Quote:   Then that truly would be what I call progress.     I think your concerns are misplaced.   --Jerome

While I think some mods can improve what is already a good product, no amount of modding is going to turn what you think is a sow's ear into a silk purse.  I thought the HE-400s were pretty terrible headphones.  Many like them; I don't.  There is nothing wrong with people liking them, and there...

Quote:   That's a very fair point and I appreciate you bringing it up.   I was thinking the same thing, wondering what else is different on the newer WA2 builds.   --Jerome

Quote:   Let's see if this helps provide a little perspective.  I'm 54 years old and have been around audio since 1975.  So this isn't my first barbecue and I know what good sound is.  So when I say that the sound is loud enough you should assume that it doesn't sound bad.  No one would...

Quote:   I knew Jack changed rectifier tubes on the WA2 a while back.  I bought mine in 2007 and have been using it as a preamp in my speaker rig ever since.    I would be interested to know which WA2 Skylab was using with his HE-500s.   --Jerome

Quote:   The problem however, is there are too many people with no experience with the HE-500 and the WA2 specifically commenting about it...and too few people commenting who have direct experience.  I almost didn't buy the HE-500s because of all the comments about the WA2...until I found...

Surprisingly, the HE-500s sound pretty respectable on the measly 100mw that the Teac UD-501 can supply.  I have the volume cranked up all the way.  It's loud enough and doesn't distort.  But I prefer the sound of the WA2 and will continue to use it until the Emotiva arrives.   --Jerome

Quote:   LOL!  I had a Teac UD-501 DAC arrive via UPS today.  I'm using it to listen to a recording of Brahms Piano Concerto No. 2 on my speaker set up.  It also has a 100mw headphone amp, and after reading your post I think I will try it with the HE-500 just for giggles.   --Jerome

Quote:   Well I own a WA2 and am currently using it with my HE-500s, and I don't agree that it can't drive the HE-500s and produce satisfying sound.  On my WA2 the highest I can go on the volume knob before it becomes painfully loud is 1 O'clock.  Someone else might have a different...

I think it's rather funny that some folks are planning how David is going to spend his free time. LOL   --Jerome

Quote:   I received a refund notification from Paypal this morning.  Thanks!   --Jerome

Quote:   That's what I did.  You should read through this thread if you haven't already...   http://www.head-fi.org/t/629352/he-500-lcd2-d5000-dt770-sr80-on-a-speaker-amp-emotiva-mini-x-a-100-project   I ordered the Emotiva Mini-X A-100 this morning.  For a cable, I went to the...

Quote:   I would prefer to withhold any further comment for now.  After all, these are just my initial impressions after listening to only three albums.  That is not enough of a sampling of music IMO; certainly not enough to spend any appreciable amount of time trying to figure out what...

Quote:   The stock cable is microphonic junk IMO, and appears so fragile that it will fall apart if you look at it the wrong way.  So for me it is a question of cable quality and my confidence in it.  I paid a little over $200 for a braided 8-strand cable from BGT-Audio .  Yes, I agree...

Quote: Nope.  That was with the velour pads.  I thought the HE-400s were unlistenable with the pleather pads.    It could have been a problem with my pair of headphones, but I didn't like the HE-400 enough to exchange it for another pair to find out.   --Jerome