I need a new headphone distribution amp. Recommendations?

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sweetbeats

sweetbeats

Reel deep thoughts...
Hey everybody.

So I'm kind of frustrated...years ago I bought a brand new Behringer HA4700 headphone amp. The price was right, and it has a really nice feature set...and it was new. I've not used it much. The left channel is dead. I go to open it up thinking I could figure it out but it is all tiny surface-mount garbage inside. I'm disappointed. It's global so I assume it is a problem with the main amp for the left side. Normally that might not be too bad to chase down but everything is so tiny and cheap it would be a challenge to replace the part even if I found it. Can anybody recommend a good sounding reliable 4 channel headphone amp? It really sucks this has happened because the HA4700 really does have a neat feature set.
 
I use a Presonus 4 channel. What I like about it is, it has a monitor volume and control. That way I can adjust the sound of the monitors from a knob instead of the computer slider, plus when I am going to the mic, I can hit the monitor mute button. Pretty powerful, so it has a lot of volume.

I looked at others and for the money, it is not a bad little headphone amp.
 
When my HA4700 died I upgraded to a Presonus HP60. I couldn't believe how much better the sound quality was. More expensive tho...
 
I'm using its lesser model, the HP4. Not as nice as the HP60 for sure.
 
I do want something rack mountable.

Thanks for the ideas, guys.

I don't doubt the presonus sounds better. The harsh sound quality of the Behringer was something I always accepted in fair trade for the comprehensive feature set and low price.
 
Hi Cory,

I'm happy with my ART HeadAmp6: http://artproaudio.com/downloads/owners_manuals/om_headamp6.pdf
It lets you fold to mono and mute one ear (handy for some singers). It also has a stereo aux in (unbalanced only unfortunately) for each channel and a blend control (more-me). It also has pretty good metering.

The pricier HeadAmp6 Pro has a few extra features, like a tone control:
http://artproaudio.com/downloads/owners_manuals/om_headamp6pro.pdf?v=1429131466

I also use a Mackie HM54 which is pretty spartan feature-wise but has been very reliable.
 
I have a Behringer HA4700 which has served me well. It is noisy and the stereo definition is not all that good. I had to a headphone amp for my second system, and all the shop had was a Behringer Powerplay Pro 8. I go that. It's a lot quieter (but curiously, more down the non-power supply side . . . the close you get to the on-ff switch, the noisier the channels are).

Nevertheless, I'm ok with less than pristine quality. They're only used for tracking, and the quality does not detract from this function.
 
I initially got a Behringer...the original, I think it was a 4400 or 4600)...and as soon as it arrived I sent it back because I realized that the impedance they used for the headphones was shitty, and would only cover a few types.
I even called them about it...and sure as shit (after I purchased something else), they changed the design and implemented different impedance values and came out with the 4700.

For anyone wondering why it matters...if the match between amp and headphones is way off ...you can get poor performance levels. Like maybe individually one set might be fine in the amp...but then you need to distribute another 5-6 headphones, and the impedance total is now way off from what the amp is looking for.
Same shit as guitar amps and speakers...there is an optimal match and you want to stay on it or close to it.

Anyway...because of that initial issue with the original Beri amp...I went on a hunt, and ended up with the Sampson S-Phone...which has served me well for a lot of years now.
I also have/use a few RedCo Little Red Cue Boxes, which are passive, but allow 4 headphones, with their own volume knobs.
Coupled with the S-Phone...I can break out a bunch of cans.
 
I had a Samson S-Phone someone gave me. Worked fine and sounded great for a few days then completely fried. That when I just spent the money for the HP60.
 
If you look at the control layout of the Samson unit and the Behringer HA4700 it is nearly identical. I have a hunch the two units are nearly identical under the hood and both come out of 797 Audio.
 
Maybe...but I know the original Beri headphone amp was different, the one with the weird impedance numbers....and let's face it, Beri is known for copying, almost 100%, other brand gear, that works.

That Presonus HP60 looks pretty nice...it has 6 individual channels instead of the 4 on the S-Phone and Beri model, but my S-Phone has a couple of more features, like the ability to inject an Aux input, and mix it with the existing feed on a channel, plus the EQ, plus the metering.

Anyway...I'm happy with the S-Phone until it stop working. :D
Been fine for about 8-10 years now.
 
Well i see it is still selling at Sweetwater, so its not out of production. That's a good sign right there.
 
Haha. I probably wouldn't either.

Coupled with Miro's statement of his going strong after 8 years or so, and it still being sold, points to it being a good unit?

Usually crap gets the boot.
 
I know Jimmy said his S-Phone shit the bed after a few days...BUT...he also said someone gave it to him, so it wasn't a new/unused unit, and maybe there was a reason someone gave it away. ;)

I think anything can breakdown unexpectedly...but like RFR said, you gotta look at the performance over time, for the bulk of users. I've not heard of people generally complaining about their S-Phones.
 
miroslav said:
I know Jimmy said his S-Phone shit the bed after a few days...BUT...he also said someone gave it to him, so it wasn't a new/unused unit, and maybe there was a reason someone gave it away. ;)

I think anything can breakdown unexpectedly...but like RFR said, you gotta look at the performance over time, for the bulk of users. I've not heard of people generally complaining about their S-Phones.
Click to expand...

Agreed. it just died in my arms. It lived a good life.... :)
 
miroslav said:
I know Jimmy said his S-Phone shit the bed after a few days...BUT...he also said someone gave it to him, so it wasn't a new/unused unit, and maybe there was a reason someone gave it away. ;)

I think anything can breakdown unexpectedly...but like RFR said, you gotta look at the performance over time, for the bulk of users. I've not heard of people generally complaining about their S-Phones.
Click to expand...

Miro why are forcing the S Phone down my throat?! If it's so great then prove it!

Lol

Just kidding. :laughings:

Hopefully you got the joke.

Okay thanks again for the input everybody. Alan I'm sure the Tascam is a winner. Too rich for my blood simply because I rarely use a headphone distribution amp...hard to justify the expense but it looks really nice. I think I'm going to risk it and get an S Phone. And yes I will be too curious not to open it up when I get it and compare the guts to my Behringer. :D

Thanks for the help, guys.
 
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