kirkwall

(Apologies if this comes way too late to be of any use -- just realized that I replied before checking date of last post, I'm afraid.) I've got a Cronus Magnum (bought new) which shipped with an 12AX7 that measured way out of spec and blew within the first week. It did sputter some before giving up the ghost but remained lit. It was reolaced straight away by the factory. Have you been in touch with Mark @ Rogue? He's generally easy to reach and helpful, whether the unit was bought new or used. I ended up subbing in lower-gain but seemingly pretty sturdy 5751s and find them a fair bit quieter. Love the amp though. Drives my Harbeth M30.1s really nicely, despite the noisy HP section. best, k

I had a pair of Centaur hybrids for about a week before they blew -- saleman at upscale Montreal boutique assured me that they could be driven my Mission Cyrus Two shoebox amp. They couldn't. But that was one extraordinary midrange. You can still (sort of) get them, apparently: http://www.apogeeaco...om/company.html k

I'd also be interested in that comparison ^^^. The Arete looks a great amp for the price. Now that I'm Zana-less I'm looking for something with good sound that works with a wide range of phones and is relatively toddler-proof. k

I've had that too. This week, in fact, while pretending to jog in -18 C. Teach me to exercise in anything but the finest weather. No noticeable effect on the Shures I was wearing. k

I've owned both the W1000x and W5000, though I have neither anymore so can't do a side-by-side with the W3000ANV. That said, I find the W3000s to be pretty sweet and even through the mids, and without the honk or the weirdly detached treble that drove me nuts with the W5000s. Overall I'd say they're the best-balanced AT woodies I've heard, and that includes the VTGs and other JPNs I've owned. The main noticeable coloration I hear is higher up in frequency and can make some female vocals and guitar/strings sound spotlit, and thus a bit unnatural, but it doesn't come up enough to bother me overmuch. I really like mine. k

I agree about IAG and innovation. Their strategy seems to be to pick up pedigreed brands with a decent back catalogue of solid designs and then exploit the labor-cost differential to turn a nice profit. All of which is fine, I guess. But they seem to do little to take the products forward themselves beyond the odd new case or hired-gun designer. Great marques like Quad and Luxman -- and now Stax -- seem to deserve so much more. I don't know much about the high-end watch industry, but I came across a story recently about "timepiece tourism," in which Chinese tourists to Europe have become leading consumers of top-end Swiss watches that can be guaranteed authentic. Perhaps the cachet of made-in-Japan Stax will mean that the high-end production stays put. k

I love my 909. I think the new QSP is the more or less direct replacement, or "by-product," as the brochure charmingly terms it: The QSP Stereo Power Amplifier is a by-product of the famed Quad 909 Stereo. This product was designed in keeping with the traditional built of QUAD Power Amplifiers, but is right up with the latest technology and the finest audiophile components available. With 140W per channel into an 8 ohm load, and plenty more into lower impedances ensures that there is ample power into a wide range of speakers, including the QUAD ESL range. Current Dumping - The QSP Amplifier incorporates QUAD's patented current dumping technology developed by QUAD's founder Peter Walker, and is one of the finest audio amplifiers available. Back on topic, I'm reminded of the quick decline of Luxuman (home market excluded) once Apline got hold of it. In that case the brand dilution was pretty comprehensive and caused long-term harm. I guess there are exceptions, including some of the Quad gear under IAG, but they seem now to have become the Chinese Harmon, with new brands being added pretty regularly (including Lux). Maybe Stax will eventually form a prestige part of a higher-end headphone portfolio, in which case the product's continued excellence will be a little more important to its new owners. k

I've noticed this too. They remind me of some of Quad speakers I used to own in this respect. Turn down the volume and you still hear pretty much everything, only proportionately quieter. Makes them great late-night listening phones. k

I guess I'd say that the W3000s are much fuller-bodied, closer to the W11JPNs than they are to the W5000s, and without the latter's oddly detached treble. I found the W5000s to be exhausting to listen to, partly because of that odd streaky treble and MIA bass -- though I'm happy to defer to those who managed to get a decent fit, and thus wring some bass out of them. So far I've found the W3000ANVs to be very detailed, dynamic and exciting cans, with very present mids, and a bass with real impact and extension. Listening to even ragged recordings like the Clash's Sandinista on these is not only possible, it's fun. k

I picked up a pair of these and really like them. Very musical and a lot more impact than some of the other AT woodies I've owned/heard. Great low-volume cans. Nothing like the W5000s to my ears -- thank christ. k

250.00 worth of SQ? I'd say they're better than that. Can't speak to their lack of innovation -- certainly the enclosure seems identical to the 880 with a bit of fancy mesh -- or whether or not their pricing is cynical in this marketplace. But I see nothing wrong with evolving a design if it's warranted. And the T1s are very good all-rounders I think. k

I have the T1s in at the moment in the lab, along with my HD800s, running out of a Luxman L-505u. I have to say, they're pretty darn good to my ears, and I generally can't stand Beyer highs. Can't the point of a portable version of a full-sized phone which is sized identically to the full-size phone, but Beyer's branding of late seems to have been influenced by Nestle: many flavours of the same basic design. No doubt the T1s would be a better proposition at 899.00, which is where they ought to be priced, but they obviously figure on maintaining demand even at the current 1295.00 retail. I wouldn't say they're bland exactly -- very quick and detailed, good texture on cellos and drums, etc. In some ways I prefer their presentation to that of the 800s. k

Many thanks for the impressions. 407s for me, off a 323 most likely, until I can free up some funds. best, k

^^^ Thanks very much for the info -- just read up a bit on the new models and think I'm going to try for a 407, likely with a 323A, given my budget. Looks like there may still be a wait for these (Bluetin says a short wait) so hopefully before Xmas. Even the 202s are pretty great with the music I tend to listen to. Wish I'd jumped into Stax a long time ago. thanks again and best, k

Harbeths for SQ by a mile from memory (it's been a while since I've heard the Ions), although they sound better with a little driving, in my experience. I have the P3ESRs and use them in near-nearfield, and they are terrific little speakers. I've run them with Sugden, Cary (300 SEI and SLi-80) and now Luxman amps. The Cary 300B did fine, but at 11 watts ro so didn't provide the fireworks I expected in a small room. Up close I expect it might have been just fine. I went from vintage Quads to the Harbeths and although they don't really compare, I do find the ESRs to be really musical and engaging. They're also supremely unfussy about things like placement, toe-in, etc., which I appreciate. best, o

I'm tempted by the 507, but the descriptions of a bright character worry me. I have the Basic system (2050 II) and really enjoy it, and would like to move up the line. Wouldn't want to lose the equable nature of the 202/252 though, and I can't stand forward/aggressive highs. Wondering if the 404s might do the trick. best, k

Thanks very much for the explanation. Interesting, and sad. I still own one of the original Littles and bought tons more HR gear over the years. The Little was my gateway drug, and ran like a top. It was undoubtedly entry-level, but it sounded good, looked different, and was built like a tank. Loved the products and the vibe. In recent years there seemed be a sense that HR was no longer aiming at the bleeding edge but I guess I liked the house sound, and the customer service was top-notch. I bought a set of phones from HR a few months ago, and it did not go well -- customer service I'd describe as "testy," product mis-addressed and mis-invoiced, with the result that it got kicked around at Customs for several weeks. No big deal, but not like the old days. Maybe their new focus as HeadphoneMall will pan out, but I've noticed that several of the HR-branded products that have been trailered on HF and elsewhere never materialized, and perhaps they never will. I miss the sometimes lunatic enthusiasm, distinctive products, terrific customer service and all-round generosity of the original outfit. That was clearly in hindsight largely down to Tyll and the original crew, and I would not now go out of my way to shop there either. A shame. I'm a longtime Harbeth P3 owner, and the ESRs are the best ever iterations, IMO. Salt licorice for the soul. best, k

I dunno. We have a pair of the T50ps in the lab I'm in at the moment and they sound pretty good to me. Definitely an odd balance off the top, with a relatively low-impact bass, but there's a fair bit of detail and they present a decent soundstage for their size. The only other phones used there are the AT-M50s and AKG 240s and some cracked Equations so difficult to draw meaningful conclusions but I'd say the Beyers are good, if idiosyncratic performers, capable of musical involvement and, depending on what's upstream, an extended but slightly uptilted treble. Comfort seems fine for the category, despite the headband padding resembling a fridge seal. Don't know if I'd own 'em, but don't think they suck. best, k

I've got one of these on the way (HA-006). Hoping it'll work as a placeholder for the HD800s until my kids get their lucrative pro athlete careers up and running. Thanks for taking the time to write this up. k

I have a Decco in my office and like it a lot as a DAC; less so as a one-piece in my setup. But I'm starting to suspect that I've got a tin ear -- over the past week or so I've had several CDPs and DACs in-house in two different systems (Sugden/Harbeth and Cary/Merlin) and I've had trouble finding sweeping difference between front ends. Granted, these likely qualify as mid-fi or aspirational high-end (Bryston, Primare, PS Audio, CA) but I expected to hear the marked differences I read about on some forums. I have no doubt that better or more discerning listeners can pick these up easily, but I found myself reduced to pretty basic descriptors "uh, flatter... brighter... softer" by way of IDing meaningful distinctions. With speakers it seems a whole lot clearer; amps too. My ears are probably worse than they were, but I seem to recall that CDPs/DACs once sounded more different from one another -- perhaps they have converged, or I haven't heard the really good ones. At any rate, I'd definitely look into some of the older heavyweights, or something newer that's cost-effective and flexible. I'd love to hear a Buffalo -- heard nothing but good things about them. If I wasn't such a DIY lummox, I'd get in the queue. best, k

Aargh. I feel a cross-border shopping trip coming on. I'd really like to get my hands on one of these as a possible sub for my aging MB, which I'm basically using as a media centre and occasional notepad. The iPad is beginning to look like a decent value beside the revamped MBPs and that IPS screen looks absolutely gorgeous.

I had the Gradient bases with my 63s back in the day -- worked well most of the time, though the integration never seemed to be quite seamless, and I found myself preferring the Quads on their own. I came across this posting -- maybe another option for a dipole sub? Audio Dipole sub This thread makes me wish once more that I hadn't sold those Quads. Still the best speakers I ever owned. best, k

Thanks for doing this -- just bought in. k

I've been enjoying mine (SN 141). I like what it does for female voices in particular on the setups I've tried so far. Very present and rich-sounding. Probably my faves now of the phones I own. best, k

I've got a similar setup (with pocket doors in the space behind the listening chair) and have found that more toe-in than usual is helpful in reducing the open-sidewall weirdness. I tried having the speakers actually "cross" right in front of the chair but didn't work well in my room (my speakers were 21ls). I moved to a pair of small monitors and am actually enjoying listening in the nearfield, though large-scale music suffers. Anyway, interesting to follow the development of your system/listening space. best, k