Iron_Dreamer

Here are your Apache interior pics:

Go figure, eh? I found the HP1000 in the right system connected me to the music very directly in a way only few others can. I'd probably own a pair if not for the facts that they're discontinued, somewhat challenging to get repaired, overpriced in the current market, and heavy as heck.

Well Justin has detailed shots of the GSX guts on his website, not that there's anything surprising in there. What do you want to know about the Apache? I got a look at the interior, it's about 4-5 opamps per channel in the back near the inputs, funky-looking monolithic buffers in the front near the outputs, a buttload of relays on the left, and the 4-channel DACT in the center. Didn't see the PSU though.

The Squarewave sounded OK, along the lines of a slightly less detailed M^3. It didn't run insanely hot like the Mini (thank god for my pinky), but the dinky volume knob and two potentiometers for a balanced amp just sucks. The case was also a wanna-be AMB, except it looked like it was put together in about 10 minutes. Honestly I didn't listen to the Mini because I was afraid igniting the woody plug cover on my W11JPN The SS-1 sounded good, but I listened to it with the Qualia and that mean Esoteric stack. But is it any better than what I've already got, color me doubtful (not like I was going to get an A-B in my system. ) I didn't even listen to the Apache. Why bother? Will it sound better than my amp? No chance in hell. Is it more expensive? Of course. To quote the Soup Nazi, "NEXT!!!!!!!" This racing to get stuff out for the National Meet is definitely the new trend. Everyone saw the GS1000 uproar and wanted to cash in.

I don't get the PS1, save for once years ago, it's always sounded like an HD650 with more bloated bass and a narrower soundstage. The HP1000 is a different beast altogether for me.

You're by far not the only one, I watched him BS the heck out of one guy at the meet who basically demanded to get his amp back (after about 6mo for an upgrade). I've heard of other such stories. He certainly is good at creating demand, not so good at customer service.

I saw this yesterday but didn't have a chance to listen to it. The pot, as with the ones in his new "squarewave" amps is rather rough. Also the unit runs extremely hot, to the point of feeling pain when touching it only for the briefest interval possible. It has to be over 70 degrees celsius.

I definitely intend to listen to the AE2 at this weekend's big shindig. I will report back.

ROTFL! I remember being like that....I think was about a year old!

It was the line-level output of the Monarchy that we used, not the preamped output.

I listened to the 2500's at a meet yesterday, and I really didn't like them very much. I probably would rather listen to an SR-60, at least it has a midrange On the other hand the Ed.9 sounded pretty good, with bass that reminded me of the L3000. The main sonic flaw was a small soundstage. I still think it costs too much considering the build quality, and the very small earcups.

The current GS1 IS a dynalo. Justin is working to create a new version with more powerful circuits of his own design.

It's supposed to be a good amp for Grados, not so great for Senns, so it should be right up your alley

Well the DAC in the Opera was just as satisfying to listen to as the DA220 (compared using the source switch on the Opera). Of course the DA220 has balanced output, and a snotload of other options the Opera doesn't, and it's not a headphone amp. So it's somewhat apples to oranges. But I think they're on the same playing field if you're just comparing them as unbalanced DAC's from a coaxial input.

If a one-box DAC-amp is what you need, the Corda Opera is the class of the field, soundwise. I'd be extremely surprised if the GCHA is on a level with it. Have you read my review?: http://www.head-fi.org/forums/showthread.php?t=229294

PFK didn't say anything about wanting something cheap

That's just what I'm getting at. The earcups are pretty small, the same as their older HFI650/700 models, rather than the larger and more comfortable size of the Prolines. I'll give it to Ultrasone, while the headphone has much the same problems as their former flagship Edition 7, at least it's not that ugly white, and the price has come down by 50%. Maybe the Edition 11 or 13 will finally get a bit closer to something worthwhile.

I heard them briefly at a convention with a very high ambient noise level. They sounded like they had some promise, and weren't as bloated in the bass as the Proline 750 I also heard. I'm still not a fan of how their headphones are put together, especially for $1000+.

Well, the BH is the highest voltage swing amp out there AFAIK!

I know the listing you're talking about, congrats!

I agree with you on #'s one and two. I owned the RS1 and HD650 simultaneously, and found them to play on the same level of sound quality, albeit with different flavors (even more tweakable via RS1 pads and HD650 cables). Actually the HD650/Zu and RS1/flats sounded very similar indeed, with the Senns having a bit more soundstage width. I think a good price for used RS1's is the $400-450 range. Maybe more if you can get one with the elusive wood box (if you happen to care about that). Given that, paying $330 on top of your 650's is nuts. Reminds me of a deal I made a few years ago, my CD3000+prototype Headphile wood cups for a like-new HD650, Cardas cable, and $250!

I'm sure I can find a sympathetic pair of HP1000's to try your experiment with

The best sounding Grados, without a doubt, IMO. Haven't heard the GS1000, but I'm skeptical it would do better than the HP2's.

It'll be nice to hear the Extreme in a couple of months. While I don't generally like tube amps that much, a lot of the qualities I've heard ascribed to the Extreme have me intrigued.

I'd take the L3000 for rock, jazz, and electronic music, the R10 for symphonic music.