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Author Topic: The All Purpose Advice Thread  (Read 139949 times)

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thegunner100

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Re: The All Purpose Advice Thread
« Reply #1350 on: September 19, 2015, 08:23:28 PM »
So I have a friend who's looking for a bassy headphone to complement his HD800 (modded) setup. He uses a Lampizator lite 7 (USB, Sophia Electrics tubes) and an EC 2A3 MK IV. He is looking for something that almost has the clarity and treble sparkle of the hd800s but with a fuller, more impactful bass. IIRC, he has tried the following headphones and here are his thoughts:

Paradox Slants - Nice bass, but not detailed enough or open sounding. He used them with a first watt F1J and AMR-DP777 as dac/pre
HD650 - My personal pair, modded with rear foam removal and coin mod. While he does like the increased bass quantity over the hd800s, he finds that they lack the treble sparkle and excitement that the hd800s brings.

HE-6 - Used to be his main headphones until he switched to the hd800. Prefers the hd800s overall now, with his current setup. I don't believe the he-6's bass is what he's quite looking for.
HE-1000 - He was part of the beta program I believe, and he still preferred the hd800s and he-6 over it. However, we both tried the pre-production unit during Fang's visit to NYC and we both thought that version was better.

Sony MDR-1R - Good bass quantity but not hifi sounding.
LCD-2 - Not sure which version, but this pair was his friend's from about 3 years ago. He said it had really good bass and wasn't veiled. Maybe his friend got lucky with his pair.
LCD-3 - He has tried them before and found them to be too rolled off.
LCD-X - He has had these before and ended up selling them in favor of the HE-6.
LCD-XC - Tried them yesterday out of the McIntosh MHA-100. Said that they sounded really good in the bass region and didn't find them lacking in detail. He didn't complain of any midrange dip or treble weirdness. If my previous impressions of McIntosh are correct, maybe the dac/amp was covering up some of that treble weirdness.

McIntosh MHP-1000 - He said they sounded good, with more bass quantity than the hd800s but somewhat close to the clarity he was getting with the hd800s. I'm kind of skeptical... but I'll have to reserve my judgment for now.

I think he's leaning towards getting a pair of LCD-2s but he's currently doing some more research. I'm just worried that he'll probably get unlucky with his pair.
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Anaxilus

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Re: The All Purpose Advice Thread
« Reply #1351 on: September 19, 2015, 10:55:51 PM »
Modded Abyss perhaps.
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ericfarrell85

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Re: The All Purpose Advice Thread
« Reply #1352 on: September 20, 2015, 01:11:58 AM »
Anax, have you heard an original Headamp BH? I cannot find any info on how it compares with the subsequent KG designs (KGST, KGSSHV, KGDT, etc...). I'm torn on an upgrade path from a KGSS. Short of a BHSE (which may not even cut it), is there an amp that plays nice with an assortment of estats? Hard enough to find something that gels with both 007/009, but throw in an HE60 and SR-Ω and it becomes even more difficult. I can scoop up an original BH with a shit-ton of blackgates (prices are silly for these near extinct caps) for about 3k. Have no way to determine if that sounds right in light of the 300 KG variations that continue to propagate at alarming rates.
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kothganesh

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Re: The All Purpose Advice Thread
« Reply #1353 on: September 20, 2015, 02:08:55 AM »
Gunner, how about the Paradox Enigma or even the good old HE 400?
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thegunner100

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Re: The All Purpose Advice Thread
« Reply #1354 on: September 20, 2015, 02:18:47 AM »
Quote from: Anaxilus on September 19, 2015, 10:55:51 PM
Modded Abyss perhaps.

Unfortunately... out of his price range.

Quote from: kothganesh on September 20, 2015, 02:08:55 AM
Gunner, how about the Paradox Enigma or even the good old HE 400?

Ahh yeah, I used to have an Enigma a while back. I think we tried them with the same AMR DP-777 + First Watt F1J combo too. I even lent it to him for a week or so, but I guess they weren't to his liking. I'll suggest the he-400 to him though.
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Griffon

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Re: The All Purpose Advice Thread
« Reply #1355 on: September 20, 2015, 02:20:10 AM »
Quote from: thegunner100 on September 19, 2015, 08:23:28 PM
bassy

As a sucker of TH900 I recommend TH900.
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Anaxilus

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Re: The All Purpose Advice Thread
« Reply #1356 on: September 20, 2015, 02:42:55 AM »
Quote from: ericfarrell85 on September 20, 2015, 01:11:58 AM
Anax, have you heard an original Headamp BH? I cannot find any info on how it compares with the subsequent KG designs (KGST, KGSSHV, KGDT, etc...). I'm torn on an upgrade path from a KGSS. Short of a BHSE (which may not even cut it), is there an amp that plays nice with an assortment of estats? Hard enough to find something that gels with both 007/009, but throw in an HE60 and SR-Ω and it becomes even more difficult. I can scoop up an original BH with a shit-ton of blackgates (prices are silly for these near extinct caps) for about 3k. Have no way to determine if that sounds right in light of the 300 KG variations that continue to propagate at alarming rates.

Milos can correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe his was the first BH I heard and is was not an 'SE'. I haven't heard the ST or DT but the BH was never really that involving or engaging to me personally. The DIY T2 was much better, but still marginally so by comparison. Marvey says the ST is more along the lines of something we would both enjoy more than the KGSSs or BHs. To me, the best stat amp I've heard to date was the pre-nerfed Electra. I suppose it depends on what you are looking to get out of your stats.

I would say if you can pick up and not lose money if you decide not to move it, give the BH for $3K a shot. In general, the BH builds have done better with the 007/009 both. The KGSS at Tylls place was quite horrid with the 009. That was actually the worst I've ever heard that phone I can recall. However, the extreme thin and analytical nature of it seemed to pair well with the 007 and other subjective impressions seemed to confirm that.
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"If you do not change direction, you may end up where you are heading." - Lao Tzu

"The Claw is our master. The Claw chooses who will go or who will stay." - The LGM Community

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ericfarrell85

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Re: The All Purpose Advice Thread
« Reply #1357 on: September 20, 2015, 03:20:17 AM »
Quote from: Anaxilus on September 20, 2015, 02:42:55 AM
To me, the best stat amp I've heard to date was the pre-nerfed Electra.

What happened there? I remember I was on the precipice of ordering an Electra and then suddenly all talk of the amp fell off. Did Craig accomplish what he wanted with it or was it the end of the road for EC estat entanglement? It's a little disappointing tbh. There haven't been many constants in this hobby, save for one. The Eddie Current house sound has always been a beacon of sorts, particularly when you start to lose your way. A great deal of equipment has passed through my hands, but the ECBA & Zana have always stayed behind. Hell, the EC-SS was where I first splashed my feet.

Quote from: Anaxilus on September 20, 2015, 02:42:55 AM
The KGSS at Tylls place was quite horrid with the 009. That was actually the worst I've ever heard that phone I can recall. However, the extreme thin and analytical nature of it seemed to pair well with the 007 and other subjective impressions seemed to confirm that.

That seemed to be the one point of consensus at Tyll's place. The 009 sounded like shit. What in the world happened there? I thought the amp was "unobtainium", the bees-knees and all that...
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SoupRKnowva

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Re: The All Purpose Advice Thread
« Reply #1358 on: September 20, 2015, 10:38:47 AM »
Anyone have any recommendations for hard exterior portable cases for the hd800s? I found some on Amazon but I didn't see any I thought would be big enough and also had foam inside.
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bixby

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Re: The All Purpose Advice Thread
« Reply #1359 on: September 20, 2015, 02:43:20 PM »
Quote from: SoupRKnowva on September 20, 2015, 10:38:47 AM
Anyone have any recommendations for hard exterior portable cases for the hd800s? I found some on Amazon but I didn't see any I thought would be big enough and also had foam inside.


search up Pelican cases on Amazon, nice quality and a ton of sizes with foam.  The Nanuk cases are also very good

http://www.cmcgov.com/store/pc/NANUK-930-Professional-Protective-Case-Silver-with-Cubed-Foam-258p853.htm
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