Some people like V shaped frequency response.  Flat as a pancake can sound weird too.  Really it is personal preference - which will change also - even daily, lol!   Reminds me of some zen monks looking at a flag waiving in the wind.  One says the flag  is moving, the other says the wind...

Quote:   How dare you compare a wire to a hardware equalizer!  My DEQ2496 is offended greatly!

The SHE3580 don't have a problem with sibilance (which is around 2-3,000 hz i think) but above that its pretty messy.  Cymbols sound a little off.  Not refined if you will like my RE0 or my HD650s.  It can be improved with a parametric EQ.  I'm not sure you can make it perfect - maybe if you...

Quote: I would just get the same type and brand of tube - preferably the same batch date.  I actually prefer a little bit of imbalance in the tubes since my right ear is weaker than my left.  I can get a more centered sound puting the stronger tube on the right side.  That's just my thing...

Quote: Please, do yourself a favor and rip to FLAC.  It's lossless too.  That way you'll save yourself a little disc space and be able to use tags.

Switching to higher gain should not cause distortion. You just have less volume control (knob movement) over the normal volume levels unless the lower gain is just not loud enough.  I've never heard distortion on my MKIII at high or any gain.

Everyone really should get at least one set of EF92 and EF91 tubes.  Both these type of tubes are most likely going to be British and they have great soundstage vs the EF95 tubes.  Not saying they're better - just different and worth trying.

You don't want to mix tubes.  Its like if you used a different padding or wire for the left headphone versus the right.  One controls the left and one controls the right. 

sofastreamer have you heard the RE0's.  They have great trebble thats non-fatiquing.  They're just too lean sounding to me.  I got to have the bass right.  Anyway, you've heard a lot more IEMs than i have, so thats just a thought. 

Quote:   Sorry, what i meant from sound outside the body was that I prefer speakers to headphones.

Quote:   I don't think its anything like the HD650 and I've never heard one, lol.  The LCD-2 sure have me intrigued though.   Regardless, the HD650s are keepers for me.  Honestly, they are my price peak for headphones.  Sound outside of the body (beyond the outer ear zone) is still...

Quote:   That pretty much my curve - however, a parametric EQ will handle the curves more smoothly.  Also, for other headphones (not so much the HD650) you can surgically remove upper frequency ringing - see the "how to EQ you headphones thread".  Personally, i don't hear any upper...

Quote:   If you can listen to speakers without bothering people - go for them first.  Get your speaker set up done first and then focus on headphones if you need to.  Most of us have headphones as the secondary playback method.  BTW i have the older Monitor Audio bronze speakers which I...

The HD650 are 300 ohm but they are pretty sensitive.  Litte dot actually recommends the middle gain for them (high ohm and high sensitivity).  In fact, at max gain I can barely get my volume knob up to 40!  However, alot of that has to do with your source.  My DEQ2496 is a pro gear and runs at...

Quote:   The bass hump starts about 100 hz and end around 800-900 hz.  Thats why I use a wide (2 oct) parametric curve and drop it -3 dB.  So other than your settings at 75 - 3.5 hz, your setting are close to mine i think.  Try dropping those down or removing them and see what you think.

Just don't go crazy buying tubes.  I haven't had one burn out yet!

This fixes most of the issues with HD650.   Makes them faster too, lol   50 Hz LP(12dB) +3.5 dB 390 Hz 2 oct BW -3.0 dB 5000 Hz HP(6dB) +3.5 dB   Thats all they need!  Make those beautiful mids come out.  Bring back some sparkle .  No more veil which is really just the...

Honestly, I don't thing tubes need break in.  Thats my very limited experience with the little dot amp - my only tube experience. 

He's still in the honeymoon phase, but yeah, these are the HPs I would like to try too!  ;)

Quote: Yes only great after EQ, but a hell of a value regardless mainly for the nice bass.

Did he just say he uses IEMs at church

I haven't added anything to this thread in a while, but my favorite tubes right now are (at least they are parked in my amp for the past 6 months)   Amperex 6AM6 EF91   I wonder if these are the same as the famed Bugle Boys?  I mainly like them for the extra soundstage (EF91 are all...

They sound the same to me. I have the black SHE3590 and the blue SHE3582 (same model/box as the 3580).

Thats what I feel after taking off any cans and listening to my home stereo!   Then again I'm alway blown away by how good my Fuze/KSC-75 combo playing FLAC files.  I'm at work though, so maybe that has something to do with it.  At home, with a good beer and my home stereo - that's my prefered...

Very nice review!  I had a question though...   "Ovals fit the human ear better than circles in my opinion. It ensures that the ear will not have a pad resting on it. One criticism I have heard in the past is that the pads are so large that they can exert some pressure on the jaw."   I...