MLGrado
500+ Head-Fier
I just purchased an Icon Stereo 20PP tube integrated with headphone output. It was a demo model, so I am unaware of how many hours are on the tubes. I also know very little about the stock tubes, other than they are chinese in origin.
I have a set of Grado RS1i headphones as my go to references. They are themselves quite forward in the upper mids, but I never found this to be an issue with any of my previous amps. As a matter of fact, they sing beautifully via the headphone output of my iFi iDSD Micro. But with this new Icon Amp, that I want to like, the mids go past that tipping point into excessive. I get ear fatigue rather quickly.
I have ordered a set of new tubes that should be here tomorrow. They are all of the JJ variety. My understanding is the JJ tubes might be a bit on the darker side, so hopefully I get back some amp/headphone synergy here.
All that said, any further recommendations on tubes to try, before I use this as an excuse to drop a grand on a pair of Audeze headphones?
I have a set of Grado RS1i headphones as my go to references. They are themselves quite forward in the upper mids, but I never found this to be an issue with any of my previous amps. As a matter of fact, they sing beautifully via the headphone output of my iFi iDSD Micro. But with this new Icon Amp, that I want to like, the mids go past that tipping point into excessive. I get ear fatigue rather quickly.
I have ordered a set of new tubes that should be here tomorrow. They are all of the JJ variety. My understanding is the JJ tubes might be a bit on the darker side, so hopefully I get back some amp/headphone synergy here.
All that said, any further recommendations on tubes to try, before I use this as an excuse to drop a grand on a pair of Audeze headphones?