I have been burning in my JenaLab UW recabled 780 continuously for almost a month (>>500 hours) and today I took it for seriously listening session which last for 2 hours - covering music from Jazz, blues, instrument solo, classical (chamber & orchestral), female and male smooth pops, and some ambient, using my Voyager (which has pass 800 hours mark and now quite stable and settled).
This can be one of the best value headphone I ever had, and I am very pleased with what I heard. Granted, the Voyager is not the most capable amp in my rig so I would expect given more juice and better control the ALO-780 can sound even better.
Unfortunately I do not have my Edition 9 to compare (it was sent back to Ultrasone) but from what I can recall, I actually like the ALO-780 for some songs when I prefer a tad less bassy tunes.
Regarding microphonics - it is there for all 3rd party cables I tried, and the JenaLabs UW recable does not make things worse than I expect. I am using the headphone while working so this is never an issue with me.
The most microphonic headphone I have heard so far is the Zu Mobius MKI. The best in this area (least microphonics) I have heard is Apuresound v3 cable with cotton insulation and super nylon sleeving.
F. Lo
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Music aside, it is the discovery part that make head-fi self-fulfilling. One step at a time.
I have been burning in my JenaLab UW recabled 780 continuously for almost a month (>>500 hours) and today I took it for seriously listening session which last for 2 hours - covering music from Jazz, blues, instrument solo, classical (chamber & orchestral), female and male smooth pops, and some ambient, using my Voyager (which has pass 800 hours mark and now quite stable and settled).
This can be one of the best value headphone I ever had, and I am very pleased with what I heard. Granted, the Voyager is not the most capable amp in my rig so I would expect given more juice and better control the ALO-780 can sound even better.
Unfortunately I do not have my Edition 9 to compare (it was sent back to Ultrasone) but from what I can recall, I actually like the ALO-780 for some songs when I prefer a tad less bassy tunes.
Regarding microphonics - it is there for all 3rd party cables I tried, and the JenaLabs UW recable does not make things worse than I expect. I am using the headphone while working so this is never an issue with me.
The most microphonic headphone I have heard so far is the Zu Mobius MKI. The best in this area (least microphonics) I have heard is Apuresound v3 cable with cotton insulation and super nylon sleeving.
F. Lo
Great news, and thanks for the feedback. I agree, and have to say it is one of my more enjoyable headphones, right up there with Edition 9, RS-1, STAX SR-Lambda Signature, and Balanced HD600.
What would you say are the particular strengths that make it it one of the best headphones you have had, and other than Edition 9 what have you had now and previously?
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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
What would you say are the particular strengths that make it it one of the best headphones you have had, and other than Edition 9 what have you had now and previously?
I like to hear tunes that are well balanced. The ALO-780 does just that - great details, refined highs (this is a surprise) and solid textured bass with a tonally correct full range. It is less "meaty" that an Edition 9, but you feel a fresh, relative light weight (i.e fast and agile), yet organic sound. I listen to it attentively for 2 hours and have no signs of fatigue. Very enjoyable.
But it is the most neutral headphone ? I don't think so. It does add the right colour to the tunes that make it easy to the ears.
F. Lo
__________________
Music aside, it is the discovery part that make head-fi self-fulfilling. One step at a time.
I like to hear tunes that we well balanced. The ALO-780 does just that - great details, refined highs (this is a surprise) and solid textured bass with a tonally correct full range. It is less "meaty" that an Edition 9, but you feel a fresh, relative light weigh (i.e fast and agile), yet organic sound. I listen to it attentively for 2 hours and have no signs of fatigue. Very enjoyable.
But it is the most neutral headphone ? I don't think so. It does add the right colour to the tunes that make it easy to the ears.
F. Lo
I agree with this very much. The ALO-780J is a very enjoyable headphone. It is not as refined as my Edition 9 but very enjoyable never-the-less.
Vampire wire is Jena Labs ? Um, no. They are two different companies.
My apologies. I thought that I had read in a product description on the ALO website that Ken was using some JL cryo-treated 22ga Vampire wire for some of his HP mods, but I could be mistaken.
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