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K1000 + Beta22 = wow (anyone compare b22 to other k1k amps?) - Page 2

post #16 of 68
7/27/07 at 11:03pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by fierce_freak View Post
Anyone else with any impressions? I tried the K1000 with a different DAC today and the bass was almost to my liking (keep in mind, I'm a bit of a bass head).
It's never going to have the kind of bass like the PS-1s or L3000s because of the roll off beginning at about 40hz. But with the right upstream gear it will have very good impact, definition, and texture.

Also, sheer volume-wise, the K1000s don't have the bass of D5000s, but that is pretty much it. The D5000 bass was not localized within the soundstage, was loose by comparison, and just not transparent enough.
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post #17 of 68
7/27/07 at 11:31pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by fierce_freak View Post
Anyone else with any impressions? I tried the K1000 with a different DAC today and the bass was almost to my liking (keep in mind, I'm a bit of a bass head).
May be your Beta22 with the Ultrasone Edt.9 be able to solve your bass problem
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post #18 of 68
7/28/07 at 2:46am
Quote:
Originally Posted by vvs_75 View Post
May be your Beta22 with the Ultrasone Edt.9 be able to solve your bass problem
If not, he'll just need to stick his head between a couple of Velodyne DD15's
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post #19 of 68
7/28/07 at 3:08am
Quote:
Originally Posted by humanflyz View Post
Ideally you can use the B22 as a pre-amp.
I knew it! I predict that before December you will have a Balanced B22 or dynamight pre-amping the F1!

Yea, I told you the F1-K1000 sounds like it's source. I personally gravitate to whatever set up has the ZD since I personally like the warmth and PRAT of the tube amp over the SS qualities of the GS-X.... seriously, I wouldn't even consider a K1000 without the F1, that's how good the combo is. Even that big amp (Zanden?) and that W5 didn't do it for me.
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post #20 of 68
7/28/07 at 4:38am
Quote:
Originally Posted by granodemostasa View Post
I knew it! I predict that before December you will have a Balanced B22 or dynamight pre-amping the F1!

Yea, I told you the F1-K1000 sounds like it's source. I personally gravitate to whatever set up has the ZD since I personally like the warmth and PRAT of the tube amp over the SS qualities of the GS-X.... seriously, I wouldn't even consider a K1000 without the F1, that's how good the combo is. Even that big amp (Zanden?) and that W5 didn't do it for me.
Nah, no headphone amp changes for a while, still waiting for Justin's new modules. I have high confidence in his work.
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post #21 of 68
7/28/07 at 1:04pm
I'm asking this again, would it be fine to use the F1 straight out of the Benchmark DAC1.

Benchmark DAC1 > Firstwatt F1 > K1000

It's quite comforting to know that the Beta22 sounds great with the K1000 and I have also pondered upon the idea of preamping the F1 with the Beta22, but that's a heck load of money.

Still torn between the choice of getting the Beta22 or the First Watt F1 first for the K1000.

Any advice? My source would be a Benchmark DAC1.

granodemostasa, YGPM!
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post #22 of 68
7/28/07 at 1:52pm
gah * quickly rushes to finish both amps* i want to hear how the b22 sounds preamping the f2

Question- wouldn't you need a balanced b22 to properly preamp the F1, since it takes balanced inputs?
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post #23 of 68
7/28/07 at 2:09pm
@mofonyx:

You can use the DAC1 as a pre-amp to the F1. As for B22 vs. F1, I don't think anyone has done a comparison yet. You can always build the B22 as a speaker amp instead if you want.

And there is nothing wrong with using some extreme equipment with the K1000s, although it's not economical. But as all hardcore K1000 owners know, once you go down that path, there is no return.

@gates_2:

You don't need to have balanced outputs to pre-amp the F1 because it also takes single-ended inputs as well. Granodemostasa has been pre-amping the F1 with his Zana Deux, which is SE.
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post #24 of 68
7/28/07 at 2:55pm
right now i'm using the Dac-1>(balanced)>GS-X>(balanced)>F1... but I may go back before the end of the day.
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post #25 of 68
7/28/07 at 3:39pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by granodemostasa View Post
I knew it! I predict that before December you will have a Balanced B22 or dynamight pre-amping the F1!

Yea, I told you the F1-K1000 sounds like it's source. I personally gravitate to whatever set up has the ZD since I personally like the warmth and PRAT of the tube amp over the SS qualities of the GS-X.... seriously, I wouldn't even consider a K1000 without the F1, that's how good the combo is. Even that big amp (Zanden?) and that W5 didn't do it for me.
I have to agree that the F1 is really about as good as it gets for control, and with a tube preamp, you get the best of both worlds. I assume having never heard it with tubes in front.

My Aleph 3 (DIY) sounds exactly like the original - warm and enjoyable. It was only $400 used which makes that extra jump to the F1 hard to swallow, but I do think I will need to consider replacing it for the F1. There's no getting around it.
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post #26 of 68
7/28/07 at 11:55pm
Thread Starter 
argh, so many choices! Do I keep the Beta22 and try to scrounge up the cash for an F1, or do I sell the Beta22 and go for a tube preamp, or sell the Beta22 and build a new single-ended one (be almost the same thing as far as the F1 was concerned, right? or would that halve the volatge swing?)? Or maybe in the meantime get a DAC that can work as a preamp or add a volume control to my existing DAC and sell the Beta22 to make cash for the F1 build...sheesh.

robm321: did you ever find those files you had tucked away somewhere? if I build an F1 i might try to point-to-point it as the cost for having boards made is sick.
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post #27 of 68
7/29/07 at 1:06am
Quote:
Originally Posted by fierce_freak View Post
argh, so many choices! Do I keep the Beta22 and try to scrounge up the cash for an F1, or do I sell the Beta22 and go for a tube preamp, or sell the Beta22 and build a new single-ended one (be almost the same thing as far as the F1 was concerned, right? or would that halve the volatge swing?)? Or maybe in the meantime get a DAC that can work as a preamp or add a volume control to my existing DAC and sell the Beta22 to make cash for the F1 build...sheesh.
My suggestion is that you save up for whatever amp you end up getting and keep the B22. You can just use the balanced headphone jacks on the B22 as volume control for the F1 (if you decide to get it) or any other power amp. Or if you want to avoid the hassle altogether, get an integrated speaker amp. If I were you, I wouldn't give up the B22 because it's a really excellent SS amp for your headphones.

I guess it depends on how patient you are and how committed you are to building a K1000 setup. Meanwhile, why not make a DIY tail-end extension for the K1000 that terminates in dual 3-pin XLRs and run them directly from the B22?
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post #28 of 68
7/29/07 at 1:13am
Thread Starter 
I am running them directly from the B22 currently (and I think they sound flippin' fantastic, but of course I wonder about the F1). The reason I was talking about dropping the Beta22 is that if I keep the K1000, that'll be the only headphone I have (I'm a one headphone guy), so having the ability to drive headphones becomes irrelevant to me (especially if I got something like the Mini-Dac, which does a passable job driving cans directly in case I had the urge for some Grado or Denon action, or the Firestone Little Country to serve as tubed Preamp and headphone duties, or a 2 channel b22 for preamp with headphone jack).
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post #29 of 68
7/29/07 at 2:24am
If you do get a Pass Labs amp, I would advise against a passive preamp. Get an active one.
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post #30 of 68
7/29/07 at 9:31am
Quote:
Originally Posted by J-Pak View Post
If you do get a Pass Labs amp, I would advise against a passive preamp. Get an active one.
Why? I recall I've read something like this before, but what is the explanation?
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Head-Fi.org › Forums › Equipment Forums › Headphone Amps (full-size) › K1000 + Beta22 = wow (anyone compare b22 to other k1k amps?)