Quote:

Originally Posted by MattTCG 

The lyr is actually better with the maddogs and the 650 than it is with the he400.

Let me say this about the maddogs. IMO they justify the price in absolutely every way. They are wonderfully voiced and like they cost much more than $300. The mids are the only ones that I've found to compete against the 650. I actually like the MD mids better.

So the Mad Dogs need amping? I wonder how well they work with the M&M.

At the end of the day, I really think I'm gong to need to demo the Mad Dogs from somebody on the forum in some kind of temporary trade or something along those lines, because I'm intrigued but I just can't picture what they bring to the table.

Quote:

Originally Posted by MattTCG 

The MD is the toughest to drive of the thee I own.

Yes, what Matt says is quite true.  Out of the box, the Fostex T50RP has about a 98dB efficiency.  However, after the mods are all done, it falls to the very low 90dB range.  Given that the HE-400 is 93dB efficient, I always had to apply that next click on the volume dial to get the Fostex modified variants to similar volume levels as the HE-400s.

And the time has come for another novella from wje.  I'll apologize in advance for the extensive content, but I felt I had to write as much as I did to be able to relay my experience.

Some DAC impressions of recent experience.

These impressions are based on the use of my HD-600 and HD-650 Sennheisers.  I will update accordingly, after spending time with the HE-400s this coming weekend going through a similar exercise.

DACS were tested with a Schiit Magni amplifier, and a Fiio E9 amplifier.  The DACs tested were: FiiO D03K (early edition with the silver RCA connectors), FiiO E7 (docked on the E9), and the Muse Mini DAC, paired with both the Schiit Magni and FiiO E9 amplifiers.  The Schiit Modi was previously owned, but never tried with these headphones, so too many comments can’t be applied, but the general sound signature will be mentioned in the below content.

Wolfson chip-based DACs.  In testing both the D03K and the E7, I was able to detect what initially appeared to be somewhat detailed level of performance.  However, after using for extended periods, the sound just became a bit more strident than what would appeal to me for many longer listening sessions.  I quickly tired of the extra detail that was being handed to me.  As to bass punch, I felt the Wolfson chip-based DACs were as capable as any other DAC that I’ve tried and similar response in the mid-frequencies, too.  Additionally, while not tested, the FiiO E17 an newest E07K are built around the same Wolfson DAC chip.  The D07K was based on a different variant of the Wolfson DAC chip and happed to be purchased locally off of Craigslist from a guy who replacing all the DACs in his 4-zone music system in his home.  He had a bag of the D03K DACs (4 of them, actually) and I picked the silver RCA version, known as version #1.  The later version has a DAC chip by Cirrus Logic.  Being that he might still have the other DACs, I should opt for one of the newer gold ones, so I can test the sound signature of that variant, too.  Hmm … does this ever really end?

I’m not completely writing off Wolfson at the this point as I’ve heard their offerings in two of the amp DAC combos that I owned by Audio-GD.  However, in those cases, the Audio-GD did suffer from some upper and lower frequency roll off, which has been noted by others too.

Now, for the Muse Mini DAC.  It is built around the Burr-Brown PCM2704 chip.  This chip is a bit long in the tooth and has been around for the past 6 or so years.  Possibly longer.  This variant provided a well-balanced sound that didn’t push those audible upper-frequency details that became strident over longer listening periods.  My other experience with the Burr-Brown DACs has also been with my (3) Squeezebox devices.  I’ve never once noticed any sounds that they’ve produced that were overly-emphasized in one frequency zone or another.  This DAC currently sells for about $30 on Amazon.

As to the amps I used.  The Schiit Magni and the FiiO E9 amps, they both performed relatively on par with each other and the tested DACs.  The DAC signatures noted were apparent with both amplifiers.  However, if I were to have to give the nod here, it would be for the Schiit Magni.  While on par, I still felt that the Magni just had a slightly more refined sound.  Again, this was just my sound and listening observations as I experienced.  I think in the E9, it happens to be more largely mass-produced and possibly, component variations that are internally utilized could periodically change from time-to-time based on availability.  Since Schiit is assembled on a smaller scale here in the U.S., it is quite possible that more attention can be paid towards the components that are purchased, and I’d like to believe that there might be some more consistency in what their components their amps are built upon.

Possibly, again, at another point in the future.  The Modi DAC was only sold so I could buy another item from the forum I had my eye on.  Being that I had the Muse Mini DAC, I put that into use and sold the Modi for the time being.

Finally, I feel as though a comment should be applied on the Shiit Modi DAC.  While not tested with any amps other than the Schiit Magni and only with my HifiMAN HE-400s, it provided a nice, even sound with the frequency ranges distributed without one range overpowering the other.  I just wish I could have had it for this comparison.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Enkaydian 

is it true that these headphones do not fair well with female vocals? i listen to trip hop/hip hop, jazz, electronic, and alot of laid back/chill music, how would 

Quiet - Rachael Yamagata sound for example?

I may be a little late here, but try the Jergpad mod if you want to improve female vocals. With velours there's something not right with it, it's quite hissy or tizzy as mentioned here a lot, but the jerpad mod helps tremendously here. Female vocals are fuller and slightly less sibilant.

Quote:

Originally Posted by MattTCG 

^^ Great mini review Wayne. Your impressions and time are appreciated. You certainly answered a few of my questions. 

You're welcome.  I skipped over the impressions of the ELE DAC - the $18.00 wonder on Ebay.  While good - designed as an excellent replacement to a computer sound card, I just didn't think that it was worthy of bringing into the comparison at the audio enthusiast, audiophile level.

I really should make a summary table of the impressions.  I think it might cut to the chase for those who don't like to read my paragraphs.

Edit: I should also note.  The guy who I purchased the Fiio D03K from, is local.  He has one left with the gold RCA ends, which means the potential exists for it to have the Cirrus-Logic DAC chip as the heart in it.  I'll be able to swap with him due to his generosity and apply some updates on the various revisions of that lil' DAC.

Edit # 2: As to the comments on the strident sound being detected on the Wolfson implementations, I think that this might carry itself over to the possible compounding of sibilants in the HE-400s.  But, time will tell on that.  I did see in the F/S form that Aimless is selling his HE-400s and J$ pads.  Also, I see where he had one of the Audio-GD DACs that he got from his father, and also had the HRT Musicstreamer II, which was recently sold.  The HRT MS II was a sweet sounding piece with the HE-400s from my previous experience.  It, too, was built around a Burr-Brown DAC chip.

Quote:

Originally Posted by FlySweep 

 

I do.. I've had it for about three weeks...  It's fan-freaking-tastic.  It's essentially 80-90% of the Violectric V200's performance (per trusted heads).  Can't imagine moving on from it unless I'm ready to drop $1200+ on my next amp.

 

The HE-400 loves it.. my IEMs love it.. and the (ultra-picky) HD800 sounds phenomenal on it (not surprising since the V200 is said to be a great match for the HD800).  The thing I really like about it is that it's got serious, clean power to drive orthos.. and drives my sensitive IEMs with excellent precision and nuance.  Seems rare to find that in an amp these days.  It's very transparent.. fantastic control and clarity.. the treble is ever-so-gently rolled off in the upper most frequencies.. so it smooths peaky, bright headphones without losing clarity.

 

I think it's a seriously underrated, overlooked amp here.. especially since it's coming from a company with an excellent pedigree (Violectric/Lake People).  Project86 has an excellent review of it at InnerFidelity.

OMG

Finally a product I can buy in europe 0_o  http://www.thomann.de/gb/lake_people_g103p_phoneamp.htm

I never really felt the need to upgrade my amp, even though I am using the hud-mx1 integrated amp from audinst. It sounds really good, but now I am curious.

How much of a step up would this amp be vs the integrated amp of the hud-mx1 (vor the he-400)?

Just had an idea that I thought may interest some here. I'm currently using the jergpad mod with my HE-400 and I really think it's breathed new life into these headphones, they are far more balanced now and less fatiguing, but I still can't get over comfort. I really miss the velour feel.

I checked on ebay and apparently you can get self adhesive velour material. Im thinking of buying that, cutting it and attaching it so that it fits on the top of the pleather pad, only the part that comes into contact with the skin. This may offer the best of both worlds, jerpad sound with velour feel.

Something like this or this.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mad Lust Envy 


!!!!!!!

Please tell us if/when you get it, how it feels/sounds. Depending on impressions/pictures... I may sell off some stuff to use that with a D7000... assuming I can get one.

Can't place an order just yet, need to re-arrange some funds first. But that's why I posted here, maybe someone who's willing could give it a go. Maybe next week I can order. Im anticipating good results!

I'll have to keep that stuff in mind when summer comes around, thanks beaver.

For the moment the J$ pads are perfect for me.

Just put the original Velour pads on mine.. and I can not get them to stay on. I managed to get 2 flips to get correct but not all four. Should I use violence or is there an easier way?

Quote:

Originally Posted by disaster8tio 

Just put the original Velour pads on mine.. and I can not get them to stay on. I managed to get 2 flips to get correct but not all four. Should I use violence or is there an easier way?

Personal insults usually work for me.