Thread: *NEW* MSB Premier Headphone Amp

The Premier Headphone Amp Features - MSB Technology

Price estimated to be around $8900, but need to confirm.


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Wow!

Looks terrific. I looked at the spec sheet; it states that it is to be used with MSB products only.

Originally Posted by Ritmo

Looks terrific. I looked at the spec sheet; it states that it is to be used with MSB products only.

no; only that you must either add a passive volume control on the input side such as the Goldpoint (Vince from MSB recommended) which i bought for my MSB Select Electrostatic Headphone amp.......

Goldpoint SA2X Level Controls / Passive Preamps

........or you can feed it from your preamp using the preamp volume control (for instance if you want to hear vinyl or tape.....or either vinyl or tape could be run direct into the amp with the passive box.).

considering how a headphone amp is used, the little passive box (i paid $616 for it) seems to be a good (cheap and transparent sounding) solution to the problem for those times you are not using it with the MSB dac.

you could also run the analog out from your laptop into it with a RCA -> XLR converter and use the volume control in your laptop (or insert the passive stand alone). better would be a digital out from your laptop into your MSB dac and then use the MSB for conversion and attenuation.

so there are plenty of choices to overcome the lack of an onboard volume control in the MSB headphone amps. but the most elegant way is with the MSB dacs. i do like the one button push to toggle from speakers or headphones.

Thanks for the insights Mike.

Below is text from the MSB site:

“ Technical Specifications:

The Premier Headphone Amplifier

The Premier Headphone Amp can ONLY be used with MSB DACs.

Supported Formats Analog Only
XLR Analog Inputs Optimized for 75Ω or 150Ω Balanced Source
XLR Analog Outputs Direct connection to input when enabled or unit powered off.
When listening to headphones, output is muted with 75Ω output impedance
Headphone Output Impedance 40Ω
Dynamic Range
20Hz-20kHz
(Max Power at 45Ω) >125dB
>134dBA
Frequency Response 20Hz-20kHz ±0.3dB
Common Mode Rejection Ratio > 82dB CMRR @ 60Hz
> 82dB CMRR @ 1kHz
> 80dB CMRR @ 20kHz
Crosstalk <-110dB Crosstalk @ 1kHz
<-90dB Crosstalk @ 20kHz
Max Power @ 1% THD+N 8Ω @ 4.5Vrms (2.53W)
16Ω @ 7.5Vrms (3.51W)
32Ω @ 11.4Vrms (4.06W)
45Ω @ 13.2Vrms (3.87W)
150Ω @ 13.8Vrms (1.27W)
Headphone Output Connectors 1x 4 Pin XLR
2x 1/4" Stereo Jack (Single-ended)
Display Power LED
Controls Rear panel power switch
Front panel passthrough/Headphone toggle switch
1x MSB 12V Trigger
Power Consumption 82 Watts
(8Watts in passthrough mode)
AC Voltage 100V (Fixed)
120/240V (User switch on bottom of unit)
Topology
Input/Gain Stage - Class A
- Double balanced
- Impedance matched
- Fully discrete
Output Stage - Class A
- Balanced or Single-ended*
*Only in single-ended mode when 1/4" jack is used
Chassis Dimensions
Width: 17 in (432 mm)
Depth: 12 in (305 mm)
Chassis Height (Without Feet): 2.45 in (62 mm)
Stack height: 3.05 in (77 mm)
Weight: 31 lbs (14 kg)
Product Feet: The Viton Foot (M6X1 Thread)
Shipping Dimensions
Width: 22 in (558.8 mm)
Depth: 18 in (457.2 mm)
Height: 7 in (177.8 mm)
Weight: 40 lbs (18.2 kg)
Included Accessories
Product manual
Grounding cable

there is no control link between an MSB headphone amp and MSB dac. only an XLR interconnect; and the headphone amp has a front button that toggles the output either to the pass-thru (speakers) or to the headphones. the amp does not know where it got the signal.

certainly the dac remote helps to switch the input. but that is not required to switch the input/pass-thru. that remote is the only 'control' function involved.

an MSB headphone amp is not a door-stop without an MSB dac.

Good stuff Mike. Silly for MSB to add a statement in the specs sheet about only usable with MSB products.

Originally Posted by Ritmo

Good stuff Mike. Silly for MSB to add a statement in the specs sheet about only usable with MSB products.

how it was put to me by Vince (National Sales Manager for MSB) was that the (electrostatic) Headphone amp originally was not intended to be a product at all, more an analytical tool for their work, but it performed so well they decided to offer it. then they added the Ref version. yet they don't yet know how far to jump into the whole 'headphone market'.

that disclaimer does give them cover on where things go. if someone plugs a source at line level into the MSB amp without volume attenuation and destroys some headphones or damages their ears then MSB might be in a bad spot. and remember.......common sense is just not that common.

headphone customers wanting a volume control designed into it, and whether the sales volume ROI might justify that. it's a big but very fickle market at the top level.......gear of the month/week/day/minute. don't blame them for being a bit cautious.

audiophile market is a bit more grounded.....and they know it.

Has anyone actually heard this headphone amp? Or seen a real review? I'm still searching.

I’ve heard it! Awesome sounding, Cincy had the other MSB headphone amp. Hopefully he will chime in.


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Originally Posted by Mike

I’ve heard it! Awesome sounding, Cincy had the other MSB headphone amp. Hopefully he will chime in.


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I did indeed have a MSB Select headphone amp that I used with the MSB DAC. It was set up for use with electrostatic headphones. The combination was the best headphone sound I ever experienced. It worked well with electrostatic headphones that already provide the most natural mid range and higher frequencies. I never considered using it with any other DACs or in a portable set up. It is for serious listening with your main rig. I have no reason to believe the Reference level product would not provide similar performance.

Cincy

Thanks for the above. I have ordered an MSB Premier DAC (3-4 weeks &#128512 and considering the headphone amp to match, if I can sell some of my current gear.

With my current move (retirement in 2024, and moving to support a child+expected grand daughter) consideration, either a headphone only system, or a digital only headphone + speaker system might be the final answer, if the new space does not allow turntable + vinyl storage. (Would shed the vinyl storage + TT, phono amp + tubed pre amp, however sadly)

Somewhat depends on how the lottery (software consultant investment) goes this/next year.

Anyway, thanks for opinions, I do like my BHSE, but feel it’s time to start simplifying my system, and minimize tubes.

MSB’s Vince Galbo’s response to why they recommend only using MSB gear into the Premier headphone amp:

“I talked to our tech. The reason we limit the use of the headphone amp to are our dACs, is the output voltage. Anything above 3.57 V into the headphone amp will blow up a very expensive internal part”

It appears that unregulated pre amp, or DAC, output can damage the headphone amp. As I recall they developed this amp in house for internal use, but ended up offering it for sale. I guess if the original design had been for more generalized use, it might have been designed differently. If the sound is what they wanted, they won’t change it.