razerx

It is US dollars but I'll consider any reasonable offer.

My kit is pretty simple: Cary 303/200 -Cardas Neutral Reference - V2 SE - RS-1. While waiting for the V2-SE to arrive I used the X-CansV2/X-PSU and the sound was much too shrill and at times especially with unremastered CD's quite flat with the RS-1 to the point that I had to box my beloved Grados for the HD600. I think the HD600 sounded quite good with the X-Cans. It has a warm forgiving sound even with so-so recordings and the bass is ok. When the V2SE finally arrived the differences were apparent. Both the RS-1 and HD600 definately reached their respective potential. I am still somewhat a newbie and don't know the audio terms but in short the V2SE/Cary 303 has a wider soundstage and better separation of the instruments even in complicated recordings. The bass is tight and solid not the mushy kind I get with the X-Cans when I play it loud. There is no shrill at all with the V2SE with any type of recording, remastered or not. In the past I had to switch to the Sennheiser when my ears start to bleed from the Grados I am trying to sell my X-Cans here and my honest review isn't going to help. The X-CansV2 needs the X-PSU and some tuberolling to sound right so the total cost easily exceeds your original V2 price. I am really impressed with the Cary. I have been upgrading my older CD's with remastered versions when they are available, but I find that is not necessary with the Cary. With upsampling the Cary makes my old recordings sound remastered. One of my favorite CD's of all times is Peter Gabriel/So. This CD was absolutely horrid with my NAD 520. The limited edition remastered redbook sounded like night and day when I got it and I played it in heavy rotation for weeks. However the old redbook version upsampled through the Cary sounded as good as the remastered version. My old really bad Springsteen, Dylan and Meatloaf recordings got the same treatment. I read reviews on the Bel Canto DAC2 and it is supposed to do the same thing but the Cary doesn't cost much more and you get the transport too I don't have another source but will pick up a cheap SACD player at some point since the V2SE has three inputs it would be a shame to waste them

If you have Grados then do yourself a favor and send Paypal now! I

Sennheiser HD600 only three months old. In new condition with no sign of use complete with original box. Nothing wrong with these cans but I use the RS-1 90% of the time and I already have an HD580. I thought the HD600 would be a huge upgrade over the HD580. US$180 via EMS to Singapore. I am in Hong Kong. Paypal OK. thanks. X-Cans v2/ X-PSU both purchased new five months ago. In new condition with boxes. The X-PSU has all four cables. I have additionally invested over US$200 worth of tubes and all are included: new matched pair USA Amperex Bugle Boy 6dj8 (with about 50 hours of use by now), two pairs of vintage Mullard gold pin 6922 (they sound the best IMHO), two match pairs purchased new Sovtek 6922. $450 for everything shipped to Singapore. Thanks, Ray

My first "real" headphone was the HD580 which I still have and enjoy. I liked the sound enough to get the HD600 which IMHO really didn't make enough of a sonic difference to justify the purchase (but the HD600 does have slightly tighter bass). I then got the Equinox cable mostly due to rave reviews on Head-Fi. For the longest time I only had the X-Cans/X-PSU and thought the HD600 sounded quite remarkable with it. The Grados sounded just awful with the X-CANS. My latest amp is the Gilmore and both HD600 and RS-1 really sound their best. A good source does bring out the best in your equipment down the line. I think for loud music the differences between the Grado and the Sennheiser is really obvious. The RS-1 sounds spacious while the HD600 sounds flat, uninvolved. For other music such as strings, symphonies the HD600 excels while the RS-1 is too shrill. Well...it is all subjectly like you say and we are all very lucky to have these toys to play with.

I would give the Grados an audition if possible. I have the RS-1 and the HD600/Equinox and find the RS-1 to be the better headphone for rock, vocals, electronica and jazz. I just plugged the HD600 into the Gilmore v2 SE and put on Back in Black, and 45 seconds into Hells Bells I swapped it for the RS-1 and difference is apparent. The HD600 seems to get on well with the X-Cans V2/X-PSU though. I think most people buys the Sennheiser just to realize something is missing but don't know why since it is a highly rated headphone so it must be the missing $300 cable...and it just never ends. Just buy the Grado.

JMT said he might need to rethink on the opamps to make this work. I am sure he has done this enough to make a sound (pun intended) judgement. Two 9v batteries would be under powered since rechargeables are only 8.4v and Plainviews are not available in Hong Kong. Three batteries should total around 25v but N@Z is correct that the opamps need to handle 30v just in case.

I asked JMT to rig a power pack that takes three 9v batteries. 3 x 8.4v rechargeables is close enough to 24v. I guess that solves it. Thanks to all who replied.

I had the V1 and sold it for the V2. Tube rolling had more impact on the sound than the upgrade. If I am going to sell my V2/PSU kit then it is going to be for a more significant step up.

I asked JMT if he can rig a power pack to take three 9v batteries. Since rechargeables are more like 8.4 volts i guess it should work.

I promised JMT not to divulge the price. You can PM him at Head-Fi to get a quote.

I guess I don't really need that new G5.

Well if no proper 24v wallwart is available I would have a power supply made. Else I would get this nagging feeling whether imaged or not that something is not right when I plug it in. This is precisely the desease which causes me to buy aftermarket power cables.

Small world I have a feeling I am going to be happy here. I never got on with the RA-1 so I sold it. I have heard nothig but praises about the RS-1/RA-1 combo so it must be me. Anyway I got the META as a dedicated amp for the RS-1. Right now I am listening to my HD600/Equinox with X-CANS v2/Mullards/X-PSU. They seem to go pretty well together but the RS-1 sounds terrible with the X-CANS. I also have a Gilmore V2 SA coming. That fiddler thread on Head-Fi was how I found this cool Singapore sight Having a power supply built would be great but then the total cost would be more than a Gilmore V2.

It is a mulit-loop META42 with crossfeed built by JMT. - AD843KN op-amp - Stacked EL2001 output buffers - Elna Cerafine 470µF caps - WIMA 6.8µF reservoir caps - Current source to bias to Class A - Vishay/Dale RN55D 14ohm potentiometer - Neutrik 1/4" locking headphone jack - Cardas gold plated RCA inputs