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Review: ZERO 24 BIT/192KHz DAC/Headphone Amp/Pre-Amp - Page 399

post #5971 of 9297
9/2/08 at 8:58pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Penchum View Post
It is most likely the model headphones you have. Also, if your Zero hasn't hit the 100 hour mark yet, it is still maturing. Once you get the "Earth" on board and matured, you'll know if a change in headphones is in your future. Many of us swear by our HD-650's and their excellent sound. I think PP even sleeps with his on! He is so dedicated!! I just take naps with mine!!
Haha! Such sweet boys! My Zero is just coming up to the 100 hr mark sometime today. I would probably love some Senn600/650s, I have lived with the Senn sound for ... um ... 18 years, the price in NZ is kinda horrific, even the Denon AH-D1001s new price is $400!! The Senn HD555s are 'only' $250, why the huge price disparity I can only guess as to the importers whims. I am researching 600/650 prices now, though it would probably work out better for me to purchase from the US or elsewhere, I think the 650s are well over the $1000 mark here. The Denon 5000s are $1500! Ultimately, I'll likely just get a pair anyway as it doesn't make sense to skimp when cans are my main doorway into the music I love.
BTW, the 1364 ahead of the stock 5532s in the amp are a very good balance match and quite tuneful! Though, I still find the 5532s are a bit lazy and opaque and lacking in the stage width that comes so effortlessly from KHA, whether via the tube pre-amp or direct to the amp and there is little sign of a midrange edge on Eva Cassidy's potent voice.
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post #5972 of 9297
9/2/08 at 9:48pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by dario View Post
Peete but how do you rate in comparison to standalone amp the head amp section of a modded zero?
It's not bad ....I use it at the cottage with an older modified HK HD720 CDP as source, but at home the tube amp is king...the built in amp in the Zero can't compare to a good standalone although it will be better than most portables....I find it adequate as mentioned earlier when at the cottage...

Peete.
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post #5973 of 9297
9/2/08 at 9:52pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by sennsay View Post
Haha! Such sweet boys! My Zero is just coming up to the 100 hr mark sometime today. I would probably love some Senn600/650s, I have lived with the Senn sound for ... um ... 18 years, the price in NZ is kinda horrific, even the Denon AH-D1001s new price is $400!! The Senn HD555s are 'only' $250, why the huge price disparity I can only guess as to the importers whims. I am researching 600/650 prices now, though it would probably work out better for me to purchase from the US or elsewhere, I think the 650s are well over the $1000 mark here. The Denon 5000s are $1500! Ultimately, I'll likely just get a pair anyway as it doesn't make sense to skimp when cans are my main doorway into the music I love.
BTW, the 1364 ahead of the stock 5532s in the amp are a very good balance match and quite tuneful! Though, I still find the 5532s are a bit lazy and opaque and lacking in the stage width that comes so effortlessly from KHA, whether via the tube pre-amp or direct to the amp and there is little sign of a midrange edge on Eva Cassidy's potent voice.
S-Man yeah I feel for you guys on the other side of the world...prices are crazy....you might want to do what I did, buy a set second hand from a fellow Head Fi member....I paid 290US for mine and they were mint with 50 hours on them. Used is a way around those crazy prices....

Peete.

PS Not only have I slept with the 650's on... Pench...I asked them to go to my parents house for dinner (that's a 5 hour flight and 2 hour drive from my place)...I think I'm going to pop the question LOL....
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post #5974 of 9297
9/2/08 at 10:14pm
Ok, a question for the lads, I am now seriously thinking of ordering a set of the top Senns, either 600 or 650. Some people, and I've seen a review or two from studio engineers that prefer the more 'accurate' 600s than the 650s. Can I have a couple more opinions please on the merits of both of them? Also, there are the AKG 701s and Denon 2000/5000 to consider. From what I have read so much of so far, the 'darker' Senns seem to match the more brightly lit 627s etc, whereas the 555s don't need any more of that. Sorry to be off the Zero topic for a moment, but I'm banking on the stupendous dedication of PP and Pench, are you awake over there still? Many thanks for any clarification!

In addition, I have spotted a new set on Amazon for a good price, though I would be happy to hear from any Head-Fiers that have a set for sale, must be super nick though.
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post #5975 of 9297
9/2/08 at 11:23pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by sennsay View Post
Ok, a question for the lads, I am now seriously thinking of ordering a set of the top Senns, either 600 or 650. Some people, and I've seen a review or two from studio engineers that prefer the more 'accurate' 600s than the 650s. Can I have a couple more opinions please on the merits of both of them? Also, there are the AKG 701s and Denon 2000/5000 to consider. From what I have read so much of so far, the 'darker' Senns seem to match the more brightly lit 627s etc, whereas the 555s don't need any more of that. Sorry to be off the Zero topic for a moment, but I'm banking on the stupendous dedication of PP and Pench, are you awake over there still? Many thanks for any clarification!

In addition, I have spotted a new set on Amazon for a good price, though I would be happy to hear from any Head-Fiers that have a set for sale, must be super nick though.
Depends on your music tastes....by far my vote goes to the 650's. Pench has both and at one time had all three......he has 600's and 650's now...I'll let him elaborate on the two since I can only say anything about the 650's.

They can be sweet and delicate with the right source feeding them....I don't find mine dark at all...but I've re-cabled mine with stranded silver wire so I'm not exactly sporting a stock set...that may have made the difference. I didn't lose any of the bottom end when I did so...so it's win win...

I sure that helped...... Sorry about your wallet....

Peete


PS Just finished the Alps pot swap....nice pot...now I need a better and bigger knob...a nice heavy brass bugger in silver or black...
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post #5976 of 9297
9/3/08 at 12:17am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Pricklely Peete View Post
Depends on your music tastes....by far my vote goes to the 650's. Pench has both and at one time had all three......he has 600's and 650's now...I'll let him elaborate on the two since I can only say anything about the 650's.

They can be sweet and delicate with the right source feeding them....I don't find mine dark at all...but I've re-cabled mine with stranded silver wire so I'm not exactly sporting a stock set...that may have made the difference. I didn't lose any of the bottom end when I did so...so it's win win...

I sure that helped...... Sorry about your wallet....

Peete


PS Just finished the Alps pot swap....nice pot...now I need a better and bigger knob...a nice heavy brass bugger in silver or black...

Thanks for that Peete, I think that will be my move. What they said on HeadRoom, ".. shell out big and cry once". Yeah. Found a NZ price of $750, way cheaper than the $1000 I've been quoted as normal retail. However, I think I'll go offshore, I've never had any problems buying off Amazon.
My HDAMs are on the wing, a few delays there I think! Glad you like the pot, I've been expecting mine all week.
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post #5977 of 9297
9/3/08 at 12:18am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Pricklely Peete View Post
S-Man yeah I feel for you guys on the other side of the world...prices are crazy....you might want to do what I did, buy a set second hand from a fellow Head Fi member....I paid 290US for mine and they were mint with 50 hours on them. Used is a way around those crazy prices....

Peete.

PS Not only have I slept with the 650's on... Pench...I asked them to go to my parents house for dinner (that's a 5 hour flight and 2 hour drive from my place)...I think I'm going to pop the question LOL....
Hey PP congratulations in advance
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post #5978 of 9297
9/3/08 at 12:20am
Quote:
Originally Posted by sennsay View Post
Thanks for that Peete, I think that will be my move. What they said on HeadRoom, ".. shell out big and cry once". Yeah. Found a NZ price of $750, way cheaper than the $1000 I've been quoted as normal retail. However, I think I'll go offshore, I've never had any problems buying off Amazon.
My HDAMs are on the wing, a few delays there I think! Glad you like the pot, I've been expecting mine all week.
$750 is cheap.... Here in Brazil it ranges from $1000 one time payment cash to $1250 on credit....
I was lucky to get mine from a very n ice guy who became my friend for just $500
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post #5979 of 9297
9/3/08 at 12:35am
Quote:
Originally Posted by dacavalcante View Post
Hey PP congratulations in advance
Damn it...there were conditions like always store me in my box, keep me clean...keep the kids away from me...nag nag nag....LOL...



I'm such a nut.....

Heres an interesting device for those that are having transformer humming issues and are concerned about crappy power...dcV on the AC line and other crud....

Heres a link to it. This thing works. I have something similar on my Ah Njoe Tjoeb 4000 CDP except they call it an AC noise killer...

Blokker Power Supply Filter - (eBay.ca item 250116251769 end time 07-Sep-08 03:50:13 EDT)

For 30 US it's a way better investment for the Zero than a 200 US line conditioner...imo of course.

Peete.

PS The dang 650's want to be married in Germany...figures...

PPS My Welborne labs voltage regulators (15V DC) and 1 A transformer should be here next week sometime if customs doesn't screw things up....I'm going to power three Earth HDAMs in the Zero with there own regs and transformer...75US including shipping so it's not cheap unfortunately. That's Peete for you...going the extra mile for all your Zero needs LOL..makes no sense to spend this money...but I want to see if this is the cure for 3 HDAM config.
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post #5980 of 9297
9/3/08 at 12:41am
Peete would that blokker be better than a good power line?
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post #5981 of 9297
9/3/08 at 1:19am
Quote:
Originally Posted by LeBuLLeT View Post
Peete would that blokker be better than a good power line?


Hard to say for sure...but the price is certainly far lower than the cheapest decent line conditioner I can think of. It should be a very good tweak...the idea behind it is sound...and a similar AC noise killer in my ref CDP works like a charm..

Peete.
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post #5982 of 9297
9/3/08 at 2:15am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Pricklely Peete View Post
Hard to say for sure...but the price is certainly far lower than the cheapest decent line conditioner I can think of. It should be a very good tweak...the idea behind it is sound...and a similar AC noise killer in my ref CDP works like a charm..

Peete.
I'm confused on exactly how this would end up being wired. You cut the neutral / primary wires and insert the blokker in there?

Also, do you think there's a place for this to sit / mount in the Zero case?
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post #5983 of 9297
9/3/08 at 2:54am
Yea I am confused like fugimax. First I am going to try a good power cable then if that doesn't show an improvement then I will get this "blokker."
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post #5984 of 9297
9/3/08 at 3:59am
Quote:
Originally Posted by sennsay View Post
Ok, a question for the lads, I am now seriously thinking of ordering a set of the top Senns, either 600 or 650. Some people, and I've seen a review or two from studio engineers that prefer the more 'accurate' 600s than the 650s. Can I have a couple more opinions please on the merits of both of them? Also, there are the AKG 701s and Denon 2000/5000 to consider. From what I have read so much of so far, the 'darker' Senns seem to match the more brightly lit 627s etc, whereas the 555s don't need any more of that. Sorry to be off the Zero topic for a moment, but I'm banking on the stupendous dedication of PP and Pench, are you awake over there still? Many thanks for any clarification!

In addition, I have spotted a new set on Amazon for a good price, though I would be happy to hear from any Head-Fiers that have a set for sale, must be super nick though.
I had HD650 and now have HD600.

*Both of them have a bit loose bass with the Zero amp. It's not enough to tighten them up to the level of my other cans. The HD650 had more of the loose bass, thus, I like HD600 bass better.

*HD650 had just a tad less treble. The difference is not huge. The HD600 have a more silvery, to me uncoloured treble than the HD650. I much prefer the HD600 treble over the HD650 treble.

*I feel that the mids of the HD600 is less coloured than the HD650. The HD650 mids were warm, while the HD600 mids feel less coloured and more transparent. To me, the HD600 mids are almost completely natural. The only little thing is a slight boost in the lower mids, which can make male voices sound just a little bit to full, but otherwise they are VERY natural.

Over all, the HD600 is the most natural headphone I've heard yet. More natural than the DT880 to my ears.

So, with the Zero amp I like the HD600 more than the HD650. I have no idea how they would compare if amped by a good Sennheiser amp (something like DV332 or similar).



I did not have them at the same time unfortunately, so the HD650 impressions are from memory.
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post #5985 of 9297
9/3/08 at 6:33am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Henmyr View Post
I had HD650 and now have HD600.

*Both of them have a bit loose bass with the Zero amp. It's not enough to tighten them up to the level of my other cans. The HD650 had more of the loose bass, thus, I like HD600 bass better.

*HD650 had just a tad less treble. The difference is not huge. The HD600 have a more silvery, to me uncoloured treble than the HD650. I much prefer the HD600 treble over the HD650 treble.

*I feel that the mids of the HD600 is less coloured than the HD650. The HD650 mids were warm, while the HD600 mids feel less coloured and more transparent. To me, the HD600 mids are almost completely natural. The only little thing is a slight boost in the lower mids, which can make male voices sound just a little bit to full, but otherwise they are VERY natural.

Over all, the HD600 is the most natural headphone I've heard yet. More natural than the DT880 to my ears.

So, with the Zero amp I like the HD600 more than the HD650. I have no idea how they would compare if amped by a good Sennheiser amp (something like DV332 or similar).



I did not have them at the same time unfortunately, so the HD650 impressions are from memory.

Hmm, thanks for the feedback, Henmyr, unfortunately where I live there is a lack of top end cans to get to hear, so I'm going to have to trust my own judgement and experience. I actually find the Zero's amp section a bit full and soft, though much less so with the 1364s in place. Whether 600 or 650, either will be a big advance on the 540Rs I've had for 18 years! Even the 555s show them up, though they're still not half bad (540Rs. In fact that goes for the 555s too).
My KHA (kit head amp) has wickedly fast and open bass, so the 650s may be quite at home here. Also, KHA does have a tendency to being a tad lean in the mids, though extremely open and focused. I've found some new 650s for $326USD and others around that price. Love the Zero's DAC though! Sounds very good with the 1364 in that position.
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