesn't sound to bad at all. So this fits the criteria and from what I have heard it is a good unit.

Thanks in advance.

If it is in decent shape, then yupper... that is a good deal. Maybe you can get them down on the shipping (eg.....USPS is always way cheaper than UPS/Fedex).

You won't be disappointed (unless the unit turns out to be beat to hell or something... even then it probably will still sound great).