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| Headphone Amps (full-size) Discussion of desktop headphone amps. |
01-19-2008, 01:53 PM
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1000+ Head-Fi'er
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Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Manchester
Posts: 1,070
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Penchum
Up until yesterday, when my glass optical cables came in.  |
Can you tell any difference in the two cables?
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01-19-2008, 02:34 PM
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Headphoneus Supremus
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Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Arizona
Posts: 3,262
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Quote:
Originally Posted by fault151
Can you tell any difference in the two cables?
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Heheheee! I knew that was coming!  Well, I'll tell you what I have observed and maybe that will be ok. I have several old plastic based optical cables floating around here. I also have a couple of newer "Python" plastic optical cables around here. The older ones I have already tossed into the trash, and I'm keeping the Pythons as a back up. What I noticed was a difference in the brightness of the light between cables. It made me curious, so I checked all the cables I have. The older ones were pretty dim. The Pythons were better, but not bright. The ones that came with the Zero were much brighter than the Pythons, but shorter length.
After just observing for a while, I decided to look around and see what other's thought about the real glass optical cables. Big mistake. Bla,Bla spend a thousand Dollars, Bla,Bla.  Then I was told by a trusted HeadFi'er that the Glass Optical Cables on eBay, for much less than the Bla, Bla, were indeed worth the money, due to better cable, better connectors and overall construction and appearance. This sold me on the idea, because they weren't making claims about sonic this and that, they were commenting on the USE and construction of the cable.
When mine came in, the first thing I did was compare the actual cable build to the others I have. Much better construction and looks. Made to last. Then I compared the brightness of the light and the new glass ones are so much brighter than any of my others! That may not mean any kind of improvement musically, but it doesn't take a genius to figure that the brighter signal is better, looking from a "transport" point of view. I ordered three of the new glass optical cables, two are 6 feet and one is 3 feet in length. When I compare the new six foot cable to the new three foot cable, the brightness is the same, so it appears the "transport" of the signal is not degraded easily by length, with the glass instead of plastic. The other thing noticed was the actual connectors, when they "click" in place. The old ones, even though not frequently used, did not connect as solid as the new glass ones.
All these observations combined makes me feel that the $80 I spent was worth it. They should last indefinitely, and I will not have to worry about plastic becoming less clear with age. The advertisement for the glass ones on ebay pretty much sums up the advantages I have seen. The two six footer's are going to be connected all the time, and the three footer is for hooking up portable optical things, like my Sony PCDP. One thing is for sure. Spending $80 is much better than $1000 for the same known advantages!
Sorry if I went on a bit. 
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01-19-2008, 02:44 PM
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Headphoneus Supremus
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Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Arizona
Posts: 3,262
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Normality
But the sound?
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They sound wonderful.
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01-19-2008, 03:00 PM
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Headphoneus Supremus
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Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Arizona
Posts: 3,262
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Normality
Better (and how) than the supplied optical cable? Also, have you tried quality coaxial cables? In the past, I had much preferred coaxial to optical.
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Too soon to tell any musical advantages (if any exist). I have tried coaxial from my computer to the Zero. I have a pretty decent coaxial cable, that cost me about the same amount as the glass one I just bought, a few years ago. It works just fine. Here in my home office, the big worry is interference from other devices. I have too much Vintage solid state crammed in here, plus computers and other devices. Optical eliminates interference worries completely, so logic dictated its use here. If I hear any advantages to the music, I'll let you know.
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01-19-2008, 03:09 PM
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1000+ Head-Fi'er
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Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Manchester
Posts: 1,070
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Penchum
If I hear any advantages to the music, I'll let you know. |
please do!
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01-19-2008, 03:11 PM
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Headphoneus Supremus
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Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Arizona
Posts: 3,262
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Normality
I have unpacked the Zero, from the outer postal package I mean. Also I have opened the cardboard box, enough to take a look at the (nice) optical cable. 
Penchum, is the supplied optical cable what you've been using yourself? |
Ok, you must have it all hooked up by now! How is it coming along???
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01-19-2008, 03:42 PM
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1000+ Head-Fi'er
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Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Manchester
Posts: 1,070
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Penchum
Ok, you must have it all hooked up by now! How is it coming along???
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I think he is just trying to keep us all in suspense!
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01-19-2008, 05:30 PM
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Headphoneus Supremus
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Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Arizona
Posts: 3,262
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Normality
No - just trying to give myself time in order to do everything well (and I mean everything else too) without haste. After all, there's so much time...
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I put my spare LT1364 in my MK1. WOW! What a nice change! That is one nice Opamp for sure! Do you suppose LT would give me more if I requested it? Also, it makes me want to try the LT1469 in there too!
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01-19-2008, 06:41 PM
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Headphoneus Supremus
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Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Arizona
Posts: 3,262
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Normality
Great! Any pops at power on [concerned about offset voltage] ? I'd probably rather go with the LT1358, LT1361 and LT1469 for the MkI. Would be interesting to have them compared in a different application 
If you need more, try and make a new sample request.. |
Ya, I think I'm going to. No more pop at power up than the LM4562 had. Seems the same.
So, tell us about your Zero! Tell us about your Zero! Tell us about your Zero!
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01-19-2008, 06:56 PM
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1000+ Head-Fi'er
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Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Manchester
Posts: 1,070
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Well i tried my zero of a friends marantz cd player to compare the dacs. I have to say the marantz does sound much better at the minute. Whether the fact that the marantz is ten years old and has had a long time to burn in compared to mine that has had 3days max! I think it will be better once it's had more time to settle. We're going to try it again sometime. Theres no doubt it will be better than a lower end cd player , but the marantz e tried has more bass better tone than the zero.
Im still really happy with it as the whole point i got it for was to upgrade my mac output and it certainly did that.
Does anyone think it will ever compete and sound better in time or is it that the £450 worth of the marantz is just hands down better quality???
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01-19-2008, 07:05 PM
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Headphoneus Supremus
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Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Arizona
Posts: 3,262
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01-19-2008, 07:12 PM
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Headphoneus Supremus
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Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Santa Rosa, CA --image Katmandu, Nepal Summer 2006 *We are but a cosmic blink or was that wink?*
Posts: 7,601
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With little bit of time on the Zero there is no way to know what it will sound like. With all the caps and everything else the changes, 3 days is almost like out of the box. As you note, the bass is one thing that can take a while to form but often is one of the latter frequencies to really integrate with the sound in a substantial manner.
Quote:
Originally Posted by fault151
Well i tried my zero of a friends marantz cd player to compare the dacs. I have to say the marantz does sound much better at the minute. Whether the fact that the marantz is ten years old and has had a long time to burn in compared to mine that has had 3days max! I think it will be better once it's had more time to settle. We're going to try it again sometime. Theres no doubt it will be better than a lower end cd player , but the marantz e tried has more bass better tone than the zero.
Im still really happy with it as the whole point i got it for was to upgrade my mac output and it certainly did that.
Does anyone think it will ever compete and sound better in time or is it that the £450 worth of the marantz is just hands down better quality???
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__________________
John aka Jam and Jama
Photo gallery at: www.pbase.com/jamato8 Recent publication: Ethnobotany Research & Applications, Vol 7 (2009) Kam Guilzhouh nyim Guangxxih di Benxtux Wenchual nyim Zihyuanc dih Gonxliix: Kam Local Indigenous Knowledge and Sustainable Resource Management in Guizhou and Guangxi Provinces, China http://www.ethnobotanyjournal.org/
The one constant in life is change, so will that change?
Feel with your own heart, see with your own eyes and hear with your own ears.
JH13's > Why stay home when you can go to the concert?
Listening with: JH13 Pro, Grado HF2 #469
Digital conversion: the all new MB-1 optical dual Wolfson portable dac
Amps I am currently listening with: RSA P-51 Mustang, SR 71A, iBasso D10, Lisa III, OEM BLack Gate, Non Black Gate, iBasso P3+, iBasso T3 (new version), RSA Shadow, iBasso D4
Favorite monitors: JH13 Pro, Grado HF2, Ultrasone Ed. 9 #1010, ATH-ESW10JPN
Portable monitor ratings: 1. JH 13 Pro 2. ESW10 JPN 3. PortaPros, KSC35 (modified-a great value) *4. UM2
Source: iRiver H130,140, D303 optical out, D-EJ955, D-EJ1000, D-EJ2000, 25s, 25, D-303, D-777 and others (optical out if available)
Digital Conversion: MB-1 optical Dac, Altoid tin Monica Dac I, Altoid tin Monica II Asynchronous Reclocking Dac, iBasso D10
Headphone Amplifiers:RSA: Shadow, Predator, P-51 Mustang, SR71A, Xin: IV Micro, IV Mini, Reference, SM3B, SuperMacro V LE, SM3 V6 (IV all switches), XRTA X-1, C&C Box, iBasso: P1, P2, P3, P3+, T1, T2, T3, T4 D1, D2, D3, D4, D10 Woo 3 Modified-Siemens 6922 driver, 7236 power tube, Woo 6 with the original Pseudo dual PS -
Ear Monitors: JH13 Pro, Ultra Ed. 9, Grado HF-2/F1 #469, HD650, ATH-ESW10 JPN, Ultrasone 750, HFI780, PortaPro modified, KSC35, Equation RP-21, Westone UM2
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01-19-2008, 07:24 PM
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Headphoneus Supremus
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Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Arizona
Posts: 3,262
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jamato8
With little bit of time on the Zero there is no way to know what it will sound like. With all the caps and everything else the changes, 3 days is almost like out of the box. As you note, the bass is one thing that can take a while to form but often is one of the latter frequencies to really integrate with the sound in a substantial manner.
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I agree 100%
Mine took the full 100hrs to really mature to a "stable" plateau. The changes were NOT subtle. Run the heck out of them, then do critical listening.
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01-19-2008, 07:26 PM
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1000+ Head-Fi'er
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Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Manchester
Posts: 1,070
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Normality
What Marantz model was it?
The digital interconnect can make a great difference. Were you just using the supplied optical cable? Once I found that even a 1300 euro DAC sounded quite bad if feeded through a cheapish optical cable.
Also you could use a better opamp than the OPA627, especially for tonal quality.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jamato8
With little bit of time on the Zero there is no way to know what it will sound like. With all the caps and everything else the changes, 3 days is almost like out of the box. As you note, the bass is one thing that can take a while to form but often is one of the latter frequencies to really integrate with the sound in a substantial manner.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Normality
Yup, that and the digital cable.
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Stupidly i didn't look at the model number so i don't know. I wasn't really a fair test as its still new and will never sound as good at the start. We used a good quality coax cable from the zero. I think i just need to let it burn. He was planning on buying a dac but he thinks its best to upgrade his cd player rather than buy a zero or other external dac.
Has anyone else compared them to their cd players? im very keen to hear if the results are the same as we found?
So would you all agree it should improve and be much better competition with time? Also technically should it be better than the marantz? It was £450 new for the marantz so its a good cd player but not top of the range or anything.
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01-19-2008, 07:38 PM
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1000+ Head-Fi'er
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Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Manchester
Posts: 1,070
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Normality
Me, tomorrow morning. I'm sure I have a player with a great sound so it should make for a good reference point.
Technically, starting from the D/A converter chip, the Zero is certainly better; except that probably the Marantz has a discrete output stage (their trademark HDAM) ? Btw, I'd rather have a LT1364 or AD826 in the Zero than the OPA627.
'Vintage' CD players can sound very good, btw, especially Marantz.
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Yeh it does sound pretty nice. Why would you prefer the LT1364 in the dac?What characteristics does it have? Do you think i should leave it for a few weeks and run the zero in for as long as possible, then try it again?
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