I use the OZ Audio HM-6. It's basically a matrix mixer that allows 6 different que mixes. For the price, it's hard to beat.

Chris

Rane HC-6. 8-)

I still have the little rolls 4 ch headphone amp that I picked up years ago- its like 60 bucs and very useable and has never failed me (7 years)

I recently sold just about everything I own. Of the few devices I kept were my Grace 901 headphone amp and Sennheiser HD600 headphones. Not exactly "affordable" items, but very, very good quality.

Nika

Like all monitoring questions ... we need to know the application.

Nika's (Hi Nika) Grace and HD600 is very good and something to aspire to as this is the sort of combination that could continue to serve you indefinately and so is excellent value for money in the long term.

However,
not quite the right choice for the Heavy-metal- thrash drummer with the headphone gaffa tapped to his head and says
... "are these things on ?? I can't hear!!"

I have a few amps, including a B unit and even old 40watt HiFi units with passive distribution boxes

Another Rane HC-6 here. Very happy with it.

Thanks for all the replies!

I've decided to go with the Rane HC6 and also get 6 new Sony MDR7506 headphones. I was going to go with the Sennheiser HD280 phones , I think they sound better then the 7506 but, the Sonys I believe ,are more comfortable for extended use.

And Kev,as far as application. I record every thing from Jazz to Hard Rock.

Thanks again
Tom

can't find the imp spec for the 7506

BUT
the MDR-7509 is
Impedance: 24 ohm(s)
Sensitivity: 107 dB

The Rane is good but 24ohms is quite low and that will require around 4 w at 15v peak to peak

??? ... I think

can't find a max current spec for the Rane

WAIT

check this

http://www.rane.com/note100.html

Note: headphones with an impedance of less than 32 ohms are not recommended for use with the HC 6 or HC 4. This same note applies with a different table for the HC 4.

AND

the same note has the Sony MDR-7506 at
63 ohms
and max spl at 132dB

while you are there check out
http://www.rane.com/pdf/hc6dat.pdf

and with a quick in the head calculation I DON'T think there is enough current available to get the 6 headphones to 15 volts peak to peak
???
the Rane may have 18 volt rails and this may cause more trouble
... remember un-compressed drums will have high peaks but low RMS level.

Don't fret
working in your favour is the fact that the MDR-7506's are very efficient at 106 and even though you will probably get current clipping at around half or quarter rail !!
these headphones get up and go more so than almost ALL the others

AUDITION the combination FIRST

let use know how it turns out
8-)

I've decided to go with the Rane HC6 and also get 6 new Sony MDR7506 headphones. I was going to go with the Sennheiser HD280 phones , I think they sound better then the 7506 but, the Sonys I believe ,are more comfortable for extended use.

If I were going to buy 6 pairs of headphones, I'd split it up a bit. If you are partial to the 7506, I'd get 4 pairs of those and 2 of the HD280's. Both headphones have their strengths. The 7506 are smaller, more portable, but aren't quite as flat as the HD280. The HD280 offer better isolation for tracking drums, etc. Your clients may have a preference and having both kinds available might be beneficial IMHO.

Wes

Grado headphone amps are wonderful, although the version for less sensitive headphones is more expensive.

I think everything produced by Grado is excellent value for money; even their really expensive stuff is a bargain.

John Stafford

I can't see the bargain here

sorry

http://www.feistworks.com/ben/a47/default.asp
this link popped up on the first page of a google search for Grado headphone amps .

Beware all HiFi gear as it is much easier to design for fully mastered CD playback rather than for the dynamic range required for record jobs.

Basic parts list is very cheap for this one ...
http://www.feistworks.com/ben/a47/images/a47_assembly_and_schematic.pdf