First Watt SIT2 and Headphones

Discussion in 'Headphone Amplifiers and Combo (DAC/Amp) Units' started by phaeton, Mar 4, 2018.

  1. CJFRBW

    CJFRBW New

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    The Sony TA 4650 and 5660 VFET integrated amps have headphone output jacks that are connected directly to the VFET amplifier output stage. Vintage 4650's come up used for a couple of hundred dollars sometimes on ebay. You can hook up a volume tube gain stage to the direct amplifier input on the 4650 (bypassing the 4650 preamp) and get the best of both worlds with standard dynamic headphones through the headphone jacks of the unit. The units built in FET preamp sounds really good, too. Cheapest way to get VFET sound with dynamic headphones, though a re-worked model with new diodes would be preferable.

    I use a Pass DIY type 20 watt push pull class A VFET amp with Stax headphones/custom transformer and it is basically about the best headphone sound I have ever heard bar none, including 009/007 with Blue Hawaii (which sound I have never really liked that much when heard at shows).
     
    Last edited: Sep 6, 2018
  2. Rodeodave

    Rodeodave New

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    I've paired my diy Sony VFET speaker amp with the HE6 on occasion:

    [​IMG]

    The setup is a total mess, but such is life.

    VFETs seem to have this lush and easy going presentation, incredibly pleasing. There are no tiring effects with listening all day. I'm currently considering building a scaled down version with 2SK60/2SJ18 pairs, with a bit more voltage swing. With a 50R load such as the HE6 the smaller VFETs should do fine.
     
  3. dBel84

    dBel84 Friend

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    In the process of building a THF-51S Pass based M2 but with cinemag input transformer like the SIT3 (details on DIY Audio under SissySIT). Once it is built, will try it out with headphones but am building it primarily for speakers
    .. dB
     

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