[bmichels]

  Things to check on the power main:  Ground, voltage, heavy duty power cord  
 
Things to check in the power supply:  fuse, tubes, tube caps, loose wiring, contact cleaner
 
Did you try Dexoit on the tube caps?  I used it on all electrical connectors, tube pins, etc.     
 
http://store.caig.com/s.nl/sc.2/category.188/.f
 
I use a cotton swab (Q-Tip) to apply the 5% solution that cleans and protects the contact.

OK thanks I will check all this and ultimately but 2 new tubes.
 
I have not tried Dexoit, but... my EC445 is brand new, so the contacts should be clean and oxyde free ? 
 
 

 

[Rico613]

 

  Things to check on the power main:  Ground, voltage, heavy duty power cord  
 
Things to check in the power supply:  fuse, tubes, tube caps, loose wiring, contact cleaner
 
Did you try Dexoit on the tube caps?  I used it on all electrical connectors, tube pins, etc.     
 
http://store.caig.com/s.nl/sc.2/category.188/.f
 
I use a cotton swab (Q-Tip) to apply the 5% solution that cleans and protects the contact.

OK thanks I will check all this and ultimately but 2 new tubes.
 
I have not tried Dexoit, but... my ED5 is brand new, so the contacts should be clean and oxyde free ? 

not sure what ED5 is, but Deoxit is a good thing to have.  It has fixed numerous problems and I use it on everything including HDIM, USB, XLS, RCA, TRS, and 120v plugs and sockets.

 

[bmichels]

 
not sure what ED5 is, but Deoxit is a good thing to have.  It has fixed numerous problems and I use it on everything including HDIM, USB, XLS, RCA, TRS, and 120v plugs and sockets.

Sorry I wrote ED5 instead of EC445 !!  I need to go to sleep

 

[bmichels]

Was at a private audio meeting today where I did bring my EC445 (boy it is heavy to transport...in the train ! ) and of all the Headphones that I tried with it, I found that the best match with my amp was the Lcd-X.

Found it better than the ABYSS, LCD2 or the HD800 ( at least with my EC445).

This is strange because I do not believe that the EC445 is optimised for a 20 ohms only ! No ?


By the Way, the 445 is quite complicated to tranport by train: 1 large suitcase for the Amp + 1 large suitcase for the PSU + 1 small case for the cables/headphone...

 

[Sko0byDoo]

lcd-x = 25-ohm
 
4-45 is 8-ohm out (for speakers).  May be lcd-x got the most power output from 4-45; but low on bass damping.

 

[Rico613]

Was at a private audio meeting today where I did bring my EC445 (boy it is heavy to transport...in the train ! ) and of all the Headphones that I tried with it, I found that the best match with my amp was the Lcd-X.

Found it better than the ABYSS, LCD3 or the HD800 ( at least with my EC445).

This is strange because I do not believe that the EC445 is optimised for a 20 ohms only ! No ?

Man that is dedication to take your amp on a train trip !!!
 
Were those stock cables on the LCD 's ??  
 
I like love my LCD-3f with Silver Dragon 3 cable.  The bass on the HD800 seems muddy compared to the LCD-3f which makes sense I guess.  I didn't notice enough advantages with overall clarity, sound stage, or musicality with the HD800.  Maybe if I put a silver cable on it things would improve??   I was wondering if the LCD-X was worth switching out of the LCD-3f  ??  What do you think?  That much better?  I'd read some very positive reviews about the LCD-X, but then a very reputable dealer said don't bother switching out.
 
How's the HUM  ?

 

[bmichels]

Sorry, it was LCD-2 that I tried, not the 3 ! I wish there was a LCD-3 to test against the LCD-X because with it's 100 ohms the 3 should ( in theory) pair better than the X which is only 20 ohms ? But ... this is only "theory"

And... No Hummmmm there, so it is really my home électricité installation that sucks. Need to Fix it

By the way, everyone was impress by the EC445 (with Mesh plates). They found it less tubey than the Prautes but still "Silk & round" enough and very precise .

Also everyone was impress by my ULTRASONE ED5 and very surprise to find such précision in a closed back headphone.

 

[Rico613]

congrats on getting the Hum issue isolated.  I bet your house electrical system needs better grounding or maybe the voltage is wacko.  Better get it checked.  Nice that people were impressed with the 445.  I prefer mine over the the SR-009 and KGSSHV.  

 

[bmichels]

...,I prefer mine over the the SR-009 and KGSSHV.  

What DAC are you using with the 445 ?

 

[Rico613]

dCS Vivaldi DAC --> 445  --> LCD-3f (Moon Audio Silver Dragon 3 cable)
 
In my experience the biggest improvement in SQ comes from using an equalizer.   There is an extensive thread for that here.
 
EDIT: It may be a toss up between the LCD-3 and LCD-X.  I would certainly recommend getting a good silver cable on either one.  I'm happy with the Silver Dragon 3 from Moon Audio.  I'm tempted to build a solid silver cable for them one day.  

 

[bmichels]

So, what do you think ? is the 445 better match with a 100 ohms Headphone than with a 20 ohms headphone ? 

 

[Rico613]

I don't know.  I'd ask Craig if there would be a noticeable difference between the LCD-X at 25 ohms and the LCD-3 at 110 ohms.  

 

[lojay]

Was at a private audio meeting today where I did bring my EC445 (boy it is heavy to transport...in the train ! ) and of all the Headphones that I tried with it, I found that the best match with my amp was the Lcd-X.

Found it better than the ABYSS, LCD2 or the HD800 ( at least with my EC445).

This is strange because I do not believe that the EC445 is optimised for a 20 ohms only ! No

What other amps did you compare the 445 to?

My friends came over to try the Apex Teton and the 445. All were impressed by the 445's clarity, precision and micro dynamics. The Teton was warmer and had a good balance between detail and tube warmth, but it was no match to the 445 in soundstage, imaging and precision. I was using the HD800 and EML 45 solid plates in the 445. That said, the Teton had much better bass (due to it's impedance) and I preferred it to the 445 for pop recordings. Classical was much better on the 445.

 

[bmichels]

What other amps did you compare the 445 to?

My friends came over to try the Apex Teton and the 445. All were impressed by the 445's clarity, precision and micro dynamics. The Teton was warmer and had a good balance between detail and tube warmth, but it was no match to the 445 in soundstage, imaging and precision. I was using the HD800 and EML 45 solid plates in the 445. That said, the Teton had much better bass (due to it's impedance) and I preferred it to the 445 for pop recordings. Classical was much better on the 445.

 
Only compared it with the  Prautes which is more "tubey", but les precise that the 445.  
 
 
Some people almost considered that the 445 has a SS sound but still with the "silk softness" of a tube. A very good compromise in their opinion ... if the DAC is not too analytical.   Personally I prefered the ABYSS with the Prautes and the LCD-X with the 445.
 
A tube DAC may be a very good complement to the 445. An AYON tube dac was there but we could not connect it to the 445.  too bad....

 A

 

[lojay]

Only compared it with the [COLOR=333333] Prautes which is more "tubey", but les precise that the 445.  [/COLOR]


[COLOR=333333]Some people almost considered that the 445 has a SS sound but still with the "silk softness" of a tube. A very good compromise in their opinion ... if the DAC is not too analytical.   Personally I prefered the ABYSS with the Prautes and the LCD-X with the 445.[/COLOR]

[COLOR=333333]A tube DAC may be a very good complement to the 445. An AYON tube dac was there but we could not connect it to the 445.  too bad....[/COLOR] [COLOR=333333] [/COLOR]A

I like the MSB Analog with the 445, esp via Audiophellio & AES converter into the AES input.