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Author Topic: Bottlehead Mainline is TOTL?  (Read 9612 times)

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Priidik

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Bottlehead Mainline is TOTL?
« on: May 17, 2014, 11:52:03 AM »
Hi,

Didn't see a BH Mainline thread here, so i started one.

Has anyone heard BH Mainline and compared it with some top of the line EC or DNA or Cavalli?

I'm looking to find a great amp for HD800, and budget is tight on <1500$. DAC is Yulong DA8.

I assume the BH offering is not as good as say Balancing Act, but i would like to know where it stands among those giants. Also i'm very newb to vacuum tube business. Initially was looking SS options, but then 8 out of 10  HD800 owners seem to not care about SS amps. I've heard HD800s through HDVD800, and it did sound good to me.

Amp options currently available to me: BH Mainline, Questyle CMA800R, Sennheiser HDVA600, (used)Taurus Mk2, (used) DNA Sonett. Out of those which one would You get for HD800?

Any alternative amp recommendations are obviously welcome.



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Marvey

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Re: Bottlehead Mainline is TOTL?
« Reply #1 on: May 17, 2014, 05:12:34 PM »
No one here has heard the Mainline yet. Would like to see more specific power specs listed on it (600mW into what load?). The only caveat I would have for the mainline is the dual (coarse / fine stepper) volume adjustment. I already hate steppers, and having two steppers would make me want to smash something.

Other recommendations under $1500 for HD800 (known to be good match with HD800 by folks here):
  • BH Crack, esp. with Speedball
  • Schiit Vali
  • I can second the Senn HDVA600 in balanced mode (but cannot vouch for it with the Yulong DAC)
  • EC Zana Deux (I think the older non SE ones with ths soy caps were better sounding) if you can find one for cheap. I got mine for $1200 here.
  • Bryston BHA-1 (used is better deal)
  • EC S7 (used - with the Electraprint OPTs)
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Maxvla

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Re: Bottlehead Mainline is TOTL?
« Reply #2 on: May 17, 2014, 05:31:41 PM »
And M-Stage
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OJneg

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Re: Bottlehead Mainline is TOTL?
« Reply #3 on: May 17, 2014, 06:07:37 PM »
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Armaegis

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Re: Bottlehead Mainline is TOTL?
« Reply #4 on: May 17, 2014, 06:08:45 PM »
I felt the headphone out on the DA8 was actually a pretty good match with the HD800.
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mechgamer123

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Re: Bottlehead Mainline is TOTL?
« Reply #5 on: May 17, 2014, 07:08:11 PM »
I tried the Mainline with the HD800 (Anax modded) at the Bottlehead meet in Seattle a few weeks ago. I don't know if it was the anax mod, the mainline, or a combination of both, but it sounded a bit too dull and rolled off in the treble to me. Also much warmer than I remember the stock HD800 driven from an O2 when I auditioned a while ago.

Take my opinion with a grain of salt though, I don't know what tubes Doc B was using in his personal unit, and I'm not incredibly familiar with how the HD800 "should" sound, all I can say is that I didn't really like this particular setup.  :)p8
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Priidik

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Re: Bottlehead Mainline is TOTL?
« Reply #6 on: May 17, 2014, 08:22:20 PM »
Thanks all!
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Priidik

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Re: Bottlehead Mainline is TOTL?
« Reply #7 on: May 18, 2014, 01:02:52 PM »
I just read a comparative review of Audio-GD Master 9 and GS-X2.
Master 7 dac has been praised here,
what is the word around here about Master 9?
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shipsupt

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Re: Bottlehead Mainline is TOTL?
« Reply #8 on: May 18, 2014, 06:10:11 PM »
I've got a Mainline here in mid-build. I'm waiting for some chassis work to be completed by others, but when that's back I should have it up and running. Will do some comparisons with the few dynamics I've got around... HD-800/LCD-3/Slant/Paradox.

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Yeah, well, you know, that's just, like, your opinion, man.

Priidik

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Re: Bottlehead Mainline is TOTL?
« Reply #9 on: May 18, 2014, 11:37:16 PM »
Awesome!
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