I`ve just received my Heed CanAmp - the headphone amp and I`m already thinking it`s one of my best purchases.
After a couple of hours warm up last night I eventually turned in at 4am.
It`s taken over from a MF X-Cans fed by Naim Cdi via Chord solid into Senn 600s. The CanAmp totally trashed the X-Cans from the off in pace, detail and believability but two things have really stood out....
- first the soundstage is seamless from left to right. I wasn`t expecting that and made me wonder if a processor was at work. It`s probably just a sign of quality
- secondly, I`m getting textures and timbre that I`ve not experienced before in a flat earth system. It`s been a real eye-opener.
I then connected a Dab radio and was delighted that the Heed made Planet Rock and The Arrow sound more than pleasent. Much fun ahead!

Here`s the rub though... the CanAmp costs £225- (£197 without vat).
I feel that I`ve got a £400- amp for £200- and now I`m getting excited about the Heed integrated (is it out yet?). I`ve got a taste of how it`ll sound.

Any downside? Well, the packaging is rudimentary, the captive power cord flimsy, there`s no manual (why would you need one?) and it arrived with a couple of annoying scratches where the plug had rubbed against the case (better to buy in the shop than have it posted to you). But I don`t care - all in all it`s terrific and I`ll try to post photos next week

Sounds very promising. The Heed stuff looks excellent. If I was ever in the market for any of the following: 1). Headphone amp 2). New Phono stage 3). External PSU for TT, Heed would be at the top of my list.

What is the build quality like?

It really is a pitty that so few UK dealers stock Heed products. Then again, perhaps it would affect the sales of the more expensive, higher profit products. Who knows.

Enjoy the amp.

Brad.

Brad,
I've taken a look inside my Heed Orbit PSU, and the build quality is splendid.
Very neat layout and quality components. I imagine all other Heed products alike.

Tobi.

This is great news re the CanAmp - I've been after getting a decent, reasonably priced headphone amp for ages. Looks like a trip to Walrus is in the offing. :)

What phones will you be using Gromit? I think my Senn 600s are holding me back now.

topa, I`m looking forward to having a look inside. The unit is certainly heavy.

Bradnad, build-quality is good. I`ll show pictures when I`ve reached the 21st century. Should be a few days.
Paul

What phones will you be using Gromit? I think my Senn 600s are holding me back now.

Paul

HD650

I would imagine the 600's are a bloody good pair of cans - the 650's are just the newer version of them.

I feel that I`ve got a £400- amp for £200- and now I`m getting excited about the Heed integrated (is it out yet?). I`ve got a taste of how it`ll sound.


Hi Paul,

Last I heard, the Obelisk should be available toward the end of the month or early April at latest.

So it's next week already...got any piccies of that CanAmp yet? ;)

Cheers, Dex

Dex,
I was hoping that my newly bought camera would have arrived from Amazon by now. I may go and borrow my mother`s this evening. I`ve also got to find a very small hex driver to open the case. so,,,soon!
Paul.

What phones will you be using Gromit? I think my Senn 600s are holding me back now.



I doubt that very much. The HD600s are superb IMO. They do need a decent amount of current to drive them though.

Andrew

Andrew,

The Canamp is certainly not short in current. It has a line out and can apparantly drive very sensitve speakers. I won`t be trying that!

Paul.

I`ve just e-mailed Heed to see if they mind me showing photos.

Originally posted by legolas
"...the packaging is rudimentary, the captive power cord flimsy, there`s no manual (why would you need one?) and it arrived with a couple of annoying scratches where the plug had rubbed against the case."

1) For we’ve improved the packaging recently, I assume you’ve got a unit with the old ’rudimentary’ one. Sorry for that. Meantime we also wrap up the unit differently in the box, so the plug cannot rub on the case any more.

2) Admittedly, the captive power cord is a bit flimsy. We’ll give heed to the issue – name obliges! -, as well as to a few other minor deficiencies being pointed out by customers but our priority assignment, the Obelisk project leaves no leeway for such secondary jobs at this moment. The same applies to the CanAmp Manual.

"...I`m getting excited about the Heed integrated - is it out yet?"

The first serial Obelisks – both versions, as well as the X-PACK outboard power supply – will hopefully hit the UK market (sooner the editorial officies) mid April.

Regards,
Alpar

These are pics taken today, clickable thumbnails.


http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f351/painter38/th_ebaysellers019.jpg (http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f351/painter38/ebaysellers019.jpg)
http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f351/painter38/th_ebaysellers018.jpg (http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f351/painter38/ebaysellers018.jpg)


The amp is small and heavy. Finish is very good given the budget. I particularly like the blue light and the thick acrylic front plate.

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f351/painter38/th_ebaysellers029.jpg (http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f351/painter38/ebaysellers029.jpg)
http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f351/painter38/th_ebaysellers026.jpg (http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f351/painter38/ebaysellers026.jpg)
http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f351/painter38/th_ebaysellers023.jpg (http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f351/painter38/ebaysellers023.jpg)
http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f351/painter38/th_ebaysellers022.jpg (http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f351/painter38/ebaysellers022.jpg)
http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f351/painter38/th_ebaysellers021.jpg (http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f351/painter38/ebaysellers021.jpg)


Also notice if you will my curtain/cushion combo.

This is my first look at a blue Alps pot.

That`s my CDi in temporary situation on the sideboard. I shall be listening to Supertramp as you read this!

Paul.

That`s my CDi in temporary situation on the sideboard.

Good thing, too. I seem to recall Alpar saying "The CanAmp only really begins to shine when it is situated on a Fraim", or something to that effect. :p

Originally posted by Dexter
"I seem to recall Alpar saying "The CanAmp only really begins to shine when it is situated on a Fraim", or something to that effect."

For the sake of correctness, let me rectify herewith Dexter’s dusty memories: I said the CanAmp must rest on Shun Mook's Giant Diamond Resonators, on top of Max Townshend's awesome Seismic Sink Stand, ...with a Fraim being sandwitched in-between to best effect.:D :D :D

Dont suppose you want to sell me one of those lovely cases :D

Ok thought not ;)

Very nice indeed.

The HEED CanAmp.

http://www.rock-grotto.co.uk/heed/heed1.jpg

I've got this on loan from HEED Audio (http://www.heedaudio.hu/en/prod_el.html) and will be writing up a full review once I have had a good few days with it.

The blurb from HEED Audio goes thus:

"The CanAmp is a two-stage amplifier. While the first - voltage gain - stage is based on an integrated circuit of the highest audio pedigree, the second - power gain - stage is a single-ended, pure Class-A amplifier. It enables the CanAmp to drive virtually any headphones from 8 ohms up to 600 ohms. As its output power (at 8 ohm) is nearly 1W, the CanAmp could drive even a high-sensitivity loudspeaker!

The unit has no internal wiring, and the signal path is kept to a minimum on its PCB.

Its high-quality, 1 dB-tolerance Blue Alps volume pot goes through a further selection process during manufacturing to achieve an even tighter, 0.5 dB tolerance."

Too early to comment on the SQ as I have been advised to let the amp burn in for a good while before critically evaluating it (I'll give it the usual 250 hours) but I can say that the build quality is first class. A thick perspex front panel mirrors everything in the room and the solid aluminium chrome plated knob sets the front panel off nicely. A purple / blue LED indicates that the unit is switched on (on / off switch at the rear) The headphone jack is a nickel plated / chassis mount type and has a nice smooth action (I actually prefer these to gold plated) Overall the amp appears very compact though pretty weighty due to the onboard transformer. The chassis is thick steel and the amp sits very squarely thanks to the combination of weight and thick rubber feet, this isn't one of these amps that moves around every time you turn your head!

I've had a quick look under the bonnet and will comment on the circuit along with my review. In the meantime here are a few pics I took:

http://www.rock-grotto.co.uk/heed/heed2.jpg

http://www.rock-grotto.co.uk/heed/heed3.jpg

http://www.rock-grotto.co.uk/heed/heed1.jpg

http://www.rock-grotto.co.uk/heed/DSCF5319.jpg

http://www.rock-grotto.co.uk/heed/DSCF5317.jpg

http://www.rock-grotto.co.uk/heed/DSCF5313.jpg

http://www.rock-grotto.co.uk/heed/DSCF5310.jpg

http://www.rock-grotto.co.uk/heed/DSCF5306.jpg

http://www.rock-grotto.co.uk/heed/DSCF5305.jpg

http://www.rock-grotto.co.uk/heed/DSCF5303.jpg

http://www.rock-grotto.co.uk/heed/DSCF5301.jpg

http://www.rock-grotto.co.uk/heed/DSCF5299.jpg

Will be back with a full review soon :)

EDIT:

Under the bonnet.

ALPS RK27 10K potentiometer (blue Velvet)
5W 100R Ceramic resistors
NE5532
Jamicon General purpose electrolytics (2 x 16V 4700uF)
Metalised polyester film caps (look like Arcotronics R82 series)
BD139 Transistors
Avisor 9V Transformer
1N4002 rectifier diodes
Metal film resistors
Fibre glass PCB
On / Off rocker switch
Nickel plated chassis mount headphone socket
Gold plated quad PCB mount phono socket
Internal fuse and fuseholder

Construction Quality = Very good

Now off for a listen

The HEED CanAmp.
The unit has no internal wiring, and the signal path is kept to a minimum on its PCB.



Wonder what those red, white, black and blue things are then!

That looks good.

I'm also after a decent headphone amp so will look forward to seeing Pinkfloyds review.

BTW PF, in the parts list you say theres BD139, does it use a pair of these or is one BD139 and the other side BD140?

Cheers

I'm also after a decent headphone amp so will look forward to seeing Pinkfloyds review.

BTW PF, in the parts list you say theres BD139, does it use a pair of these or is one BD139 and the other side BD140?

Cheers

It uses a pair Rob. 139 /139

It uses a pair Rob. 139 /139

Cheers Pinkfloyd, I guess these are current boosters on the op-amps output and about 13v unregulated DC on the supply rails.
It looks a smart little unit:)

It enables the CanAmp to drive virtually any headphones from 8 ohms up to 600 ohms.

However this specification comes from us, let me qualify it a bit. The CanAmp can drive headphones with lowish impedance but for optimal performance one should actually consider headphones from 64 ohms upwards, the higher the better. In the process of its development, a pair of Sennheiser HD600 (600 ohms) served for reference which are highly regarded everywhere, especially in Germany, the CanAmp's only target country for quite some time.

Goodness, Pinkfloyd, you've sure got 'em salivating over on the Head-Fi Forum (http://www4.head-fi.org/forums/showthread.php?t=187187). :p

Great pics, too. I'm looking forward to your full review!

Best, Dex

Goodness, Pinkfloyd, you've sure got 'em salivating over on the Head-Fi Forum (http://www4.head-fi.org/forums/showthread.php?t=187187). :p

Great pics, too. I'm looking forward to your full review!

Best, Dex

One site classed it as a "feeding frenzy (http://209.85.129.104/search?q=cache:jDGsDOE-1NgJ:www.profundo.us/+heed+canamp+feeding+frenzy&hl=en&gl=uk&ct=clnk&cd=1)" :p

One site classed it as a "feeding frenzy (http://209.85.129.104/search?q=cache:jDGsDOE-1NgJ:www.profundo.us/+heed+canamp+feeding+frenzy&hl=en&gl=uk&ct=clnk&cd=1)" :p

Good for them:cool:
So is this best Headphone amp you've had in your system PF? would you consider it a big enough upgrade over the likes of the Chiarra?

Good for them:cool:
So is this best Headphone amp you've had in your system PF? would you consider it a big enough upgrade over the likes of the Chiarra?

Well, yes Ron. It's simple, basic (some would say too simple) and it sounds bloody great. Not a lot more I can add to that to be perfectly honest, there's not one aspect of the SQ that disappoints.

Just counting the days 'til mine arrives...;)

Well, yes Ron. It's simple, basic (some would say too simple) and it sounds bloody great. Not a lot more I can add to that to be perfectly honest, there's not one aspect of the SQ that disappoints.

Thanks PF, sounds like it would be ideal:) I've a got a Chiarra and been searching around to find a replacement

How do you attach the Heed to a naim preamp? What cables do you need? Was thinking of trying it out against a headline. Or is it best to connect the CD player straight in?

Jonathan

Which preamp and CD player do you have, Jonathan?

NAC72 and CD3.5/Flatcap Dexter.

Jonathan

NAC72 and CD3.5/Flatcap Dexter.


If your CD3.5 has RCA output, you can connect directly to the CanAmp with a normal interconnect.

Otherwise, you'll need some sort of Naim DIN to RCA cable or connector to use with either the preamp or 3.5.

Cheers, Dex