Ken, by any chance have you built an HFI-780 w/ the 18 gauge Jenna Labs Cryo Wires covered in a black techflex or cotton cover? If yes could you post a couple of pictures. Thanks.
I have just ordered that combo. Hope it will be sent sooooon
We place acoustic vibration dampening material in various parts inside headphone as well as removal of the diode board.
Does this impact much over standard HFI-780?
Is this similar mod like the one that Markl do to his D5000?
and I'm asking honest impression, does standard recabling procedure makes the most effect or this dampening mod do the most works for sonic improvement?
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Portable rig iMod Photo → Xin SMIII V6 (2x BUF634 + 2x OPA627) → Yuin PK-1
Home rig X-FI Xtrememusic (as transport) → BJC Coax → OMZ v4.1 → VanDeHul "The Name" IC → Lisa III XP → AKG K701 (w SAA Equinox) / Denon D2000 Current sources: iMod Photo, iRiver IFP-180TC, Sony D-EJ925, & OMZ v4.1 DAC Current cans: DENON D2000, AKG K701, Yuin PK-1, Etymotic ER6i, Alessandro MS-1, Sennheiser MX500, Koss UR-30 & KSC-55 Current amps: Yamaha Natural Sound Stereo Amp A-420, Xin Supermacro III V6, & LISA III XP Current speakers: Klipsch Promedia satellite speakers + Megaworks Subwoofer Wish list: Stax rigs, Darth beyer, Xin Reference, Tube Amp, Ultrasone Edition 9 & Balanced rigs Gone but not forgotten: Heed Canamp, iBasso D1
HeadphoneAddict, thanks for the very detailed reviews on what looks like an amazing headphone.
Would you mind doing a very short comparison of the d2000 vs the ALO-780?
I am wondering the differences in bass and detail mostly.
Do the 780's have as much bass as the d2000?
I did my D2000 vs ALO780 comparison tonight. Don't forget I have the APS v2 cable on my D2000.
I'd say the D2000 is a little slower, especially on the initial attack of piano notes, and tends to smooth over some of the sound and blend it together a little. This makes for a more relaxed can that puts you maybe in the 2nd or 3rd row, instead of on stage like the ALO-780's. They have a good solid bass, but not quite the attack and impact of the ALO-780. That makes them remind me of a closed version of the HD600 when the HD600 has the improved HD650 cable. I said "reminds me of" as in similar sound signature, but "not sounds just like". The HD600 with APS v3 cable or 18G Jenna Labs cryo cable is still better than the re-cabled D2000 at retrieving details and reproducing an accurate soundstage.
The ALO-780 has a quicker attack, and punchier bass, with crisp edges to the notes that bring out some extra detail and layering the way the HD600 with high-end cable does. The mids are a little more forward/up front and they put you up on stage, similar to a Grado but with a bigger soundstage that my RS-2 (my SR-60 and HF-1 have a bigger soundstage than RS-2). The highs on the ALO-780 have mellowed out to the same level as the re-cabled D2000 and re-cabled HD600, which is a welcome improvement over stock. When listening to the ALO-780 first, and then switching to the D2000, you can hear the D2000 sound a little more like a closed can, while the ALO-780 sound more like an open can to me.
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LarryHead-Fi Feedback MAIN RIG: Marantz CD5001 > Synergistic Research Coax > Apogee mini-DAC with Sigma 11 PSU > Neutrik XLR out > Jensen Transformers XLR-RCA > Anti-cables RCA > Stax SRM-1 Mk2 pro (or HEV70) > Sennheiser HE60 >>> or SRM-1 Mk2 Pro (or HEV70) RCA pass-thru > Silver plated copper IC > Woo Audio Maxxed WA6 w/ GZ34 Bugle Boy > Grado RS-1 with APS V3 cable. BEDSIDE RIG: Sony D-303 or iRiver H140 > Sysconcept.ca optical > HeadRoom Micro DAC > ALO cryo silver x mini-mini > TTVJ portable millet hybrid tube amp > Grado HF-1 with Headcoverage woodies and APS V3 cable >>> or DV336i > Edition 9 with APS V3 cable. BASEMENT RIG: iBook > USB PICO > Denon D2000 APS V2 cable. PORTABLE RIG: iMod 80gb 5.5G > barqy silver in silk LOD > ALO portable V-Cap dock > barqy silver in silk mini-mini > RSA Predator > Livewires T1. LAPTOP RIG: MacBook > USB iBasso D2 > Edition 9 with APS V3 cable. CO regional meet 7/26/08
My friend just got his 780 with the Jena cable, and his amps are the Raptor and the Predator...His initial impressions when compared to his other cans(HHF-1, ALO-701) was for some reason the 780 sounded thin and hollows with the Raptor...the base was good, but not focused at all. He said his ALO-701 actuallys sounded better than the 780...
However, when he changed the amp to the Predator, the 780 sounded awesome!
Could this be the syndetical of the 780 between tubes and solidstates amp?
My friend just got his 780 with the Jena cable, and his amps are the Raptor and the Predator...His initial impressions when compared to his other cans(HHF-1, ALO-701) was for some reason the 780 sounded thin and hollows with the Raptor...the base was good, but not focused at all. He said his ALO-701 actuallys sounded better than the 780...
However, when he changed the amp to the Predator, the 780 sounded awesome!
Could this be the syndetical of the 780 between tubes and solidstates amp?
It may be that the ALO-701 just sound better to him than the ALO-780, as simple as that. I was using the tube amp Yamamoto HA-02 with my stock 780 before sending if off to Ken for re-cabling. I should get it back first of next week to see for sure. My Yamamoto HA-02 tube amp is more detailed than the AT-HA5000 SS amp that I had. So don't think some tube amps when properly designed and configured can't push like SS.
My friend just got his 780 with the Jena cable, and his amps are the Raptor and the Predator...His initial impressions when compared to his other cans(HHF-1, ALO-701) was for some reason the 780 sounded thin and hollows with the Raptor...the base was good, but not focused at all. He said his ALO-701 actuallys sounded better than the 780...
However, when he changed the amp to the Predator, the 780 sounded awesome!
Could this be the syndetical of the 780 between tubes and solidstates amp?
Well this is just pure speculation on my part but, it could be that the tubes currently in the Raptor are not a good match with the 780's them self.
Linear Mode
