Elephas

Yeah, but where's the mega power amp for the K1000? I can't find one. No, no, not big evil meanie you, aaaagh! I don't even know how to do bias adjustments for tubes.

Yes, I believe his member name is GrandEnigma. You'll have to ask him to show you how "grand" he really is.

Yeah. I'll match my headphones versus those AKGs anyday. Choose your Top 30, two amps and a source and let's rumble.

Battle of the HeadAmps: Pico vs. Aristaeus In the Blue Corner: Qualia 010, Pico, Chord DAC64 fed by an RME HDSP 9632 In the Red Corner: HE90, Aristaeus, Esoteric P-05/D-05/G-03X

I've had my Pico with DAC for a few days. I've tried it with a Vista PC and a Macbook. The DAC is decent and surprisingly good for such a small package, but I don't think it's particularly good compared to a Lavry DA10, for example. The Pico drives the ESW9 reasonably well and and they comprise a nice transportable package together with the Macbook. I worry a bit about the Pico's battery life and potential effects of many charge cycles.

I received a surprise package from Enigma Audio. I ordered three balanced cables some time ago, but I asked them to postpone shipping them to me until I had a balanced amp. Since my balanced amp is caught inside the SinglePower black hole space-time continuum, I forgot about these balanced headphone cables. When I saw the package, I thought that the box was a little big for a couple of ECC83 tubes, which I've been ordering recently. Surprise, surprise, upon opening the box I see the silver-gray anti-static bags with the Enigma Audio sticker. Fortunately, I hadn't forgotten what Enigma Audio was. I'm expecting to forget about what "SinglePower" is in a couple more months, though. I'm planning to have a local audio shop recable an SA5000 and AD2000 with two of the cables, and hopefully the local Grado distributor can do the RS-1. The cables are terminated with Neutrik, Xhadow and Vampire XLRs. I'll report back in this thread after the headphones are recabled.

I didn't try the X-03SE during this session. About two weeks ago, for about 30 minutes, I listened to the shop's speaker system while they switched between the X-03SE and Puccini, using the Verity Audio speakers and an mbl integrated amp. Using only two discs, I thought the biggest difference was that the Puccini was significantly smoother and more refined than the X-03SE. It sounded more liquid. There was less treble glare while delivering what seemed to be an equal amount of treble details. The X-03SE actually seemed to be a bit harsh in the treble region comparatively. One song was repeatedly played, with only a female vocalist and a piano in the background. With the Puccini, the vocalist's voice had more presence, body, vibrancy and overall realism. The degree of difference is difficult to describe. I think source differences at this level are more apparent after longer listening sessions. My session was very brief. Still, the difference was greater than I expected and somewhat surprising, because I've always liked the X-03SE and its great sound was one reason I bought the P-05/D-05. The Puccini is much more expensive than the X-03SE, though. It's also roughly twice as much as the X-01D2, which I thought held its own very convincingly. Given a choice between the Puccini and X-01D2, I think I would go for the Esoteric. And then become haunted by dreams of the Puccini's seductive and enchanting sound. Which I'm suffering from already, I think.

I have two Slappa CD cases that work very well. They store CDs with booklets and are the next size down from the biggest one with wheels.

I brought in my HE90 + Aristaeus to try with a local shop's demo CD players. The Puccini and X-01D2 both sounded superb. I thought the Puccini was warmer and smoother. The good news was I didn't think they were significantly better than my P-05/D-05/G-03X combination. Here are a few photos from my camera phone. HE90 + Aristaeus and dCS Puccini CDPs: Puccini lower left, X-01D2 middle top, mbl CDP middle bottom, X-03SE lower right X-01D2 closeup The demo system included Verity Audio speakers

The clocker is a loaner from a local audio shop. They forced me to take it home and try it for a few days. I think I'm going to have to keep it, but I don't want to pay for it. Maybe I can move somewhere far away, like back home to the Florida grasslands with mamma? Based on initial listening with a few songs, one perceived difference is that the clock makes vocals smoother and more fleshed-out. Without the clock, there seems to be more slight "gaps" and "holes" in the vocals. For example, when a singer sings a drawn out, "Aaaaaaahhhh..." extending about four or five seconds, the clock makes her voice sound denser, more realistic, three dimensional and "well-padded." Without the clock the sound is less smooth, slightly thinner, less holographic and a bit more jarring. The difference isn't very large, but I'm afraid of getting used to the clocker and missing it when it's turned off. I think I'm hearing the difference easily with the Aristaeus, HE90 and SR-Omega. At the shop their demo speaker system sounded very, very good, especially when sourced with a dCS Puccini CDP. While it had great soundstaging, imaging, and bass impact, I thought it didn't have the details and sense of intimacy of the Aristaeus + headphones. I've been planning a new speaker system for some time, but got stuck trying to find a triple-duty tube integrated amp for speakers, K1000, and Illusion ESC-1001. The speakers are on hold for now.

SR-Omega duo! Maybe two of them together can beat the HE90? System

You should be able to find the Sennheiser HD555, the headphone in your link, for sale in local audio shops. It is an open headphone, and sound leaks in and out while you are wearing them. I think closed headphones are more suitable for use outside. Noise in the environment will interfere less with the music and you won't have to turn the volume up as much. The Sennheiser PX200 is an option. The HD280 Pro is bigger, and should provide better isolation. Maybe also consider the AKG K414P and K416P and the K512. I've heard the three Sennheisers, but not the AKG's.

I like Dead Can Dance. "Sanvean" from the album Wake is one of my favorites. But I also like a lot of other stuff, such as Rihanna's Umbrella song.

A local shop is selling these 4699 metal-base tubes and adapters. They claim it can be used in place of the EL34. I don't have an amp using the EL34 yet.

I'll donate a prize to the Head-Caser of the Year 2007. How about some Telos RCA and XLR caps and a black zipper headphone case suitable for most Grados, ES7 and ESW9? --- My prenup requires me to buy an equal dollar value of audio gear as my wife spends on her shoes. And I can't sell anything. Donating something is OK, though.

I'm also expecting to receive a Pico soon and will try it with the ESW9, ES7 and HD25-1.

The wood and glass rack looks good to me, it's better than mine. The problem might be the lack of coiling skills. I've found that aftermarket recables, such as APureSound V3, Moon Audio Black Dragon and Enigma Audio Oracle, coil easily and hold their shape. I usually sit near the audio rack, within reaching distance of the volume knob, but I like an eight or nine foot headphone cable. Six feet is too short, and over ten becomes more cumbersome, so eight or nine is about right. Some of the cable length is taken up by the section that lies along your body, roughtly the distance from your head to the ground.

I like the Lavry DA10, but it might require XLR-RCA cable. I think it's possible the DAC will be limited by the Squeezebox's digital output. Maybe a less expensive DAC will do the job. Mhdt Lab Paradisea Channel Islands Audio CEC DA53 April Music Stello LITE DAC-39

Haha, 2 years, hahaha. I'm glad there's someone who's been waiting longer for ES-1 upgrades than me. Wait a minute. Doesn't that mean I'm behind him in the line? Uh oh. I think there might be a lesson here. I'll give it to you for free, instead of charging you for it like I'm going to with my 12-Step Plan. => In order to avoid the SP blackhole, buy a used amp and don't send it in for upgrades. I'm still waiting to receive the Siemens ECL86 and ECC83 tubes. I've tried the Sylvania quad that was included with the amp, Telefunken, Mullard and Philips-brand ECL86. One of the Telefunken tubes died after a few hours. It was scary for a moment, when I thought one side of the SR-Omega was broken.

You can always sell the Pico, or anything else, in order to fund upgrades. That's the good thing about audio gear in general, there's usually a resale value and they are not too difficult to sell. I think an external DAC + a modest amp would do nicely with a Macbook. I also have a Macbook that I've used with various DACs, utilizing both USB and optical. However, an external DAC + amp around the US$500 range might not necessarily be better than the Pico with DAC, and would definitely not be as compact and portable. I expect to receive my Pico with DAC sometime next week.

From what I've read, the Aristaeus is based roughtly on the HEV90, so it should sound very good with the HE90. I think the KGSS is more competitive versus the Aristaeus with the 4070, HE60 and SR-SC1. The gap is greater with the HE90, SR-Omega and SR-007. I'm still not quite fully recovered from the first time I tried the HE90 + Aristaeus + P-05/D-05 playing "Jennifer Warnes - The Well" SACD and the ensuing mind-blowing massive eargasm. I actually own an ES-1, but it's in the SinglePower blackhole along with all the other people who are waiting. I've only started discussing upgrade options with Mikhail and don't expect to receive it anytime soon. If it's ready by CanJam 2008 I might consider visiting Denver to pick it up personally.

I better post as much as I can before that happens. I think the HE90, SR-Omega and SR-007 sound better with the Aristaeus than the KGSS. The difference is significantly greater with the HE90 and less with the two Stax. I use an HE90>Stax plug adapter I got from Moon Audio (oops, sorry, Alex! ) and I don't think I'll ever use it again. I thought the HE90 sounded very good with the KGSS, but the Aristaeus is much better. The SR-007 retains and even increases its refinement, smoothness and liquidity, and adds some brightness and air that makes it less congested and closed-in. Like the HE90, I thought the SR-007 sounded very good with the KGSS already, but the Aristaeus takes it up another level. Bass quality and quantity is very, very good. If anyone says electrostats have no bass, I would ask them to try the SR-007 + Aristaeus. I'm using Mullard ECL86 and CV4004 tubes now, and will try an all-Siemens complement soon.

After a sleepless night... Whew, I'm glad I wasn't banned.

I say we ban this guy. Who's with me?

I still like the W5000 and AD2000, but I think the R10, L3000, Qualia, PS-1, HP-2, K1000 and sometimes even the W11JPN, HD650, HD600 and K701 are as good or better. My current dynamic amps are apparently crappy, though. I'll reserve final judgement until I can try the dynamics with a balanced amp.