Fostex TH900 Impressions & Discussion Thread - Page 142

How many of you use the TH900 with a tube headphone amp? Anyone besides MuppetFace?

Yes. I am about to do a three-way comparison when I get my Liquid Fire in (a hybrid), with the B22 solid state, and my Zana Deux. 

^^^Wow. I look forward to your impressions.

Quote:

Originally Posted by songmic 

How many of you use the TH900 with a tube headphone amp? Anyone besides MuppetFace?

Yes me. Tubes are better.

wonder if the EC super 7 or zd is better with th900. All the impression with zd is stunning combination but I wonder what the super 7 can offer 

Quote:

Originally Posted by songmic 

How many of you use the TH900 with a tube headphone amp? Anyone besides MuppetFace?

I know Ahzari here enjoys them with his Woo WA6 SE. (I own the WA6 with the D7000, and so I can imagine the combo sounds great. Something I hope to have eventually).

Quote:

Originally Posted by rgs9200m 

Yes me. Tubes are better.

Sweet. Drooling at the thought...

Quote:

Originally Posted by tokendog 

Todd @ Todd the Vinyl Junkie.  Awesome guy to deal with.   Very quick respones on e-mails.

 

On another note, Headphone.com is showing them to be available in 3-5 days.

I also recommend Todd. Once you become a customer of his he really takes care of you and is always there to talk to you personally. He is an old-time dealer who truly knows the meaning of Customer Service.

He's also very knowledgeable and is involved in amp design.

Quote:

Originally Posted by rgs9200m 

Yes me. Tubes are better.

In your opinion - right?  Because I much prefer the SS sound accuracy and attack.  So IMO SS is better - with all the headphones I have.  However, I do not own the TH900 yet.

My initial impressions of the ZD vs. B22 that I posted in ZD thread:

Very initial impressions, I will elaborate later. The B22 sounds bigger with more soundstage. It's more detailed, and definitely has more power up top in the high end. The ZD is darker, has a more robust low end with more bloom to it. The B22 low end is a bit dryer and cleaner. The B22 sounds solid state to me, and is very technical. I can imagine the B22 would be more fatiguing in the long-run, especially with those powerful highs. Highs on the ZD are still very present, but smooth and musical, not harsh. Mids are more present on ZD, and more euphonic, lush. I find with the B22, I am listening to the music and evaluating the sound more. With the ZD, I find it I am caught up in the music more, want to turn it up, and just find it more engaging and musical. 

Quote:

Originally Posted by SoundFreaq 

My initial impressions of the ZD vs. B22 that I posted in ZD thread:

 

Very initial impressions, I will elaborate later. The B22 sounds bigger with more soundstage. It's more detailed, and definitely has more power up top in the high end. The ZD is darker, has a more robust low end with more bloom to it. The B22 low end is a bit dryer and cleaner. The B22 sounds solid state to me, and is very technical. I can imagine the B22 would be more fatiguing in the long-run, especially with those powerful highs. Highs on the ZD are still very present, but smooth and musical, not harsh. Mids are more present on ZD, and more euphonic, lush. I find with the B22, I am listening to the music and evaluating the sound more. With the ZD, I find it I am caught up in the music more, want to turn it up, and just find it more engaging and musical. 

I never owned these amps, but your findings exactly echo my impressions about tube vs. solid state headphone amps in general after going through a number of each and why I keep coming back to tubes with both

dynamic and stat phones. Tube sound just sinks in deep, makes the music have more reach, and makes me smile, and solid state just doesn't quite get there on the deepest level.

I'd definitely agree on that unless you're a details freak. I think with the TH900, the general consensus is that tubes are more enjoyable generally. I do enjoy the SS imaging, details, and soundstage, but the tubes are more musical for me.

Hoping the Liquid Fire hits that fantasy sweet spot!

Indeed, that caveat must be stated. The ZD is famed for being very dynamic and SS sounding. 

Quote:

Originally Posted by MuppetFace 

 

Thing is, the ZD is very unstereotypically tube-like. It's actually the most solid state sounding tube amp I've ever heard, even more than some solid state amps! Not at all a stereotypical "tubey" sound.

 

It's all about implementation and topology.

My (solid state) Rudistor RP010B is more tube-like (not strident, sweet, involving), and my tubed Pinnacle is more solid-state like (very detailed, insightful, soaring extended highs, very solid bass).

But still I still hear something I can't quite describe, an immediacy and inner glow from the Pinnacle that IME is a signature only tube amps provide.