Thanks for the links!  The power and rectifier tubes are stock.  I am itching to try some different power tubes.  I have been looking at either some WE 7236 NOS from Woo Audio or some (cheaper) Winged "C" 6H13C / 6AS7G.  Any thoughts?

Hey All:   Joined the Woo Audio Wa2 family a few weeks ago.  Fantastic Amp!  Mainly listening with my HD800's.  I also have a Burson Soloist. The Burson is just as good, but quite different.  The transistor-ness of the Burson sound becomes evident side by side.  My only change to the Wa2 was...

Ok, I had to writing something.  I recently moved back to my home in NC from an apt in the northeast.  I reconnected my full system using my dac and computer as the front - JRiver>Benchmark DAC1>Sonic Frontiers Line 3>Bel Canto S500>Revel Studios Speakers.  Wow. This is all in my spare bedroom...

Quote:   Hello Acapella11:   I am hardly qualified to write a review of the Soloist.  But, I can say that I am thoroughly satisfied with the Soloist driving the HE500.  My impression is consistent with a number of reviews.  As for the sound signature, the Soloist exhibits a great deal...

Quote:   Wow,  I think that dip is part of why I like the HE500's.  My ears are really sensitive to any "shouting" in the mids.  I listening to a lot of female vocals where shouting is quite apparent and annoying to me.  I think shouting is also apparent with trumpet solos like those of...

Quote:   I agree with the other posters, the Lyr can definitely work with the HE500, but getting really good sound required - on my system at least - a bit of tube rolling and some patience.  I am low on patience.  I like to plug-play-and-forget.  The Lyr is quite a good bargain.  The...

Quote:   The Audiophileo should be an improvement over the V-Link 192.  Checkout this shootout thread between converters in another forum.  The original test was with the original v-link.  A retest included the v-link 192.  As I remember, on a scale of 100, the reviewer rated the...

I had the HE500's paired with a Lyr.  The combination was just ok.  I felt I could get best performance with tube rolling.  But, rolling really good tubes is expensive.  I decided to simply get another better amp - the Burson Soloist in my case.   

Quote:   Dubstep Girl, I have been listening to my system with my new V-Link 192 handling the USB-to-SPDIF conversion to my Benchmark DAC1 USB.  I am impressed with the results.  There is more detail, more air, and better soundstaging - not a transformational difference but easily...

I have a bit invested in a headphone system, but I must admit a REALLY good speaker system is magical.  I am talking about a system that is $20-30K (minimum) all-in with its own dedicated and well-treated room.  I think the minimum is changing a bit with computer audio capable of running the...

Wow...some of these comments make me want to pull my monoblocks out of storage to run my HE-500's...just kidding.  These cans aren't the easiest to drive...by that I mean make them "shine".  I had this conversation with the techies at Burson Audio after buying the Soloist to drive my HE-500...

Quote:   I can sympathize with audiophile boredom.  I actually create my own problems by fiddling with things I thought I was satisfied with.  This launches a whole new path of upgrades (or side-grades in a number of cases).  When it gets too bad (i.e. unwarranted upgrades)  I buy some...

Quote:   Join me in the poor house, mate.   There's a special section for poor audiophiles - they make you listen to your wallet - nothing else.   Different amps make a great deal of difference.  But, then again so does any significant change in the chain.  

The characteristics of the HE-500 or the LCD2 seem dependent on the associated equipment.  Some have reported either liking one or the other better based on the associated amp.  Both great cans it seems.  Economically, the HE-500 wins...IMHO.  When wearing the HE-500's I could forget I am...

Truth be told...I am just a nut for good audio equipment !period! whether the system consumes an entire room (did that), an entire car (did that), or a good portion of my desktop (doing that).  Did I fail to mention consumes an entire wallet!  I fear that many audiophiles are simply collectors...