BHSE/O2 *vs* B52/HD800 (bal) - Page 2

On that note, as far as vocals go some of the 'stats I've heard are hard to beat.

That is just not true at all. The HD800 is the one dynamic phone that can reveal everything you feed it and drive it with. I have yet to hear any other dynamic be as picky with amps (first) and sources (second).

Were you driving the HD800 balanced? If so, what cable were you using? What amp? What source?

When you constantly mention "megabuck" or "$45K" or "$200k", it sounds more like you are buying expensive gear more for status than for enjoyment. Name some of the gear please.

HD800, PS1000, Ed8, all driven on an SPL Phonitor as I like crossfeed on the dynamic cans.

Headphone rig: Transrotor Darkstar Reference/Graham Phontom/Benz LP S/Aesthetix Rhea, Accuphase DP400 (hardly ever listen to digital here but when I do, this gets the job done), Running Springs Haley conditioner, TARA Zero GX and The Two interconnects, Air Ref AC cords. Stats: O2 Mk2, 404LE, HE60 (outbound), and inbound HE90/HEV90

2-Channel rig is in my profile but: MBL Reference rig with Focal Grande Utopia EM speakers, Running Springs Dmitri conditioner, and TARA Labs Zero Gold/Omega Gold cables.

Last rig:

Boulder 2000 Series electronics, Focal Nova Utopia, same cables and conditioner.

I'm lucky that I am in a position to own this gear and it is VERY carefully chosen. I also am not an elitist, do not take any of it for granted, and have few almost no audiophile friends so there is little status out of it. This is also the only audio forum that I have ever posted to or taken an interest in. I also respect real word gear and do not think badly of anyone that has even a well put together $1,000 speaker rig. My audio journey has taken my through Quad, Apogee, MBL, Focal, Martin Logan, B&W, KEF, and Tannoy speakers with Boulder, Accuphase, Burnester, MBL, Gryphon, Pathos, YBA, and Aesthetix electronics so I do have a bit of experience. I also know that there are others here with systems far bigger than mine and more experience.

I also own a Cambridge system and an Arcam system so I know what real world gear sounds like too.

My point was simply that I have not hit the limitation of the O2 rig with any font-end and that I do not think that suggesting that the OP spend his money on a speaker rig as it is "superior" is necessarily appropriate as we are here for headphones (or at least I am). My other point was that unless I am deaf, to me my headphone rig is equally as engaging as my big 2-channel rig but in a different way so I am not quick to dismiss the capabilities of headphones. I am also curious about what a truly cost unlimited headphone rig is capable of.

Lastly, I do not think that I am better than anyone else on this forum and simply speak from my own direct experiences listening to gear that I have had in my own home, nothing more, nothing less. Life is too short to get caught up in the status of things but unfortunately I have yet to hear affordable gear the performs to the level of CAREFULLY selected high-end.

I stand by my original comment to the OP...go for the O2/BHSE, buy the best front end you can, and don't look back.

Dinan, don't you think it'd be proper for you to disclose that you're with Audio Unlimited Denver?

As for your comment about buying the best front end possible for the OII/BHSE, I definitely agree. The source need not necessarily be >$10K expensive though. I'm using the Plinius CD-101 (not one of the brands you carry, maybe you should add it?) and while I haven't heard very many sources, it's certainly the most amazing one that I've heard and the OII/BHSE is just absolutely sublime on it. IMO, the CD-101 eclipses some other top-dollar sources past and present including the Bel Canto CD-1, dCS P8i, Accuphase DP-500, and Cary 306 SACD Pro. I'd love to compare the Plinius against the Simaudio Andromeda (as both players use the TI PCM1704 as their DAC, though the Simaudio has differential balanced output whereas the Plinius doesn't), too bad you don't carry Simaudio though.

The HD800 is not the only relatively-detailed dynamic headphone in existence, and there are a number of other headphones that beat it in one or more aspects, including the AKG K1000, Audio-Technica W5000 and L3000, Grado HP1000 and PS-1, Sony MDR-R10 and Qualia 010, et al.

awesome post

Have you heard about the DIY SRM-T2 boards available?
pm me if you haven't and I'll fill you in

It may be one hell of a project, but it's most likely easier to find a builder than to find a T2 on the used market

I couldn't agree more, I had a pair of Reference 3A's, I preferred them over Martin Logan CLS and Apogee Stage models.

You're all making me think about spending far too much money! I think I should leave this thread and never come back.

I loved your BHSE at RMAF with the Cary Audio 306 on it! If you ever get the urge to sell your BHSE, you know who to call.

As to Audio Unlimited, very few here know that I am in the industry and I have never made it public as I have no sales agenda nor do I want to be suspected of having one. The equipment that I have at home is owned by me and not necessarily always what I sell in the shop (usually is though), it is for my personal enjoyment and shared with very few. The main reason that I left the computer industry 13 or so years ago to get into the high-end audio industry was to fuel my addiction to high-end audio and have fun doing it. Remember that gear like Boulder, Burmester, MBL, Gryphon and others of that level were not well known in the mid to late 90's with VERY few shops carrying them. I have done my best to put very high-end audio on the map and think that I along with a few other key shops around the country have succeeded...it has been a wonderful thing to be part of but the bigger it all gets, the worse the politics get and I hate politics as this is supposed to be about fun and sharing the hobby.

And you are right, it doesn't need to be a $10K plus source but it is simply amazing what happens when you do go nuts. I would have never guessed that headphones could have performed to this level and curious just how far you can go with them. I certainly intend to fin out!

Thanks!

Yes, I have watched the development of that closely and may just have to build one to see what it can do as it is supposed to be the best (even when compared to the original). I actually have an original T2 available to me that I have been thinking about but it comes at a premium that makes even this audio addict think twice.

I would love to get the original, the new one, the BHSE, and the WES together and compare them. Given how few of these are out there, that is somewhat unlikely but maybe also very possible as ASR is local with his BHSE and HPA is getting his WES in a week. All I would have to do is buy that T2 and build the new one....hmmmm.

Audio Unlimited? Man, I get your mailings all the time up here in Upstate NY!

And yeah, I've had the HD800 and heard limitations, money or not. And I have the O2, and the only limitation I've heard so far is my wallet..........

I'm infamous.

Dinan,

Don't write off the HD800 just yet. I strongly suggest you try a balanced rig for the HD800. I spent some time with the Phonitor and while it is a great amp, it doesn't come close to showing the full potential of these phones.

I haven't given up on them and have heard them balanced. The HD800 just doesn't do what the O2, HE60, or HE90 do and for the price, I don't expect it to.

The HD800 is my favorite dynamic can so don't get me wrong as I really like it. It also does some things better than all the stats as they are not perfect designs either.

Since I actually own both of these setups and listen to them everyday I voted that if you can afford it you should own both. Granted one or the other would be great for a single setup but having both gives you options to listen to the best of both worlds. There is no question that the BHSE and O2 configuration is the best electrostatic setup I have owned (and I have tried the T1, KGSS, SRM-1 MKII and original BH). That being said the B52 and HD800 setup is the best dynamic setup I have owned and again I've tried quite a few great amps (Moth S2A3, Cary 300B, Cary SLI-80, Berning MicroZOTL, Headamp GS-X) and dynamic headphones (L3000, HD-600, 225, HF-2, CD3000, K701, K340, JH13 Pro).