Iron_Dreamer

Sheesh, you have some patience. I could swear I remember you waiting to get these headphones since they first came out.

I don't think it's a case of one over the other or vice versa. The main circuit that makes a good headphone amp should also make for a good preamp. Put in some extra inputs and outputs, a selector, and it's a preamp. Only the most insanely anal "audiophile" would think adding a few very simple parts like that would somehow make the sound quality worse. Now whether one markets it mainly as a preamp or mainly as a headphone amp is another matter (and quite irrelevant to the actual performance either way, as a bad preamp circuit will be a bad headphone amp circuit, and vice versa).

I wouldn't pay a higher amount for a headphone amp than that which ANY dynamic headphone ever made costs. Now if you have a multi-$K speaker rig, and can use the thing as an amp or preamp, then it could start to make sense. Granted, I've never heard an SDS-XLR, but count me as extremely skeptical that it could elevate a $300 headphone (HD650) to the point of justifying costing more than a new car. The B52 sounded quite OK to me, run of the mill for a balanced headphone amp, but I'd have to find another way of justifying the cost.

It certainly is a very good sounding source, SACD was particularly impressive. I've not heard too many of the high end CDP's, but I can see the value in this unit, as the sound is certainly a step up from similarly priced ones I've heard. It had an intimate, slightly warm presentation that could synergize very well with certain types of music in particular.

The worst I've heard is the Little Dot II, followed by the Perreaux SXH1. Both were simply awful.

I thought it sounded great about 25% of the time, the rest the coloration was too distracting.

If you listen to a lot of techno or other music that has a lot of very low bass (which the K1000 rolls off), I'd get the HD650 rig, as it would give you the extension and impact that sort of music needs. Otherwise, I think an OII/KGSS rig sounds better than an HD650 in most regards, save bass impact. Both do have a pretty similar tonal balance, so it becomes a question of whether you'd rather have the airier and more detailed OII presentation or the more physical HD650 experience.

Cool, well be sure to give them some good burn-in if they didn't already have it, there was some sibilance for the first few days.

I hear they go very nicely with Virtual Dynamics wire, not to mention what having four 10-guage wires strapped to your head does for those neck muscles over time

Certainly the old one, which I owned. I've only briefly auditioned the new one, and it sounded a bit closer to neutral (rather than being overly dry), but I'd still say the 990 is more upfront/engaging.

I got a pair a few days ago. I like them quite a bit, though I've not heard the old DT990-pro to compare. They're certainly more upfront than the HD650, though because the treble is more present, the bass doesn't sound as dominant as it does from the 650's. The greatest attribute of these headphones, I'd say is their toe-tap factor. I have noticed a real tendency to get into the music to the point where I forget to think about the sound quality. When I have thought about sound quality, I've noticed that they sound pretty balanced, even though I know the bass and treble are a bit boosted. I guess they are not boosted to the point of being a distraction. The midrange is very enjoyable and certainly doesn't sound recessed the way the midrange of the old DT770 or HD590 did. The midrange only sounds lacking if I listen to the W5000 back to back, but then again, the W5000 has better midrange than most headphones I've heard extensively. If you're familiar with the DT880's, these sound pretty similar, save that the bass is a bunch more powerful (more like the HD650), and the midrange is more engaging, whereas the DT880 has a bit of a dry/dull/non-engaging midrange. I think they certainly play on the 650-701-880 level of performance, with a more upfront character than any of those cans. I hesitate to call them Grado-like, because the only similarity they have to Grados is PRaT/grooviness. If you've heard the DT531, these really area like a more evolved, refined, yet physical headphone that keeps the same spirit of losing one's self in the music.

Skip the 007T, it's good for the SR404 or HE60, but a snooze-fest with the O2 (at least with the stock tubes). The KGSS on the other hand...

My choices: Hans Zimmer - Gladiator (score) Rage - Ghosts Dream Theater - Scenes from a Memory Virgin Steele - Invictus Iron Maiden - Somewhere in Time

Or warm/fat/thick/dull = natural

Your #2 is only so widely accepted exactly because of what you state; that it's true of 95% of tube amps. Sure, there are ones that break the mold (Zana Deux comes to mind), but those are certainly the exception rather than the rule. I'd agree that #2 should not be blindly accepted as fact, however, I'd hardly call it a myth, which implies there is no truth to it at all, when, in fact, it's true in most cases. At worst I'd call it a stereotype, just like the stereotype that solid state amps typically sound cold, harsh, etc.

'told ya you could do it!

Ouch, I don't envy you K340 obsessed freaks

Hmmm, maybe they're talking about more recent ones? Beats me. My father owns a late 90's F250 that's quite the POS as well. It's had numerous recalls, the air suspension has gone out a few times, and it has constant electrical problems (basically you never know what's going to work or not, the radio, wipers, and headlights all seem effected, and the dealership can't figure it out). Well at any rate, I don't think Ford vs. Toyota should be a very hard decision.

For the love of god dude, DON'T buy a Ranger. I live out in hicktown, and I see more of those broken down than anything. Those and older Exploder...I mean Explorers. Just a tiny little truck that ain't good for hauling that much, and breaks down like it's an intended feature.

I am in a similar spot, making my own good money for the first time in my life, just came from a shitty old car with no A/C. I ended up buying a used car with a ton of miles left in it. I was able to pay for it up-front with cash. Now I have no car payments, and can buy lower cost insurance b/c I don't have a loan. If you want to save money, buy used, and buy Honda or Toyota. I don't like how Toyotas drive, so I bought a Honda (Acura). The other brands just don't have the long-term reliability to be worthwhile buys as used cars. Check consumer reports, it's all right there. Don't buy used cars from dealers, don't lease any car, and try to buy with only money you already have, if at all possible. Only use the dealers to test drive cars you're interested in (i.e. don't bug private party sellers unless you're at least somewhat serious about buying the car). Autotrader and craigslist are great places to look for used cars from private parties, and since you're in a huge city there should be plenty avaliable. Be sure to get your own carfax report for any car you seriously consider buying, Texas has many cars that have been moved in from another state after being flooded and repaired, esp. from Katrina. Don't buy a car with a salvage title, under any circumstances. The seller may just say that it was stolen and recovered, but there is no way for you to verify that. If you keep at it, looking at the ads very frequently, you can get a great deal. Don't be afraid to ask any questions that concern you.

Yikes to the price! This thing had better sound pretty awesome, since they are a bit undermined by the fact that you could just as soon use an SB with any number of other DAC's that might well sound better.

And could the name have been any more royally cliched?

That's not to say it won't sound great, it probably will, esp. for the price.

At least from the internal pictures I've seen, it looks quite a bit like a single-ended version of the 220, as far as the output stage and chips used go. However from what I recall, it didn't have seperate transformers for analog and digital, and the transformer is of a different type than the 220's.

While I can see the point, which is likely true for the mid-low end of the market, I'd think that Manufacturers would take not of how many people are willing to use multi-$k amps and systems with $400 and think "perhaps I can get these people to buy my multi-$k headphones, if I make them good enough." Or do you think the headphone boom of late has only created people interested in IEMs and iPods?