Gradofan2
Headphoneus Supremus
- Joined
- Jul 2, 2005
- Posts
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"Electronics are funny things" - I'm not even sure I'd understand it all any better... if... I were an EE. I'm not sure you can actually predict, accurately what the sound of any combination of components will produce.
I listened to my DV332, for the last time just before I shipped it out this weekend, with a different tube set, than I'd listened to previously... and... thought I'd made a big mistake selling it - it sounded so great with the new tubes and my RS-1s, D5000s, AD2000s... and... especially my HD580/600s. Absolutely... incredible (with all the usual adjectives and descripters of such sound quality being applicable).
I'm replacing it with the SP Extreme and the maxed out WA6 - I'll see how they compare in a few weeks. Though I'm skeptical that they can sound any better than... what I've discovered... by chance.
In the meantime... I'm forced to "make do" with what I have left, which is: my Monarchy M24 Tube DAC + Line Stage, my Marantz SA-8001, and my Cal Audio Alpha Tube DAC, driven through my... get this... Shellbrook Audio Labs Maxi Moy portable SS amp w OPA627s (a simple $100 SS amp).
The M24 has a tube line stage with a POT that can drive my Senns about as well as any amp - which is also incredible - and it was sounding great. Though it doesn't provide enough current output to drive my low impedance phones well.
So... I routed the signal from the M24 DAC and line stage to my Maxi Moy... and immediately the sound took on "incredible" new power and life for all my phones... but... my low impedance phones were now pretty bright... though still great.
Next... I tried my Marantz SA-8001 SACD with my Maxi-Moy, because the SA-8001s highs are more subdued. But... that combo... seemed too laid-back and reserved.
Finally... I routed the signal from my SA-8001... though the line stage of my M24... to my Maxi Moy... and"VOILA" or "BOOM"... pick whatever adjective you prefer... "TO THE MAX!"
Bass, details, soundstage, clarity, resolution, balance - you pick 'em - just simply incredible! Especially, with my low impedance phones - Denons, Grados and ATHs. The D5000s sound better than I've ever heard them... as do my RS-1s, and AD2000s - all low impedance phones - even better than with the X-CANv8, I think (though its been a month since I've heard that).
The D5000s... are literally astonishing - balanced, fast, tight, clear, detailed, resolved, airy, etc., etc.
The HD580/600s sound incredible as well - though they sound slightly better out of the Maxi Moy driven by my M24 DAC and line stage.
I'm reminded of some posts a year, or so, ago by "Akwok" I think, or it might have been "ASR," or "Chesebert," or someone - that the SS GLite, or GS-1, driven by the M24 were "about as good as it gets" - which is what motivated me to research and buy the M24. Seemed like the combination of SS and tubes - just gets the sound right.
This experience with the SS SA-8001, M24 and SS Maxi Moy... have taught me some valuable lessons.
First... SS "done right," with the right combination of components, can sound virtually as good as tube equipment - though, my M24 does have a tube line stage, which adds warmth and liquidity.
Second... very modestly priced components "done right" can sound, virtually, as good as the most expensive.
And...
Finally... "its all about matching components" (i.e. impedance matching, current matching, voltage matching, etc.).
The most terrible sounding phones with one set up (D5000s, or Senns, or whatever) can become the "World's Best Sounding Phones" with the right matching set up!
Quite literally!
I listened to my DV332, for the last time just before I shipped it out this weekend, with a different tube set, than I'd listened to previously... and... thought I'd made a big mistake selling it - it sounded so great with the new tubes and my RS-1s, D5000s, AD2000s... and... especially my HD580/600s. Absolutely... incredible (with all the usual adjectives and descripters of such sound quality being applicable).
I'm replacing it with the SP Extreme and the maxed out WA6 - I'll see how they compare in a few weeks. Though I'm skeptical that they can sound any better than... what I've discovered... by chance.
In the meantime... I'm forced to "make do" with what I have left, which is: my Monarchy M24 Tube DAC + Line Stage, my Marantz SA-8001, and my Cal Audio Alpha Tube DAC, driven through my... get this... Shellbrook Audio Labs Maxi Moy portable SS amp w OPA627s (a simple $100 SS amp).
The M24 has a tube line stage with a POT that can drive my Senns about as well as any amp - which is also incredible - and it was sounding great. Though it doesn't provide enough current output to drive my low impedance phones well.
So... I routed the signal from the M24 DAC and line stage to my Maxi Moy... and immediately the sound took on "incredible" new power and life for all my phones... but... my low impedance phones were now pretty bright... though still great.
Next... I tried my Marantz SA-8001 SACD with my Maxi-Moy, because the SA-8001s highs are more subdued. But... that combo... seemed too laid-back and reserved.
Finally... I routed the signal from my SA-8001... though the line stage of my M24... to my Maxi Moy... and"VOILA" or "BOOM"... pick whatever adjective you prefer... "TO THE MAX!"
Bass, details, soundstage, clarity, resolution, balance - you pick 'em - just simply incredible! Especially, with my low impedance phones - Denons, Grados and ATHs. The D5000s sound better than I've ever heard them... as do my RS-1s, and AD2000s - all low impedance phones - even better than with the X-CANv8, I think (though its been a month since I've heard that).
The D5000s... are literally astonishing - balanced, fast, tight, clear, detailed, resolved, airy, etc., etc.
The HD580/600s sound incredible as well - though they sound slightly better out of the Maxi Moy driven by my M24 DAC and line stage.
I'm reminded of some posts a year, or so, ago by "Akwok" I think, or it might have been "ASR," or "Chesebert," or someone - that the SS GLite, or GS-1, driven by the M24 were "about as good as it gets" - which is what motivated me to research and buy the M24. Seemed like the combination of SS and tubes - just gets the sound right.
This experience with the SS SA-8001, M24 and SS Maxi Moy... have taught me some valuable lessons.
First... SS "done right," with the right combination of components, can sound virtually as good as tube equipment - though, my M24 does have a tube line stage, which adds warmth and liquidity.
Second... very modestly priced components "done right" can sound, virtually, as good as the most expensive.
And...
Finally... "its all about matching components" (i.e. impedance matching, current matching, voltage matching, etc.).
The most terrible sounding phones with one set up (D5000s, or Senns, or whatever) can become the "World's Best Sounding Phones" with the right matching set up!
Quite literally!