sonq

Does anyone know where to get Switchcraft or other good quality 1/4" to 3.5mm adapter for headphone jack?

Tried LHS who carries Switchcraft, but they don't bring in this item. The one I got from SLT basement is really crappy.

Brief reading tells me that they seem to be (another) one of those quite renowned brand names...and are well-received.

 

Does anyone hear own them, or have heard them before? Thanks.

I find them more forgiving than Martin Logan, but I would not use a low powered tube or a low quality solid state amp to drive them though. Preferably a solid sate with moderate power, has reasonable smoothness and great imaging.

The imaging is spacious and wide but the scale can be unrealistic; a single guitar soloist sounds like the size of a piano.

Gone

SOLD

Beyerdynamic DT880 250 ohm (latest version)

Condition: 9/10 & includes original case and 1/4 inch adapter & receipt

Reason: Sold my main amp over a year ago, just kept in storage

Please do not PM me, just contact me at sonQ99@gmail.com

Headamp Pico Amp/DAC silver colour - $630 (Firm)

Condition: hardly use & in mint condition

Includes original pouch & charger.

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Headamp Pico Amp/DAC silver colour

Condition: mint & includes original pouch & charger.

Battery just replaced by Headamp in May 2009.

Email sonQ99@gmail.com is interested

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HD800 does sound a little warm to me in my rig.

 

For tube amp, you can look at Woo Audio WA22, EAR HP4, Zana Deux SE or the reasonable priced DNA Sonett.

Thanks for the suggestion.

I've also been following postings on Headfi awhile BACK and is eyeing the WA22 as it looks good and have option for both SE and balanced. I've seen the ZD in a meet, it looks more like a science project, I think my wife will flip if I set it up permanently in our bedroom.

Ironically, I sold my tube amp awhile back to replace with a Naim headamp as I have children around that may grab the hot tube and it is compact and unobtrusive. Unfortunately, it did not match my current DT880 at all.

I've yet to hear any audio component that's perfect. Matching is still the most critical factor in audio equipment so there's a need to understanding the characteristic of your components in order to get the right match. Any mismatch will bring down the whole system so an audition is a must. Follow by tweaking them to your preference. There's a lot of hard work involve in getting it right. Doesn't meant the most expensive one will works. If it does, I'll be most happy to pay and save all the trouble. I've heard too many super high-end hifi system in this hobby that sound really bad.

 

If compare within Harbeth speakers, PS1000 reminds me of Harbeth M40.1, HD800 like M30 and ED8 like C7ES-3.

Thanks for your feedback.

Glad to hear HD800 sounds like M30 and not one of those sterile & etched monitors. I've heard the M30 and owns the C7ES3, the M30 will need a lot more attention to sound good. I have pretty good & lush digital source which will be a good start but will need to get a really good amp.

I imagine a good tube amp will be easier on the ear with the HD800.

Beyerdynamic DT880 250 ohms (latest version) - $250 firm

Condition: 9/10 & includes original case and 1/4 inch adapter & receipt

Reason: Sold my main amp a year ago, just kept in storage

Please do not PM me, just contact me at sonQ99@gmail.com

Both about the same amount of time. If I find that certain track is is flat or boring with HD800, I'll just switch to PS1000. PS1000 is more forgiving. It add flavor and dynamic to lousy or old recording.

I guess there are no one perfect phone for everything...just like speakers.

The combo running HD800 at the launch sounds completely off from what I've been reading, so still no clue how it actually is capable of.

Am I right to assume that HD800 is like a studio monitor that's good at revealing everything that's on the recording chain like ATCs and PS1000 is something euphoric like the lower end Harbeths?

The HD800 is so far the only cans that I like from Senn other than their electrostatic. It's sound is worth it's price, but not it's build which look fragile to me.

After burn in, do you spend more time listening with PS1000 or HD800?

Yes, I fully agree. Jaw dropped when I first had a listen to this gem. Beat out many dedicated head amps I've heard and tried, both ss and tubed.

 

The Bass controls is very helpful too when used with different headphones.

 

The best thing of all is that it really also sounds just as good as an int amp driving speakers (upper mid to high efficiency models only).

Just curious, which amps have you tried? I've sold my headamp over a year ago and thinking of buying one again. This amp will be versatile in case I ditch my headphone system; can use it for speakers.

Sorry I decided to withdraw the Pico as I started to use it at work; was sitting in my drawer for a long time.

Please do not PM me, just contact me at sonq99@gmail.com

Beyerdynamic DT880 250 ohms (latest version) - $260 firm

Condition: 9/10 & includes original case and 1/4 inch adapter.

Reason: Sold my main amp a year ago, just kept in storage

Headamp Pico Amp/DAC silver colour - WITHDRAW

Condition: mint & includes original pouch & charger. Battery just replaced by Headamp in May & unused since.

Reason: Mean as overseas travel system but crisis put an end to all work related travel, so hardly used.

Softone Model 2 Tube DAC - SOLD

Condition: 6.5 external finishing & includes spare tubes & completely unmodified

Reason: Part of my unused main headphone system, so in storage

I'll likely get the Woo Audio 22 balanced amp should I decide to get the 800. I'll prefer to wait for some reviews against the PS1000 though.

The liquidity in the mid range on Yutiao's PS1 on her ZD still stands as the best I've heard, so I'm expecting better on the PS1000. Patrick's balanced 650 on Raptor is also another hair raising benchmark for me. What I heard on the 800 still misses the mark against these 2.

Ordered already lah today at Space.

 

Looks great. Tried it in Xtra; like the comfort but the cost is rather high. How does the discount in Space compare to Xtra?

Attached is a photo of the setup. A T+A CDP and Lehmann amp. The event is well arranged and listening environment setup is impressive - quite a pleasant surprise when I walked in.

On the good side, I found myself tempted to finish whole track before switching - a good sign of longer term satisfaction. Overall, the sound is pleasant and more neutral than the stock 650. Having heard the 650 stock on a Naim amp that's about same level as the Lehmann, I much prefer the 800.

However, the 650 with a good balanced cable on the RSA Raptor will provide a more spirited listening experience than what I heard on the 800. I suspect the Lehmann amp may be holding back the 800, but not sure if the Lehmann is not in the same league or the 800 is hard to drive.

I listens mainly to speakers, so no comment on soundstaging.

The mid range, esp vocals sounds quite fine, but I feel the treble and low mid is rather dry. Tonal balance seems fine to me. I would have like more harmonics to come through on instruments like flute & trumpet, these sounds a touch lifeless. Instruments like piano smears a little and cello bowing could have been more forceful and immediate.

Since I can't A/B, all my description will be from memory, so please take with a grain of salt.

Looking forward to your review soon. Esp between solid state and tube amp; noticed you have quite of few.

Most genre HD800 can takes.

S$21199 price for HD800.

 

My HD800 S/N00912

Conglats on getting the HD800.

I'm assuming you paid S$2119, that's US$1468; about same as US pricing. I was expecting a special launch promo pricing.

Will you be re terminating yours for balance operation?

Forgot to ask if the HD800 is available for purchase at the launch. Does anyone here knows?

Mine is on Fri 12.15pm. Forgot to ask if they allow us to bring our headphone for comparison.

I finally tried on the HD800 yesterday at Sennheiser. The ear piece practically enclosed my ear within, so will not have any discomfort with pressure on the ear. Gave me the impression of a small pair of speakers suspended an inch from my ear and I expect the imaging to be good against most other headphones.

The cable is thicker than on HD650 and manufacturing quality looks pretty good, esp the translucent metal foil looks pretty cool. Unfortunately there were no system for me to try out the audio quality till the launch.