DIYerStraits

Wahh, good job, dude! BTW, what iron and solder do you use? Those are very, very neat solder joints.

Arcam's new agent is Monsoon, the same guys doing the B&W speakers in Paragon. The A60 is a pretty good amp that is worthwhile repairing.

Don't mind if I butt in. You can use a dedicated hp amp to drive each hp separately, one amp section for one hp. In that way, each hp will be optimised. That is if you don't want to compromise on "quality". On the same token, you will add more parts and cost to the end result. IF you do this (parallel listening) regularly, go for the dedicated amp. If only occasionly, go for the splitter.

You can fit everything into a small 40mm x 75mm x 100mm box.

Well, I built one RA1 clone for Fishball and I dare say that it is relatively transparent for the price. Used them with me olde Senn HD320 and was much better (being relative again) than direct from CDP hp output before it went away. I guess its the better analogue output stage from the CDP as compared to the hp section. As a result, the RA1 clone delivered a colourless presentation. I could easily discern the failings of my elcheapo CDP. Something that a dedicated pre-power-speaker combo would otherwise mask. Mada me do a rethink on hp. Hey, do I sound like a reviewer?

A good desing that but ca nbe improved further if you don't mind me saying. One good tweak that you can try is to use 2 12V sealed lead acid batteries instead of the transformer type power supply. You will lose a bit of head room but they would be near-noiseless. With the consumption so low, you'll probably have to recharge them every 3 months or more on continous running. I designed an MC step up phonostage with a 9V batery and it was clean.

How far away are you seated? If too far (>2m), you're better off with a conventional amp with a remote. Or compromise and get a cordless headphone.

Oh no, not here too.....

Tons ranging from DIY copper foil with silver core, Klotz GY107, Neumann mike cable, to Wireworld Eclipse and VdH the First. Reference? VdH the Second.

Well, there's a wealth of cables to be had if you dare to DIY. Check out LHS at SLT 2nd floor for more variety. To be honest, any cable will do but what you like may not be what I like.

I'm curious, guys. You tend to fall into the same well albeit a smaller one, that pigeonholes a pair of headphones sonic quality. Did any of you try out ALL the headphones in the SAME equipment throughout the day? Was there any hp amp that allows for exact impedance matching? Were all the cabling the same? Was the source equipment good enough to deliver the goods? Whats your reference point/s? Dedicated "high end" hp amps? Anyone used them? Forgive me for being such a wet blanket (and giving grounds for flaming ) but this seem to sound like the same arguments used by those who listen to "normal" loudspeakers.

I'd like to thank you guys who allowed me to kaypoh at your meet so that I could "curi" some designs. But seriously, it was an ear opener, wax regardless, as to how far chaps would go in achieving audio nirvana.