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Haha... I see. I'm just more concerned that the pull-outs don't have that much of a lifespan left. Heh..

Oh... Kaichin.. I thought you meant buying new pieces, not pull-outs.

I'm probably going down on Monday as well.. Just let me know what the shop's name is... hehe

It is a LP5 made from Thailand..

Bought from SLT?

I remember the cheap Elna's of that value priced at $2.00++ each.

Thanks for pointing the 337 out. Been days that I didn't notice I type wrongly.

 

The input caps are ELNA 50V 3300uF and the output Panasonic 16V 4700uF with 0.033 uF bypass ceramic cap. The config is +-12V with the use of 2 regulator. Since voltage are relative, can be arrange as 0V & 24V.

 

These are just good enough. If there is a need to add more better part, I would follow the Gilmore design where $50 extra is required.

 

This is a cheapo power supply where 24V supply output can hardly be found in the market. The PS1 cost $140 (US?). If matbon don't like I still can use it for my upcoming PPA...

I don't remember 50v, 3300uF Elna caps being so cheap.. At least not at $3.00 for 2 * Elna + 2 * Panasonic E-caps of those values.

Correct. Building one good regulated power supply would be definately less than $50. Here is the cost:

 

1. transformer dual output $10.00

2. LM317 and LM327 $2

3. rectifier X 2 $1

4. Resistor $2

5. Cap $3

6. PCB $1

7. Connector $4

8. Metal box $10

 

Adding other Gilmore recommend part would add another estimate $50.00

I doubt it's that cheap.

You'd want more caps on the input & output section.

That would include film/foil & ceramic bypasses and relatively large E-caps (3300uF - 6800uF). Otherwise, the regulation won't be as good as a cheapo wallwart.

Secondly, I think you meant LM317T (+Ve) + LM337 (-Ve).

A design for a very good dual-voltage PSU would be the PS1 from Welborne Labs. You can scrimp and save on a few of the caps but the basic design is there. The LT regulators can be swapped for LM ones.

Do you think that long-term usage of your HD570 has somehow become your 'reference' cans? Quite sometime ago, my only pair of cans were the AKG501 and I tested many other phones including the HP1s and RS1 but found that they were severely lacking in soundstage. After having more experience with cans, I realised that the 501's soundstage is in fault having too large a soundstage and therefore sounding a little fake.

 

Perhaps the vocals should sound dry and raspy but sounded otherwise through your 570? And whats the killer track which made you reject all the cans in such a short while?

Not quite really. The HP-1's sounded better than my HD570's to me. Especially with vocals. I guess, most cans are ok-sounding to me w/ the exception of a few cans. However, they don't sound better on the overall to allow me to consider purchasing them.

I guess this is where one man's meat is another man's poison holds true. I might well have a very different taste of type of sound for my music. Some cans like the HD570's and HP-1's just sound very musical and involving to me, some just sound terrible to me (Closed + HD600). And the reverse probably holds true for some of you.

If you have to know, it's 'Boys & Girls' Live play that made me reject the cans.

You are booked, thank you in advance.

BTW, I checked the amp this morning for a while, the hum seems gone, I will check it again later (just came back from outside).

 

And I also quite don't understand your tast of music and the way of auditing equipment, it's sounds like you just use a piece of music you burned into the cd-r and listen for less than one minute to make the conclusion, what music is it? What aspect are you paying attention for? What is the reference, live concert? Just curious, I think other guys also want to know, right?

As for your moded 570, it sound a bit weird to me, while the bass is quite strong and tight, but the vocal are not well defined, that's why you found me jerk up the volumn so high and normally I listen quite softly.

My favourite music of course... Mainly soft rock & alternative. There are several tracks I select though. Those are not burnt from MP3's or anything. They're exact duplicates of original albums (which I dare not bring out to maintain them in mint condition).

They are (in order of testing):

Girls & boys - blur ('Best of'; Live at Wembley arena 1999; Europe EMI)

TENDER - blur ('Best of'; Live at Wembley arena 1999; Europe EMI)

TENDER (Cornelius Remix) - BLUR ('COFFEE + TV'; Japanese import; Toshiba-EMI)

God Put A Smile Upon Your Face - COLDPLAY ('A RUSH OF BLOOD TO THE HEAD'; Import; Europe EMI)

The Scientist - COLDPLAY ('A RUSH OF BLOOD TO THE HEAD'; Import; Europe EMI)

A Rush of Blood To The Head - COLDPLAY ('A RUSH OF BLOOD TO THE HEAD'; Import; Europe EMI)

The effect of the vocals not sounding so defined can be attributed to the cable I used. It's slightly more detailed in the high range but the vocals aren't that well defined. I have another cable which is less detailed but more smooth sounding. The bass on that cable isn't as tight as well.

My way of auditioning may seem wierd but I choose the tracks and music I'm very familiar with. Tight bass, nice vocals (many headphones give the lead singer a dry/ raspy voice), string instruments with a 'twang' that you can feel & music that is very involving are what I look for in a pair of headphones. The soundstage also matters to me. That's what the live tracks are for.

I reckon U're seeking a system that will bust your NS pay for the year.....perhaps 2-1/2 considering power cords, interconnects and headamp. U're really deep into audiophilia now.............U can check in but U can't check out.........

Not quite really. I'm not the sort to buy lots of things to try them out (hint: ablaze). I'd be building a Gilmore, getting a pair of phones (still not sure what to get since nothing available is in my tastebuds) & modding my CDP.

You have to know I'm the type who doesn't jump on the bandwagon. I try everything I can w/o buying, research and analyse. Only after all this, do I save and buy everything at a shot and enjoy at my own leisure (my phones are at least 2 years old).

Hehe.. Everyone seemed quite interested in the amps being opened up. But that can be done by anyone with a screwdriver anyway. As for ting's Creek, it's a pity I didn't have the equipment needed (allen key, wire, soldering iron & file) to fix the hum. Of course, all's not lost. I could probably get the hum fixed and the amp upgraded for a token sum at another point in time. Glad to meet so many people during the meet but sadly, none of the phones suited my taste. *grinz*

Should be good for use. Tri-braid would be effective. Just like a PBJ, perhaps with different guage wire. Looks like you're using magnet wire but that's fine anyway.

How important is a cd player that can read CD-RW? I thought CD-R would be sufficient... which my 12yr old player does! Teac roolz

Some people use CD-RW's to burn music CD's which they can erase and write another when they want a change of songs. Although I don't really advise it. Even CDR's can & do sound different/ worse than originals. I've only had luck with Mitsui Gold (As good as the original) & Ricoh CDR's (6N there). Heh..

You can get the NAD c521i from Hung Brothers but I'd suggest hunting for a lower price elsewhere. I'll be in camp most of the week so I couldn't possibly arrange for you to listen to mine.

Point to note, the NAD C521 is not CD-RW compatible. The model with the "i" is.

Hehe.. Talking about me, Rameish? I reckon I would even need a custom built attenuator. One that increments in 0.2dB rather than the normal 2dB.

You wouldn't need golden ears to hear the difference between the stock Senn. cables and any 1/2 decent aftermarket cables.

jtfoo,

 

DC Blocking caps = decouple caps?  Those connected from signal path to ground?

I have a 0.1uf cap in my cdp output just before the rca caps and wonder if that is what it is,

No, DC blocking caps are connected directly in series along the signal path. Normally at the input of the amplifier to block DC voltage. No caps along the signal is the best. But to protect your amp, in case of a bad source, the DC blocking cap is a neccessary evil.

I think their actually supposed to protect your speakers/ headphones more than the amp. In the case of speaker setup, it might be both.

DC offset when amplified by the amp will force the drivers (both HP & speakers) to one side. Or fry them (HP drivers). As for speaker setups, constantly pumping that amount of power might damage the amp as well (due to heat or otherwise).

It's none of the above listed people. And even if the guy didn't buy the HP-1's now, I'd hit on it before mat.. LOL. Oh well.... Gotta go E-bay & Head-fi hunting now I guess..

Had the chance to listen to the RS-1's at Rameish's place. Heh... Nice cans. But I wouldn't budge from my HD570's to them even if they (RS-1) cost the same price.

It's got a somewhat spacious & yet constricted soundstage.

Sounds contradictary? I thought so.

Some instruments like cymbals, you'd hear in the distance. Some instruments like bass & acoustic electric guitars & vocals are so very near to you(as if in the same room).

Detail wise, they're a very detailed pair of headphones. Even in some of the more bassy & complex passages (in a live soft-rock concert track), you can almost hear each and every instrument distinctively. Like a hi-hat rolling off while the lead vocal, bass guitar & bass drum are playing away so near you.

Another point to note was that it made the vocals sound a little more dry. That is, as compared to other headphones/ earphones.

I'd not say I'd recommend these pair of headphones, especially at their price but I'd say, give them a listen. You're likely to like or dislike them and not sit on the fence.

For me, my only upgrade path for headphones for now would be from the HD570 to a pair of HP1000 series headphones. Unless the HD590's can convince me otherwise (anyone with a burnt in pair who'd lend them to me for a listen?)

Rameish: Check your handphone; Anyways, how much are the 0.5m PBJ cables?

The most wow.. hehe... HP-1. Not that I can get a seller who'd part with them now anyway. But hey! Their the next best thing to my HD570's for now.

Yup. Clone PPA actually. Unlike the original one that requires 12 buffers. Mine only 3. Adding I use OPA134PA instead of the recommend AD8610.

Sadly, that's probably not going to sound as good as PPL probably meant it to sound. The 4 * buffers in each channel is meant to reduce the output impedance.

I think you should use at least OPA132's; Their at least better than the OPA134. Of course, you can also request samples for the BB OPA637BP's from TI. Extremely nice chips.

I reckon there is silver wire that pure.. 4N silver will do, but they're usually sold only at audiophile shops & we all know how much those shops mark up the pricing.

Not cheap lah... And he sells 99.5% silver.. Not 6N. If you want to pay for silver, pay for proper ones.

what're you going to try? CVH silver i/c?

A self-improved (I think) variant of the CVH & some other thought up designs... But no silver for me. Too costly and hard to get proper (6N) & reasonably cheap silver wire locally.