Quote:

Originally Posted by grokit 

That Virtue TWO.2 does look much better than the Citispot, they have crammed a lot into that enclosure. And for current reserves they have some nice optional power supplies like that 30 volt 10 amp Dodd (for $250).

But for my money, well you know where I stand 

The great thing about this hobby is that people can agree to disagree, but in the end nobody is really wrong.

Yeah, eventually I might look into the linear power supply that you mentioned, as well as the tube buffer (though that's really expensive).  That's far off in the future though.

Check out the Grant Fidelity or Yaqin tube buffers, they're pretty reasonable and there's a version that will run 6SN7G tubes. The Yaquins are on eBay, here's the Grant versions:

http://shop.grantfidelity.com/Tube-Processors/

Edit: though I am not sure this is what you meant by tube buffer. These are line source buffers.

A decent used tube dac will also do the trick.

Quote:

Originally Posted by grokit 

 

I tried the prototype HE-6 with the CitySpot 2020 T-Amp and it was a complete fail. The production model may work slightly better but still would be far from ideal.

The TA2020 T-amp is still going to be a fail with the production HE-6.

The manufacturer over rate them in to a 4 ohm speaker load at 20W. Realistically, you will be lucky to squeeze 2 watts out of the T-amp with the HE-6. You need a high power TK2050 type T-amp, rated 75W. With that amp, about 10W max into the HE-6.

Quote:

Originally Posted by grokit 

Check out the Grant Fidelity or Yaqin tube buffers, they're pretty reasonable and there's a version that will run 6SN7G tubes. The Yaquins are on eBay, here's the Grant versions:

http://shop.grantfidelity.com/Tube-Processors/

 

Edit: though I am not sure this is what you meant by tube buffer. These are line source buffers.

The tube buffer is an option on the Sensation line of Virtue Audio amps (http://store.virtueaudio.com/product-p/vrtu-ia-ssm901-pbf-1.htm).  It's not an option on the Virtue line.  Recently I found out that Dodd also makes a stand-alone battery-powered tube buffer box (http://doddaudio.com/BatteryPoweredTubeBufferPreamp.aspx).  It doesn't add gain, so it's not really a pre-amp.  However, the one by Dodd is also priced prohibitively.  For a price along those lines, as Happy Camper mentioned, it might be better to just get a tube DAC.

The Grant Fidelity B-283 MKII tube processor at the link that you displayed appears to have the same function, albeit at a much more reasonable price point.  In fact, that makes me a bit confused as to why the one by Dodd is so expensive.

I haven't heard any products by Grant Fidelity, so I don't know if it's any good.  In a couple of days I'll search the forums and see if I can't dig up some information on that tube processor.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Happy Camper 

A decent used tube dac will also do the trick.

This is a good point.  I've had my eye on an MHDT Havana for a long time now.  Another Head-Fier recommended it to me when I first registered in these forums.  I had a chance to listen to it and it sounded amazing (warm, fun and musical). Only thing that may stop me from taking the plunge is the Northstar Essensio (Warning, PDF Link: http://www.northstar.it/Brochures/Depliant_Essensio_web.pdf), which looks like a pretty awesome product.  Only problem is, nobody seems to know anything about it.  After I've heard some impressions, it should be easier to make a decision.  If I had any DIY skills whatsoever, I'd consider a Buffalo32, but things being what they are, unless I can commission a build it's unlikely I'd be able to end up with one.

Edit: I have to say, I'm really impressed with how informative this thread has been.  Kinda wish every thread had this much good info.

Yes I was looking at the balanced Havana into the Alesis, it's an ideal solution but I really like the form factor with the Devilsound cable and the tube buffer so no hurry if ever. Plus I already had a nice selection of 6SN7G tubes to play around with in the buffer. 

Quote:

Originally Posted by sridhar3 

Quote:

You win this thread.

 

And to keep things on topic, I just ordered a Virtue TWO.2 to drive the HE-6.  A few people mentioned a T-amp can drive these phones without any difficulty.  I understand that when cabling for these, the wiring has to be balanced to four speaker taps with ground leads isolated.  Anything else I should know about cabling so I don't have magic smoke coming out of my amp?  Also, from my understanding, this amp shouldn't need an impedance box, as it's putting out less than 70wpc.

 

Please let me know if anything I've said is wrong.  I'm new to the world of Class D, and I don't want to destroy anything.

I purchased a TWO.2, and it came in about 4 days ago. Definitely enough power for the HE-6, with plenty of headroom. I really like the combo coming from my REF1 --> Roc --> TWO.2   It's very musical and transparent. You'll definitely love it.

Quote:

Thanks for the impressions.  Always appreciated, and glad to hear you're enjoying your TWO.2.

Which power supply are you using, by the way?

Quote:

Originally Posted by sridhar3 

Quote:

Thanks for the impressions.  Always appreciated, and glad to hear you're enjoying your TWO.2.

 

Which power supply are you using, by the way?

Totally stock. I thought the price for the upgrade was pretty steep, especially since I'm just using it for the HE-6, and a few other phones as well now. Maybe if I get into speakers I will upgrade.

Quote:

Originally Posted by elwappo99 

Totally stock. I thought the price for the upgrade was pretty steep, especially since I'm just using it for the HE-6, and a few other phones as well now. Maybe if I get into speakers I will upgrade.

Gotcha.  You just answered my last question, which was if the stock power supply was enough to drive the HE-6 optimally.  :)

The Virtue Audio website recommends the linear power supply or the battery supply for the best SQ.  I wonder if anybody with the TWO.2 has driven an HE-6 off of either of those two, and might be able to comment.

Quote:

Originally Posted by sridhar3 

Quote:

Gotcha.  You just answered my last question, which was if the stock power supply was enough to drive the HE-6 optimally.  :)

 

The Virtue Audio website recommends the linear power supply or the battery supply for the best SQ.  I wonder if anybody with the TWO.2 has driven an HE-6 off of either of those two, and might be able to comment.

I don't believe so. I was trying to keep costs at a minimum (at least for now).  I also got hit with sales tax, which ended up bumping up my costs a little extra.
 

Quote:

Originally Posted by winma 

It does drive the HE-6's and takes the listening experience to a pleasant level. Any experience with it? would like to hear....

To which "it" do you refer?  To what sort of music do you listen?  How loudly do you listen?  You are talking about the Concerto, aren't you?
 

The Concerto is a wonderful amp, but the Concerto is no more adequate to drive the HE-6 than it is to drive the K-1000.  It is not optimum amplification for either headphone.

Quote:

Originally Posted by grokit 

Yes I was looking at the balanced Havana into the Alesis, it's an ideal solution but I really like the form factor with the Devilsound cable and the tube buffer so no hurry if ever. Plus I already had a nice selection of 6SN7G tubes to play around with in the buffer. 

Just a quick plug for the Havana - I bought one recently and have been quite captivated by it.  It's a really, really musical sounding DAC, with outstanding soundstaging.  Very engaging sound.  I'm using it with my Pioneer SX-1250 (a monster 160wpc receiver from the 70's) to drive the HE-6, and it's absolutely great sound I can assure you!
 

Quote:

Originally Posted by kwkarth 

Driving the HE-6s proficiently?  I doubt it.
 

 

No doubt, Burson HA160D cannot drive HE-6 properly.  Mine needs to volume up to 3-4pm but the sound lacks details, no dynamic, veil (compare to RS1i).

Now I am searching for another amp to open up my new HE-6 sound!
 

Burson fans, salvation is at hand :)

Apologies if this has already been posted - I have a slow connection and I cant go thru the entire thread.

http://www.headfonia.com/hifiman-he-500-first-impression

It really doesn’t take lot of listening time to see that the HE-500 is, in most cases, a better headphone than the HE-6.

Perhaps the biggest improvement factor with the HE-500 is the sensitivity factor. Yes, you still need a fairly potent headphone amplifier, but at least you don’t need to hook it up to some 50 watts speaker amplifier or anything like that. This alone will make a huge different to people’s experience with the headphone, as a bigger range of amplifier are available to drive the HE-500 sufficiently with. In my case, I’m using the HE-500 with the Burson HA-160D as well as Earfonia’s Pseudo Balanced Amplifier (an article on that next week), and both amps were able to drive the HE-500 with plenty of headroom.