FEEL HP 200SE amp: a newbie's impression

[Chekhonte]

I finally got this guy from fed ex this morning but have only listened to a few CD's on it. So far I like it over my old amp which was an SR-71 [sic] and sick. I'm using this amp with my only piar of reference headphones that I have on me right now which are HD650s. When I get my sr325's back I'll see how this amp pairs with them. I'm using them out of a harman/kardon hd710.

This is the most laid back amp I've heard, though it should be noted that I haven't heard a lot. There is a real focus on the midrange and upper midrange. Trebble is present but this amp is by no means forward. This amp produces little bass and what bass there is has little punch. That's the only thing I miss from ray's little amp but I'm sure that I'll get used to it in the next few months.

Vocals are as smooth as I've heard. While listening to Joanna Newsom's album Y's her voice usually can be more than a little shrill to me at times but now, even at it's peak never drills into my brain. Her breathy quality really comes out as well.

I decided to test just how laid back this amp is by putting in my most clipping-est, peeking-est music I own. First I put the microphones album The Glow Pt. 2 and then some of my older billy holiday recording.

I can finally listen to Billie Holiday again. Although all the distortion is still there it never becomes overbearing. The warmth of her recording is also so much more noticeable. I've never had a chance to listen to a great vinyl rig but I can only imagine that this is why some people prefer vinyl over CD. There is something about warmth that makes music more enjoyable to me.

The Microphones album also sounds really good. almost every part of this album has a lethal level of almost every type of distortion either through the recording proses through mixing. All the clipping and mic peaking is still there it just isn't grating on me.

This could all be caused by the euphoria of having a new piece of gear though. Every time I really like something headphone related my experience of music tends to be magnified for the next couple of days. We'll see how I like it this weekend after the weight of the word is crushing me again.

[jinp6301]

off topic, but our library has the H/K hd710 and damn that shits not bad at all!

and welcome to tubeland

[Chekhonte]

off topic, but our library has the H/K hd710 and damn that shits not bad at all!

and welcome to tubeland

Thanks and I like the 710 too especially since I only paid $40 for it at a pawn shop going out of business.