Feel like doing a quick and dirty roundup of some of the 500 ish buck (new prices, I will try to keep it under 700) amps I have enjoyed, something simple and basic just describing signature and good pairings, nothing too in depth. I will say exploring the used market will lead to better prices + more options opening up, but since that fluctuates I won’t be including used picks here
Studio trio:
Rupert Neve RNHP: Tends to lean more toward neutral/natrual, smaller but very accurate and deep stage with pretty black background, excellent timbre, fairly tonally dense, lots of resolution and nuance but presented in a very organic way, pretty revealing of source gear and synergy, a bit more forward and raw, very dynamically alive with a more micro focus.
Pairs well with headphones like Focal Clear or Elex, Grado PS500e or Hemps, Fostex TH900 or X00 (or EMU or Denon), Audeze LCD X, Beyerdynamic DT1990 or T1.2, Kennerton GH50, Audio Technica AD1000/2000X or AWAS or WP900 or R70x, Sennheiser HD800s, Audioquest Nighthawk
DAC wise I’d pair mainly with a Schiit Bifrost 2 for neutrality and space and body, a Denafrips Ares II is pretty reasonable too if you want more warmth and fun, on the budget side of things I’d consider a Allo Revolution DAC with a Nirvana SMPS or Geshelli J2
Lake People G111: Tends to lean more studio linear/flat/neutral, with a wider and more grand stage but slightly more hazy placement, lots of command and grip, more impact and punch, actually somewhat forgiving, more smoothness and slightly relaxed, dynamically alive with a more macro focus
Pairs well with headphones like the Focal Clear or Elex, Fostex TH900 or X00 (or EMU or Denon), Audeze LCD 2, Beyerdynamic 880/990 600 ohm or T1.2, Sennheiser HD600/650 or 660S, DCA Aeon 2 or RT, Hifiman Ayra or HEX v2 or Sundara or Ananda, ZMF Eikon or Auteur, Audioquest Nighthawk
DAC wise I’d pair mainly with a Soekris DAC1321 or 1421 for something more neutral and tight, a Denafrips Ares II for more fun and richness, and a Schiit Bifrost 2 is pretty reasonable too if you want balance with a bit of warmth with even more width, on the budget side of things I’d consider a Allo Revolution DAC with a Nirvana SMPS or Geshelli J2
Little Labs Monotor: Somewhat inbetween the first 2, although more clean lean and dryer focused so analytical, overall forward and sharper, good resolution and detail, very black background with moderately sized stage and depth quality with very sharp placement, dynamically about balanced, good timbre, great control, very speedy, in the middle when it comes to transparency and synergy dependence
Pairs well with headphones like Fostex TH900 or X00 (or EMU or Denon), Sennheiser HD600/650 or HD660s, Kennerton GH50, Audio Technica AD1000/2000X or AWAS or WP900 or R70x, Audeze LCD X, Focal Clear MG
DAC wise I’d pair mainly with a Schiit Bifrost 2 for overall balance, a Denafrips Ares II is pretty reasonable too if you want more warm and rich tilt, a MHDT Atlantis is a softer and more relaxed pick, on the budget side of things I’d consider a Allo Revolution DAC with a Nirvana SMPS or Geshelli J2
Honorable mentions
Lehmann Drachenfels or Studio Cube - Overall pretty neutral slightly clean leaning, jack of all trades master of none type thing, pretty balanced, I do think it’s overshadowed by some of the aforementioned but it is a solid all rounder pickup, kinda inbetween a g111 and monotor but slightly inferior to the two
DIY Whammy - Depending on how you build it and what you use it can sound different, but it’s generally a more neutral slightly warmer leaning amp with the right opamps, pretty dynamic and lively, good resolution and control, reasonably neutral overall and good all rounder imo
Headamp Gilmore Lite Mk2 - A more brighter slightly v forward signature that isn’t too offensive, more micro and close focus for everything, personally think I’d rather have a monotor if I wanted a somewhat similar signature but better technical ability, but the gilmore can push planars a bit better
Tube trio:
Bottlehead Crack + Speedball: A fairly rich, forward, and warmer fun tuned amp, with expansive and deep stage, lots of tonal weight, good impact, slightly sloppy and wet, excellent timbre, equally dynamically alive and impressive, reasonable resolving power, a bit on the slower side of things. With tube swaps can change alot, but still maintains most of it’s character
Pairs well with headphones like the Sennhesier HD600/650, Audio Technica R70x, Beyerdynamic 880/990 600 ohm or T1.2, ZMF Eikon or Auteur
DAC wise I’d pair mainly with a Schiit Bifrost 2 for fun without going overboard, a MHDT Atlantis is an interesting pick, on the budget side of things I’d consider a Allo Revolution DAC with a Nirvana SMPS or Geshelli J2
Hagerman Tuba (OR SW51+): A more dryer mid centric forward signature, very accurate and precise stage, good control, overall good clarity, very nice timbre, more micro focus for dynamics, pretty good speed and separation. Tube wise with the right tube it can either become pretty neutral or a bit warmer sweeter but still on the dry side.
DAC wise I’d pair mainly with a Schiit Bifrost 2 for neutrality, a Denafrips Ares II is pretty reasonable too if you want more warmth and fun, a MHDT Atlantis is good for organicness, on the budget side of things I’d consider a Allo Revolution DAC with a Nirvana SMPS or Geshelli J2
Pairs well with headphones like the Sennhesier HD600/650, Audio Technica R70x, Beyerdynamic 880/990 600 ohm or T1.2, ZMF Eikon or Auteur, Grado PS500e or Hemp
Feliks Echo: Yes this has gotten too expensive for the mk2 but the mk1 wasn’t so I will still include it. It has a more neutral slightly warmer more relaxed signature, with a bit more richness and weight to things, a wider and more grand stage with a bit less depth, very smooth overall, pretty resolving nonetheless, tends to take a more micro focus, reasonable speed and separation
Pairs well with headphones like the Sennhesier HD600/650 or HD800s, Audio Technica R70x or AWAS, Beyerdynamic 880/990 600 ohm or T1.2, ZMF Eikon or Auteur, Grado PS500e. I might say it pairs well with the elex and clears but it’s not my cup of tea
DAC wise I’d pair mainly with a Schiit Bifrost 2 for keeping the warmer smoother vibe, a Soekris DAC1321 or 1421 for a bit more neutral and bite, on the budget side of things I’d consider a Allo Revolution DAC with a Nirvana SMPS or Geshelli J2
Honorable mentions
Tor Audio Roger - A sweeter but pretty controlled and capable tube amp, good alternative to the echo actually although more forward, just didn’t make it though since I think the aforementioned amps offer a bit more technical ability, but the trade off isn’t bad here
Eufonika H7 or H5 - Warmer fun leaning somewhat like the crack although slightly less capable than a crack + sb, but still enjoyable and a good alternative for those outside NA wanting a BHC
Musical Paradise MP-301 MK3 2018 Deluxe - A bit more a warm, sloppy, and bodied signature, almost think darkvoice upgrade for those who have heard it, powers things surprisingly well, put nicer tubes in it though, can also power speakers which is a plus given it’s price
Man there are others I want to add, but they would just end up going above 700, a lot of the good tube amps are more expensive than the good solid states in this range
Powerhouse trio:
Monolith Liquid Platinum: Generally a slightly warmer and relaxed signature perhaps mild w shape, pretty spacious overall, lots of slam and impact, great control and grip, solid speed and separation, good tonal density and richness, reasonable resolution, solid timbre, more macro focused overall.
Pairs well with headphones like the DCA Aeon 2, Audeze LCD 2, Hifiman Arya or HEX v2 or Ananda or Sundara or HE500, Fostex x00 or Denon or EMU, Audioquest Nighthawk
DAC wise I’d pair mainly with a Schiit Bifrost 2 for neutrality, a Denafrips Ares II is pretty reasonable too if you want more warmth and fun, on the budget side of things I’d consider a Geshelli J2 or Schiit Modius
Cayin iHA-6: A more neutral and slightly warmer and more bodied approach, more depth than width with sharper placement, great control and command overall, solid timbre, tonal density is good, pretty speedy actually, more macrodynamic focus overall
Pairs well with headphones like the DCA Aeon 2, Audeze LCD 2, Hifiman Arya or HEX v2 or Ananda or Sundara or HE500, Fostex TH900 or x00 or Denon or EMU, Audioquest Nighthawk, Beyerdynamic DT880/990 600 or T1.2
DAC wise I’d pair mainly with a Schiit Bifrost 2 for neutrality, a Denafrips Ares II is pretty reasonable too if you want more warmth and fun, on the budget side of things I’d consider a Geshelli J2 or Schiit Modius
Flux FA-12S: Leans warmer and relaxing, with decent control, lots of body, a spacious but slightly more hazy stage, and good tonality overall, reasonable resolution, reasonable speed and separation, good impact and slam. Equal micro macro balance imo.
Pairs well with headphones like the DCA Aeon 2, Audeze LCD 2, Hifiman Arya or HEX v2 or Ananda or Sundara or HE500, Fostex TH900 or x00 or Denon or EMU, Audioquest Nighthawk, Beyerdynamic DT880/990 600 or T1.2, ZMF Auteur, Grado PS500e or Hemp
DAC wise I’d pair mainly with a Schiit Bifrost 2 for still warmer but not overwhelming, a Soekris DAC1321 or 1421 or Mytek Liberty is pretty reasonable too if you want more bite and clarity but smaller stage, on the budget side of things I’d consider a Allo Revolution DAC with a Nirvana SMPS or Geshelli J2
Honorable mentions
Schiit Lyr 3 or Jot 2 - Leans more toward the neutral cleaner side of things, can be rolled with different tubes to some success but still somewhat mainly that signature for the lyr, lots of control and impact, fairly resolving (lyr more capable overall though), nice overall clarity. Can get a bit too forward at times, dynamics and stage are meh, but if you have something single ended, it’s a nice pick imo, but otherwise I like the plat more, but different signature
Singxer SA-1 - A more neutral warmer smooth slightly relaxed signature that is very inoffensive and a general all rounder, but it doesn’t really do anything all that great, but nothing all that bad either. Good for measurement freaks that still want something that sounds good enough
Gustard H16 - A neutral warmer more inoffensive signature that while not as technically able as the picked 3, still provides a pretty good experience, actually favoring higher impedance slightly, good all rounder with nothing to complain about for the price but nothing to write home about either
I also didn’t get it this time around for that and waiting time
