CHANGSTAR: Audiophile Headphone Reviews and Early 90s Style BBS
Lobby => The Meeting Place => Topic started by: Marvey on July 23, 2014, 06:33:23 AM
-
http://www.vanityears.com/julymeet/Meet.html (http://www.vanityears.com/julymeet/Meet.html)
(http://www.changstar.com/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=1683.0;attach=7108;image)
Impressions of three pieces of gear:
- Bakoon HPA-1
- PS Audio DirectStream DAC
- Oppo PM-1/2 with new pads
Also:
Lampi, Questyle, Violectric, etc. (discussed in thread)
-
I liked the bakoon, too. Not for 1800, but it was surprising. As you noticed, I started with MJ and thought you were nuts :). Thankfully I switched tracks.
-
Also, it's interesting to note that the Bakoon is battery powered. One hell of a portable amp. I wish I had tried it with a paradox slant or an HE-560
-
Interesting, I wonder how low Massdrop can get the Bakoon to go. They were able to get the CMA800R down to $999 from $1500, though it seems it's not all it's cracked up to be on HF. What was not to like about the CMA800R?
-
Could you specify a bit more what the new OPPO pads do for the headphone?
-
Just didn't like it. I gave the Questyle CMA800R some decent head time purposely because I wanted to give it a second chance. I heard it initially at the OC meet a few months ago with the accompanying Questyle DAC, and I thought the combo sucked then. I was hesitant to say much because I didn't know if it was the DAC or the amp or both. Some dude on HF said it was the DAC, but I was suspicious. Since I hadn't heard the units isolated from each other, I just didn't want to say anything.
This time around, the Massdrop guys switched the DAC around to the X-Sabre which I know to be pretty decent if not good. At least it's a known quantity where I know the X-Sabre's strengths and weaknesses. With the X-Sabre feeding the Questyle CMA800R, I still thought that amp sucked. The CMA800R just sounded dull and not interesting. I think some people on HF called it laid-back and a good match for bright 'phones or something like that. But during the entire time listening to the CM800R, I was like thinking to myself "Godammit, this meet sucks, so much gear here sucks (or at least is mediocre), is there going to be anything good?"
That is until I heard the Bakoon, and I was like, "hey, this is pretty darn good and a great match with the HD800 as well".
Supposedly the Bakoon HPA-1 will go on sale on Massdrop on July 23, 2014, although I am not exactly sure of the date. I would be interested in how much Massdrop can lower the price on it.
-
Could you specify a bit more what the new OPPO pads do for the headphone?
PM-1. Thick bass. Mud. Low-fi sounding fundamental range. Way overpriced - poo rating because of the price / performance. Think ortho version of veiled black driver HD-650.
PM-2. Brighter, but disjointed tonal response where the treble doesn't jive with the bass. The medicine just made the patient worse.
PM1/2 with new pads. Wow. Perfect. Tames the muddy bass. Clears up mid-bass to lower mids. Probably still not the clearest or technically capable, but a nice relaxing listen. Tonal balance somewhere between LCD-2 and HE-560. Think HE-500, but without HE-500's mid-treble peak. The pads just open things up. Similar in effect to running leaking pads for venting the LCD-3 to open them up more. Not so closed in anymore. Really a big difference. $699 for PM-2 + pads, and this ain't a bad deal if you want a relaxo phone.
The main question now is how far will it scale with better equipment? I suspect a great match with the Mjolnir. The Oppo rep offered to send a loaner to me, and I may take him up on the offer.
-
So, wait, the PM-2 sounds different than the PM-1 even with the same pads? I thought they were supposed to be identical in all ways except the plastic and pleather materials on the PM-2 vs. metal and leather.
Good to hear that the new pads really help. I didn't examine the PM-1 pads enough to tell what might be different based on your pics. I liked the PM-1 a good bit when I had it but wouldn't buy it due to its known downsides. I may have to consider the PM-2. Would love to get my hands on a pair.
I'm curious how it compares to the HE-500 with the new pre-production pads, as that helps relax them a bit.
-
Hmm the new Oppo really like sounds something that would suit my tastes, I was gonna get the HE-560 but I am a bit worried that it might be a little to analytical. I really like the LCD-2 I heard except for that it was so heavy and lacked some treble air. I will continue to ponder on my decision as I have no way to hear either phone before purchasing.
-
I thought the bakoon was okay. Good news was that it didn't sound that far off from what I remember of their $4K+ unit from The SHOW. Bad news is it still seemed a bit on the unrefined and grainy side to me. I also thought the HD800 actually suffered in current mode versus voltage. Imaging congested and microdynamics+resolution got blunted although the sound warmed up and became more aggressive and punchy. Switching to voltage everything just opened up and breathed more naturally. I'd probably only use current mode with planars unless further listening proves otherwise.
PM1 and PM2 is the same driver. Any deviations are aesthetic and/or acoustic.
The PS Audio DSD did offer an overly polite and laid back sound. Pretty much what I was expecting once it warmed up. it gave that over smoothed, fake and plasticky turboclock timbre one might notice from aggressive oversampling. IT's clear why most impressions hinted that it was a 'different' sort of sound. I think it's easy to be impressed with it initially because it fixes many of the major complaints that PWD owners might have. However, it compromises some of the better aspects of the PWD mk1>2 units.
A few folks mentioned that they thought the Chord Hugo sounded better than the PSA DSD. I have to wholeheartedly disagree. Playing CD Redbook on my listen w/ my HD800s, the Hugo was clearly lower fi and rougher. I'd consider anything more than $400 for the device a total rip-off tbh and only that much because it handles DSD tracks far better than Redbook.
The Geek Outs sounded good. Preliminary listens with the UERM suggested to my ears the 100 and 450 were cleaner, clearer and more neutral sounding than the 1000.
The new Violectric 281? is the best Violectric amp I've heard so far from them. They tend toward warmth with solid macrodynamics but flat presentation with compressed or missing micro dynamics and resolution. The new amp is much improved and I liked it better than the Bakoon on current mode personally. Voltage mode would require a side by side A/B.
-
I preferred the Hugo over the PSA DSD, but mainly because of its more agreeable tonal balance. The DSD was too tonally skewed to Paul's preferences which seem be to somewhere along the lines of the PWD1. But for technicalities, the Hugo was not nearly as good. Mediocre focus and precision. Coarser and less liquid. Just very mediocre.
My experience with the Bakoon was with non-modded HD800s.
Didn't care for Vioelectric 281. Yes, best Violectric so far. Agreed upon that. Still didn't care.
-
I preferred the Hugo over the PSA DSD, but mainly because of its more agreeable tonal balance. The DSD was too tonally skewed to Paul's preferences which seem be to somewhere along the lines of the PWD1. But for technicalities, the Hugo was not nearly as good. Mediocre focus and precision. Coarser and less liquid. Just very mediocre.
My experience with the Bakoon was with non-modded HD800s.
Didn't care for Vioelectric 281. Yes, best Violectric so far. Agreed upon that. Still didn't care.
Agreed on tonal balance. Though if you only care about tonal balance in a DAC, you need not pay more than $100 for a DAC. When we are talking thousands, it should be technicalities at that point which is why I think both ultimately fail in their own rights.
At their prices, I couldn't recommend either Bakoon or V281. I just think the Violectric showed it was moving in the right direction. I know Violectric, Benchmark and ODAC/O2 all claimed pure electronic transparency even though all three sounded clearly different from each other so their claims were always dubious at best. Glad to see both Benchmark and Violectric getting off their asses rather than resting on mythology to sell hyper objectivism as koolaid. So I guess I was happy to hear an improvement over the V200 from what I recall. Then again, it might have been a DAC synergy of some sort. Wasn't my gear or tracks.
-
I still remain unconvinced about battery powering desktop and other stationary equipment. There were measurements that clearly stated the inferiority of these supplies when compared to good shunt regulators.
Also I agree about the V200. It wasn't bad, but way waaay to coloured sound. Maybe it compensates for the thin V800 signature.
-
Hi Marvey.
When you're talking about new pads . Do you think the PM1/2 will ver be sold with those pads from now ?
-
Sounds like all those upstream gear (1000+) doesn't match with the HD800 better than a Bottlehead Crack w/Speedball upgrade for much less money. Although I don't own a HD800, pairs very well with my HD650.
-
Hi Marvey.
When you're talking about new pads . Do you think the PM1/2 will ver be sold with those pads from now ?
Chris Vick @ Oppo seemed to indicate the new pads will be a separate purchase. Pricing hasn't been ironed down, but I think it should be reasonable.
-
Sounds like all those upstream gear (1000+) doesn't match with the HD800 better than a Bottlehead Crack w/Speedball upgrade for much less money. Although I don't own a HD800, pairs very well with my HD650.
Hard to say without a direct comparison, but the Bakoon produces much less heat and can be put into a backpack - not that I would want to do that. And no, I wouldn't pay $1700. I'm curious to see how much Massdrop can offer it for.
The Crack + speedball is good, but not epic good. There is a reason why so many people clamor for its ability with the HD600/650, but when it comes to the HD800, the same people are less vocal about it. The Crack doesn't scale. Even the Vali is more resolving, but the Crack has better timbre.
I understand where Anax is coming from with the Bakoon. The Bakoon actually imparts a certain coloration (the current mode output Z is high) to the stock HD800 which makes more pleasant and palatable sounding. The effect is somewhat similar to the HDVD800 DAC/amp combo. But I know Anax has little tolerance for amps which "Leben"ize the HD800, however small the effect.
-
I would agree in general tube amplifier produces much more heat than a solid state amplifier. Off topic question for tube amp owner, is it ok to use the tube amplifier for more than 3 hours session? The reason is that upon unplugging my headphone jack after 3 hours session, the jack is very warm to touch.
-
If I still traveled the Bakoon would be on my short list.
That being said, CT and I both lament not being able to capture the EC house sound in a portable. A BA for BA CIEMs would be epic. I'm holding out for the Cavalli portable (and having money) before thinking of amps for a long while.
-
A properly designed amp (tube or otherwise) should be operable indefinitely within reasonable environmental temperatures.
-
We not going to talk about Lampi vs. DirectStream? It was an interesting comparison.
-
I also want to add that I thought the Oppo stuff still sucked. Didn't feel it was much better than what I heard before.
-
We not going to talk about Lampi vs. DirectStream? It was an interesting comparison.
Lampi = great tube section which reveals how mediocre (and very sigma-delta'ish) the DAC section is. Even if the DAC chip was a ladder DAC (no one knows for sure since he blacks out the chip).
Get your Lampi here - there are four for sale as of this post: http://app.audiogon.com/listings?search_text=lampizator&page=1&no_listing_types_auctions=false
-
I would agree in general tube amplifier produces much more heat than a solid state amplifier. Off topic question for tube amp owner, is it ok to use the tube amplifier for more than 3 hours session? The reason is that upon unplugging my headphone jack after 3 hours session, the jack is very warm to touch.
What? Not good. First time I've heard that.
-
Brb, buying them all since they're clearly such hot commodities.
-
Yeah, it's funny. You'd expect the Lampi to be smoother or have an easier treble quality than the evil DSD monster. Wasn't the case. It actually had a noticeable amount of digital glare which did bother me. It wasn't a bad DAC in the scope of things, but the digititus was there. I agreed with the others, it obviously had issues on the digital side when listening. Then I looked at the open PC board and the issues became obvious to me p:/
Next to each other, the DirectStream was more blunted but also more hazy and less clear throughout the spectrum. The DirectStream (and I noticed this on both systems) does this thing where it takes your favorite recordings that you've been listening to for years and turns them into something completely alien. I kept saying to the others "It's different". Not in so much of a bad way, just a "different" way. So yeah, that thing is "different".
-
@Marv: any input on Bakoon HPA-1 vs Auralic Taurus II?
-
Yeah, it's funny. You'd expect the Lampi to be smoother or have an easier treble quality than the evil DSD monster...
DirectStream was more blunted but also more hazy and less clear throughout the spectrum. The DirectStream ... and turns them into something completely alien.
Yup. It's hard to explain, there's almost two categories of digititus. One that's very obvious, can be tiring, but not necessarily bothersome. This is common with all digital in varying degrees.
The other can be described as very strange and disturbing. Commonly heard on SABRE DACs.
Neither are mutually exclusive. When a DAC possesses both of the above qualities, I end up Running for the door I had to find the passage back To the place I was before.
-
@Marv: any input on Bakoon HPA-1 vs Auralic Taurus II?
Never heard the Taurus so can't say.
-
I still remain unconvinced about battery powering desktop and other stationary equipment. There were measurements that clearly stated the inferiority of these supplies when compared to good shunt regulators.
Also I agree about the V200. It wasn't bad, but way waaay to coloured sound. Maybe it compensates for the thin V800 signature.
That's why I thought the Violectric stuff wasn't as warm as everyone says- I had the V800 in the set-up? I didn't like the V800 stack with unmodded HD800 when I heard it. I've been perplexed ever since then wondering what I heard.
-
V8xx sounded brightish. At least had well delineated treble, maybe too much so.
-
Marv, did you hear anything other than the HD800 with the Bakoon? I have a coworker looking for a transportable amp for his HE-500 and eventually HE-560. He spends the weekends with his family in grass valley and spends the week in the bay area for work and loves him his orthos.
-
@Marv: any input on Bakoon HPA-1 vs Auralic Taurus II?
IME the Taurus is more refined and just as technically competent if not more so, but it's a rather bright analytical type signature so be prepared for that. If you find the Vega on the brighter side, the Taurus is even more so.
-
Marv, did you hear anything other than the HD800 with the Bakoon? I have a coworker looking for a transportable amp for his HE-500 and eventually HE-560. He spends the weekends with his family in grass valley and spends the week in the bay area for work and loves him his orthos.
HE500+Bakoon current sounds like an interesting listen. I'll have to give that a shot at the next meet. Also from wall versus battery. Haven't had much positive experience with battery powered desktop amps.
-
@Marv: any input on Bakoon HPA-1 vs Auralic Taurus II?
IME the Taurus is more refined and just as technically competent if not more so, but it's a rather bright analytical type signature so be prepared for that. If you find the Vega on the brighter side, the Taurus is even more so.
Noooooooo...
I always read the Taurus was on the warm side of the force?! The Vega I get it, it matches what I read everywhere (detail oriented, lit-up, blabla). The Questyle is reported as bright/analytical, like the Bakoon HPA-21, actually.
Oh well, I guess I will have to find an opportunity to give it a listen.
Anybody interested in lending me one, in exchange for my Lavardin IS Reference? :D
-
Really? The Questyle was one the dullest biggest pieces of shit I've ever heard.
-
@Marv: any input on Bakoon HPA-1 vs Auralic Taurus II?
IME the Taurus is more refined and just as technically competent if not more so, but it's a rather bright analytical type signature so be prepared for that. If you find the Vega on the brighter side, the Taurus is even more so.
Noooooooo...
I always read the Taurus was on the warm side of the force?! The Vega I get it, it matches what I read everywhere (detail oriented, lit-up, blabla). The Questyle is reported as bright/analytical, like the Bakoon HPA-21, actually.
Oh well, I guess I will have to find an opportunity to give it a listen.
Anybody interested in lending me one, in exchange for my Lavardin IS Reference? :D
I don't find the Taurus bright, I do think it's slightly warm. Just my .02.
-
BTW, the bakoon is up on massdrop.
-
BTW, the bakoon is up on massdrop.
Just buy 15 of them to get it down to $1200:
https://www.massdrop.com/buy/bakoon-hpa-01-headphone-amplifier (https://www.massdrop.com/buy/bakoon-hpa-01-headphone-amplifier)
Is it worth it?
-
I would NOT pay that much if your primary use is as a desktop amp. It definitely did not beat out the Solderworks Audio KSA-5 Klone I use at my desk. I love my Klone.
As far as portable use, that's up to you. It seems high to me, but I haven't come across many battery powered amps like this.
-
@Marv: any input on Bakoon HPA-1 vs Auralic Taurus II?
IME the Taurus is more refined and just as technically competent if not more so, but it's a rather bright analytical type signature so be prepared for that. If you find the Vega on the brighter side, the Taurus is even more so.
Noooooooo...
I always read the Taurus was on the warm side of the force?! The Vega I get it, it matches what I read everywhere (detail oriented, lit-up, blabla). The Questyle is reported as bright/analytical, like the Bakoon HPA-21, actually.
Oh well, I guess I will have to find an opportunity to give it a listen.
Anybody interested in lending me one, in exchange for my Lavardin IS Reference? :D
I don't find the Taurus bright, I do think it's slightly warm. Just my .02.
Just to add some more confusion. Here's a few others that heard the Taurus pretty much the same way I did. One calls it dry and boring. Another calls it brighter and the Auralic Pre very bright. There is also disagreement about which sounds brighter, balanced or SE. I was balanced out and it made the Vega even brighter than I recall the Vega on it's own. Could it be an impedance issue with it's own gear? Who knows.
Did the stack I heard have the pre set up? I don't remember, but it was setup for headphones and there were no speakers in the Canjam room so can't see why they would. There seems to be allusion to Auralic tuning down the treble at some point for headphone listening as you read further in the links. So that's a possibility. The unit I spent time with was from Canjam last October and it was fatiguingly bright and analytical. I certainly let them know it.
http://www.head-fi.org/t/644547/auralic-taurus-or-bryston-bha-1#post_9087701
http://www.head-fi.org/t/657266/auralic-owners-unite#post_9301264
So when looking at impressions, always know what type of input, output, front end is being used. It is relatively transparent so I could even see some people hearing how their DACs sound for the first time. Plus the ever present silent revision by manufacturers.
-
@Marv: any input on Bakoon HPA-1 vs Auralic Taurus II?
IME the Taurus is more refined and just as technically competent if not more so, but it's a rather bright analytical type signature so be prepared for that. If you find the Vega on the brighter side, the Taurus is even more so.
Noooooooo...
I always read the Taurus was on the warm side of the force?! The Vega I get it, it matches what I read everywhere (detail oriented, lit-up, blabla). The Questyle is reported as bright/analytical, like the Bakoon HPA-21, actually.
Oh well, I guess I will have to find an opportunity to give it a listen.
Anybody interested in lending me one, in exchange for my Lavardin IS Reference? :D
I don't find the Taurus bright, I do think it's slightly warm. Just my .02.
Just to add some more confusion. Here's a few others that heard the Taurus pretty much the same way I did. One calls it dry and boring. Another calls it brighter and the Auralic Pre very bright. There is also disagreement about which sounds brighter, balanced or SE. I was balanced out and it made the Vega even brighter than I recall the Vega on it's own. Could it be an impedance issue with it's own gear? Who knows.
Did the stack I heard have the pre set up? I don't remember, but it was setup for headphones and there were no speakers in the Canjam room so can't see why they would. There seems to be allusion to Auralic tuning down the treble at some point for headphone listening as you read further in the links. So that's a possibility. The unit I spent time with was from Canjam last October and it was fatiguingly bright and analytical. I certainly let them know it.
http://www.head-fi.org/t/644547/auralic-taurus-or-bryston-bha-1#post_9087701
http://www.head-fi.org/t/657266/auralic-owners-unite#post_9301264
So when looking at impressions, always know what type of input, output, front end is being used. It is relatively transparent so I could even see some people hearing how their DACs sound for the first time. Plus the ever present silent revision by manufacturers.
Just to be clear, I wasn't trying to start an argument or call your impressions into question but merely wanted to share my opinion. To be fair, It could have easily been my headphones and/or DAC too but I have read conflicting opinions on whether the amp is bright or not. That would be interesting, as you suggested, if they've since re-tuned the amp since your listening.
-
Just to be clear, I wasn't trying to start an argument or call your impressions into question but merely wanted to share my opinion.
Lol, don't worry about it, I didn't take it that way. Just people offering their own impressions. Depending on circumstances everyone could be correct in how they here something despite being divergent.
Tell it like you hear it, that's what this place is about.
-
What would be more interesting is the tonal balance of the Taurus vs. the Asgard 2 (something you have) while keeping everything else the same.
-
Yea I've done that to a small extent so far and plan to add more once I've gone through my HD650 and SRH1540. So far all I can say is that the Asgard 2 is warmer by I haven't determined by how much yet. I will add more to that other thread I made ince I've collected all my thoughts.
-
Really? The Questyle was one the dullest biggest pieces of sh1t I've ever heard.
Did the X-Sabre use the coax input? I have this combo and if I use the coax on the x-sabre the whole setup sound really dull. It depends on the transport ofc, but in my setup the USB sounds miles better.
-
X-Sabre was using USB. That same DAC feeding Bakoon HPA-1 was miles ahead of the Questyle amp.
-
Just to be clear, I wasn't trying to start an argument or call your impressions into question but merely wanted to share my opinion.
Lol, don't worry about it, I didn't take it that way. Just people offering their own impressions. Depending on circumstances everyone could be correct in how they here something despite being divergent.
Tell it like you hear it, that's what this place is about.
So I'm listening to this setup as I write you, Anax (I just re-read this sentence and it sounds like I'm writing you a "Dear John" letter lol). I think i see where you're coming from about it being bright and I'd also like to add that the bass impact isn't there at certain low end frequencies (I couldn't tell you where) but when listening to any dubstep, the Taurus just doesn't get me into the music as much as my Asgard 2 or the Woo Audio WA7 duo.
-
The Taurus would sound pretty cold going by your impressions? Interesting thoughts on the Bakoon, I would wonder if the higher end AGD gear would sound close to it since they both seem to work on current amping.
-
The Taurus would sound pretty cold going by your impressions? Interesting thoughts on the Bakoon, I would wonder if the higher end AGD gear would sound close to it since they both seem to work on current amping.
The Taurus isn't bad sounding, it just has that sort of flavor. It's not harsh and brittle like other analytical type amps that emphasize digititus but is smoother which is why some might use 'warm' to describe it. However, it did seem to be on the brighter side (on the unit I demo'd) based on specific higher bands being emphasized which seems in line with their acknowledgement about headphone tuning. Plus the lack of lower end richness and harmonics lends to some of that analytical signature as byrnie said.
The lower end Bakoon using current output seems to be a little less technically adept compared to the higher end version. I recall noticing a distinct different between current and voltage on the higher end amp, but on the lower end Bakoon, current mode seemed more colored than I remembered versus the other.
I do recall hearing an older AGD amp that warm richer and warmer like the Bakoon on current but I don't recall it having that level of drive, especially with orthos. I don't know if it was current drive back then but I recall not liking it much at all. I have not heard a AGD amp I would take over the entry Bakoon in voltage mode personally.
I did read on Mass Drop the description of voltage for low impedance and current mode for high impedance phones. I don't know if that's Bakoon's engineering philosophy or Mass Drop's but I think that's complete BS and quite misguided if it is. I would be scared buying an amp from a designer who believes that generalization.
-
Yeah it does look like they got it mixed up, I think its more of Mass Drops? Thanks for that clarification on the Taurus it really clears things up.
-
Whats the output impedance of the Bakoon on the current drive plug?
-
Need a new "everyday ortho" because the Abyss is too ridiculous and my Audez'e is haunted.
Question is... Oppo or new Hifiman?
No, I'm not posting this in the advice thread. Zero is how many f'cks I give.
(j/k I do give a few.)
-
Need a new "everyday ortho" because the Abyss is too ridiculous and my Audez'e is haunted.
Question is... Oppo or new Hifiman?
No, I'm not posting this in the advice thread. Zero is how many f'cks I don't give.
(j/k I do give a few.)
I thought the HE560 was wonderful to my ears and so comfortable.
-
The Taurus would sound pretty cold going by your impressions? Interesting thoughts on the Bakoon, I would wonder if the higher end AGD gear would sound close to it since they both seem to work on current amping.
FYI I cleaned up some of the grammatical errors, in that post, that somehow escaped me when writing it. I wouldn't say cold at all. The bass is definitely present but I would like if it had a bit more impact or slam. I plan to A/B the Taurus to the Asgard 2 tonight on HD700, TH900, and HD650.
-
Need a new "everyday ortho" because the Abyss is too ridiculous and my Audez'e is haunted.
Question is... Oppo or new Hifiman?
No, I'm not posting this in the advice thread. Zero is how many f'cks I don't give.
(j/k I do give a few.)
I thought the HE560 was wonderful to my ears and so comfortable.
Yup, HE560s one of the most comfortable headphones I've used, excellent sounding as well (if a bit bass-shy for MY taste...).
-
560 is really great sounding (with focus-a pads), I'd get one. Makes me wonder what Hifiman will come up with with the HE-6 successor.
-
Need a new "everyday ortho" because the Abyss is too ridiculous and my Audez'e is haunted.
Question is... Oppo or new Hifiman?
No, I'm not posting this in the advice thread. Zero is how many f'cks I don't give.
(j/k I do give a few.)
PM-2 with Oppo special pads (not available yet) or HE-560 with pre-production pads (are they called the Focus-a pads now?).
HE-560 is overall better, but some have comments on minor issues vocal forwardness and general brightness. It depends upon your setup. A bright DAC and/or amp might not be a good combo with HE-560. With my limited time on HE-560, it reminded me of the Abyss more than any other headphone. Abyss junior as I've said. I really like the comfort. The production version cups suck though with the cheap-ass veneer job.
PM-2 with special Oppo pads is good, but still not as good as HE-560. Tonal balance is similar to HE-500 (some bass thickness), but without the mid-treble peak of the HE-500. In other words Audeze like, but not so laid back. Think a good non-veiled HD650. Still has some mud issues with bass though. Just like HD650. Treble is well delineated though.
Both are really comfortable, but the suspension headband of the HE-560 wins.
- PM-2 + special pads = good out of the box / forgiving / works on anything almost except for high-Z tube amps.
- HE-560 = better than PM-2, but may need some tweaks such as pads, source, etc.
P.S. Send your Audeze back for de-haunting.
-
Thanks for the responses everyone, much appreciated. I enjoyed reading everyone's impressions of the Baboon amp as well; I thought the amp I heard from them (don't remember which) sounded pretty good with the LCD-3s.
Comfort is a huge factor for me these days, so if the HE-560 is as comfortable as the SR-009 with its new headband, I'm definitely keen on it. Especially if it has a tonal balance similar to the Abyss. Shame it has to look so chintzy tho; I wish the Oppo was better, because I really love its design.
I'm pretty much done with anything Audez'e. They're just too heavy and head-smothering. Maybe I'll just ask my older sister for the SR-007 back, assuming my BHSE ever ships. Which is assuming a lot.
-
Comfort is a huge factor for me these days, so if the HE-560 is as comfortable as the SR-009 with its new headband, I'm definitely keen on it. Especially if it has a tonal balance similar to the Abyss. Shame it has to look so chintzy tho; I wish the Oppo was better, because I really love its design.
I'm pretty much done with anything Audez'e. They're just too heavy and head-smothering. Maybe I'll just ask my older sister for the SR-007 back, assuming my BHSE ever ships. Which is assuming a lot.
I totally hear you about comfort. I won't buy an Audez'e for that same reason.
-
Maybe I'll just ask my older sister for the SR-007 back, assuming my BHSE ever ships. Which is assuming a lot.
The wait will be worth it. Provided you do not die from old age first.
-
Maybe I'll just ask my older sister for the SR-007 back, assuming my BHSE ever ships. Which is assuming a lot.
The wait will be worth it. Provided you do not die from old age first.
Even better, if you do get it while still alive, your hearing will have atrophied to the point where you'll be amazed you can hear anything! Never before did being able to hear to 4KHz sound so good!
-
Comfort is a huge factor for me these days, so if the HE-560 is as comfortable as the SR-009 with its new headband, I'm definitely keen on it.
It has a greater clamping force, so it doesn't quite achieve that trick of disappearing after a few minutes. Also it's a Hifiman, so you get the joy of tightening the cup connectors every other use. Otherwise it's great.
-
Ethan and Warren are some crazy dedicated dudes to be able to pull this one off. It was a great meet and I actually had a good time. The venue was excellent for getting some good impressions of gear. Thank you guys!
Thanks Marv, was totally happy to do it. It was a good time, very chill. I'm starting to really like venues with higher ceilings now too.
-
The wait will be worth it. Provided you do not die from old age first.
I really hope so....
Does Headamp make coffins as well? I should get my order in now.