Blackmore Posted March 18, 2009 Report Share Posted March 18, 2009 I am thinking, just maybe, of switching back to K1000, but not sure if I could do it, because of financial issue. That's why I would like to see if I can find some reasonable priced tube speaker amp for them. Budget within USD 1500. I was thinking of Cary Xciter, but he is to pricey if not say more, however the tube rolling options of it is quite nice. Let see what you all think of that guys/girls THX Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chimpie Posted March 18, 2009 Report Share Posted March 18, 2009 Craig from Eddie Current is working hybrid amp to power the K1000 (among others) This is the info I got from him so far: "I will be showing a tube class A hybrid that will do 12 watts per channel at the LA International meet end of May. This amp is intended to out perform the First Watt, and compete directly against it in the market place. No name yet, but it will drive the K1000." And: "The tube hybrid will have a front panel 1/4" phone jack. You will not need to use the ZD for a pre this is an integrated amp with input select, and gain select (Yes it has a gain switch, low for normal headphones, high for speakers, and K1000). There will also be a buffer version with no gain that can be driven by any headphone amp, including the ZD." Might be interesting, as I know you liked the ZD... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blackmore Posted March 18, 2009 Author Report Share Posted March 18, 2009 Thanks for update, interesting, however the price would be more than USD 2000, I guess...Wonder what kind of tubes he will be choosing. Also would be interesting to know if this new amp is totally new and not based on ZD, cos I am not sure what ever ZD would be the best choice for K1k Craig from Eddie Current is working hybrid amp to power the K1000 (among others) This is the info I got from him so far: "I will be showing a tube class A hybrid that will do 12 watts per channel at the LA International meet end of May. This amp is intended to out perform the First Watt, and compete directly against it in the market place. No name yet, but it will drive the K1000." And: "The tube hybrid will have a front panel 1/4" phone jack. You will not need to use the ZD for a pre this is an integrated amp with input select, and gain select (Yes it has a gain switch, low for normal headphones, high for speakers, and K1000). There will also be a buffer version with no gain that can be driven by any headphone amp, including the ZD." Might be interesting, as I know you liked the ZD... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimP Posted March 18, 2009 Report Share Posted March 18, 2009 FWIW, when I had the K1000, I had excellent results running it off an Almarro A205AmkII single-ended pentode amp. You can google to see more thorough impressions of that combo, than I can provide. But much lower than your budget...YMMV Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
n_maher Posted March 18, 2009 Report Share Posted March 18, 2009 I'd bet the SimpleSE would make a fine K1k amp, but shipping would probably be prohibitive to you. Otherwise I'd try to commission someone to build Pete Millett's K1K amp. Not entirely sure it could be done on your budget, but I'd look into it if I were you. Otherwise the commercial offerings are numerous. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blackmore Posted March 18, 2009 Author Report Share Posted March 18, 2009 Wow, thanks guys, some nice choices and that SimpleSE is totally extreme regarding tube rolling. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dusty Chalk Posted March 18, 2009 Report Share Posted March 18, 2009 Someone at the PDX meet had a Manley Stingray driving them, a combination I intend to try, myself, perhaps even this weekend. They regularly go for < US$1500, used. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smeggy Posted March 18, 2009 Report Share Posted March 18, 2009 Reading this I decided to plug the K1k into the Starving Student, wow, it actually runs them pretty well. This little thing has more power than I imagined, not ideal I'll admit but good all the same. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
luvdunhill Posted March 18, 2009 Report Share Posted March 18, 2009 Reading this I decided to plug the K1k into the Starving Student, wow, it actually runs them pretty well. This little thing has more power than I imagined, not ideal I'll admit but good all the same. my first DIY project was the best sounding amp I've ever built Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smeggy Posted March 18, 2009 Report Share Posted March 18, 2009 I imagine your first was a little more exotic than mine Gah, I've been putting this DIY stuff off forever, what a tool! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
luvdunhill Posted March 18, 2009 Report Share Posted March 18, 2009 I imagine your first was a little more exotic than mine Gah, I've been putting this DIY stuff off forever, what a tool! nah, some opamp based thing for an electronics course, but that's my point Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blackmore Posted March 18, 2009 Author Report Share Posted March 18, 2009 Thanks guys, any amps which have XLR in pls. That Manley Stingray is freaking great looking puppie and I have seen his pics from some meet indeed, but thought that he may cost like USD10k or something... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spritzer Posted March 18, 2009 Report Share Posted March 18, 2009 my first DIY project was the best sounding amp I've ever built Ditto. It was some SmartKit job I built when I was 12. I should still have it somewhere around here... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimP Posted March 19, 2009 Report Share Posted March 19, 2009 Thanks guys, any amps which have XLR in pls There's a guy Jon L who simply put a XLR on his Almarro specifically for K1000. Almarro A205a MkII AKG K1000 Special Edition (Pics) - Head-Fi: Covering Headphones, Earphones and Portable Audio Again, don't mean to be an Almarro fanboy, but just pointing out you can have XLR. As others have noted, there are many, many choices since you are liberated from just head amps. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swt61 Posted March 21, 2009 Report Share Posted March 21, 2009 I kinda wish I still had my dual Darkvoice monoblocks around to try with the K1000. I'm building the Pass F5 specifically for my K1000, and that easily falls into your budget, but alas no tubes. I'm thinking the Simple SE + K1000 = complete joy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HeadphoneAddict Posted March 22, 2009 Report Share Posted March 22, 2009 FWIW, when I had the K1000, I had excellent results running it off an Almarro A205AmkII single-ended pentode amp. You can google to see more thorough impressions of that combo, than I can provide. But much lower than your budget...YMMV JonL also highly recommends that same amp for driving a Stax Transformer with O2. I haven't heard anything bad about it yet, and it is on my short list someday. EDIT - I should read all the posts before I post anything, sorry. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blackmore Posted March 22, 2009 Author Report Share Posted March 22, 2009 Anyone tried AudioValve RKV MkII one? RKV - Mark II, the world best headphone amp Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevieo Posted March 23, 2009 Report Share Posted March 23, 2009 Anyone tried AudioValve RKV MkII one? RKV - Mark II, the world best headphone amp that's what i use & i am completely satisfied but it is single ended not balanced. impossible to find telefunken tubes took the rkv to a new level & so did a total k1k recable by thrice with stefan audio art equinox. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blackmore Posted March 24, 2009 Author Report Share Posted March 24, 2009 Found this one to be very interesting, Unison Research S2K, sorry guys for bumping this again, anyone familiar with UR products, if only he had XLR IN to connect with my CD player using balanced outs Are KT88 any good for K1000?S2K THX Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Torpedo Posted March 24, 2009 Report Share Posted March 24, 2009 I've listened to an UR S2K at a friend's place. Nice sounding amp. However it had some noise -clicks and pfffzzzsss from the tubes- issues which made my friend ask for another unit, the second one had the same issues which didn't disappear after some burn-in, so he decided to return them. I've had at my place with my own speakers other UR amps, the Unico and the 845 based SET monoblocks... I didn't like them very much. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blackmore Posted March 24, 2009 Author Report Share Posted March 24, 2009 Uhhh, that's bad...pfff...pity, looks really compact and nice...anything you may suggest? THX I've listened to an UR S2K at a friend's place. Nice sounding amp. However it had some noise -clicks and pfffzzzsss from the tubes- issues which made my friend ask for another unit, the second one had the same issues which didn't disappear after some burn-in, so he decided to return them. I've had at my place with my own speakers other UR amps, the Unico and the 845 based SET monoblocks... I didn't like them very much. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Torpedo Posted March 24, 2009 Report Share Posted March 24, 2009 It depends on whether you want SS or tubes and if looking for a certain sound signature or a rather neutral sound. I don't have the K1000, nor great experience with them, so any suggestion should be taken with a good handful of salt. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blackmore Posted March 24, 2009 Author Report Share Posted March 24, 2009 No probs, I looked/asked around and have some ideas about, but one thing is for sure, I want tubes. Almarro looks very good, just send them the mail. Their price vs performance seems hard to beat and it will bring me one huge step closer to an possible speaker rig, cos for example Almarro 318B could be great for both, K1000 and for some differ speakers as well, at least if I can trust this review almarro 318B THX;) It depends on whether you want SS or tubes and if looking for a certain sound signature or a rather neutral sound. I don't have the K1000, nor great experience with them, so any suggestion should be taken with a good handful of salt. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Donald North Posted April 6, 2009 Report Share Posted April 6, 2009 The best I've heard the K1000s to date is with an Audio Note Kit 1 300B SET amplifier. The sound was so pure and clear. Gain was a bit higher than I need. I'm planning to develop a custom tube amp for the K1000s. Donald North Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HeadphoneAddict Posted April 6, 2009 Report Share Posted April 6, 2009 I pre-ordered an EC ZDT a couple of weeks back, so I am looking forward to trying the K1000 with that in about 2 months. I'll be sure to report on it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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