Regarding upgrades, I got the P&G volume pot (and have been quite happy with it), but I recently read that the folks at Eddie Current do NOT recommend most folks to opt for it. You might want to contact them directly and see what they advise given your particular system profile.   One...

Liu Junyuan:   Thanks for the kind words.   But . . . like . . . you preceded “I admire your refusal to get caught up in the trap of tube rolling” with “The Mullard ECC35 is really what brings the HD650 up the next level.” How in the world am I supposed to maintain my resistance in the...

Well, I’m way overdue with this review. I got my ZDS back in June, and I’ve been enjoying listening to it so much in every spare moment that I’ve never gotten around to sharing my impressions on this thread, which I found so informative in the amp/tube buying process. So, at long last, here are...

Okay, let's just say "more mellow" :wink:

Oh, now I'm REALLY anxious for my ZDS to arrive! Knowing it'll improve my speaker set up, too, just makes it all the more exciting. And frankly the Thiels could always use a little help on the bottom end, so the Sophia might be just the ticket. Or maybe something bloomier...ill have to play...

Thanks, as always, AppleheadMay, for the speedy reply. So the Zana DOES impart some of its signature to the amp? That would be great. I've got some Thiel 1.6 floorstanders and my Rotel amp had always made them sound just a little lean/brittle. Maybe a very warm tube via the Zana would change the...

Wow, Afghan Vet, that black-top Zana is a thing of beauty. I seriously considered getting that model myself, but I already had committed to the P&G volume pot upgrade--and the Zana was busting my budget as it was. But it’s sooooo nice to look at….   And, hey, while I’m getting ready for my own...

Okay, I've got another ZDS question, this time about placement and heat generation:   The most logical spot to place my ZDS would be on the top glass shelf of my electronics shelving unit, where it would sit about two inches to the right of my B&W center channel speaker. Does the ZDS vent so...

Wow, thanks for the speedy responses, AppleheadMay  and c1187!   Looks like a RCA 5691 redbase is in my future. As for the Sophia 6SL7--yikes, $100 for "Grade A"! I'd have to think about that. I might just save up for a Mullard ECC35 and stick with the 5691 till then.

Hey, all. I sent in my order form/check via snail mail on Friday, so the folks at EC should receive it today. Can't wait to hear the finished product!   As I'm preparing for the arrival of my ZDS, thought I'd start scoping out tubes, and I've got a couple questions:   Is there a difference...

Final update re Novomusica.com: I just e-mailed them about it, and they replied:   "Sorry but no shipment to America. Transportation costs are quite high."

Oh, and I just looked a bit more closely at the Meier Audio website and found that orders over €1000/$1100 get a 6% price reduction. This means the final price there would be €1259.60/$1386.50.

FYI, if you're ordering outside the EU (i.e., no VAT), that price is only 21 euros less than Meier Audio's listed price  (€1340/$1475), and Jan Meier seems to have a rock solid reputation based on comments in the "Sennheiser HD800S Unveiled" thread. Lots of satisfied customers there. Don't know...

While we're throwing out requests for comparison, I'd really like to know how the 800S compares to the Ether (open). When you factor in the Ether's balanced DUM cable, these are very close in price, and from what I gather the sound signature is similar. I'm looking to upgrade soon, and these are...

Hi, all. Newbie here.   I wanted to pass along some additional burn-in advice I received from Dr. Cavalli.   I had been holding off burning in my LC after I read his post from 11/17/15: “It is ok to burn in without headphones. It is better to burn-in with balanced headphones. It is worse to...