Offered for sale is a like-new condition McIntosh MHA150 Headphone Amplifier. I am the original owner and it was purchased as a new-in-the-box unit from an USA Authorized McIntosh dealer. Great sounding and very versatile piece as it also includes a built-in DSD DAC as well as a 50 watt per...

Power supply directly below, to the right 009's reside in their wooden box between listening sessions.

Back on track...

Peter Walker, the founder of Quad, used to say that the volume control should be used almost like a focus control (much like that of a camera lens) to 'place' the sound stage correctly relative to the listener; in other words, there is a 'right' volume for each recording.

So I take it no Peter Belt foil squares or his "electret cream" residing in your system?

Oh what fun awaits you! I assume that those are Gamma Pro's and Sigma Pro or Sigma/404? BHSE will bring them to their full (and most likely ultimate) potential. Awesome collection!!

Agreed if one is speaking of true balanced (differential) circuit topology versus "faux-balanced" which, unfortunately, is all too common in many of the components that feature XLR inputs and/or outputs.

Brian Eno on the BHSE/009 = Crazy Good!!

All this new BHSE goodness is so exciting to hear; knowing the sense of joy and wonderment that awaits the recipients of this batch warms my heart. Trust me, the mundane aspects of having to utilize longer cables, etc. will become meaningless once you get lost in the sheer majesty of the sound...

I am still wondering about the reliability and longevity of the PV tubes; sound notwithstanding...I know from experience that NOS (UK) Mullards were built for the long-haul.    With that being said I do not have any to use in the BHSE at the moment but from what I gather in that circuit they...

I recall a while back that Justin indicated that the next batch of BHSE would most likely be the last. Insofar that from the beginning it was a "Special Edition" and thus would be a limited production item. And also due to the fact that many of the high-voltage parts are becoming quite scarce...

"It's like, how much more black could this be? and the answer is none. None more black."

Yes, the sad reality is that with the demise of CRT televisions and monitors there is really no mass-market applications left for the particular high voltage parts that are used in the BHSE so they are becoming extinct.   The BHSE while using tubes is essentially a solid state amp at its core...

Not to mention if the BHSE was sold via normal retail channels it would cost at least $10,000-$12,000, possibly even more.

How many BHSE is Justin making in this batch?

I assume you are speaking of the Woo WES? Yes, the four driver tubes are quite important to the overall sound in this circuit. The nice thing here is that 6sl7 are about half the price or even less than the 6sn7 used in other Woo amps. I would try to hunt down two matched pairs of Tung-Sol...

Me too, only with a WA5: 2x 5u4g, 2x 6sn7, 2x 300B, I had more $$$ in my (active) tube combo than the cost of the Woo amp. But of course with NOS tubes one must have a backup set, a backup for that and probably many more; not to mention if one of your tubes from a matched pair of Tung Sol BGRP...

Total agreement; I use the Stax SRE-925S (5 Meter) matching extension cable with my 009's and BHSE and there is zero difference in sound quality as compared to plugging the phones straight in. And I get the added benefit of being able to chill on the couch while listening!

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Sigh...I wish they had a lay-by or pay in installments at headamp. They actually do in a kind of indirect way but it requires some self-disciplined financial planning: You place your 25% (refundable) deposit to order a BHSE. After that you should (will) have a good solid year, or close to it...

The new MC275 is the best yet; congrats!   Here is a shot of mine "at rest" and its other partners in crime:      

I just find, at least in my system, that the 007's have a bit warmer tonal balance as compared to the 009's which can help with some "hot" recordings. No doubt the 009's are on a much higher level as far as overall resolution is concerned.

Right, because with the Stax it is too easy to want to "kill-the-messenger" when, in fact, the phones are simply reproducing what is on the original recording. Which is why often times I will reach for the SR007's instead of the 009's for certain (known) less than ideal recordings.

Quote:   Yes, same reason I have gotten away from HD Tracks, it would be a no brainer if they provided the pedigree and/or origin of their files.   Some titles I purchased were/are obviously true "High-Res" however many I have speciality red-book (i.e. XRCD, Japan SHM)...

To all my Head-Fi brethren awaiting the arrival of their BHSE's; Use this time constructively to make any and all system preparations: i.e. Got those new tubes for the preamp or DAC put them now and and let them get settled. How is the quality of your power coming from the wall? Any CD's...