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HifiMAN HE-6 Planar Magnetic Headphone - Page 539

post #8071 of 8889
2/2/13 at 1:19pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by preproman View Post

Clarifying:

 

I'm keeping my First Watt F1J.  No question about that.  I was looking into tube preamps.

 

When you say transport.  Your not talking about a transporter (USB to Coax converter) - correct?

I was talking about a dedicated CD transport.

 

The problem with tube pre amps is the noise floor. You will never get 100db signal to noise ratio. While the rest of the chain like DAC are 120db. I am finding this is one meaningful spec. 

 

I have not heard the F1J but having heard other amps by Pass they tend to have a more lush/heavier sound than other SS amps like ML. So a tube pre-amp might make it too much of a good thing. I would go for a more neutral sound and let the F1J retain its character. Just like I would not use a tube preamp with mine. I am getting great voicing/midrange out of the Accuphase that I would like to preserve, stuff that tubes generally excel at and not add more goodness. So if you think your system is lacking in midrange then only you should go for a tube pre amp or want to roll off the top but still have air and decay.(An anomaly?)


Edited by gurus - 2/2/13 at 1:25pm
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post #8072 of 8889
2/2/13 at 2:35pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by rlawli View Post

With the Warpspeed, no contest.  Consider: the ES9018 DAC's 32 bit volume control implementation in the Oppo has 20 steps from 0 to max. (I don't know if this is due to Oppo or a limition of the DAC.) There are at least one if not two orders of magnitude more "steps" to the Warpspeed's photon varied LDR resistance as implemented by Alan using his seemingly frictionless volume knob. While this latter claim is, of course, an exaggeration, the control does have three full turns lock to lock and I have not encountered an Oppo95/Amp combination, whether in a single ended or balanced signal path, where it didn't realize the volume variability I desired. To put it another way, you can seamlessly vary volume from silent to just barely audible incoherence (the audible lower level resolving limit of your ears or weakest signal path component) to just discernible coherence through clipping your ears or speakers/headphones (whichever comes first). As described, this range for me is usually realized in about one full turn. Have you had a similar of different experience with your Warpseed?

 

I don't have a Warpspeed. Oppo 95 has 0 to 100 steps, each step is 0.5 dB increment or decrement. That's fine enough for me.
 

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post #8073 of 8889
2/2/13 at 3:02pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by gurus View Post

Only Digital. 

 

Wadia DAC Bal => Warpspeed Bal => Accuphase Amp Bal Input

 

Metrum DAC SE => Warpspeed SE =>Accuphase Amp SE Input

 

I'm satisfied with my setup, I don't wan't to add another pair of interconnect and equipment in the signal path.

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post #8074 of 8889
2/2/13 at 3:45pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by wuwhere View Post

 

I'm satisfied with my setup, I don't wan't to add another pair of interconnect and equipment in the signal path.


That was my concern too. But I did not want to go deaf listening to 100+ decibels music. I definitely wanted to go the DAC/preamp route but I knew I would lose the sound sig my system has. So it was a long decision for me. What made it a bit easier for me was that  I had an extra set of Magnan Sig balanced cables, and also not having to spend on another  power cable.

 

But the proof the pudding is in eating. So I will have to hear the Warpspeed in my system before I go all gaga.  The die is cast so now the wait begins.

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post #8075 of 8889
2/2/13 at 3:58pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Happy Camper View Post

 

 

That's until I upgrade to a pair of F4s.  You know how we go HC.biggrin.gif

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post #8076 of 8889
2/2/13 at 4:21pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by gurus View Post


That was my concern too. But I did not want to go deaf listening to 100+ decibels music. I definitely wanted to go the DAC/preamp route but I knew I would lose the sound sig my system has. So it was a long decision for me. What made it a bit easier for me was that  I had an extra set of Magnan Sig balanced cables, and also not having to spend on another  power cable.

 

But the proof the pudding is in eating. So I will have to hear the Warpspeed in my system before I go all gaga.  The die is cast so now the wait begins.

 

Nice cables those Magnan Sigs. Let us know how your system flies at Warpspeed.

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post #8077 of 8889
2/3/13 at 5:27am
Quote:
Originally Posted by wuwhere View Post

 

I don't have a Warpspeed. Oppo 95 has 0 to 100 steps, each step is 0.5 dB increment or decrement. That's fine enough for me.
 

 

I misunderstood the context of your question and moderate my earlier answer to "Try it anyway, you might like it; even though it would entail complicating your setup with two more sets of cables and a light controlled variable resistor." 
 
The Oppo 95 I have, like yours, also presents a 0 to 100 volume range. With mine, however, there are only 20 actual steps with 5 unit jumps in each step. Regardless of whether these jumps themselves are linear or logarithmic, the result remains a 20 step attenuator which, as implemented, is not fine grained enough for me. The Sabre DAC is internally capable of controlling volume with many more than a 100 steps over its output range and your machine may well have a more improved firmware version than mine. Either way, many fine preamps have stepped attenuators with fewer than 20 steps. My own use of Oppo>Amp>HE-6 signal paths, however, has often found these step jumps too dramatic, especially when low level listening. 
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post #8078 of 8889
2/3/13 at 9:03am

Can the Objective2 drive the HE-6? If I recall correctly the O2 is rated for about max of 400mA.

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post #8079 of 8889
2/3/13 at 9:19am
Quote:
Originally Posted by matti620 View Post

Can the Objective2 drive the HE-6? If I recall correctly the O2 is rated for about max of 400mA.

 

 

I don't think it would.  I could be wrong.  But the HE-6 has a good chance of eating that O2 for lunch.biggrin.gif

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post #8080 of 8889
2/3/13 at 9:29am
Quote:
Originally Posted by matti620 View Post

Can the Objective2 drive the HE-6? If I recall correctly the O2 is rated for about max of 400mA.

 

NO, I mean NO!!

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post #8081 of 8889
2/3/13 at 9:40am
Quote:
Originally Posted by preproman View Post

 

 

I don't think it would.  I could be wrong.  But the HE-6 has a good chance of eating that O2 for lunch.biggrin.gif

 

Hell, It can eat the Mini-X for lunch! eek.gif

You can max the Mini-X and it is still not THAT loud (read unbearable) and the Mini starts to distort! eek.gif

Damn those cans! They are more demanding than regular speakers themselves!

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post #8082 of 8889
2/3/13 at 9:40am

I tried it and there was actually sounds coming out of the HE-6 biggrin.gif. The Objective's owner thought it sounded great. I said nothing and moved away...wink.gif


Edited by zenpunk - 2/3/13 at 9:47am
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post #8083 of 8889
2/3/13 at 9:44am
Quote:
Originally Posted by conquerator2 View Post

 

Hell, It can eat the Mini-X for lunch! eek.gif

You can max the Mini-X and it is still not THAT loud (read unbearable) and the Mini starts to distort! eek.gif

Damn those cans! They are more demanding than regular speakers themselves!

 

 

Are you sure it wasn't the HE-6 that was distorting at the max level of the mini X?  blink.gif

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post #8084 of 8889
2/3/13 at 9:45am

I don't think O2 is able to driver HE-6 correctly...

 

Why? Well... wait for it... it's a HEADPHONE amp. tongue.gif

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post #8085 of 8889
2/3/13 at 9:49am
Quote:
Originally Posted by preproman View Post

 

 

Are you sure it wasn't the HE-6 that was distorting at the max level of the mini X?  blink.gif

 

Do you think the Mini can "eat" the HE-6? (read kill it)?

 

How should I know! But from all these things one can read here, I am starting to confuse the HE-6 with a nuclear powerplant.... My bad probably biggrin.gif

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