Little Dot Mk II, Grado SR225e, Beyerdynamic DT-880... Still not quite happy... Suggestions?
Oct 20, 2016 at 7:37 PM Thread Starter Post #1 of 13

bloodlemons

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Hey guys!
 
First post. I have done a lot of lurking and reading on this site, but I can't find exact answers to my current dilemma:
 
I have a newish Little Dot Mk II with Mullard M8100 drivers and Novosibirsk 6N6P power tubes. I have been trying to find the right headphones to pair with it. I already had a pair of Sony MDR-7506s, but those are more for monitoring than recreational listening. I picked up a pair of Grado SR225e's and they sounded pretty good, but lacked bass. So I picked up the TTVJ flat pads and that seemed to help, but I can't get over feeling like the soundstage (particularly vocals) sounds "congested," for lack of a better word. It sounds pretty good, but I keep wanting to turn them down a bit to back off that congested tone and of course that's not working. Plus the soundstage is pretty unimpressive. 
 
I then picked up a pair of Beyerdynamic DT-880s (600 ohms). No congestion here, but even though there is a decent amount of volume at full gain and full volume, it doesn't feel like the Little Dot is driving the cans hard enough, and there is hardly any bass. Sad panda. 
 
So now I have three pair of fairly decent headphones and none are them are making me happy. I suspect that driving the DT-880s harder may be the answer, but I don't really want to replace the Little Dot Mk II so soon after just getting it and rolling the tubes, etc. I read some things about JMoney leather pads for the DT-880s, but it looks like those were somewhat controversial at the time and hard to come by now. 
 
I can't be the only one here who's run through these pairings. Does anyone have any advice regarding these pieces?
 
Thanks in advance! 
 
Matthew
 
Oct 20, 2016 at 11:59 PM Post #2 of 13
  Hey guys!
 
First post. I have done a lot of lurking and reading on this site, but I can't find exact answers to my current dilemma:
 
I have a newish Little Dot Mk II with Mullard M8100 drivers and Novosibirsk 6N6P power tubes. I have been trying to find the right headphones to pair with it. I already had a pair of Sony MDR-7506s, but those are more for monitoring than recreational listening. I picked up a pair of Grado SR225e's and they sounded pretty good, but lacked bass. So I picked up the TTVJ flat pads and that seemed to help, but I can't get over feeling like the soundstage (particularly vocals) sounds "congested," for lack of a better word. It sounds pretty good, but I keep wanting to turn them down a bit to back off that congested tone and of course that's not working. Plus the soundstage is pretty unimpressive. 
 
I then picked up a pair of Beyerdynamic DT-880s (600 ohms). No congestion here, but even though there is a decent amount of volume at full gain and full volume, it doesn't feel like the Little Dot is driving the cans hard enough, and there is hardly any bass. Sad panda. 
 
So now I have three pair of fairly decent headphones and none are them are making me happy. I suspect that driving the DT-880s harder may be the answer, but I don't really want to replace the Little Dot Mk II so soon after just getting it and rolling the tubes, etc. I read some things about JMoney leather pads for the DT-880s, but it looks like those were somewhat controversial at the time and hard to come by now. 
 
I can't be the only one here who's run through these pairings. Does anyone have any advice regarding these pieces?

 
I have an HD600 and Meier Cantate and the midbass is comparable to SR Grados - if there's a dynamic note there it will pop out as long as you have the volume loud enough. I have an EQ correction on the 3150hz and 8500hz spikes though. I had the Little Dot MkII before and it was making me doze off - even my Philips CD60's headphone output had as much oomph as that OTL amp. Other options are the Schiit Valhalla and the Violectric V100; also the current Meiers if my Cantate.2 is any indication.
 
Try the HD650 and the Lyr.
 
Oct 21, 2016 at 12:44 AM Post #3 of 13
  First post. I have done a lot of lurking and reading on this site, but I can't find exact answers to my current dilemma:
I have a newish Little Dot Mk II with Mullard M8100 drivers and Novosibirsk 6N6P power tubes. I have been trying to find the right headphones to pair with it. I already had a pair of Sony MDR-7506s, but those are more for monitoring than recreational listening. I picked up a pair of Grado SR225e's and they sounded pretty good, but lacked bass. So I picked up the TTVJ flat pads and that seemed to help, but I can't get over feeling like the sound stage (particularly vocals) sounds "congested," for lack of a better word. It sounds pretty good, but I keep wanting to turn them down a bit to back off that congested tone and of course that's not working. Plus the sound stage is pretty unimpressive. 
I then picked up a pair of Beyerdynamic DT-880s (600 ohms). No congestion here, but even though there is a decent amount of volume at full gain and full volume, it doesn't feel like the Little Dot is driving the cans hard enough, and there is hardly any bass. Sad panda. 
So now I have three pair of fairly decent headphones and none are them are making me happy. I suspect that driving the DT-880s harder may be the answer, but I don't really want to replace the Little Dot Mk II so soon after just getting it and rolling the tubes, etc. I read some things about JMoney leather pads for the DT-880s, but it looks like those were somewhat controversial at the time and hard to come by now. 
I can't be the only one here who's run through these pairings. Does anyone have any advice regarding these pieces?

 
Assuming your source is a Windows PC and you have the LittleDot MKII connected directly to the PC's on-board audio (the Front Speaker/headphone) jack?
 
Have you maxed out the volume settings on the PC, feeding the MKII as strong a signal as possible?
Set the on-board audio to 2.0-channel speaker out (not headphone out), for your on-board to feed the best signal possible, to the MKII
 
I would say to buy a Asus Xonar DX sound card (used, $40-$60), it's CS4398 DAC chip should be better then whatever is built into the motherboard.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/122176360317?_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT
A Schiit Modi DAC (USB or Uber) is another option
http://www.ebay.com/itm/201694540857?_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT
http://www.ebay.com/itm/272415170776?_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT
 
Oct 21, 2016 at 1:41 PM Post #4 of 13
Sorry, guys. I should have indicated that my source is usually a mid-70s Harman Kardon turntable through an early-60s HK tube amp (A-300). For digital content, I just stream into the same amp through Airport. 
 
Honestly, Airport sounds better than the TT through the Grados. Maybe I just need to tweak my tracking force on the TT... 
 
Oct 21, 2016 at 3:16 PM Post #5 of 13
Im a bit confused,you mention a Little Dot,and then you say you have a vintage HK tube amp.....

Doesnt the HK headphone out drive your phones well?


I use an early 70s Sansui receiver as my headphone amp and it manhandles everything I throw at it,including both my vintage AKGs,which are notoriously hard to drive.

EDIT: nevermind I looked your amp up and apparently it doesnt have a headphone jack...the HK 700 does,but not the 300....
 
Oct 22, 2016 at 4:49 PM Post #7 of 13
Right. The A300 has no headphone out, which is why I picked up the Little Dot.
You just need a different amp. From what I've read the Little Dot MKIi is not the best at running high impedance headphones. Something like a Project Ember or other hybrid would do or go crazy and do some speaker taps if you watch the volume.
 
Oct 22, 2016 at 8:44 PM Post #8 of 13
Since youre already into vintage gear,get yourself an old receiver off of Fleabay....

Sansui,Pioneer,Marantz and Concept are all highly regarded.
You dont even need to get a monster 100+wpc either.....

those old receivers will make most any headphone sound beastly
 
Oct 23, 2016 at 1:37 AM Post #9 of 13
You just need a different amp. From what I've read the Little Dot MKIi is not the best at running high impedance headphones. Something like a Project Ember or other hybrid would do or go crazy and do some speaker taps if you watch the volume.


Speaker taps? I didn't know you could do that. If I understand the term... Can anyone here point me to a trustworthy tutorial on the subject? I would love to give that a shot. 
normal_smile .gif

 
Oct 23, 2016 at 10:25 AM Post #11 of 13
Speaker taps? I didn't know you could do that. If I understand the term... Can anyone here point me to a trustworthy tutorial on the subject? I would love to give that a shot. 
normal_smile%20.gif
Mostly for HE-6's as they are real hard to drive but can be done for others as well.
 
Oct 23, 2016 at 1:13 PM Post #12 of 13
Mostly for HE-6's as they are real hard to drive but can be done for others as well.

I currently am trying to get an HE-6,and those would be the ONLY headphone I'd consider using a speaker tap for.

If you research my AKG K340s you might see where theyre referred to as the hardest headphone(pre he-6,non Stax)to drive ever.
The same can be said about the AKG K240 sextetts being only slightly easier.

The HE-500 while not as hard to drive as the above AKGs,are known to be quite power hungry.

My Sansui drives them all VERY easily.

I keep pushing vintage receivers as headphone amps because I wish someone had told me about them way back when I first got into this hobby.It wouldve saved me a lot of frustration and headaches.
 
Oct 23, 2016 at 3:03 PM Post #13 of 13
I currently am trying to get an HE-6,and those would be the ONLY headphone I'd consider using a speaker tap for.


If you research my AKG K340s you might see where theyre referred to as the hardest headphone(pre he-6,non Stax)to drive ever.

The same can be said about the AKG K240 sextetts being only slightly easier.


The HE-500 while not as hard to drive as the above AKGs,are known to be quite power hungry.


My Sansui drives them all VERY easily.


I keep pushing vintage receivers as headphone amps because I wish someone had told me about them way back when I first got into this hobby.It wouldve saved me a lot of frustration and headaches.
I think any headphones can be run on speaker taps you just have to watch the volume. I won't do it because I would forget and blow my headphones up ; ) I think e stats are more voltage than wattage but I could be wrong.
 

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