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68.2.242.97
I guess it's true, the sqeaky wheel gets the grease!My inventory for now:
Stax SR-507
Stax 323S amp
Audio Technica ATH-W1000X
Peachtree iNova (for standard cans)
Nuforce HDP
W4S DAC2Lawton modded Denon D7000's on the way in a week or two....
-M
"Lock up when you're done and don't touch the piano."
-Greg House
Edits: 07/21/11
AKG 701 with 6 ft. Equinox cable. Can lay down on the couch, sit out on the balcony, etc. Into Doge 6210 II in main stereo system.
Grado RS2. Into Benchmark DAC1 into my home computer.
Beyerdynamics DT-250. Little in use now, but sometimes still into Technics portable CD player.
Sennheiser HD414SL, low-ohm version. Little in use, mostly into Ray Saumuels P51 (itself little in use) into kitchen table radio on some early mornings.
Sennheiser PX100. Into office DAB radio. Little in use, as I hardly sit on my chair listening to that radio anymore.
AKG K518DJ. Bought for us by my workplace. Because of the longer cable used into the DAB radio when taking a break on the couch, or into my computer (when sitting on my chair) for non-live radio files. Its clear, but synthetic "techno" sound is a less benign coloration than the better PX100's warm sound, but the cable is longer.
HRT Music Streamer +, Woo Audio WA6, Senneheiser HD600
I'm just getting into headphones after tweeking my Blackberry, I use Maxell earbuds and they got me interested in Headfi, I am a member of Headfi&Crackberry. Thanks for the forum. Alan
Vista Ultimate 64 bit/e5300 Intel 45nm cpu/ASRock G41M-LE/Asus Xonar DS R 7.1/YamahaRX-V465 HT receiver/ Infinity RS1001 & Cambridge SoundWorks speakers/Yamaha YST-SW216 subwolf
Serious listening: AKG-K702 and Headroom MicroAmp, Marantz CD-5004
For casual, comfortable listening to TV: Sennheiser PK100 v.2
For my iPhone and iPod Touch: Yuin PK2 (I hate jamming things in my ears)
I formerly owned Sennheiser HD600s and 650s. I found both of them dark and muddy as well as uncomfortable (they put my TMJ in a vise). The AKG are lighter, don't squeeze my head, and have nicely detailed highs with a reasonable amount of bass.
I also have a 1964 Fisher Allegro, push pull ELL80 amp and find this works even better with the Shure phones than the SEX amp, better combo. It also has the outstanding Fisher triode phono amp so I am in vinyl heaven with this inexpensive, yet extravagantly musical combo.
The are quite sensitive and can be easily driven by a computer sound card. They are very neutral and have a balance which is very similar to that of my main speakers. They are apparently often used by the pros for their neutrality, sound isolation, and durability.
HeadRoom offers them for a very good price, too.
-----
"A fool and his money are soon parted." --- Thomas Tusser
Sennheiser HD-535 Headphones.
Consonance Cyber 20B Tubed Head Amp.
I'm in the market for a new set of phones-not sure what I'm going to get.
"Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, I'm just a caveman. I fell on some ice and later got thawed out by some of your "scientists." Your world frightens and confuses me!" Unfrozen Caveman Lawyer
What I have now:
Amp: PS Audio GCHA; Audio Valve RKV MK II; Singlepower Supra; Eddie Current EC-01.
Headphone: AKG K501; Ultrasone Pro 2500; Beyer DT990 Pros; Sony MDR-V6
IEM/Buds: Audio Technica CK10; Fisher Audio DBA-02; Etymotic ER6; Senn MX-980.
Portable Amp: Headstage Arrow.
Departed but not forgotten:
Amp: Little Dot II+; Ray Samuels Audio Raptor; Heed Canamp; Eddie Current EC/DC; Eddie Current Zana Deux; Singlepower MPX3.
Headphone: AKG K500, 701, 702, 1000; Grado SR225, HF2, RS-1, RS-1i, GS1000; Sony SA5000; Denon D7000; Audeze LCD-2; Ultrasone Proline 2500, Edition 9; Sennheiser HD-600, 650;
IEM/Buds: Etymotion ER4-B, P, S; Sennheiser IE8; Bose IE; Audio Technica CK-100; Ultimate Ears super-fi 5 Pros, EBs; Shure E500, SE530; Yuin PK-2, G-1; Koss KSC-75.
Portable Amp: Ray Samuels Hornet, Protector; Meier Audio Move.
I'm sure there's a few I've forgotten, but I've been through a crapload.
Here is my stuff...
Sennheiser-
MiniStar MS100
HD 450II
HD 495 Silver
HD 535
PX 100
Grado-
SR 125
Alessandro MS1i
Amps-
Headroom AirHead
Grado RA1
Audio Technical ATH M50's - my first decent cans
Creek OBH-11 headphone amp - on perma loan from a buddy.
also $7 Skullcandy buds (for the gym)
My gear
Denon D7000
Beyerdynamic T1
Decware CSP-2
Decware taboo with custom designed headphone amp the first Steve ever did with the Taboo at my request for the LCD2 and HE6
UE Triple FI10
JVC RX900
Marantz SA6004
Marantz DV6001
Ipod Touch
Sennheisher PX100
Edits: 07/24/11
Stax SRS-2050II
Shure SE-115
Grado SR-60
on veetle.com
Sennheiser HD600s w/Cardas cable, Benchmark HPA2 amp (Part of DAC1 box).
Sennheiser HD380 Pros for mobile and monitoring vinyl rips to CD, also office use with Total Bithead DAC/amp (USB) on the laptop.
You could say I'm a Sennie.
Thanks for the forum, Rod.
Singlepower Supra Extreme XLR (minor mods and "explosion-proofed"), tubed with RCA red base 5692s and Tung Sol 7236s; Balanced Grado PS 1000s using stock cable, AKG 701s using Stefan AudioArt Equinox cable.Amps I've had along the way: Antique Sound Labs MG Head OTL Mk III, Ray Samuels Raptor, both with a variety of NOS tubes.
Cans I've known and loved (or not so much): AKG K340s, Senn HD 650s, Audio Technica ATH-W1000s, Grado GS1000s
Stuff I wanna do: try some different 6SN7s; Audeze LCD-2s; fire up the soldering iron and experiment with different cables.
Life's much better if you caffeinate your squirrel
Edits: 07/23/11
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Sennheiser HD800
HeadRoom Desktop Amp/DAC with HeadRoom Desktop Power Supply
MacBook Air 11 inch
Arcam CD73 CD player sitting on a Musical Fidelity Stable-1 platform
Great sounding combo. The headphones are only modded with 650 cable. The amp has Amperex EF95 bugle boy tubes which are much better than stock.
Main system- Rotel RCD950, Rotel RC1070, Rotel RB981, Magnepan 10QR, Martin Logan Dynamo sub
Headphone system- Little Dot MKIII, Sennhesier HD 580,
Cambridge Audio 640P phono, Technics
Had the same setup for ages. Still have the HD600, but gathering dust these days. Super-comfy for me and the Little Dot is an unrecognized gem.
"Knowing what you don't know is, in a sense, omniscience"
Thanks, I've had this setup since the MK3 was first released and still happy with it. I've tried various tubes and settled on Amperex Bugle Boy EF91's. They really are several steps up from the stock tubes.
Out of curiosity what amplifier did you move on to? And how would you compare it's qualities to the MK3?
Main system- Rotel RCD950, Rotel RC1070, Rotel RB981, Magnepan 10QR, Martin Logan Dynamo sub
Headphone system- Little Dot MKIII, Sennhesier HD 580,
Cambridge Audio 640P phono, Technics
The Audeze LCD-2's have largely replaced my Senns. Unfortunately, the Little Dot wasn't a great match with the LCD-2's. I'm pretty happy with a slightly modded Mapletree Audio Ear + Super-II amp. My source is a Modwright Transporter.
That said, I can't say that I enjoy the music any more with my new rig. It does some things much better, but as far a musicality goes -- and musical involvement -- not a huge gain. The grass is not always greener...
The majority of my listening on cans is during the day while (ostensibly) working. Nightime I'm mostly listening to Magneplanar speakers. Guess I just like planar/orthodynamic sound signature.
"Knowing what you don't know is, in a sense, omniscience"
That's a nice headphone rig you have. I've not heard the LCD-2's but read good things about them.
Me too on the Magnepans, that's what I listen to for my speaker system. Which has me very curious about the Audeze and HiFiman headphones.
Main system- Rotel RCD950, Rotel RC1070, Rotel RB981, Magnepan 10QR, Martin Logan Dynamo sub
Headphone system- Little Dot MKIII, Sennhesier HD 580,
Cambridge Audio 640P phono, Technics SL1210 MK2, Denon DL160
That curiosity thing is a killer. I keep thinking I've learned my lesson: "When you've got a balanced system that sounds great, don't f*ck with it"
But then I get curious, and it's back to system-building all over again. Yup, my amp doesn't work with these speakers, guess I need a new amp. Yup my speakers could be upgraded, whoops, now the amp isn't a good match. Yup, it must be my source that's holding me back, gotta upgrade it...
You know the drill. I don't really want to go back to the Little Dot and the HD-580's, but I really enjoyed the combo and could have lived with it indefinitely. Just that curiosity thing...
"Knowing what you don't know is, in a sense, omniscience"
I don't want to know what I'm missing. The Sennheisers stretched my headphone budget. Although, I've been considering adding a pair of Portapros to the stable.
Sunrise Xcape IE for out and about.
AKG K240 Monitor. Love 'em! Sound is great. VERY comfortable.
I'm actually in the market for a closed headphone that has a similar sound.
My trusty Nytech is integrated that takes speaker output to the headphones via few resistors to trim signal down. Neddles to say, it can drive any headphones with no fuss.
But have to admitt, I do not use headphones very often.
HeadRoom Maxed Out Home Headphone Amplifier circa 2005
Senn 600s
I love it! One day I will get the real electrostatics.
and then theres Grado HF2, Senn HD650, AKG701 & 501, BD dt770, AT FC700...the Denon's are just too much fun with music featuring a lot of kick drum and or bass solos.
The bass is a little overwhelming for my taste, so I wear them backwards.
That's better!We are making history! Page one of the head gear!
Regards,
-reub
Edits: 07/22/11 07/22/11 07/22/11
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... but the picture says it all.
Located at the study end of my main living space you have the benefit of a really comfy leather sofa and your surounded by books.
Also, also a few feet from the turntable so sometimes I lash that in. PC with NAS also close by so when I know its going to be a long one I connect up the M-Audio firewire 41o and SPDIF that the the X-Dac.
I think I've got it covered.
Cheers,
K
Rightly so.
They're about 8 years old now still sounding great. Amp is some homemade valve jobbie from some bloke in Melbourne. I know nothing about it apart from it sounds excellent once warmed up enough.
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Stax Lambda normal bias, Stax 3N with 5N replacement diaphragm, SRD 7sb and SRD 5 adapaters with Manley Neo 300b preamp in one location and a Hogan 26/300b amplifier in another.
Ultrasone Edition 8 with the Manley Neo 300b preamp or with whatever, plugs into anything from an old ipod to the Manley and sounds great.
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Just when I thought I'd read every thread over at HeadFi, a new place to waste.. ahem spend time.
Cans-
AKG K701 & 401
Beyer DT880/250Ω
Yamaha YH-2 (orthos)
Sony PFR-V1
Audio Technica ES-7
Grado SR125i's (highly modded)
iGrado
Amps-
AMB Labs Mini^3
ASL MG Head OTL
Matrix M-stage
Hitachi IA-1000 (vintage 70's integrated)
... and a home brew (1999) dedicated portable headphone amp that alows 8-pin opamp swaps, NiMH on board recharging, switchable 9-18v power to chip, and "crossfeed". Can hear a gnat flying across the recording studio in ambient stereo.
I still return to the '90's vintage Grado SR-125's as my "reference".
nt.
Thanks, Rod. I am very happy to see this new forum.
Currently, I am using a Bottlehead Crack with Beyerdynamic DT-831 'phones. I also have a HeadRoom Little. I hope to upgrade the cans to DT-990 (600 Ohm) at Christmas.
I am using my Beyers exclusively.
Regards,
Karl
"'Cause when love is gone, there's always justice./And when justice is gone, there's always force./And when force is gone, there's always Mom. Hi Mom!" Laurie Anderson, "O Superman (For Massenet)"
playing right out of my Proton USB DAC.
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But I also play quite a bit of vinyl and in that case, I take the signal out of my Cary SLP-88 preamp.
I also use my Beyerdynamic DT-990/600s with my Bottlehead Crack (sounds good with the Proton's amp as well).
On trips I usually take my Audio Technical ATH M50s. I pair these with my Headroom Bithead when I'm out and about.
Headphones are wonderful.
nice overall and amazing for the $76 they cost....Audio Technica ATH-AD700. Certainly not as transparent as the AKG K701's I had, but not bad and talk about ambience and soundstage, good bass, easy to drive and very satisfying so far. Used with an old Allied EL-84 based integrated amp. Also, like them as much as or better than the Sennheiser HD 600's I once had. The AKG's and Senn's had their strong points also but price considered, the AT's are amazing! Glad that we have a headphone forum here at AA.
BBB,
What do you mean by soundstage??
On phones??
I only heard that on the Ultrasones.
Are you saying those Ats actually image??
No one here remembers the bending of our minds
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Most HP's tend to concentrate the sound around each ear, sort of like a dual mono kind of thing, without images spread across space. So, I guess I meant more precisely that the images appear to be more distributed into the apparent space in front of or behind the listener. That's the best I can do. I didn't hear the same effect nearly as much on the Sennheiser 600 and Akg 701's. Maybe it's that I've gotten old and my mind is starting to play tricks on me!
Hey BBB,
I can relate with the mind playing tricks things.
You got me excited that I could get some staging with cans.
Still if you get the images infront or behind you are ahead of me!
No one here remembers the bending of our minds
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Thanks, Rod!
Ray Samuels Emmeline II The Raptor tube headphone amp; Denon AH-D7000/Sennheiser HD-650/Sennheiser HD-600 headphones; Headphile BlackSilver and Cardas headphone cables; Shure E4c.
Adam O
[Logitech Squeezebox Touch/Oppo DV-983H > PS Audio Digital Link III w/Cullen Stage 4 Mods > Vincent SV-236 > Tyler Acoustics Linbrook Signature System]
Main System-Sennheiser HE60/HEV70 combo
Discman,ipod,laptop- Sony MDR-V600
First, thanks Rod, I gave up on Head-fi--S/N ration there simply unbearable.
Right now I'm using my Beyerdynamic DT-880's into either my Sansa Clip+, or my newly gifted Squeezebox Touch streaming Rhapsody. I asked for the SB instead of an amp because I'm still amazed at the amount of music I get for my $10/mo. Rhapsody sub.
I resisted headphones for quite awhile, but since I've had to pack up my Tubes & TT into the closet AGAIN!(no room anymore, and when I have time the girls are asleep) I've been warming up to them. And speaking of warming up, it's a lot cooler listening in the hot summer. Though I miss the glow of the tubes.
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Stax 006Ti tube amp with 404 earphones with extra 16' cable
Headroom Home Max with Senn. 600s
My equipment page is a bit more accurate
Tom B.
I'm not big into the headphone scene, but I do have a few laying around if the need arises. I bought two pairs of Sennheiser 580s off Audiogon and got 'em for pretty good prices - $110 for one pair and $85 for the other. I keep one set with the main rig and another with the bedroom system. These are really good headphones, and for the prices I paid they are an audio miracle!
I also have a newly-purchased set of Shure 420 IEMs (In-Ear Monitors) that I greatly enjoy. I got the deal of the day on eBay, found a briefly-used set for $100 delivered to my door. This set had been used by an audio reviewer for all of 30 days before he put them up for sale. Snagging the Shure 420s for $100 was a whale of a deal, the retail is almost $400. He even kindly supplied a brand new set of sleeves so that I'd not be exposed to his foul earwax and all that business. Nice guy!!
These 3 sets are driven by one of two devices - a Creek OBH-11 headphone amp connected to "the big rig" or a Sansa E280 personal music player (PMP). The Creek was an A'gon purchase and a really good deal at $100.
The Sansa is a great PMP, it has 8GB of solid state storage and you can augment that by inserting a Micro-SD memory card. I currently have 2 of said cards, giving me a total of 24GB of music storage ready for that 'round the world trip I've been dreaming of. These Sansas are readily available for < $100 on FleaBay and Scamazon, just keep your eyes open and your PayPal account at the ready...
-RW-
Glad you got some good deals.
"If people don't want to come, nothing will stop them" - Sol Hurok
The living room system, not the oh-so-holy sound room.
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Cans: Grado SR-325is, AKG Q701, Denon AH-D7000
Amps: Peachtree Audio Nova, DIY (friend) Class A transistor, Total Airhead
Sources: JVC XL-Z1010, HHb CDR-830+, Memorex walkman type
Me likey.
"If people don't want to come, nothing will stop them" - Sol Hurok
Travis -
Where did you get the 702s in green?
Regards,
Karl
"'Cause when love is gone, there's always justice./And when justice is gone, there's always force./And when force is gone, there's always Mom. Hi Mom!" Laurie Anderson, "O Superman (For Massenet)"
The Quincy Jones version of the 701s comes in green (AKG Q701)
Q701, Quincy Jones model, comes in black, white and green.
"If people don't want to come, nothing will stop them" - Sol Hurok
Grado's: SR60 SR225 SR325i
Audio-Technica: M50 700
Denon: 2000
JVC: Flats ($20!) for portable CD player
Others all driven with my Van Alstine Super PAS3i preamp
'in-room' currently;Stax Omega 2 Mk1 headphones -> Stax SRM-717 amp.
Sennheiser HD-800 headphones -> Woo Audio 6SE 'Maxxed' amp.
HD-600 headphones.
'on order' due for delivery in the next 30-45 days;
-Blue Hawaii Special Edition w/Alps RK-50 pot- electrostatic amp
-Stax--SR-009 Headphones
mikel
Edits: 07/21/11 07/21/11
I have about a half dozen but mostly listen to my HD-600s (home) and Sennheiser ear buds #? (MP3 porta player).
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;^)
Sony ProWalkman with Sony MDR-7509....great combo! 7509's are a great option for use with portables (iPods etc) because they are very efficient.
At home I have a Musical Fidelity X-Can v3 and Sennheiser HD-650's. Rarely used, might put up for sale.
Also have Sennheiser PX-100 for use with an older iPod.
Later.
Waxxy,
Just checking to see if you are really going to sell the Musical Fidelity X-CAN v. 3 and/or the Sennheiser HD-650?
For less than a month now I have been listeing to the Audeze LCD-2(rev2) driven by the Violectric HPA V200.
Stunning combination.
I passed on the LCD-2's, but I'm very interested in the Violectric stuff. It looks amazing.
Let us know if you've had a chance to compare it to other headphone amps.
It's a tad spendey, but I bet it's worth the money.
"Lock up when you're done and don't touch the piano."
-Greg House
This is the only dedicated headphone combo I've heard in over 35 years as a fan of hi-fi stereo.
I was using the LCD-2 via the headphone socket of my Kenwood L-A1.The Violectric wiped the floor with the L-A1 and turned the LCDs from very,very good to OMFG !!!!!!!.
The combination is stunning.
Cans? Modded Sennheiser HD-600, Stax SR-5, Stax SR-3 (and attendant control boxes).
Amps? DB Systems DB-9, Headsave Classic.
IEMs? HiFiMan RE0 (broken already), Sony MDR-EX85V, which are a better match for the iPod Classic anyway.
Speakers? None! I roll headphones-only.
___
I believe in coyotes and time as an abstract...
AKG K701's fed by the built-in headphone amp of my E-MU 0404 USB.
Thought I'd add a past setup, since my current one is so simple.
Years ago, I used Grado RS-1s, an Earmax Pro OTL with vintage 1960's Amperex Bugle Boy 6DJ8s, and a Jolida JD603A CD player as the source.
It sounded very good, but the Jolida kept giving me fits on the tray.
The primary source is a PC now, and while I miss the Earmax Pro (I still have it), my current setup is very close to as good, with zero hassle or warm up -- and the tray never sticks...
Click on the (A) near my moniker and see my system for details. There's great synergy between all components, at least to my ears. The modded ASL Wave 8's monoblocks drive the AKG K1000 earspeakers remarkably well, sounding much punchier than Bryston 2BLP amp I used to own (although the Bryston was remarkably mellow and smooth sounding...). Sennheiser Frankenphones look awesome and are a completely non-fatiguing long term listening tool. Grado SR-60's are used for mostly for Rock music and other brash musical styles. Digital and analog front ends both manage to sound warm, quiet, and clean.
Edits: 07/21/11 07/21/11 07/23/11
I listen only via 'phones.
Sennheiser HD650s with Cardas 10' cord
Singlepower PPX3 (6cg7 version) running RCA cleartops
Bryston BCD1 cd player
I'm contemplating a new amp, maybe a Burson.
MK
Rudistor RPX33mk2
Singlepower MXP3 with a bunch of mods
Tadac DAC and headphone amp
Sennheiser HD800 with aftermarket cord main phones
Beyerdynamic DH990 for bedroom
Sony earbuds (with diamond diaphrams.. model ? forgot but first ones with diamond stuff) for laptop
Then I have some old electrostatic phones sitting in the closet got free that need an amp to drive them.
Modded Single Power MPX3 Slame SE
Blue Circle SBH with custom Cap Pack
Audeze LCD-2
K-701s, modded
A bunch of custom cables from different places
"What did the Romans ever do for us?"
Head-Fier for several years before regularly reading here.
Office : iMac - PSAudio DLIII with lvl4mods - (incoming) Eddie Current ZanaDeux Transformer - HD800 and AT W5000 (both balanced)
Home : MacPro - W4S DAC2 - Bottlehead Crack with Speedball - HD650
Travel : MacBookPro - CEntrance DACPort - AT ESW9JPN
Portable : iPod Touch - RSA Shadow - UE-10pro / Klipsch Image
Workout : iPod Nano - Ety ER6i
Stax OmegaII Mark 1 electrostatic headphones
HeadAmp Blue Hawaii Special Edition headphone amp (with optional Alps Rk50 potentiometer).
Etymotic ER4 portable headphones.
Blue Hawaii with O2 MK1's.... WOW!
"Lock up when you're done and don't touch the piano."
-Greg House
Edits: 07/21/11
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