Augsburger Posted January 28, 2008 Report Posted January 28, 2008 Well I sold my Eddy Merckyx for my Trafomatic Head One, so I don't think anyone on this forum can argue with me that that was a good choice. No road bike can compete with the sound of a good tube amp. BTW, I am a little premature is stating that the Merckyx is "sold", actually " may have a buyer and I am taking bids"..... (note to self, now go read the HC thread about posts on the HF site, the RS1 in particular)
Jon L Posted January 30, 2008 Report Posted January 30, 2008 Sometimes headphones just don't look like good valued when you stack them up against a good pair of speakers in that price range. IME, it's exactly the opposite. Speakers don't look like good values when compared to headphones in the price range. AT ALL, actually...
Smeggy Posted January 31, 2008 Report Posted January 31, 2008 IME, it's exactly the opposite. Speakers don't look like good values when compared to headphones in the price range. AT ALL, actually... Up to about $1500 I'd somewhat agree, above that I think well chosen speakers will cream headphones in overall listening experience. At $3000 and up, 'phones are not worth it at all to me. My very upper limit for phones is $1500.
Dusty Chalk Posted January 31, 2008 Report Posted January 31, 2008 IME, it's exactly the opposite. Speakers don't look like good values when compared to headphones in the price range. AT ALL, actually...In general, I'd agree with you, but I think the context was the US$2K & up headphones, at which point a well-chosen pair of speakers are competitive. Which is funny, coming from me, Mr. Headphone Evangelist. My big thing is that speakers and headphones are such different listening experiences, I wouldn't trade one for the other.
Dusty Chalk Posted January 31, 2008 Report Posted January 31, 2008 Yeah, well, I also see you regretting getting rid of everything.
JimP Posted February 2, 2008 Author Report Posted February 2, 2008 Jon L, Quick question about one of your suggestions: "As far as background noise with "normal" headphones, I would solder in 2 resistors right at the 1/8" headphone jack, perhaps around 100 Ohms or so" Would a custom 1/8" to 1/4" pigtail with resistance built into that achieve same? (kind of like Etymotics P to S cable) This, and the k1000 speaker extension upgrade are the two simple (and cost effective) upgrades I'd like to do. Otherwise, don't really want to mess around with more substantive mods/upgrades.
Jon L Posted February 2, 2008 Report Posted February 2, 2008 Jon L, Quick question about one of your suggestions: "As far as background noise with "normal" headphones, I would solder in 2 resistors right at the 1/8" headphone jack, perhaps around 100 Ohms or so" Yes, a adapter with resistance would be the same. You might have to play around with the resistor value depending on your source/system gain, noise, exact headphone used..
Augsburger Posted February 2, 2008 Report Posted February 2, 2008 In general, I'd agree with you, but I think the context was the US$2K & up headphones, at which point a well-chosen pair of speakers are competitive. Which is funny, coming from me, Mr. Headphone Evangelist. My big thing is that speakers and headphones are such different listening experiences, I wouldn't trade one for the other. I would tend to agree with Dusty here (did I say that?). I have found at around $2K-$2.5K and up the differences become more than subtle. Both choices provide a "different" experience and one is not necessarily "better" than the other IMHO, just different. Sometimes I like to sit down and feel all of the instruments and the emotions of the singers that I get with my new tube headphone amp, other times I like to sit in my living room listening to Miles or Monk and feeling the band right there in front of me and the audience around and behind me as if I were in the club. Each medium has it's place for me and I find I switch back and forth often as my mood dictates. Reks, to paraphrase my Gov. "You'll be back", then again Theils rule for now.
JimP Posted February 18, 2008 Author Report Posted February 18, 2008 just a quick follow-up comment: K1000+Almarro is still fantastic, blah, blah, ... but one minor correction: in comparison, I said the K1000 + Bryston was thin, analytical, etc. It was, but that was with DAC1USB as source. I went back to try K1000+Bryston with miniDAC as source. Much much better. Still prefer the Almarro for bit more fulsome sound. I can easily replicate results with repeated A/Bing. Nothing earth shattering here, I know, but in case someone in future is reviewing this thread or researching K1000s, the K1000s can work quite credibly with decent SS integrated amp like a Bryston, with a complimentary source. Also, tried optical instead of USB cable for miniDAC, the minor hum is now gone. I can now use HD580/HD650 as well from Almarro with great results.
slwiser Posted May 1, 2008 Report Posted May 1, 2008 http://www.audiocircle.com/circles/index.php?topic=54143.msg483486;topicseen#new
Jon L Posted May 1, 2008 Report Posted May 1, 2008 http://www.audiocircle.com/circles/index.php?topic=54143.msg483486;topicseen#new Almarro MkI had smaller power transformers and output transformers, and for that price, you can pick up a MkII on Agon. There are some Mk I.5's around, which had the upgraded bigger transformers while retaining the topology of MkI.
JimP Posted May 14, 2008 Author Report Posted May 14, 2008 Not that anyone cares, but I've sold my L3000/DHA3000 second time (L3000 second pair, DHA3000 having to be repaired) as my K1000/Almarro wins out (again) as my main system (Waiting for Dusty Chalk to berate me as Jesus again...). Upside is I have some $$$$ for full speakers for my Almarro. "Remember Almarro!!" -- Davy Crockett
riceboy Posted May 14, 2008 Report Posted May 14, 2008 Not that anyone cares, but I've sold my L3000/DHA3000 second time (L3000 second pair, DHA3000 having to be repaired) as my K1000/Almarro wins out (again) as my main system (Waiting for Dusty Chalk to berate me as Jesus again...). Upside is I have some $$$$ for full speakers for my Almarro. "Remember Almarro!!" -- Davy Crockett Good luck on the Almarro setup if you go that route. Two times with the L3000 combo. I just got the K1000 and I'm enjoying them too
deepak Posted May 14, 2008 Report Posted May 14, 2008 Good luck on the Almarro setup if you go that route. Two times with the L3000 combo. I just got the K1000 and I'm enjoying them too Cool enjoy the K1000!
Dusty Chalk Posted May 14, 2008 Report Posted May 14, 2008 Not that anyone cares, but I've sold my L3000/DHA3000 second time (L3000 second pair, DHA3000 having to be repaired) as my K1000/Almarro wins out (again) as my main system (Waiting for Dusty Chalk to berate me as Jesus again...). Upside is I have some $$$$ for full speakers for my Almarro.I understand giving up one's L3000 before I understand giving up one's K1000. So consider yourself only mildly berated.
deepak Posted December 2, 2008 Report Posted December 2, 2008 This is my first time hearing a K1000 with a serial number in the 1400 range. I have tried to recreate my setup as close to the one I heard in the past; the only thing that has changed is the DAC and I put the Denon integrated I used briefly back into the setup. I swear this low SN K1000 has a lot more bass than both my pairs in the 10000 range. I will know for sure if I get a chance to take it to my friends house- he has a set in the 8000 range that sounded identical to my 10000 version with his monoblocks.
jp11801 Posted December 3, 2008 Report Posted December 3, 2008 Just for kicks I hooked up my k1000s to my McCormack DNA1 and wow detailed and smooth at the same time. Now there is alot of power (185 watts) so the volume does not go above 9-10 o'clock with my passive volume. This is clearly better than the RWA sig 30 that I owned and right up there with the First Watt but less aggresive.
Icarium Posted December 3, 2008 Report Posted December 3, 2008 We must shoot it out between your amp and my Parasound 1000. Also I need to do a comparison between the crossover removed K1000 versus a stock pair. Check PMs jp
Smeggy Posted December 5, 2008 Report Posted December 5, 2008 This is my first time hearing a K1000 with a serial number in the 1400 range. I have tried to recreate my setup as close to the one I heard in the past; the only thing that has changed is the DAC and I put the Denon integrated I used briefly back into the setup. I swear this low SN K1000 has a lot more bass than both my pairs in the 10000 range. I will know for sure if I get a chance to take it to my friends house- he has a set in the 8000 range that sounded identical to my 10000 version with his monoblocks. That set and the set here are both low numbers and others who've heard other, later S/N pairs said my ones sounded better than any others they'd heard. It's also been said many times that early sets are more bassy than later ones though I can't confirm that personally. Nobody who listened to them noticed much deficiency in the low end, even in a room with L3000 and HP-2s etc. They're pretty damn nice phones.
Dusty Chalk Posted December 5, 2008 Report Posted December 5, 2008 I heard that there was a middle period of bassy ones that was supposedly targeting the US market, so early ones and late ones are the good ones. I think older ones of the non-bassy variety sound better just because they're burned in moar. No, I don't know the numbers. Stephen might.
Icarium Posted December 5, 2008 Report Posted December 5, 2008 I've heard from foo_me that late serial #s are the best... I don't really know though.
Blackmore Posted December 5, 2008 Report Posted December 5, 2008 They are simply the best, imo. I owned earlier and later versions, sounds the same to me, but middle one, not sure, maybe different, maybe not. They were blody great from out of TrendsAudio T10.1...
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