i am thinking about buying a rega apollo cd player. i already have a toshiba hd-a1 hd-dvd player. will i notice that much of a difference between these two. (i will be using a headphone amp and some good cans).

Although the Toshiba HD-A1 has remarkably good analog audio performance for being a video-oriented player, the Rega Apollo is in a totally different class.

Well-designed headphones and headphone amps reveal far more detail than a conventional speaker will, so I can say with good certainty that the Rega will sound noticeably better. Just out of curiosity, which cans and amp are you using? I have a pair of Grado RS-2s and a Musical Fidelity X-Can v2, which I couldn't be happier with at the moment.

thanks for the reply. i am currently just building a good headphone system (within my budget). i have a set of sennheiser hd-595's on the way. i am also getting ready to order a set of beyerdynamic dt-770 (or 880, haven't decided yet). soon as i get my tax return i will be picking up a rsa hornet (for portable use) and a gilmore lite for the house. would like to get into tube amps also but i have no clue about them. i think i am going to use the hd-a1 until i can save money for the apollo.

edit: sweet cans! i am thinking of getting a set of grados also.

2nd edit: i am getting the amps so i can have total freedom in choice of cans. i know the 595's don't really need it (well maybe they do to sound their best) but i want to know i can buy any can i want with no limits besides cash.

I've got a set of Sennheisor HD500's connected to an Audio Sound Lab MG Head MKIII tube headphone amp. Swapped out the stock tubes for a pair of Amperex Bugel boys and a Sylvania black plate signal tube. CD player is the Rega Planet 2000. Lately, I've been itchin to mate my ASL up with a Granite 657 tube CD player to see if I can reahc that next level :)

sweet glen. sounds great (pun intended!).

I re-tubed and re-capped my Musical Fidelty amp recently and I'm amazed at the improvement. My only wish now is if MF would make a smaller battery-operated version for portable player use like Grado does. I guess I just can't give up my tubes. :)

I re-tubed and re-capped my Musical Fidelty amp recently and I'm amazed at the improvement. My only wish now is if MF would make a smaller battery-operated version for portable player use like Grado does. I guess I just can't give up my tubes. :)
Currently I own the AKG 701s/Senn 650/Sony SA5000.. I just got my Sonys balanced & am using the XRL outputs from my DAC1.. I also have a BADA12 tube amp.. Movies sound incredible through this set up..