Head-Fi.org › Forums › Equipment Forums › Headphone Amps (full-size) › REVIEW: Decware Select Zen CSP2 Tube Headphone Amp
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:

REVIEW: Decware Select Zen CSP2 Tube Headphone Amp - Page 9

post #121 of 463
1/30/10 at 1:32pm
Hey everyone. My tax return should arrive soon and I am taking the plunge and buying a desktop setup I recently purchased some HD-650s and have been seriously considering the Decware CSP-2.

Does anyone have their CSP-2 paired with a Meier Corda StageDAC? Are there any other recommendations for DACs in the sub $800 price range? I am using an iMac (FLAC) as my source. Thanks for all the great info guys!
Reply

Head-Fi's Best Sellers

post #122 of 463
1/30/10 at 2:16pm
I am feeding several headphone amps (including CSP2) with squeezebox -> Headroom Ultra Micro DAC.
I was so pleased with the results of the first UMD, that I bought several more (some new, some used) for the rest of my amps.
The UMD new was $600, and may only be availble used, now(?)
But you can use it as a price/performance reference point.
Reply
post #123 of 463
1/30/10 at 3:30pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Skylab View Post
The CV2492's are my favorite 6922/6DJ8. Funny that up until 3-4 months ago I had never even heard of this variety - but they sound great. The BB's are great too of course. Given that I have never really liked the colder Siemens or Telefunken sound, the CV2492 and the BB are the best of this tube type, for me.
I get my NOS CV2493s out of a source in Europe. I have never compared them with the CV2492s directly. They have gold pins and are said to be the highest spec 6DJ8/6922/7308 ever. I run them in my First Sound line stage and my Music Hall DAC. They take the fun out of rolling because they sound so good.
Reply
post #124 of 463
1/30/10 at 3:32pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by TNAaron View Post
Hey everyone. My tax return should arrive soon and I am taking the plunge and buying a desktop setup I recently purchased some HD-650s and have been seriously considering the Decware CSP-2.

Does anyone have their CSP-2 paired with a Meier Corda StageDAC? Are there any other recommendations for DACs in the sub $800 price range? I am using an iMac (FLAC) as my source. Thanks for all the great info guys!
Might try the Music Hall DAC25.2 but with a good NOS tube.
Reply
post #125 of 463
1/30/10 at 5:48pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by stoutblock View Post
I get my NOS CV2493s out of a source in Europe. I have never compared them with the CV2492s directly. They have gold pins and are said to be the highest spec 6DJ8/6922/7308 ever. I run them in my First Sound line stage and my Music Hall DAC. They take the fun out of rolling because they sound so good.
I was under the impression that the CV2492 and 2493 were identical. I have a 2493, and it does seem identical to the 2492 to me.
Reply
post #126 of 463
1/31/10 at 3:56pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Skylab View Post
I was under the impression that the CV2492 and 2493 were identical. I have a 2493, and it does seem identical to the 2492 to me.
The 93 is suppose to have an even lower noise spec than the 92. I believe the 92 is still an E88cc spec but the 93 is a E88cc/01 spec. Chances are a 93 is a select 92.
Reply
post #127 of 463
1/31/10 at 5:14pm
Thread Starter 
That makes sense - that they would be a carefully selected 2492. Nice tubes - that's for sure!
Reply
post #128 of 463
2/4/10 at 1:00am
why don't you have to worry about finding tubes for this amp?
Reply
post #129 of 463
2/4/10 at 11:28am
Thread Starter 
I'm not really sure I understood your question, but as an attempt at doing so, the answer is that the tube types that it uses, the 6DJ8/6922, and the 5Y3 rectifier, are plentifully available.
Reply
post #130 of 463
2/6/10 at 4:08pm
It sounds like it is a great headphone amp, however can anyone share a little more information on how it sounds being used as a preamp ? I have spent a lot of time searching and have come up with very little info on how it sounds as a preamp. Thanks
Reply
post #131 of 463
2/6/10 at 5:31pm
Thread Starter 
I have not really evaluated as a preamp, personally.
Reply
post #132 of 463
2/7/10 at 2:15pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by lugnut View Post
It sounds like it is a great headphone amp, however can anyone share a little more information on how it sounds being used as a preamp ? I have spent a lot of time searching and have come up with very little info on how it sounds as a preamp. Thanks
It is said to have good synergy with some amps. For kicks I hooked it up to my Primaluna Prologue 7 monoblocks one day. All I can say is that it did not sound near as dynamic as my First Sound line stage but that is not a fair comparison. I plan on buying an inexpensive Tripath amp for my office system to hook up to the CSP2. I think this will sound pretty good to drive a pair of ADC L300e speakers.
Reply
post #133 of 463
2/17/10 at 3:36am
After considering Miniwatt, Ming Da MC84-C07, Transcendere S5, conversion of various tube integrateds, both Chinese and Australian made, I have finally decided that I think the CSP-2 is most likely to meet all of my needs.

So, for my first foray into the world of tubes, I am going to go for quality. My current headamp, which will be staying, is a Channel Islands Audio VHP-2/VAC-1 combo.

My question is, of the 3 types of tubes offered by Decware with the CSP-2 (6N1P, 6DJ8 or 6922), which is going to provide the least culture shock in comparison to such a clean amp as the CIA VHP-2?

I will move into tube rolling after a while, but I want to make sure I have a good comparison base to start with. My phones are Senn HD650 and AKG K702.

I understand that the Russion made tubes aren't the best around, but they will be my baseline. All input appreciated.
Reply
post #134 of 463
2/17/10 at 10:31am
Thread Starter 
I'd go for a trio of JAN-Sylvania 6922's. Easy to get, not terribly expensive, and will last as long as you could ever want. They are excellent sounding, but not overly "Tubey".
Reply
post #135 of 463
2/17/10 at 11:07am
Double post
Reply
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:
  Return Home
  Back to Forum: Headphone Amps (full-size)

Head-Fi's Best Sellers

Head-Fi.org › Forums › Equipment Forums › Headphone Amps (full-size) › REVIEW: Decware Select Zen CSP2 Tube Headphone Amp