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CHANGSTAR: Audiophile Headphone Reviews and Early 90s Style BBS
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Bottlehead Mainline is TOTL?
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Topic: Bottlehead Mainline is TOTL? (Read 9612 times)
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Priidik
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Bottlehead Mainline is TOTL?
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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?
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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?
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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?
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Reply #3 on:
May 17, 2014, 06:07:37 PM »
A surprisingly competent comparison from Head-Fi:
http://www.head-fi.org/t/683012/bottlehead-amplifier-discussion-comparison-thread-crack-sex-mainline
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Armaegis
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Re: Bottlehead Mainline is TOTL?
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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?
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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.
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Priidik
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Re: Bottlehead Mainline is TOTL?
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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?
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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?
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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?
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Reply #9 on:
May 18, 2014, 11:37:16 PM »
Awesome!
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CHANGSTAR: Audiophile Headphone Reviews and Early 90s Style BBS
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Head Amps, DACs, Sources, Portable Equipment Discussion
(Moderator:
The Alchemist
) >
Bottlehead Mainline is TOTL?