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MHDT Havana DAC - Page 10

post #136 of 2248
11/29/08 at 9:51pm
Any source for the Bendix 6385 that doesn't cost 300?
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post #137 of 2248
11/29/08 at 9:59pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by tk3 View Post
Any source for the Bendix 6385 that doesn't cost 300?
Put a WTB (want to buy) add in the for sale section here at head-fi. That's how I got mine (the first one).

Took a month or two but I eventually got one.

I almost pulled the trigger on that 395 priced one at tube world ... glad I didn't ... the year is quite good and I'm sure it sounds sweet as butter but the price is just insane.

Check your PM ... I've got a Bendix 2C51 which is close to the 6385 and much cheaper.
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post #138 of 2248
11/29/08 at 11:18pm
Thanks for the offer sirrah. I'm trying to land a 6385 right now from someone on ebay. His quad didn't sell so hes willing to split them into singles or pairs so I've been communicating with him, cuz I sure don't want to buy 4 If it doesn't work, I may buy the 2C51

Also, has anyone compared the USB input to the SPDIF? Not sure how the USB is implemented so haven't tried it yet.
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post #139 of 2248
11/30/08 at 12:20am
Are there any different types between the Bendix 6385?
Sometimes people describe them just as "Bendix 6385" and others add "Red Bank TE21".

I found a pair online here on Yahoo Auction Japan with a 5000 yen start bid and zero bids.

The price seems insanely good and it ends in 11 hours, any thoughts?
I wish I could go for it myself, but it´s too late to send any funds to deputy services before the auction ends.

Edit - just saw it says the reserve price hasn´t been met yet, so it could end up being really expensive after all.
Someone who is able to; want to give a try at bidding? The price might not be too unreasonable.
If you don't need them yourself, I'm sure there are others out there who would buy them off you.
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post #140 of 2248
11/30/08 at 1:32am
from what I've read the 6385 is coded TE-21 so they are the same. The Bendix 2C51 are TE-1, which are one of their first Red Banks (5670 is TE-9 and TE-16). 5000 yen is around $55, thats a good starting deal for 2. They are a bit hard to find but not that expensive I think. Not like EL34 XF1s which cost $300 per tube lightly used and around $500-600 NOS. I think the most I've seen a 6385 go for is around $90-100 for one. The guy who I'm communicating with were selling a quad 6385 for $385. If I can buy a pair for $180 or so I'll probably go for it and I can give you his info if you want to buy too, after I see what he's gonna do (He does live in the UK so it might be good for you, I don't know)
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post #141 of 2248
11/30/08 at 10:17am
I might be interested in your seller, could you send the specifics in PM?

Also, the auction I linked to has ~1 hr remaining as of now, no one going or able to make a bid on it?
It would be a shame if the reserve was set at 7000 yen or something and no one bid on it.
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post #142 of 2248
11/30/08 at 10:38am
It's set at least 10000 yen I think. He has sold a pair before whose reserve was 10000 yen. Just by the way, I have bought from this seller before (through kuboten) and everything was working fine.
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post #143 of 2248
11/30/08 at 10:37pm
I ended up bidding on the yahoo japan one through kuboten lol. I won it for 10,000 yen so came out cheaper than if I bought it from the guy I was talking to.
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post #144 of 2248
12/1/08 at 6:35am
Hey all. I am very interested in the Havana and am particularly enticed with the NOS sound. I'm a little weary of pairing it with a warm(ish) tube amp....any Havana owners out there with warm tube amps (such as OTL amps) and have any synergy issues?

Also, has anyone compared the Havana to the Cambridge 840C?
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post #145 of 2248
12/1/08 at 4:08pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by xenithon View Post
Hey all. I am very interested in the Havana and am particularly enticed with the NOS sound. I'm a little weary of pairing it with a warm(ish) tube amp....any Havana owners out there with warm tube amps (such as OTL amps) and have any synergy issues?

Also, has anyone compared the Havana to the Cambridge 840C?
Thanks to the choices in tubes for the Havana, you have a lot to mix and match with.

That being said, I have a solid state amp (HeadAmp GS-1) and a tube amp (basic WooAudio WA6). With my Vintage WE396A, I always prefer the presentation of the Havana + GS-1. The soundstage is preserved better as is the realism of the highs. Though, I doubt this will be of much help to you since the WA6 probably isn't the 'warmest' tube amp out there.

It's not that the Havana + WA6 sounded bad, far from it. It is simply that it wasn't as involving as with the GS-1. With the GS-1, I get a more involving experience without any negatives such as listening fatigue, brightness, etc.

I listen to these setups using my Sennheiser HD650, so that should be taken into account as well since it is a fairly 'warm' headphone (so to speak).
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post #146 of 2248
12/1/08 at 9:09pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by xenithon View Post
Hey all. I am very interested in the Havana and am particularly enticed with the NOS sound. I'm a little weary of pairing it with a warm(ish) tube amp....any Havana owners out there with warm tube amps (such as OTL amps) and have any synergy issues?

Also, has anyone compared the Havana to the Cambridge 840C?
I echo Towert7's comment that depending on which tube you go with ... any sort of tube amp should be fine with the Havana.

To my ear, and using a Stello HP100 SS amp, I don't find the Havana to be too terribly "tubey" sounding. It's very smooth, easy on the ears, natural (almost analogue sounding) while retaining a darn respectable amount of detail.

Again, those traits can be emphasized or detracted from depening on tube choice.

I've heard a couple person's now comment that they felt the Havana isn't that affected by tube choice but I've found the exact opposite to be the case ... from tube to tube, I notice fairly dramatic differences.

Depending on the tube amp, if you stick with a decently resolving tube like the Bendix variants or even an RCA 2C51 ... then I'd expect the Havana to be fantastic with a tube amp.

BTW: if any current Havana owners want to hear just how bad it *can* sound and if you cover shipping, I'll send you a NOS Sylvannia Gold pin tube to try/have. Whooo, does it ever sound nasty in the Havana!

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post #147 of 2248
12/2/08 at 1:00am
I received my Signal Cable order consisting of one of each of their silver resolution line minus the power cable. All I can say is WOW, these are much better a match for my Havana + T1 amp than my Blue Jeans was. Its incredibly transparent and detailed and adds a little bit more bass tightness/slam, resolution, and "emotion". I love it, when I first got my BJC I was never "wowed" like this, except that they were almost dirt cheap This combination is very satisfying for me (just need the 6385 now), so what type of ICs are you guys using with the Havana?
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post #148 of 2248
12/2/08 at 1:56am
Much obliged - thanks for those impressions.

Has anyone compared the Havana to the 840C perhaps? I believe they should be quite different in terms of character; but do you think they play in the same sonic league? (detail, control, refinement, etc.)
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post #149 of 2248
12/2/08 at 2:30am
I used to own an 840c. It was a superb unit for the price. You are correct in they sound incredibly different from one another. They are in the same league in control I think but the 840c was brighter and more detail sounding than the Havana, which is why many consider it cold and analytical. It was good paired with a warm tube amp. The Havana is more refined and musical and while it's not quite as detailed as the 840c it still isn't a slouch either. Control was about the same on both I think with the 840c having a bit more slam. Resolution I don't remember enough of the 840c to say. Havana does have a bit of warmness and smoothness to it, probably because it uses tubes. If I remember the 840c, I think I prefer the Havana to it, you just get lost in the music while the 840c was brighter and detailed it was harder to not analyze and listen hard at everything.
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post #150 of 2248
12/3/08 at 4:56am
One more quick question - has anyone used the Havana with an OTL amp? I have read about some hum issues with the Havana and Paradisea which has been attributed to impedance mismatches with certain amps.

Cheers,
X
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