Ultrasone HFI780 ALO Mod - Page 3

This is exciting! except for my wallet that has just disappeared.

Well, the ALO-780 have about 97 hours on them now, and continue to impress me.

While I had switched back to the RCA grey glass VT-231 tube the other day, I went back to the Hytron and found that if the tube hasn't been running for a couple of hours, I don't like it as much. I have a Sylvania "bad boy" around here somewhere, but I seem to have misplaced it when I took it out for a hum that didn't burn-off. So, today I tried two or three other preamp tubes and found the Sylvania VT-231 to be a better match for these ALO-780 ($60 tube).

I can't try this tube with the stock HFI-780 because I don't have them right now. I was impressed enough with the mods that I sent my own off today to get the re-cable done. I was planning to get these to 150 hours of burn-in for my impressions for Ken, and than I will hand deliver these to another lucky ALO customer (here in town) in the next day or two, or three...

Listening to some Jazz tonight I put an effort into over-focusing on micro details - I can clearly hear the individual snare drum brush strokes, while with my HD600 and stock cable they sounded more like white noise or hissing (I loaned out my APS cable for a few days). That same bit of detail is missing from my APS v2 re-cabled Denon D2000, turning the brush on snare into an indistinct swooshing sound.

I believe the soundstage has deepened a bit, but I don't know if that is the tube change, or the headphones, either way I like it better. Jazz at the Pawnshop is clearly more deep, not just wide.

That's all for now - I'll report back after another 24 hours.

Sorry, my question was for HeadphoneAddict

Thanks

See post #20 and 23.

I've only heard 325i once and thought they were pretty bright but not sibilant, similar to my Stax.

HeadphoneAddict, could you test your modded 780 with your Predator? I would like to buy this particulary combo. Thanks!

I'm sold! I thought a tube amp was in my immediate future, but it seems this would be a worthwhile purchase for my bedroom rig! Hmmm..maxxed out wooaudio 6 or 780s? BOTH?!

...the modded k701 should be sweet with that also!!! *drool*

Sure, as soon as I get back from Skylab who used it for his recent review of portable amps.

Then I'll have to wait for my HFI780 to come back from ALO because I shipped to Ken for their own re-cable on Monday via 2nd day air. These re-cabled will go to their proper owner before I get the Predator back.

That's it..........I did it! Got my HFI780s ordered and now I can't wait!

RIDE

Hey...those are mine Ken! LOL

Seriously...thanks a ton, and I can't wait to listen to them! Sounds like at lot of time and effort went into these...and the result should be amazing.

You will get a report here soon!

RIDE (Steve)

Well, time for my 24 hour update. The ALO-780 have 123 hours on them now.

I do believe the treble has calmed down a little. But, with the re-cabled Ultrasone HFI780 I've been searching for amp synergy, and having found it can be some of it. All I know is that it doesn't bother me at all tonight, but there is no lack of treble either.

They didn't suddenly turn dull or anything, no dramatic changes. But, clapping on Jazz at the Pawnshop sounds quite real, and soundstage has opened up further. They still have a forward and not distant presentation, but the instruments don't sound as close together as before. Saxophones are much more natural and balanced with the burn-in and amp/tube synergy. No details are missing, and they sound best that they ever have.

As previously posted, I first found the DarkVoice 336i with Sylvania VT-231 ($60) in front and Tung Sol 5998 ($30) in the back is best for home amp, keeping the sound stage as big as possible, while taming the bright treble.

Tonight I spent a couple of hours swapping opamps in the iBasso D1 to see what suited the HFI780 best. I ended up with:
AD743x2 in the LR with a 2:1 adapter (the AD797 were very close), and the
LMH6643 in the buffers (instead of the AD8397 which was a little harsh), and the
LTC6241HV in the DAC (instead of LT6234 which was brighter).

This D1 opamp combo seems fantastic with the HFI780, although the DAC might still need a little taming. But soundstage depth is improved, and the frequency balance seems just right, while everything is very transparent. No details are lost with these opamps either, and they will play as loud as I need them to. It sounds very similar to the DarkVoice 336i now HiFlight has been recommending I try some of these opamps for a while, and now I'm sorry I didn't try it sooner.

When skipping the iBasso DAC and using my Headstage USB DAC, the sound is wonderfully transparent, natural and full without any excessive brightness. The original opamp selections were optimal for my Grado RS-2 with APS V3 cable, Denon D2000 with APS v2 cable, HD600 with APS v3 cable, and Edition 9/Proline 2500. I will try all those other headphones with these opamps during the day Wednesday sometime.

So, next is to try more opamps in the DAC - I have left over OPA2111, AD746, AD823, LT1364, LM4562 (2), LME49720NA (2), AD8397 (2), and AD8066, AD8616, AD8656. Based on previous recent posts, I'm thinking the LM4562 will be the next one to try.

I wouldn't mind knowing how the 780's sound compared to the re-cabled 701's. The idea of such high-quality folding headphones appeals to me greatly.