External headphone amp w/ ICON consoles

[Will Russell]

Hi all,

Question for you D-Command/D-Control users.

I'm considering getting a separate headphone amp to drive hi impedance headphones like Sennheiser HD600/650s because the built in headphone amp isn't cutting it.

Anyone else doing this?

What do you use?

How do you think it would be best to connect it to the D-Command/Control?

[Will Russell]

Actually, I think it's as simple as connecting it to one of the Cue outputs.

[Darryl Ramm]

I drive my HD650 with a Grace m920 via S/PDIF from my interfaces(s). I love that headphone amp and it's crossfeed (xfeed) is great.... (obviously not for listening to a straight mix on "headphones" but you can turn it off easily). And the m920 is no longer made (grrr), but you can pick them up used.

For pure analog headphone amps I like Meier Audio, they also easily drive high impedance headphones and again have nice cross feed.

[Will Russell]

I would love a Grace but their products are bit above my current budget for this. Considering the Little Labs Monotor.

[EGS]

Originally Posted by Will Russell

... above my current budget ...

This one is cheap AND sounds great: https://artproaudio.com/product/head...headphone-amp/

[albee1952]

Originally Posted by EGS

This one is cheap AND sounds great: https://artproaudio.com/product/head...headphone-amp/

I had this very HP amp and have only good to say about it, though I never drove high-impedance phones with it(but no drummers ever complained about not enough volume). I used it to provide 6 stereo HP mixes for players when I had my commercial studio(with some special cables for use with 192 outputs).

[Will Russell]

Hi,

Thanks for the replies so far. I don't need multiple headphone output for clients, I just need a high-quality headphone to drive high impedance headphones for checking mixes etc.

[EGS]

https://www.wearableinear.com/best-a...sennheiser-hd/

[Darryl Ramm]

What connections do you want? And budget?

Topping make very nice budget Chinese made headphone amps with great specs and able to drive the HD650. Like https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B09HBS8SLJ I would run into that from S/PDIF. The audio specs/test measurements are so good it will beat a lot of pro-studio gear, but consumer focus construction/features, no balanced analog in, only 1/8” phono jack etc…. Topping may well be the killer bargain brand for what audio performance you get. But what features etc. do you want? We cannot guess.

Again personally I’d look for a used Grace m920. At ~$1k. My m920 gives me basic stereo monitor and headphone control and great multi-source switching S/PDIF from interface, analog balanced audio from elsewhere, USB from Mac etc. on a big fat easy to use source knob, and it has great headphone cross feed (without that I am not interested in any headphone amp). Super nice built box that sits right next to my keyboard. A heavy box, it does not slide around or get pulled off the desk by the headphone cables, unlike some small headphone amps. No power bricks just an IEC power cable, which I like. Lots of little things can make/or break any product like this for different users--mentioned some of my needs here just to give some things to think about. All depends on what you want.