Quote:
Originally Posted by slwiser
Just think I have two setups almost the same.
A few thoughts on a comparison between the ALO-HFI-780J (Jena 18g wire) and my UE9. I have to say that I feel unqualified to make comparisons when things are so close but there are differences and somehow I will attempt to articulate some of them.
1. The ALO-HFI-780J would be considered slightly warmer just a bit less precise while the UE9 would be more detailed with a slightly wider soundstage.
2. It is almost like what you hear when you go from a good source to a great source in having a little bit less jitter. The difference is there but very difficult to exactly quantify.
3. I can listen to my Yamamoto HA-02 and use the Lavry DA10 headamp with the other headphone. The Lavry tends to be more detailed less warm than the Yamamoto. When I do this this almost makes them equal in sound quality and profile but still not quite the same. But a wider soundstage comes from the Yamamoto with either headphone. It is just a much better amp than the Lavry headamp with either of these headphones.
4. It is very much like the difference between the ALO Auricap Doc and the ALO Vcap Dock maybe a little more pronounced with the headphones. While both are great, the UE9 is just a little better all around than the ALO-HFI-780J while costing a significant amount more.
5. One more poor analogy. They sound like paternal twins but not identical twins.
All in all if you enjoy the sound of the UE9 and can afford it get it. Otherwise the alternative is really right there in front of us with the ALO-HFI-780J (Jenna 18g wire) or it's little brother the ALO-HFI-780V (Vampire 22g wire). They do sound very much alike except for the minor differences that I have noted. Both are very satisfying for me to listen too.
Just make sure that you have the patience to burn-in either of these because up to 500 hours of burn-in is frustration itself.
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Thank you, slwiser, I've been waiting for feedback like this. I will be getting my alo-780j in a day or so, but I have three questions for you.
1. Given what we know about what the 18g Jena Lab can do to the 780, are you tempted to recable the UE9 with JL cable and try to squeeze that last bit of performance out of the UE9? Ken told me that the gain from stock to Jena Lab is about the same for the 780 as well as the ue9. If it is true, that is no laughing matter as the changes is quite significant for the 780 from stock to JL 18g. I cannot imagine adding that much improvement to the already excellent ue9, that will be awesome. But then again, Ken is the only one that has a pair of alo-ue9 and very few people has listened to it to be able to comment on it.
2, I thought the burn in time with the alo-780 is alot less than the stock cable, something like 70 to 100 hours is the equivalent of 300 hours of the stock cable according the headphoneaddict. When you say 500 hours of burn in time, are you referring to the stock cable?
3, What do you think about Skylab's comment about the so so performance of the alo-780?
4. Since you have both the UE9 and the alo-780, and assuming that a person is able to afford the ue9, do you believe the difference im sq between the two is worth the cost difference?
Again thanks so much for the input.