looking for advice (M1060c+K7)

[zanza]

I'm completely new to the forum, I would like to approach the world of vacuum tubes
My headphone setup is Fiio K7 ( dac/amp) and Monolith M1060C(open Mod)
I would like to use the K7 as a DAC and insert a vacuum tube amp in the chain
The M1060Cs are 120db/18ohm
I would like some advice on whether to start this adventure with Crack (perhaps with speedball) or something else without spending a fortune
Thanks

 

[Karl5150]

I drive a S3X amp with a Fiio - works great for both speakers and headphones
Karl

 

[Paul Birkeland]

18 Ohm headphones aren't a good match for the Crack, but would likely work nicely with a SEX amp.

 

[zanza]

18 Ohm headphones aren't a good match for the Crack, but would likely work nicely with a SEX amp.

Has anyone tried a combination like this?
or with planar magnet headphones?

 

[Paul Birkeland]

Has anyone tried a combination like this?
or with planar magnet headphones?

This really is a very, very bad idea.  Yes, sound will come out, but it will be very distorted and the amp's output will be extremely reactive to impedance changes in the headphones. 

The SEX amp is far more suitable for these kinds of headphones.

 

[zanza]

This really is a very, very bad idea.  Yes, sound will come out, but it will be very distorted and the amp's output will be extremely reactive to impedance changes in the headphones. 

The SEX amp is far more suitable for these kinds of headphones.

ok i understand that the S.E.X. it is more suitable
but wondering if anyone has experience with this amp and planar magneto headphones like Audeze or similar

 

[Paul Birkeland]

What exactly are you looking to accomplish?  For most people having the designer of an amp say it's not suitable for a given range of headphones is sufficient. 

 

[Doc B]

Crack is really intended for headphones with an impedance of 300 ohms and up. You might get by with headphones around 150ohms. But the planars tend to be lower than that and our intention is that planar cusomers use the S.E.X. amp. We have put effort into offering a range of headphone amps that are optimized for various types of headphones - Crack for high impedance cans, S.E.X. for power hungry lower impedance headphones like planars, Mainline for reasonably sensitive premium headphones of all impedance ratings, and Stat for ES headphones.