Tag Archives: headphone amp

FiiO E18 Kunlun Portable Smartphone Amp/DAC Review

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fiio e18

Verdict

We are impressed with the sound quality and power which the Fiio E18 provides; together with the mobile DAC functinality and everything else, nothing gives better value for money. However, it would have been much better (and safer) to have that gain switch recessed, or indeed buried into the side of the unit, rather like the E12. There’s no way we would chance using the E18 with an IEM whilst out and about. Either that prominent gain button should be ripped off or the switch covered up with tape, to save our ears from a possible bashing. Similar with the track/play/pause controls on the side of the unit – these can be swithed and operated all too easily.

Pros

  • Great Value
  • Oodles of power
  • Extra functionality with smartphones

Cons

  • Gain switch and track select buttons too prominent

The Swiss have enjoyed enormous success with their pocket knives, they are handy and can do a variety of jobs. However if wishing to hack your way through the jungle, a 3-inch blade is going to keep you busy.

Up until recently, portable headphone amps appear to have been aimed at providing a good level of power, or a lot of features. The Fiio E18 changes this, as it can accept a digital signal from a multitude of handsets as well as PC, and amplify enough to power any less-sensitive headphones up to 600 Ohms! Please check the E18 Kunlun page on Fiio’s site (http://www.fiio.cn) for exact details on compatibility.

Key Features

The E18 is a no-nonsense design like the E12, but with a few more tricks up its sleeve. DAC functionality combined with track select controls make this a versatile and useful addition to any portable set-up. Gain and bass boost controls will help get your preferred sound from a vast array of headphone models.

First Impressions

The track skip/back buttons on the side along with play and pause are handy, but it would have been preferable to have seen these recessed – unrequested track skips are an annoyance. Bass boost and gain switches are placed near the volume pot on the top end, and there’s little to prevent accidental operation of the gain switch. Accidental operation of the gain switch could potentially be quite damaging if wearing sensitive IEMs.

There’s a switch on the opposite end to select the source for the DAC (PC or phone) and also there’s the option of using the E18 as a power source itself; this was tried with Fiio X3 and smartphone – they both started accepting a charge, although this smartphone is not compatible with the DAC.

The outward design is not dissimilar to that of the E12 which is an amplifier only. It has been mentioned that the E12 is a little better in terms of amplifier quality, as well as more powerful. But the question everyone wants to know the answer to is ‘will it power my headphones?’ and the answer is very likely to be yes.

The E18 was tried with the AKG K240 DF (600 ohms, 88dB sensitivity) and the dial wasn’t turned all the way up – it was ear splittingly loud with room to spare! The E18 should be able to drive anything the modern world has to offer, within reason. The manuafacturer states an impedance range of 16 – 150 ohms, but there’s nothing like trying these things. So long as your recording is done well (and not extremely quiet), the E18 is enough to really blast it out.

Sound quality

The Fiio E18 was run from a PC to test DAC functionality and quality. It was up against an X3 and E12 together, which seemed like a fair match. A 600 ohm Sennhieser HD540 was used.

The E18 appeared to give better resolution; sounds were relatively flat and dull on the X3/E12 combination. I decoupled the X3/E12 rig and plugged into the X3 alone; predictably, things improved in terms of details due to fewer connections in the chain, but the relative lack of power took some of the wind out of my X3’s sails. Bass and hats were pushed back a little.

Summary

With the wants and needs of the average portable audio fan growing all the time (in part helped along by just this sort of product!) the Fiio E18 tries to tick as many boxes and cover as may bases as it can, and it does a great job of all of them.

Score: 8/10

Chord Cable Interconnects – To The Test

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The overriding opinion of those who stick with their free RCA interconnects (often provided with Hi-Fi seperates) is that any money spent on upgrading them is wasted. Quality cabling is a slightly alien concept to be fair; the signal passes from A to B anyway, why spend money on cables which will achieve the same end?

Speaking as someone who has thought exactly this in their time, I was interested to know the actual difference between some of Chord’s offerings, and the skinflint equivalent. Is any improvement noticeable at all, how is it better, and is it worthwhile?

To determine this, my colleague John set up a blind test between a studio grade RME audio interface taking a signal from a computer, and a Graham Slee Solo Ultra Linear. These great amplifiers can switch between two inputs using a control on the front of the unit so is perfect for A/B tests. The inputs of the Slee amp came from the same source but using either the high end Chord Anthem Reference cable, or the entry-level Crimson cable.

Being an informal and quick test, rigorous procedures were not followed; I was aware of the cables being compared and it was just me doing the test. I operated the switch myself to select the cables, but I did not know which cable was feeding which input.

Feeling a little nervous, I noted down some of the impressions I got from listening to Level 42’s ‘Something About You’ through a Fostex TH900, with a Grado PS1000 ready for another listen later. I was encouraged to find that perceived differences were quite easy to spot.

  • Bell sounds which are pure and stand clear of the mix sound flatter and harder to pick out.
  • A synth with a bit of distortion on it (starts on beat 3 of the song) sounds as if it is going through a bit-depth reduction effect or ‘bitcrusher’.
  • The bass is slightly muddier with less definition.
  • Backing vocals are blended together and less distinct; voices are cleanly separated with the Anthem Reference cables.
  • Hi-Hats are more splashy and ill-defined.

Not surprisingly I guessed the correct channel for the cheaper Crimson cable; the blind test showed very clearly the differences between the cables.

I then swapped headphones to the Grado PS1000 – an open headphone of similar quality to the TH900. I found that the PS1000 made it more of a challenge to spot differences but they were still there. Another thing I noticed was a loss of soundstage height with the PS1000 when listening to audio through the cheaper Crimson cable.

In the spirit of further thorough experimentation, the “free with hifi separates” cable was tried. Predictably, the differences were more marked.

  • The bells sounds are flat and dull.
  • The distorted synth sound requires focused attention to hear through the mix.
  • Bass is flatter and flabbier.
  • Backing vocals are more blended; both blended together and with the rest of the music.
  • Hi-Hats sound more like brief bursts of white noise than cymbals.

The overall impression was of an old cassette recording, relatively speaking. The soundstage was practically limited to the width of the headphones , and high frequencies are messy and splashy. There was a large portion of distortion throughout.

Verdict

Although premium cables like the ‘Anthem Reference’ cables may be out of immediate reach for the average listener, I found that the entry-level ‘Crimson’ model is certainly a worthwhile improvement over the generic black/grey RCA cables. At £55, it is clear to see that this represents great value considering the sonic improvements it offers.

Best Portable Headphone Amps

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Best Portable Headphone Amps

Just Audio uHA-120UHA-120

Just Audio specialise in creating smaller scale audio products that enable an uncoloured, natural and precise listening experience, Designed and Manufactured in UK. The uHA-120 is a small pocket sized class AB headphone amplifier with a lightweight and durable design for portability. Fitted with a high quality Internal Lithium-Polymer Battery, it can also be powered from USB.
The Just Audio uHA-120 uses a discrete configuration, usually only found in larger desktop headphone amplifiers, to enable better alignment with the Just Audio philosophy of delivering a precise and uncoloured listening experience. Other features include a custom volume control pot upgrade. This version is the new Revision B model which allows you to configure the unit to a higher gain setting for full size or hard to drive headphones or a lower gain setting for in-ear or easily driven headphones. For those who want to use power hungry hard to drive headphones on the go Just Audio also do a larger portable Class A amplifier, the Just Audio AHA-120 . Everything right down to the components and the final PCB layout has been optimised for attaining the best possible audio quality.
HiFi Headphones Verdict:
The natural yet precise sound characteristics, British workmanship and solid construction make this superb little amplifier one you would be crazy not to consider. The option to raise and lower the gain setting means it will drive a large range of headphones and earphones.

Beyerdynamic A2 Headphone Amp

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Beyerdynamic A2 Headphone Amp

The Beyerdynamic A2 Headphone Amp is now available to purchase from our on-line store. (please call 01903 768910 for further information.

The A2 is Beyerdynamic’s new addition to their range of audiophile headphone amplifiers. Newly developed from scratch and already awarded with the renowned”Red Dot Award: Product Design 2014″, the A2 headphone amplifier does not only impress with its unbelievably natural and powerful airy sound, but also with its clear and high-quality design.

Main Features

  • Discrete electronics for best audio reproduction
  • Amazingly natural and brilliant sound reproduction with an excellent resolution and spatiality
  • Two parallel headphone outputs for two listeners to enjoy music simultaneously
  • Convenient remote control for all functions
  • Slide switches for selectable gain and impedance
  • Headphone stand included (can be mounted to the A2) for compact storage of headphones
  • Elegant design with transparent glass cover enabling you to look at the illuminated interior

 

FiiO E18 Kunlun Portable USB DAC & Headphone Amplifier – Announcement

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The Hifiheadphones team is pleased to announce the new DAC & Portable Headphone Amplifier from FiiO, the E18 Kunlun is now available to be purchased on our website.

Enter the world of the professional audio decoder FiiO E18 with the convenience of listening to music from Smartphones, and the pleasure of high fidelity audio.

Reference quality digital-to-analogue audio conversion for music played via compatible Android smartphones. FiiO E18 is compatible with Samsung Galaxy S3/S4/Note2, HTC One, and other Android devices with USB OTG and USB digital audio output capabilities.

FiiO E18 can be used USB DAC and amp as replacement of the on-board soundcard on computers and laptops. FiiO E18 serves as a dedicated headphone amplifier when connected to portable audio players.

The user-friendly volume knob design with symmetrical volume roller is resistant to accidental bumps, yet easy to adjust. When used as power source, the automatic cut-off and self-recovery function of charging current limiter IC on the E18 protects the phone. The 3500mAh Li-polymer battery achieves 25 hours playtime when used as amplifier only, and 12 hours utilising the DAC and amp combination.

  • Performs reference quality digital-to-analogue audio conversion for Android smartphones
  • Compatible with Samsung Galaxy S3/S4/Note2, HTC One and Android devices
  • USB DAC functionality for computers and laptops
  • Works with laptop and desktop computers at up to 24-Bit / 96kHz high definition audio
  • High-end op-amp audio output circuitry with ultra low distortion and noise
  • 3500mAh battery for up to 25 hours of use as an amp-only, or up to 12 hours as DAC+amp
  • Charges in 4 hours with optional 2A USB adapter

To purchase the unit, please visit our website:

Buy FiiO E18 Kunlun Portable USB DAC & Headphone Amplifier

Beyerdynamic A200p High-End Portable Apple/Android DAC and Headphone Amplifier – Announcement

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The Hifiheadphones team is pleased to announce the new Portable Apple/Android DAC and Headphone Amplifier from Beyerdynamic, the A200p is now available to be purchased on our website.

Detailed audio signal without the loss of sound quality when using portable devices. Compatible with smartphones, tablets and computers, the A200p offers high definition sound that was previously not possible for travelling audiophiles.

Designed to circumvents the internal signal processing, the integrated Wolfson DAC chip of the A200p receives the pure digital music data first. After converting the digital data to analogue music signals, a high-quality amplifier controls the output to the connected headphones. All this results in previously unheard details, better contoured and deeper bass, as well as natural instrument and vocal reproduction.

Beyerdynamic A200p supports iPhone 5, iPad Air, iPad (4th generation), iPad mini and iPod touch (5th generation) and most smartphones with Android 4.1 or higher, which have a digital USB audio output. The A200p is currently the smallest mobile DAC and amplifier that can work with all of these devices on the digital level.

Features

  • Crystal-clear sound with portable players
  • Compatible with Apple and Android devices
  • Digital connection via Apple lightning or Micro-USB
  • 3.5mm mini stereo jack headphone connection
  • Volume control with 135 levels
  • LED display for charging, operation and volume
  • Three buttons for music playback/pause and skipping forward and backward
  • On/off switch with locking function
  • DAC with up to 24 bit resolution at 96 kHz sampling frequency
  • Integrated rechargeable battery with up to 11 hours operating time

To purchase the unit, please visit our website:

Buy Beyerdynamic A200p High-End Portable Apple/Android DAC and Headphone Amplifier

Cypher Labs AlgoRhythm Duet Portable Headphone Amplifier – Announcement

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The Hifiheadphones team is pleased to announce the new Portable Headphone Amplifier from Cypher Labs, the AlgoRhythm Duet is now available to be purchased on our website.

The AlgoRhythm Duet headphone amplifier is perhaps the closest yet to true desktop quality in a portable format. Hear the lowest lows and highest highs. Drive both IEM and large planar magnetic headphones. Ultra low deep and clean background, powerful bass, bold, authoritative and expansive.

Cypher Labs AlgoRhythm Duet pairs perfectly with the AlgoRhythm Solo -R or AlgoRhythm -dB. The size, style and colours all match up so now you can have a complete Cypher Labs rig. Three gain settings, balanced input and output using a mini-4 pin connector and single ended 3.5mm input and output.

AlgoRhythm Duet offers volume gain settings optimised for all headphone types, including in-ear monitors and planar magnetic headphones. Markings are laser etched on extruded aluminium for durability.

Features

  • Fully balanced high power analogue headphone amplifier
  • Matches in size and style with the AlgoRhythm Solo -R and -dB for the ultimate portable rig
  • 3 gain settings, balanced input and output and single ended 3.5mm input and output
  • Markings are laser etched on extruded aluminium for durability
  • Single ended line-level analogue output
  • Balanced mini-4 pin input and output (never translated from single ended)
  • Output optimised for all headphone types, including in-ears and planar magnetic headphones
  • Analogue system does not utilise PC driver
  • High capacity lithium-polymer battery – 10-14 hours play time – fast re-charge
  • Designed and assembled in the USA

To purchase the unit, please visit our website:

Buy Cypher Labs AlgoRhythm Duet Portable Headphone Amplifier

Do I Need A Headphone Amp?

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What’s the point of a headphone amplifier?

Not sure whether to buy a headphone amplifier? This article will inform you of the benefits of adding an amplifier to your existing setup, or buying an amplifier with your new headphones.

When you’re buying some new headphones it’s always good to think about what your source will be; whether it’s an iPhone, Laptop, DAP (Digital Audio Player), your home HiFi or a bit of everything, figure out which has the lowest output and if it can drive your chosen headphone. So if you use a mobile phone as your main source and you’ve decided on some Earsonics SM64 earphones which are very hard to drive, you will need a headphone amp to add some extra power so you can get the most from your new purchase.

There are plenty of headphones designed to be used with mobile phones and other low powered portable devices; these headphones generally have low impedance (up to 32ohm) and high sensitivity (95db and over) so they are very easy to drive. This doesn’t mean that you won’t benefit from an amp; not only do amps add extra power but they can also change the sound by improving sound stage, separation and depending on the amp add warmth or brightness.

Another benefit of getting a headphone amp is that some of them have EQ settings on them, so you can adjust the amount of bass you want depending on what you’re listening to.

If you have decided to go for a headphone amp you now need to decide which one to go for, there are many to choose from and they go for anything between £20 and £1500. Amps can be split into two main groups, portable and desktop. If you are going for a portable amp then you could go for something like the FiiO E11 which is powerful enough to drive most portable headphones, it is a good size and has two EQ settings. If you require more power then you could go for the FiiO E12 or the Just Audio UHA-120. Both of these amps can drive most headphones and they will also improve the sound quality, with the Just Audio being slightly warmer than the E12. For the harder to drive headphones there is the Just Audio AHA-120. This amp has adjustable gain settings and is class A, this provides a less distorted, more accurate sound.

If you only use your headphones at home then you should go for a desktop amplifier as they are generally more powerful. There is a much larger range of desktop amplifiers and you really should know what headphone you will be using before choosing the amp, for example if your headphones have a warm/bassy sound then it’s a good idea to go for a brighter/detailed amplifier. This also works the other way around; a warm sounding amp will compliment bright headphones and balance the sound out.

If you have any questions about choosing the right amplifier then give us a call at Hifi Headphones on 01903 768 910 or you can send an email to support@hifiheadphones.co.uk – we will be more than happy to help.

Graham Slee Bitzie Headphone DAC/Amp – Announcement

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The HifiHeadphones team is pleased to announce the new portable headphone amplifier/DAC from Graham Slee, the Bitzie is now available to be purchased on our website. The products from Graham Slee have been very popular ever since we started offering them so we were naturally exicted when we first heard about the release.

Other than obviously sounding great, the best feature of the Bitzie is that it has been confirmed to work as an external DAC with several Android-based smartphones, like the Galaxy S3 and S4. Android-owners craving for a superior sound fromt their device should look no further!

  • Plug & Play (instantly recognised by virtually all operating systems including Windows 8!)
  • Also Plug & Play with Samsung Galaxy S3 running Android Jellybean — 7 hours playing on fully charged S3!
  • No driver downloads (except Windows 98 which is virtually automatic)
  • Plays 44.1, 48, 88.2, 96, 176.4, 192 kHz via VLC media player, Foobar2000 or other freeware players
  • 24-bit/44.1 or 48 kHz bit-perfect when running suitable software
  • 16-bit/44.1 or 48 kHz S/PDIF permanently on outputs — 75 Ohm transformer isolated coax and optical “toslink” transmitter
  • Full-speed USB
  • Low clock jitter
  • 8x oversampling Burr-Brown USB Audio CODEC
  • USB powered – USB compliant 0.5W consumption
  • Analogue 3rd order Butterworth low pass filter, -1dB at 22kHz, -47dB at 352.8kHz
  • 1.55V rms analogue output
  • Two stereo output jacks
  • Drives all headphones – low impedance and high impedance
  • Drives power amplifiers direct
  • True analogue rotary volume control
  • Smaller than iPod™ footprint – anodized aluminium case
  • Smaller than our Voyager portable headphone amplifier
  • Included high quality full-size jack to stereo RCA jack adapter
  • Designed and manufactured in the United Kingdom

Read more on Graham Slee’s website!

To purchase the unit, please visit our website:

Graham Slee Bitzie USB DAC & USB Headphone Amplifier

Beyerdynamic A20 Headphone Amplifier – Coming Soon!

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We’re happy to share the great news that we’ve just received from one of our suppliers, Polar Audio. Beyerdynamic, the prestigious pro-audio company from Germany have released a new headphone amplifier called the A20.

Find out more by visiting Beyer’s website:

Beyerdynamic A20

We’re hoping to have these in within the next two weeks. Keep an eye out on both the website and blog!

Dispensing Audio Justice – Just Audio uHA-120DS

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Just Audio‘s range of headphone amps make a nice change from the sleek appearances of similar offerings from larger competitors. This may sound like a backhanded dig at the styling of this range, but not at all. On the contrary, it gives the units a bespoke appearance; one that promises to reform the sound in a no-nonsense, pragmatic way.

The new uHA-120DS also operates as a fantastic DAC and the improvement over my little Behringer UCA202 USB soundcard was plain, even when using passive loudspeakers.

There is the option to switch between battery power and USB power if used as a DAC, and between ‘Normal’ and ‘Fast’ charging depending on which USB standard is possible with your set up. Installation is easy, I tried the 120DS with Windows 7 and good old XP and both were fine; the PC recognised the unit and had it working with no extra work necessary, only to chage the settings to make the unit the PC’s default audio output. I’m told that there is a similarly smooth experience waiting for mac users too.

I tested the unit against a FiiO E07K to see how the audio from these two amps/DACs compared. For this cross examination I used the excellent Phonak Audeo PFE 232 earphones; to let no nuance escape the jury’s attention. The FiiO sounded a little brighter on first impressions, but on closer inspection there appeared to be either a small boost to higher frequencies with the Fiio, or a smoother presentation with the uHA120DS.

The Just Audio unit came across as being more relaxed; it didn’t break a sweat under the pressure and gave some very convincing testimony. Perhaps given that the uHA120DS is 4 times the cost of the FiiO, there’s no surprise here. You always get what you pay for when it comes to witnesses.

An absolute discharge is called for in this case, which is a relatively rare event. The battery can last anywhere up to 40 hours, depending on which headphones are used with the device and the amplification used, etc.

Before you ask, there is no ‘dock’ for an iPod however. Take him down!

FiiO E5 & E3 headphone amps – boost volume, add bass and improve soundstage

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FiiO E5 & E3 headphone amps – boost volume, add bass and improve soundstage

At HiFi Headphones we’ve just taken delivery of our first batch of FiiO headphone amplifiers.  The brand new FiiO E5 and FiiO E3 are ultra small headphone amplifiers with a price tag that makes them affordable for anyone with an iPod, MP3 player, laptop or mobile phone.

The FiiO headphone amps promise increased output power (to power hard to drive headphones), added bass response and even better clarity of treble notes.

FiiO E3

The FiiO E3 headphone amp is the perfect introduction to improving your portable audio setup – look out, it’s a slippery slope! 🙂  At a price point that makes it possible to try without risking to much cash, the E3 has taken the headphone amp World by storm.

Just connect the FiiO E3 between your portable audio device (iPod, iPhone, laptop, mobile phone, etc) and enjoy the improvement in volume and sound quality.

FiiO E5

The next step up from the E3 in the FiiO line-up is the all new FiiO E5.  With an exterior casing that has been redesigned to fit more comfortably in the pocket, and internals completely revised to improve noise figures, the FiiO E5 is a force to be reckoned with.

When compared with higher end headphone amplifiers, such as the iBasso T4 or Graham Slee Voyager, the FiiO E5 does colour the sound to some degree (it definitely warms up the bass response), but with the FiiO E5’s price tag of less than £25 I shouldn’t really be comparing.

More Information

For more information on FiiO Headphone Amps, a range of other Headphone Amplifiers & DACs and iPod Line Out Docks (LODs) please visit the HiFi Headphones shop.

Why do I need a headphone amplifier?

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What’s the point of a headphone amp?

If you’ve been following the world of headphones you may have noticed that headphone amplifiers seem to be cropping up more often than ever, but what’s the point?  Do they just increase volume, or is there more to it?

Below are a few good reasons to upgrade your audio setup with a headphone amp.

Ability To Power ‘hard to drive’ Headphones

Some headphones are notoriously hard to power.  A headphone amplifier gives your audio source a boost in output power, which gives the headphones a more full sound, improves bass kick and often makes trebles more defined.

For example the Sennheiser HD650, HD600, HD595 and many Beyerdynamic headphones have relatively high impedance ratings, which mean they need more power than most to drive the headphone speakers.

Interestingly, many lower impedance headphones and earphones (normally the high end models) also appear to benefit from the use of a headphone amplifier.  For example the low impedance Grado GS1000 or Grado RS1 can be easily be driven by a humble iPod, but add a headphone amplifier such as the Grado Slee Solo to the equation and the improvement in sound can be very satisfying.

Avoiding Cheap Headphone Outputs

The headphone output on many portable audio sources, such as iPods, iPhones and laptops, can be very poor indeed.  The electronics used often leave much to be desired and are obviously designed with budget, rather than sound quality, as the major design factor.  A headphone amplifier offers ways to avoid the noisy headphone output completely.

The iPod and iPhone headphone socket can be avoided completely by using a Line Out Dock (LOD) cable.  These cables take the un-amplified line out signal from the 30 pin dock connector provide a way to drive a headphone amplifier with this better quality signal.

Laptop and computer owners can avoid the often breathtakingly bad headphone output with the addition of a Digital to Analogue Converter (DAC) and headphone amplifier.  The DAC is connected to the computer’s USB port and the conversion to analogue audio signal is done well away from the noisy electronics inside the computer.  Some products, such as the iBasso D2, combine a DAC and headphone amp into a single unit.

More Information

For a full range of headphone amplifiers & DACs and iPod & iPhone line out dock cables (LODs), please visit the HiFi Headphones online shop.

iBasso D2 headphone amp & DAC – all in one miniature device

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Regular visitors to HiFi Headphones may have noticed we’ve listed the iBasso D2 in our headphone amplifier section. Last week we received a couple of samples of each iBasso model to test.  The results were so positive we went ahead and listed them immediately and put our first order in (we’re expecting stock from in approx 3 weeks).

There are other models in the range, including an ultra portable headphone amp called the iBasso T4 (it is VERY small and weighs just 29 grams) and a high end model that comes with various types of Op-Amp to swap over to alter the sound signature (one for the perfectionists).

The iBasso D2 works especially well with higher impedance earphones such as the Sleek Audio SA6 and Klipsch Image X10, where there is good improvement in depth of bass, as well as high frequency detail and soundstage. I’ve yet to test with lower impedance earphones (Ultimate Ears Triple.fi 10’s, etc), but I would guess the effect is similar, but maybe not so pronounced.

Below is a photo of the iBasso D2 with my Sleek Audio SA6’s and an old iPod Nano:

In my opinion the most interesting application for the iBasso D2 is using the DAC with a laptop. With my IBM ThinkPad T62 laptop feeding the D2’s DAC and a pair of Sennheiser HD650’s the difference in overall sound quality is significant compared with the laptop’s standard headphone output. I would say this is the application where the biggest improvement in sound quality is seen.

More Information

For the range of iBasso headphone amps, including the iBasso D2 and iBasso T4, please visit the HiFi Headphones shop.

Graham Slee Voyager headphone amp – back in stock after long delays

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The Graham Slee Voyager headphone amplifier is back in stock after a delay of some months. The delays, due to a shortage of the parts, has meant the Graham Slee portable headphone amp has been out of stock with many UK retailers for an extended period of time.

John Cadman, Graham Slee’s production manager, reported that the delays have been caused by a shortage of the Voyager case component. The case is manufactured outside the UK (in Canada) and the shortage of this one component has held up production.

About the Voyager

Graham Slee produced the Voyager headphone amplifier to be used with MP3 players, such as the iPod, and other portable audio devices. The Voyager amp simply plugs into the headphone output of the audio source and you plug your headphones or earphones into the Voyager’s headphone out.

Alternatively the Voyager can be connected to an iPod with a cable that connects directly to the iPod’s dock connector. This setup provides a better quality line level signal than the headphone output socket.

About Graham Slee

Graham Slee have a long standing reputation in the British audio world for producing phono pre-amplifiers (for vinyl record playing turntables) and high quality desktop headphone amplifiers, such as the Graham Slee Solo.

The Solo headphone amp is popular in broadcast and recording studio environments. The Voyager is the first venture into portable headphone amplifiers for Graham Slee and has been very well received by the audio and HiFi press.

More Information

For a range headphone amplifiers, including the Graham Slee Voyager, please visit the HiFi Headphones store.