The 1.2B's sound signature and characteristics mirror the 1.2's. They are handsome, comfortable, have an incredibly realistic soundstage and a bottom end that compliments electrostatic headphones. The detail is still a step below the Orpheus, but unless you spend serious quiet time with them, side by side, you would never know. I am still enjoying the soundstage and the bass more on the 1.2B's than the HE-90's.
These headphones make me happy and isn't that what it's all about? They are satiating, and every time my wife passes by me, she tells me that she sees a stupid grin on my face.
These are my favorite headphone right now, and my R-10's and HP-2's are getting some much needed relaxation time. My HE-60's are going to hang out and spend some quality time with it's box and cushioning.
I have listened to Guss2's Aristaeus for a week now with Mitch's Amperex Bugle Boy's ECL86 and ECC-83 tubes, which Justin had marked "Second best" and their best attributes are detail and resolution (with either headphone). The stock tubes (Amperex 6GW8 and JJ Electronics ECC 83 S) aren't even a consideration when making comparisons. The Bugle Boys are a bit bright, but only had a handful of hours on them before I installed them, so they have about 25 hours on them now.
Tonight, I rolled in an all Siemens set that Justin marked "Best" and they were very finicky trying to get the bias set. After an hour of warm up, they were still varying 3-15 Vdc in either direction (the Bugle Boys set up easily an stayed within a volt after a couple of hours).
The Siemens have finally settled out and the cover is back on and rearing to go.
I would say that the Siemens tubes have the same detail attributes as the Amperex, but without the glare, but the bass on the Amperex BB's was more dominant while remaining controlled.
I'm going to give them a while before moving to the Mullards and Telefunkens.
