Advice please on (cheap) valve headphone amplfier

[james]

My son would like to experience the sound of valves and he is interested in getting a headphone amplifier ..

He is looking at this £40 option on amazon

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Audio-Prote ... 8&sr=8-3

Has anyone tried it? Or are there any better suggestions (I am happy to buy from aliexpress). But it must be valve. Also not too expensive.

Thanks

[Fran]

I haven't tried one.... but at 40 quid you won't be out much if it ain't great.

Cheap and valves don't really fit in the same sentence, so no matter what you pick there will be drawbacks. I would bet it will work and sound fine.

[james]

Hi Fran,
Agree that "cheap and valves" don't mix.
The reviews say it gets quite hot after a bit.
The question is will it sound like valves (whatever that means) but with transistor op-amps who knows?
Can you suggest anything better (and not madly expensive).
I have the naim transistor headline headphone amp (which like all naim stuff if not too expensive, without the non-optional power supply, but expensive when you add it.) .
My son just wants to hear valves (and the valve-sound) but not sure playing the analog output of a portable audio player into a (semi) valve amp will prove much.
Anyway thanks for replying.
James

Here is a review of the factory . (which really says nothing) ....

http://www.tnt-audio.com/tours/fosi_audio_e.html

[Fran]

If you check around on head-fi you might get reviews from people who have bought....

[Brutus1968]

Still searching? There is a Little Dot MK II headphones valve amp on Adverts.

Best

[james]

Thanks for that.
I had forgotten about the Little Dot amp.
It's about euro140 on amazon de so I have ordered one.

[james]

Still searching? There is a Little Dot MK II headphones valve amp on Adverts.

Best

Thanks again for the suggestion. I was on holidays at the time so I could not bid on the adverts.ie option (I could not remember my password for adverts).

Anyway I got it from amazon germany. It arrived in less than a week. I was impressed by the build (for the price). I gave it to my son who is happy with it. His comments are that valve versus transistors is nothing like a record-deck versus a CD. He can't hear that much of a difference.

My main complaint would be that it does not have a cover over the valves. Not a problem in my case. No young children or pets.

What comes in the box is ..
The amp and valves
A manual
A phono to phono lead
A converter from 1/4 inch jack-plugs to smaller ones.

I can't comment on the sound since I just switched it on to see it was working and then passed it on.

On a different topic ... Here is a review of headphone amps (from tnt-audio) around the same price (but transistor) ..
http://www.tnt-audio.com/headphones ... s_e.html

Thanks again for reminding me of the Little Dot option.

[Brutus1968]

I am glad to hear you (and your son) are satisfied with it. I never tried it personally, but checking the reviews it should be a good value for money.
Moreover there is room for improvement: once your son will be familiar with its sound you can try to upgrade the original tubes, as usually the default ones are generally cheap.

Best

Max