I would like to end my journey with the Audio Technica W5000 - Page 2

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Originally Posted by Amarphael 

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Well, the Stax SRM-717 i've owned had an Interchanging PSU, via jumpers, and i was curious about exactly this issue, So i changed the voltage to 100V and hooked it to my Ariake-UT110 that i use with the HA5000. It tuned  out that i've heard no difference whatsoever from not having it inline... Not that it could be drawn directly to the HA5000 performance, and it's no DBT, but there you have it. Anyway the HA5000 is a marvelous amp and was clearly superior to the SPL Auditor when i A/Bed with the W5000, which is my second favorite amp that i had with them.

Most of that went over my head, aside from the interchanging PSU part.

Yeah tube amps are hit and miss with the W5000 from what I hear.  I wouldn't know though.

W5000's fit for me is fine, but after a few hours my ears die from pain :\

The background music gets covered up by singing too, but the rest of this can is so amazing I'm not going to complain.

Your ears physically hurt? I wear them for 5+ hours at a time and they feel wonderful. They're one of the most comfortable pairs I've ever worn. That is after I bent the hell out of the top to get a decent clamp.

Do you mean they feel fatigued and tired? Like it feels like you've been listening too loud even though you havent? The F5005 mod helps a ton with that.

What i meant is basically i assume you're no worse with the voltage adapter then without it since i tried the SRM717 with 100V (native voltage is 230V) and heard no difference or it's too minor that i haven't noticed any after a couple of minutes swap. :)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Butler 


Most of that went over my head, aside from the interchanging PSU part.

 

Btw, I too had the F5005 but i recently removed it and i can conclude that while worthwhile for taming the upper mids bestowing more body to the bass it also takes some detail and refinement that is the main quality of these phones. It's became very obvious after moving to the HA5000, but i loved them with it on before then. 

Quote:

Originally Posted by Amarphael 

 

What i meant is basically i assume you're no worse with the voltage adapter then without it since i tried the SRM717 with 100V (native voltage is 230V) and heard no difference or it's too minor that i haven't noticed any after a couple of minutes swap. :)

Btw, I too had the F5005 but i recently removed it and i can conclude that while worthwhile for taming the upper mids bestowing more body to the bass it also takes some detail and refinement that is the main quality of these phones. It's became very obvious after moving to the HA5000, but i loved them with it on before then. 

So… You're saying it would just work here in the US without a adapter?

I'm very pleased with the F5005  mod, whereas my ears just felt so tired and soar after long listening sessions. The upper mids can be harsh. I plan on removing the modification once I get my hands on the HA5000.
 

I like them with WA2 and warm 6AS7 clear top+ Valvo d-getter e88CC and RFT EZ80. Personally I've already expressed my findings here:

http://www.head-fi.org/forum/thread/494487/another-wa2-tube-roling-thread-my-findings-after-couple-months

Oh and I like WA2 combo better than HA5000, at least most of the time. The key to the sublime sound of W5000 is the source - analog like and a bit warm ,amplification and fit - I've inserted a bit of climbing rope inside - the same as rubber tube mod but slightly different properties - it will behave similar to integral part of the pads but create kind of resonating cavity so my ears are going inside pads not on top of them. this will help also with any fit issues as there is better fit and more presure applied by the pads also your ears are in slightly different position and distance from drivers than normally. To me this mod, totally reversible BTW, adds a bit of body and intensity to the sound. Rope color is a bit extreme but I'm looking for black of the same size  - diameter is important as you do not want to create too much space inside the pads. This mod is nothing new and credit goes to whoever invented it. I just modified this with rope as rubber tube was not working very well for me for some reason.

See pic , hope this will help somebody.

I'm going to try the rope ASAP. I often find myself pulling at the pads so they're around my ears instead of on top of them.

I'm new to tube amps and have really no experience with them so most of what you said went over my head. Some point when I have more money perhaps, but I've got my sights set on the HA5000. When I can get it for a deal, and afford it I'll take the dive. No need to mess with tubes yet.

Heh, I'm going to look used before I even consider a new in box HA-5000. It's so much money for me, and I'm not busting out a student load on it. I'm going to just lurk on head-fi and hopefully snag one on the cheaper end.