The essential problem is that technical improvement does not necessarily translate into better enjoyment of music. This goes back a long way (I'm going to pick on Sennheiser because they should have known better). The HD-650 was a technical improvement in terms of speed and detailing over the...

Actually, I had an SR1a on a trial basis for a couple of weeks. It was an upgrade in many categories, but it appeared to be awful with some vocals. It also didn't seem to have the ability to expand and contract the sound stage the way the K-1000 can. When I went back to the K-1000 after the...

I've owned about a half dozen HP-1000 variants over the years. Finally sold all of them. Then again, I've never been a big fan of neutral sound. I've had a bunch of high end cans come through, but there are still three headphones that I go to when I want to listen to music rather than...

Basically, the 580 volt bias out of a Stax amp could cause the stator to stick to the membrane. In some of the then new construction HE90's, a small spacer (micron or two) was left out, reducing the gap between the stator and the membrane. No problem with 500 v bias, but a problem with the...

I owned an HP4 many years ago. Yes, you can tube roll vintage 6SL7's to your heart's content. However, you do need to exercise some caution. I found that many of the NOS tubes would wear out very very quickly. If you've got a decent tube tester, this will appear as a major drop in mutual...

I plan to be there. Will bring HE90 and ES1. I'm not exactly a morning person (OK, I'd be perfectly happy if mornings were abolished) but will try to get there sometime before noon (shudder). I've got a couple of folding tables and some folding chairs, but would need someone to help with...

I'm going to try and make this one. If I can get there,  I can bring a some oldies but goodies:     Sennheiser HE-90 Sony R-10 AKG K-1000 Stax Omega 2 Mk.1  Denon D-7000   Somebody is already bring a Focal Utopia, so I won't (but can if need be).   If I can find it, I can bring a...

End game setup snuck up on me.  Basically, it was a realization that almost anyone who isn't an audiophile recognizes instantly:  It's not about the gear, it's about the music.  At bedtime, I often put on headphones and pick up a book. However, if I'm actually able to read the book, then the...

Quote: Huh?   You receive a phone call at the end of the work day. You answer the phone (which is a highly bandwidth-limited device for voice transmission, incidentally).  A voice says "Hello".  You immediately recognize the voice of your SO, who you have not spoken to since that...

A lot of people have heard this, as it was quite popular a few years back. I've owned two of them at various times. You need to be careful how old the amp is. The earlier ones have the transformer mounted on the board: not good when the amp is being shipped. Later versions had the transformer...

Recovering from Philadelphia Pen Show and getting ready to head out to LA in two weeks. The quest for pens goes on... Finds in Philly included a Chilton Clown with nice color and a Seth Crocker Full-Filling pen (not very common).

I've still got my Carlo-modded SHA-1. He only did a couple of these (and I don't think he had a funky name for the modded SHA-1), as most of his mods were on SHA-Golds. Sounds better than any other SHA-1 I've heard, but I've never compared it to a full Maestrobator.

There are also a host of known modifications that greatly enhance its performance. Best bet is to call fullcompass. The DI/O was rarely on their website.

Quote: Originally Posted by markmaxx If you want to hear some nice headphones we need Hirsch, to show up. Great man, and he has all the cool headphones. Looks like a great meet! I was trying to get there, but had other obligations. Will be at the next one, if I can. I've been...

This may not be the oldest, prettiest, or best sounding, but it's a dedicated stereo headphone amp. Note that the primary input is for phono. As with all products of its time, it's got a phono stage built in.

Quote: Originally Posted by immtbiker They have 25' rolls of RCA "Home Theater" quality speaker cable that's something like $6. 99.9% pure, at Home Depot, that also does double duty as lamp shade cable. I've got some of the solid core Home Depot wire that Audio Asylum was raving...

Quote: Originally Posted by immtbiker They warned me that the LSD 25 would cause a lifetime of flashbacks. And they were right. It's even printed on the lamp shade right next to you. Look closely. However, I was serious that I have the interconnects. While this thread is not...

Quote: Originally Posted by immtbiker I would love to hear a review, not DBT from a Head-Fier with good ears, comparing them against lamp shade cord. You have 45 days, and nobody gets hurt (except for maybe the Home Depot lampshade spool). I've got a pair of the Ultraclear...

ISTR that the R10 ceased production around 2004. The following should be treated as unconfirmed rumor: One of the things that I heard, but don't know for certain, is that the engineer responsible for the R10 retired, and that there was simply nobody to replace him. With the expertise...

Quote: Originally Posted by leeperry too bad noone knows for how long the R10 drivers will keep working, and yet it doesn't kill its second hand price.. The majority of the R10's were built early in production (roughly 1989-1992, IIRC). Those drivers have been working for up to...

Quote: Originally Posted by kwkarth Wait, wait, wait, we need a DBT test here. I have done a strict DBT on properly set watches. Under highly controlled experimental conditions, I have determined that 12:31:03 on an inexpensive Chinese watch is exactly the same as 12:31:03 on a...

I made some interesting trades at the New York Pen Show a couple of weeks ago. Wound up with a Parker Presidential (Parker 51 in 14K gold) and a Carter's 7-size RHR pen in mint condition. Two serious finds.

Thanks for the birthday wishes!

A little while ago, the ART DI/O was selling for under $100 at fullcompass.com. That price may still be good.

Quote: Originally Posted by kwkarth I think this is next on my list; Looks like they've one-upped Namiki on several fronts at once. Nice! Something like that could make me interested in a modern pen again. I've gone completely vintage, and rarely buy anything made after...