It does take awhile to break in, as most will confirm. Stick with it...

I posted my sincere thanks for your exemplary work investigating DACs some time ago, dropped off the forums (fora?) and now have made a small return. And there you still are, answering all and sundry with infinite patience and one of the best attitudes I have ever seen. Thank you Torq.

No, I am quite happy with the SQ from the 430HA and I would find all the disconnect/reconnect a pain... Did have Wharfedale IsoDynamic headphones running off the speaker terminals of an amp back in the 70’s though...

I enjoy my PS Audio DirectStream Memory Player, DirectStream DAC, Simaudio Moon 700i and Simaudio Moon Nēo 430HA...

My HE-1000v2 hang from a Sennheiser HE-1 (I think) headphone support which is attached to one of the shelves of my rack. The only light pressure is from the headphones weight on the headband. I think this is acceptable and better than compressing the earpads. Not sure if the Sennheiser HE-1 is...

Usually works the other way...

PS Audio DirectStream DAC to Simaudio Moon Nēo 430HA to HE-1000v2 Very happy...

Thank you, TheAttorney. Have we not gone through all this a number of times before? I like Toxic Cables cables, especially SW22 (Silver Widow 22AWG). The cable I use with my HE-1000v2 is a reterminated ALO Audio Reference 16, originally used with HE-500s and adapted by the renowned Oscar Stewart.

You don’t have to apologise. Maybe I should, I did not mean to criticise.

If you read it as I wrote it... Yes, Heimdall2 uses Oxygen Free Copper. I forget how many 9’s it has!

Heimdall2 is much better, as are Toxic Cables SW22 and most silver cables.

My sources are whatever gets fed into my Moon 700i amplifier. TV sound, SACD/CD, Streaming. Waiting to rebuild my turntable.

Mine sounded great, straight out of the box. Few days later, sounded dreadful. Kept using them and after about a week, they sounded great again and have improved over the last six months. Clearer sound, no smearing, wider soundstage, space between instruments especially on live tracks, female...

And it is very good on a Schiit Lyr with Siemens E288CC tubes. I have now gone SS with the Simaudio Moon 430HA.

I’m with you... And the warranty is not supported... HE-1000v2 CAN be bought with a small discount in the UK if you know where to go...