When I was offered to hear the top of the range of IEms from Westone I was like ummmm yes please.... and man am I happy they sent them to me. I didnt buy them I was sent them strictly for an honest review... and that's the only way I operate... I don't take $$$ from companies to compare and review. Every single review I do because I am interested in the product.... So lets get into it... unboxing is somewhat conventional rather than luxurious for a top tier product. I dont need to be blown ov er by packing - it was spartin but made up in functionality with a genuine Pelican carry case. You get 5 sets of foam and silicone ear tips, a nice felt bag and a clip (for your belt?), a digital card for instructions, a cleaning tool, a rather thin but nice non micro-phonic cable which uses T2 connectors which rotate nicely. The cable is not going to wow anyone - until you understand the way it is built... "Westone Audio’s top-of-the-line UltraBaX earphone cable features a quad-twisted cable with 224 strands of silver-plated copper wire for unbelievably clean audio with no microphonics. Better still, the cable flaunts just 0.6 ohms impedance, ensuring that the cable adds no sonic coloration to your signal. The UltraBaX cable comes equipped with Linum T2 connectors that provide a rock-solid connection and barely-there look. Westone Audio also tells Sweetwater that the T2 connector decreases intermittency and seized cables by over 99%." Its a cable Westone claims is neutral. I believe it- MAYBE... maybe they should have chosen ALL copper wire instead of silver plated for this IEM- more on that latter... Upon first listening to the top of the line Westone Mach 80- I heard something amazing. The imaging the ability for it to place images front forward and behind like few IEMs can. I don't remember hearing this often from other IEMs if any in recent history. I kept turning side to side while imaging these sounds were in the room with me. Simply an amazing feat! Then I noticed these were tuned for accuracy in the bass and mids however as things go up in the frequency range- I noticed a peak in two regions... a spike in the 5.5k and 8k region. I was ok... thats fine. I will keep evaluating of course... so cymbals and high hats, snare drums, sound accented, oh and then some females voices and some male voices also sounded elevated in the region known for sibilance. Is this it for this IEM? its trying to hard to bring air out which is a difficult feat while teatering on the change of sibilance on some ill recorded or engineered masters? Hummm maybe. Sometimes when designing and tuning an IEM or headphone - manufactures need to make a choice... at the expense of trying to extract definition- sibilance becomes a byproduct of many high end headphones and IEMs. That could be a fact and it seems very evident here.... I first thought well tips could help let me try different ear tips... and here again the tips do change the bass somewhat as usual but do very little for the upper mids and treble. Outside of using an eq- I cant see tuning the two peaks I observed while listening... Then I found a graph... which show the exact same thing I heard- a spike in the 5.5k and 8k region.

Mach 60 - Red Mach 70 - Blue Mach 80 - Green
Going on - I will keep this short... I like Mach 80 for what it does so well- the imaging and placement of instruments and the bass and mids are wonderful - seem to me to be top tier in their class and price. The upper mids and higher frequeinces give me some pause. Maybe I should try all copper wire or a tube amp (I did use my tube Pratues amp but it does not reveal anything but the truth with the Telefunken G73R and the way it was engineered- it was not designed to be overly wet or lush - so maybe not your typical tube equipment). Maybe I should just start to enjoy them by using an equalizer but I try to avoid them or dsps when I can for evaluations. Maybe I will leave that for someone else to try. For me my review ends here... recommended with reservations for price.
THANK YOU FOR READING. ENJOY THE MUSIC ALWAYS!

TESTED WITH TOPPING D90 and Mojo MYSTIQUE R2R Coffman Cypher Labs Prautes Headphone Amplifier, Ray Samuels Apache Limited Revision 4 (UPDATED 1/10/21)

Cypher Labs Prautes​

Click to expand...

Legacy. What is this term? In some circles it means "No longer made." Sometimes that's a good thing. When software gets retired its called legacy. It may be perfectly working and very favored by so many - but none the less- the software is no longer produced or supported in some cases. That could be a terrible thing too- forcing someone to upgrade because the software could have compatibility issues integrating with new software plug ins or just angering the user since he likes that software and now it no longer works. Many games on line that used "flash" I used to play are poof gone! And believe me, I miss those days and games.
This could be similar and confused with the term "no longer made" but never was intended to be anything but a convenience product- something similar to the 8 track tape for example. A useless invention of the time that had horrible sound quality and had no chance in a dignified stereo system ever- a system flawed from the very first and very last tape player ever made. The 8-track tape offering no way to improve on it's fidelity or collectability. NO ONE will ever say - "my goodness what a wonderful 8 track tape player you have there." It will never be highly desirable. Laser Disc was another and Betamax. These are not legacy pieces - these are just discontinued and outdated technology. DO NOT confuse the term with legacy. Legacy should mean more than retired or no longer made when it comes to stereo equipment. It should mean leaving something special behind: A LEGACY. Something which stands the test of time and is nearly irreplaceable and desirable due to the fact that the owner or designer was absolutely obsessed when it came to parts and construction or design- too expensive for the time or place to be properly appreciated in many instances...
I can think of countless artists that were poor and starving because their work was ahead of their time but now are priceless pieces of art that only can be seen in billionaires homes or museums. For me - The Prautes was either misunderstood, too expensive or didn't have the right marketing behind it- but it is certainly now a valuable Legacy Product... something no longer made but will be sought after for years and years to come since it is not available or manufactured anymore. I am also thinking of the extremely rare genuine vacuum NOS (New Old Stock) tubes that have soared sky high in price from such makers as Telefunken, Seimens, Mullard, Tung Sol, GE, RCA or Tesla - highly desirable and never to be made again- some tubes can now fetch thousands for just ONE tube! And I expect some will pay $5K-$10K in the future for some tubes as collectors who want the best of the old world. Similarly I can equate equipment from Ray Samuels, Eddie Current, Cypher Labs in the same company- highly desirable but now no longer manufactured... that's all there is, no one will be making it ever again... Someone could try to copy the magic or try to improve on the designs but likely that will not happen.
The Prautes was designed from the on set purposefully with the word legacy in it's DNA- engineered from the onset to be a statement piece. With audio equipment- there are designers who will go down in history for breaking the mold, perfecting the mold, breaking new ground and just plain creating state of the art designs that will be challenged but not bettered. Few things in audio are long lasting and highly desirable years after release- I can count a few. Think: Nakamichi Dragon/CR-7A/ZX-7 Series by Niro Nakamichi, PASS Amplifiers designed by Nelson Pass, Mark Levinson designed by Mark Levinson himself, Krell amps by Dan D'Agostino. Of course some may consider Riviera Labs absolutely in this group as well. The remarkable crafted Kennerton headphones by Valentin Kazanzhi and of course ZMF founders Zack and Bevin Mehrbach. The stratospheric creations like Audio Note Japan Ongaku series by Hiroyasu Kondo, or Lloyd Walker who went to the ends of the earth for perfecting the turntable. These designers and products we get to have grace our homes for the exchange of some cash is quiet incredible. If you are lucky enough to afford such designs - you actually have a useful functioning piece of audio memorabilia that exemplifies the state of the art for a period that transcends time. The Dragon/CR-7/ZX-9 Cassette deck is and will always be one of the best performing decks ever- no mater the time or place in the future. Same thing with Walker turntables- there will be few if any future designs to challenge his designs and flawless performance. Thus the term state of the art. Iconic for generations and highly desirable for anyone who truly knows what they are looking at or listening to. I wrote the same thing about my Ray Samules Apache when I reviewed it and here I am repeating the same of the Cypher Prautes. This is an iconic legacy piece of gear I consider nearly unobtainable or replaceable. Its simply is that good. It can be serviced and will never be useless - an amp like this will always be in demand for generations to come.


Yes this sounds better overall than many other amps I have tried that cost more... for instance- The Manley Headphone amp- no matter if one were to select the push-pull or single-ended mode (from Manley) - my Prautes sounds much more musical and has better definition of details and more accurate. Yes the Manley has more features but the only feature that matters for me is sound in the end and I am sure most people would put that about above all else. The Prautes has the better tonality if you will..the best rendition of music on all headphones -where the Manley sounded really off more times than not- a hit or miss experience with many headphones I had tried- totally not what I expected from such an iconic company like Manley. I have not heard the more expensive Auris amps in a long time so I can not comment really... but my memory of their amps didn’t leave enough of an impression. The only real competitor to this amp may be the giant Riviera AFC-10- and that is yet to be seen (heard) by doing a head to head comparison and I am not sure when I will hear a Rivera anytime soon. Ok what else? I haven't heard the Viva Audio Agoista 2a3 ($7,800) or 845 ($11,800) but acording to one of the people (Valentino) who helped develop the Aventador 845 S.E. (you can read his comment at the very end of this review) said the Prautes is at the same level in performance for a lot less. Seriously - a guy who has / owns a $12,000 amp said the Prautes is his favorite valve amp and compares with the most expesive amp he helped design such as the Aventador or his Viva! The Prautes always leaves me wanting to listen more and more unlike ...say the DNA Stratus or other DNA amps I have heard... granted I need to do a head to head with their premium editions but I can say - every single time I put a track on the Pratues I have never got so addicted- so enveloped so captivated - so many endorphins firing; so many tingles along my neck and the absolute feeling of total nirvana - a dopamine trip that may cause you to loose track of time. You may become an addict to headphones and music all over every day- I know I am hooked like a kid who just discovered MUSIC played on a high end system for the first time. For me I challenge any company to go head to head with this amp... I just can not think of one head amp that moves me in this way...

What is the bottom line here? Should I compare it to the last 25+ years of going to trade shows or all the memories of going from store to store all over Long Island NYC and NJ and finally coming home and saying to myself... 'maybe I can live with this amp for ever...' is that a good representation of the sound and impressions I get from listening each and every time? To hear this particular amp is to instantly get it. To recall the other times I listened and reviewed amps in the past -
I had this amp and that amp here at my home and well ... this is where searching for gear really could end... could be I said.... I'm still obsessed with the search but I am not totally crazy and the real hunt is always going on in the back of my mind- but it will be the tallest of orders to beat this amp. I could care less if I am being over excited! It is well deserved when you hear it you get it... and I finally got it with the Prautes.

I ONLY review gear that moves me- and writing does not come easy for me. My time to write an article and take the breath from my mind to paper or pixel so to speak - never moves me unless I am moved one way or the other. Sometimes I write a review because the gear upset me so much to the point of disgust by it's lack of performance (like I was compelled to express my complete disappointment in the Wyred4Sound Intimo Review I did a while back). I write reviews for me... and I want to remember the emotion of certain equipment. How it presented the same familiar songs over and over - does it pull me in or does it tire me out? I want a record... for myself... is it worthy to take the time or just move on?

Until someone comes along with a challenging piece of gear I can rightfully say with no alcohol or drugs in my system and with my complete lucid mind say this is where it could all end blissfully and happily ever after... yes its that good. THE HIGHEST recommendation- if you see one grab it. - JM (3/8/22)











If you managed to read what is in that above box then you understand what I now get so clearly after I started listening and wrote what I wrote for the review: THIS is why Damon Coffman of Coffman Labs and David Maudlin of Cypher Labs designed the Prautes as a PP simply because it is best suited for headphones- all the advantages of PP and SET combined. "Prautes delivers an incredibly detailed sonic image with all the warmth that old-school audiophiles crave," is what he said and I am a firm believer he is and was and still is on to something I never ever heard in a headphone amp... not now not ever so far... this is one of the finest sounding pieces of audio gear I know...




3/8/22: UPDATE
The TRS 3/4" sounds nearly better on Prautes than the RSA Apache TRS 3/4" (the RSA runs a tiny bit less on micro details and oomph when it comes to raw power for bass and mids) The XLR out of the RSA APACHE sounds better than the XLR of the Prautes most of the time with average tubes installed.... The Apache is more full and dynamic and slightly quicker with detail retrieval- clear winner RSA w/XLR- more dynamics and power more full sound and slightly more detail) - but when using the Tungsram ecc82 red serial#or 5814A Siemens Germany "long plates and triple mica" the gap narrows and the Prautes is a more pleasurable enveloping 3D organic experience while still preserving the slightest of details and the Tesla and RCA are similar in this regard. When using certain tubes the Cypher Prautes and RSA Apache are now neck and neck when using XLR - amazing!


SIDE NOTE: So you know, I have 3 systems at my home- my speakers are Vandersteen 3a Signatures, Magnepan 3.6r and my desk top system which uses SEAS drivers in custom D'Appolito configuration. I edit videos and film on location for professionals- I mix sound for a living occasionally after I film them in person- sometimes I am handed tracks that are terrible masters but am asked to make videos from them without re-mastering the sound. My IMDB page is https://www.imdb.com/name/nm8127846/ I also do IT support for Hospitals all around the NY Area. I am not a flake or hard of hearing at all-I get sound tested by my doctor each year or two. I grew up with sound engineers in the studio who were mixing albums at The Mix Palace and Platinum Sound Recording and The Power Station, Electric Lady Studios Studios in NY to name a few. When I like something I will review it such as the Kennerton headphones I reviewed on head-fi before. If I take the time to review something it has to be meaningful- it must have moved me and compelled me to do so- I do not get paid for any reviews. I do this because I care to set the record straight on what I hear and how I felt about a particular piece of equipment.

Headphone user, music lover and professional video and audio producer
I wasn't paid by anyone to write this - so honesty for me is the best policy!
https://www.imdb.com/name/nm8127846/


Damon Coffman worked his way through college as a concert violinist and obtained an advanced degree in physics through the Naval Postgraduate School. He then specialized as an engineer in the Navy and later on in medical technology firms. While working as a VP of Engineering and CTO for pioneering medical companies, Damon rediscovered his love of music and began exploring the designs of the classic amplifiers from the golden age of analog audio. Realizing that he could rely on his physics and engineering expertise to create clean, custom circuits that made his favorite recordings sing, he began to enlist local artists and artisans in crafting a one-of-a-kind chassis that articulated the purity of the amplifier design contained within.

[/justify]

The Quicksilver Headphone Amp is a transformer coupled single ended class A triode using (2) 12AX7 and (2)6BQ5 tubes. I typically have the volume pot between 10-12 if it was a clock.





SIDE NOTE: So you know, I have 3 systems at my home- my speakers are Vandersteen 3a Signatures, Magnepan 3.6r and my desk top system which uses SEAS drivers in custom D'Appolito configuration. I edit videos and film on location for professionals- I mix sound for a living occasionally after I film them in person- sometimes I am handed tracks that are terrible masters but am asked to make videos from them without re-mastering the sound. My IMDB page is https://www.imdb.com/name/nm8127846/ I also do IT support for Hospitals all around the NY Area. I am not a flake or hard of hearing at all-I get sound tested by my doctor each year or two. I grew up with sound engineers in the studio who were mixing albums at The Mix Palace and Platinum Sound Recording and The Power Station, Electric Lady Studios Studios in NY to name a few. When I like something I will review it such as the Kennerton headphones I reviewed on head-fi before. If I take the time to review something it has to be meaningful- it must have moved me and compelled me to do so- I do not get paid for any reviews. I do this because I care to set the record straight on what I hear and how I felt about a particular piece of equipment.

Headphone user, music lover and professional video and audio producer
I wasn't paid by anyone to write this - so honesty for me is the best policy!
https://www.imdb.com/name/nm8127846/

A tube that may need to be tested and listened to by every music lover-
The Telefunken G73-R 12AU7

Head-fi member Martinrm's Rognir Above​

I can usually tell if I am going to like a headphone from the first few moments I put them on... with one exception, that being my Ribbon headphones from Gold Planar -GL1200 which honestly sounded dreadful before I broke them in for days on end. And as far as open backs - I seldom find myself gravitating to them first since they bleed sound from the outside in and vice versa. If I want to listen to headphones - they need to be intimate yet create an open wide expansive space and only for me to enjoy. That is the case with my IEMs and my closed backs - private sessions just for me to enjoy and not to disturb other people around me. That is not to say I will give up the open back feel in a closed back- I should not have to compromise. I need to feel transformed as if I am in a large open room as if listening to speakers... the closer I can get to my Magnepan speaker experience or my Vandersteen speakers but with a closed back the closer I know that is headphone I will love... and that's what I get with the Rognir Planar headphones... a private enthralling session with passion and love for music reproduction. Something that calls my name to slip them on and listen and get lost in the music... something that will scale up depending on the source, music and amp/dac. The Rognir Planar meets so many requirements for me as a headphone enthusiast that well its the reason I am obsessed with headphones in the first place - they check so many boxes for me.

Just a suggestion on that cable- the braided one is top of the line gorgeous and sounds amazing! The Rognir Planar comes with a practical carry case that most people would find useful to store them in.

They come with two ear pads one angled and perforated (pictured) and one solid non-perforated soft lambs leather ear pad. The solid ear pad is my preference (not pictured) since it allows the most isolation and deepest bass. The angled is a bit more expansive with stage and lessens the bass- most people may prefer the angled perforated pad though... They can benefit and handle eq'ing well but don't need it to sound beautiful and alluring.



If you think this review is going to compare a ton of headphones to this AND for me to ramble on sentence after sentence then you got the wrong review here- THIS REVIEW is the short and sweet - its a headphone that has redefined what a closed back planar design can do... music from the Rognir Planar is engaging and hypnotic and has the most satisfying allure of any similarly priced closed back and easily competes with 6K open backs in many ways... but this kind of sound in a closed back which says a lot! It's way more musical and soulful than the DC Stealth. The Rognir is a clear choice for me over the Focal Stelia as well- the Stelia for me sounds too harsh and not at all designed for long listening sessions at all- a headphone shouldn't give me a headache after 50mins pr fatigue me like the Stelia. Like I said it's a simple hard yes yes yes to the Rognir- if you love the looks - you will not be disappointed in their ability sound wise to make you smile from ear to ear each time you put them on. They satisfy without offending - they are smooth and enjoyable. The sound-stage is deep and wide and they captivate the essence of music and have soul. The bass is tight the mids are wonderfully buttery and the high end has just enough detail for you to get all the information you need to feel like you are listening to top of the line speakers privately in between your ears. WHAT THE HECK ELSE COULD YOU WANT FROM A HEADPHONE or a short and sweet review... I listened to hundreds and hundreds of hours with my Rognir - nearly everyday over the last 2 months- (my playlists are below) ... I also listen to a variety of CD, SACD and HighRes FLAC files, Amazon Muisc HD and Spotify. I used the Yulong DA1 with Separate Power supply, my beloved Ray Samules Apache Amp with upgrades and the $15K+ R2R Mojo Mystique EVO Pro and my trusty Topping D90 as well as several portable players such as the Cayin C9 (LOVE!) and Fiio Q5s. I tried the iphone but obviously that was my least favorite with the Rognir. They are a strong recommendation and can go head to head with headphones that cost 6K easily. My review doesn't need to be long now does it? That is my review- it's not longer and it doesn't need to be. The ROGNIR PLANAR are so good - if you have the money you should just buy them. You could thank me but it really isn't necessary. Just know you made a very wise investment and you will want for little else after you try them- they are love at first listen and will continue to excite you both in looks, construction and sound with soul. It offers everything a true headphone lover seeks.


A Knock out performance that few headphones can do so well - a great recording with the best mics and mastering- AEA Mics and Pre-amps used here and no other mastering comes close to this perfection and the presentation but really accents and highlights the performance of the Rognir along with the GH50JM Edition which are both a perfect examples of what the track should sound like at it's best for me.

ROGNIR PLANAR MAGNETIC CLOSED BACK OVER-EAR HEADPHONES​

Cables. They either accent one sound frequency or another. Some clearly hear how they 'eq' the sound so to speak in ways and many people use cable to tune their systems and some think its nonsense altogether. But once you hear different cable in a very revealing system- you will understand why cables are a "thing" and why so many people spend money on this step in their audio chain. And that is exactly what this is... an audio chain- a chain of custody so to speak. From one end to the other, music is transferred from the source to your ears... our wire plays a very an important role. From the DC power that comes out of our walls that supply our equipment with juice and the actual signal wire that transfers either analog or digital- our wire we choose has immense impact on how our system will come together. Cable I like to compare to light- some can tilt to hot or too cold, it could be warm or too dark. If it is too bright and in your face it could be too revealing and lacking any natural sense and actually be fatiguing. Think about when you shine a bunch of lights on a beautiful model and it could ruin everything- you will see just how flawed their complexion really is. Or wash details out in the sheer brightness- like an over exposed photo. Balance is key when pulling a system together- and this makes perfectly logical sense. Cable should not alter the signal one way or the other. We can use measurements to see how a cable performs... the Atlas Hyper 3.5 measures capacitance 53.52 pF/m (capacitance describes the ability of two conductors, separated by an insulating material, to store charge. Capacitance in cables is usually measured in pf/m (pico farads per meter) or pf/ ft (pico farads per foot). The lower the capacitance the better the cable performance). The Atlas Hyper Inductance is 0.592 µH/m (An ideal inductor is classed as loss less, meaning that it can store energy indefinitely as no energy is lost). And lastly the measured resistance is 0.0049 Ohms/m. Take it at face value or not those are just numbers that are measured BUT do take notice and realize this wire just sounds better for me and my system than other I compared it to under $600. Why? engineering I would think. The careful selection of materials to include how they crimp insulate and braid and of course the actual purity of the wire itself- makes complete sense to me.

If you value transparency above all else- to hear what you have been missing so to speak. It may be fun to EQ your sound with a cable - but it gives up certain things when you hear "the bass more" at the expense of higher frequency for example- most cables are trying to alter the sound instead of being honest. Some cables like silver plated wire for me sound detailed yet to harsh. Some copper wire sound too bassy and not enough detail as an example. What I value most in cable is to accent no one frequency or another but to be neutral- sort of like my Grimm SQM XLR wire and my Atlas Hyper Integra RCA wire - they are the most transparent wire I have heard in what I consider the affordable range- and the same thing apply for me here with the Atlas Hyper 3.5 speaker wire.
When I hooked the Atlas Hyper 3.5 to my Gold Planar GL1200 Ribbon headphones - the difference in total transparency and clarity was not small- I immediately smiled and said to myself, "man cable really can make a difference." What I hear is crystal clarity from top to bottom bringing my GL1200 that much closer to to source unlike my Vanden Hul Wire, The Cardas or the stock wire that came with the GL1200. This is what makes me want to write this review and explain briefly- if you value your music and your equipment like I do- you will want to see and hear for yourself what honest cable really does.

If your system needs eq'ing or to be tilted one way or another yin or yang - then this cable would make little sense. It doesn't tilt sound. Its a smooth highway like the autobahn in Germany- a high speed flawless experience that will let your stereo excel if the performance is there. I am again, selling other lesser sounding wire from my collection and replacing it with the Atlas Hyper. Period.

Highly recommended as an near end game wire for a revealing system at a price that while high pays off when you really sit down and listen. I can not keep things like this quiet... its like good food I like to share when I have something really delicious... enjoy the music!
OH yes... I forgot- these wires do come with a CD to break the wires in more quickly with special frequency tones- I didn't really feel the need to use the CD but it was handy and I did use it for the 48hrs or so while the cable broke in. I can not say for sure if the CD or me just playing music made them sound smoother and more transparent but the end result was I preferred these cables to many others I had at my home and thought the CD was a nice touch to cut down the time during the break in period. Happy listening everyone



SIDE NOTE: So you know, I have 3 systems at my home- my speakers are Vandersteen 3a Signatures, Magnepan 3.6r and my desk top system which uses SEAS drivers in custom D'Appolito configuration. I edit videos and film on location for professionals- I mix sound for a living occasionally after I film them in person- sometimes I am handed tracks that are terrible masters but am asked to make videos from them without re-mastering the sound. My IMDB page is https://www.imdb.com/name/nm8127846/
I am not a flake or hard of hearing at all-I get sound tested by my doctor each year or two. I grew up with sound engineers in the studio who were mixing albums at The Mix Palace and Platinum Sound Recording and The Power Station, Electric Lady Studios Studios in NY to name a few. When I like something I will review it such as the Kennerton headphones I reviewed on head-fi before. If I take the time to review something it has to be meaningful- it must have moved me and compelled me to do so- I do not get paid for any reviews. I do this because I care to set the record straight on what I hear and how I felt about a particular piece of equipment.

Short and to the point review:

My review sample came to me on a tour from the very awesome and very classy Todd The Vinyl Junkie - I was the third or fourth to review the Focal Radiance- jumping right in and to the point-While it’s looks and construction are befitting of their selling price -initially I found the Focal Radiance sound signature well balanced for the most part- nearly but as I continued to concentrate more on details...


I found the Focal Radiance a bit fatiguing after one hour of listening- some mid to high frequency on female and some male tracks
seemed oddly off and exaggerated in some frequencies and under exaggerated and recessed in others- cymbals also sounded off and not true to the recording- I think these headphones were tuned to be impressive on first listen (first 15 mins I was really like wow these are nice and clear nice imaging with intimate stage etc) but as I continued to listen I realized the flaws- compared to my Kennerton GH50JM Edition- the Radiance also had a noticeable bass overextended distortion of the driver on some torture test tracks at moderate nominal volumes and got worse as I turned up volume- I attribute this to the driver hyper extending - something I rarely would expect from this price range- and this was also confirmed by Josh V recently in his video review describing it similarly -

At lower volumes or normal volumes the bass over extension is not noticeable at all even among my torture test tracks - so it may not be a concern for casual listening but something my Gh50s never do - and something once you hear it you kind of cringe.
If I never heard the Kennerton Gh50s I would say the Focal is among the better closed backed headphones for fit and finish and sound for short periods of time.

THE FIT
The headband on the Focal is comfortable but the clamp force on my ears is a little much after an hour - which is ironically matched to how long I could tolerate the slightly fatiguing sound signature as well-these two major strikes against the Radiance make this a hard recommendation from me. The ear cups are comfortable as they are beautiful and I love the snaps to change and clean the ear pads/cups but nice stitching/construction can only go so far if the sound doesn’t measure up to the beauty.

As you may have guessed- I do not like the Focal sound signature- one reviewer wrote "the Focal house sound has thinned-out mids, uneven upper harmonics, peaky upper treble, perhaps even an oddly-tuned bass" I could not agree more... however that same reviewer also said he disliked the sample he had of the Gold Planar GL2000 which I already reviewed and gave a glowing review for my sample. Many people have discussed the sample problems with Gold Planar - my sample was spot on perfect. This is not about the Gold Planar growing pains of consistency in production and making them all sound like my sample- this is clearly their production issues and quality of control at the Gold Planar factory - but we are not talking about GP we are talking about Focal- an established well respected very precision company - who intentionally voices their speakers and earphones a certain way- the sound signature of all the Focals - consistency in production being paramount and something I really love about Focal. It's just that they are a tuned sound signature I do not agree with.

I recently wrote these words and I would like to share the quote:
"I just can not get into the Focal sound- not one Focal I tried back a year ago (Stellia and Utopia) or what I have at my house right now (the Raidance and the Celestee)... sorry Focal we love your marketing, your good looks and nice ‘image’ as a potentially great tool for listening to music so to speak- but Kennerton is king for me - more spacious imaging, better sound-stage impact, much better tighter and deep bass… and the mid to high blend is pure ear candy pleasure… and details are brought out without taking out one ounce of pleasure - I never experience listening fatigue….

I equate the Focals in the same group as the B&W sound camp vs the Magnepan and Vandersteen sound camp. One makes you continuously search for tweaks to subdue the issues of their strange frequency anomalies and the issues they run into with their ground up DNA design with in their 3rd and 4th order crossovers - when it comes to 3d space and timing- always searching for a way to make the Focals and B&Ws sound less harsh and always trying to make them sound more musical where the Vandersteens and Magnepans always sound great and even better with revealing cables amps and sources... my review is clear and I make no apologies for how I grade equipment.



SUB BASS: 7.3/10
BASS: 7.4/10
MIDS: 7.4/10
HIGH FREQ: 7/10
SOUND-STAGE: 8.5/10
BUILD: 10/10
SUPPLIED CORD: 6/10
ACCESSORIES: 9/10 (CASE AND EAR PADS ARE TOP NOTCH)
CLINICAL EVALUATION OF MUSIC: 7/10
PLEASURABLE SOUND OF MUSIC: 7.5/10
COMFORT: 7.5/10

SOME OF MY PLAY LIST FOR REVIEWS CAN BE FOUND HERE ON AMAZON: https://music.amazon.com/user-playl...85af6sune?ref=dm_sh_74ee-1ced-30fd-32f2-0089e




SUITABLE FOR: INDUSTRIAL, ROCK, EDM, BLUES, JAZZ AND CLASSICAL
PORTABLE USE: Can be used portably and sounds ok with standard iphone and dongle but sounds best with serprate amp and dac

AMP/DAC DEPENDENT: YES- YOU Will hear a benefit from higher quality amp/dac but will work acceptably with a cell phone

I used my Ray Samuels Apache 2021 edition and my Fiio.q5s and Cayin c9 for amps and the DACs I used were the Topping D90 and Mojo Audio Mystique Evo R2R



A Knock out performance that few headphones can do so well - a great recording with the best mics and mastering- AEA Mics and Preamps used here and no other mastering comes close to this perfection and the presentation but really accents and highlights the performance mishaps in the Bentley Radiance compared to other headphones I have used. The GH50JM Edition and the Gold Planar GL1200 with Enhanced/Gold Ribbons are a perfect examples of what the track should sound like at it's best. Even the HD600 sounds much more accurate here than the Radiance on high hats and drums.

SIDE NOTE: So you know, I have 3 systems at my home- my speakers are Vandersteen 3a Signatures, Magnepan 3.6r and my desk top system which uses SEAS drivers in custom D'Appolito configuration. I edit videos and film on location for professionals- I mix sound for a living occasionally after I film them in person- sometimes I am handed tracks that are terrible masters but am asked to make videos from them without re-mastering the sound. My IMDB page is https://www.imdb.com/name/nm8127846/
I am not a flake or hard of hearing at all-I get sound tested by my doctor each year or two. I grew up with sound engineers in the studio who were mixing albums at The Mix Palace and Platinum Sound Recording and The Power Station, Electric Lady Studios Studios in NY to name a few. When I like something I will review it such as the Kennerton headphones I reviewed on head-fi before. If I take the time to review something it has to be meaningful- it must have moved me and compelled me to do so- I do not get paid for any reviews. I do this because I care to set the record straight on what I hear and how I felt about a particular piece of equipment.

If you are one of those people that like stock interconnects or wire priced under $30 for a pair of RCA cable I am here to say skip this article and review... if you are closed to the idea that cable can make a sound system a little bit more transparent, a little bit quieter, a little bit more musical or maybe even extract as much information between components as possible... I can say maybe you should just try some new cable like the Atlas Hyper Integra RCA - wire which is nearly at the pinnacle of performance for price performance.

If you own very revealing equipment and are looking for a new reliable well engineered and well shielded wire that will never call attention to it self but will image and sound as good as some $500 cable then you may be inclined to read and consider if this wire is right for you and your home sound system. What I look for in cables is transparency. I don't want anything added or subtracted. If one part of the audio signal is being enhanced that could be because other frequencies are being attenuated. When reviewing music or gear or doing video and audio editing or mastering- there can be no chance that I am getting it wrong - I need neutral transparent wire always. And up until now I have been using the SQM reference wire from GRIMM and their very affordable TPR interconnects. I also use Z Cables Jazz 3a, Cardas Cross ($300+), Cardas Parsec Interconnect ($290+) , Cardas Clear Sky ($480), and my borrowed from a friend RCA Stealth Nanofiber Pure carbon ($3100) and Stealth Hybrid ($3000) interconnects. All of the Cardas that I own will be replaced now with the Atlas Hyper Integra it's that much more revealing clear and pinpoint accurate boarding so very close to my SQM wire which costs $700 vs the $229 - making this a no brainier for me- even as I continue to write switching between the cables I can say the Atlas Hyper Integra are a more honest rendition of what is in the recording - making the Cardas colored and veiled in comparision which I never thought I would say.

SIDE NOTE: So you know, I have 3 systems at my home- my speakers are Vandersteen 3a Signatures, Magnepan 3.6r and my desk top system which uses SEAS drivers in custom D'Appolito configuration. I edit videos and film on location for professionals- I mix sound for a living occasionally after I film them in person- sometimes I am handed tracks that are terrible masters but am asked to make videos from them without re-mastering the sound. My IMDB page is https://www.imdb.com/name/nm8127846/
I am not a flake or hard of hearing at all-I get sound tested by my doctor each year or two. I grew up with sound engineers in the studio who were mixing albums at The Mix Palace and Platinum Sound Recording and The Power Station, Electric Lady Studios Studios in NY to name a few. When I like something I will review it such as the Kennerton headphones I reviewed on head-fi before. If I take the time to review something it has to be meaningful- it must have moved me and compelled me to do so- I do not get paid for any reviews. I do this because I care to set the record straight on what I hear and how I felt about a particular piece of equipment.

Strauss & Wagner EM205 Earphones​

3.5mm Connection And High End Mic With Remote​

Up front and always honest in all my reviews...
I am a customer of Audio46- just a guy who loves their service... so the owner reached out after reading some of my high end reviews... and said hey you want to test a few affordable in ears? I said, "sure, why not..." so here we are.. these were sent to me for review without incentive for my honest review from Audio 46. For more information Strauss&Wagner.



I received these in earphones and wasn't expecting much. Boy was I wrong and pleasantly surprised. As soon as I unboxed these and removed them from practical cloth pouch, I was like... 'ok... this will be interesting. Maybe they will sound pretty good...' and well they do. Better than many other similar priced earphones I have bought; some examples : Better than: iPhone EarPods $19, AKG Ear buds $59, RHA MA750i (Ear buds priced at $120 at the time). Bottom line I actually prefer these over the other Strauss & Wagner SI201 sound signature which tends to be a bit bassier- while the EM205 have a much more even hand and are great for all genre of music from classic to rock to EDM to Jazz. The goal of the company was to provide triple the price performance in an affordable package - and I can say these have their place in anyone's go bag. If you commute on public transportation they provide excellent seal so no sound leaks out or in- they are excellent for teleconferences since their quality mic is better than even AKG headphones I have - which to me is a a real head scratcher since AKG makes mics for a main line of business in the professional recording world. The sound from the sEM205 is really close to an ideal sound signature making music coming from portable devices such as phones or daps sound like much more expensive ear phones.


A bit on the company: "Strauss & Wagner embodies two of the Western music’s most celebrated composers - Richard Strauss and Richard Wagner. Strauss, known for his nuanced compositions and advanced harmonies, championed a technical approach that echoed Wagner’s emphasis on a work of art in its totality - in other words, “the big picture.” Both musicians’ approach to art was with fine attention to detail and immaculate sound, lending itself to big picture products that prove durable, comfortable, and valuable in every facet. Based in New York, this American brand offers a comprehensive one-year warranty on every product. Our hardline attention to nuanced, immaculate sound lends itself to a unique listening experience you won’t find anywhere else."

Over all balance is good for this range. Bass and mids female vocals as well as male vocals sound like much more expseive headphones while the treble could be a tad bit more detailed - I think they tuned them to sound best with everyday streaming services such as 320kbps music from Spotify and even high res flac files from Amazon Prime HD Music- and yes even though tehse hp's cost only $40 bucks you can certainly tell when the recordings and sample rates are better sourced. These really are a perfect ez to drive affordable set of headphones that should remain a audiophile's secret but at the same time- word should sent out to those in the know... these are that good... no wonder the owner of Audi46 asked me to review these...

These are a worry free earphone- affordable enough to have a few pairs around- to 'lend' to others even (and never to be seen again because they will "forget" to give you them back).... Often you don't get fidelity with lower priced earphones like these UNTIL you stop and listen- With the S&W em205 they sound full even at low and medium levels- which really defines them as well engineered. Again- they will play loud without a problem, but you don't need to in order to hear the details. These are not detail kings nor were they designed for that- they are tuned to be musical and enjoyable something not requiring analytics or thought - just close your eyes and enjoy. Solid bass gives tons of oomph to pop and funk music and plenty warmth to big rock tracks. There’s also some nice sub-bass response, making it suitable for hip-hop as well. But despite its thickness and depth, acoustic instruments, like double basses, still retain a natural timbre and tonality for this price point. Still, classical fans may find this even more appropriate since it is really a subtle peak- neutral low-end with more detail. So, although they present a relatively versatile sound signature, the low end is most ideal for modern genres. These are not analytical or cold- they are warm and musical. If you have a friend or family member using lesser earphones- this makes a great gift to quietly say, "I care about you and your music- try these and hear how good well designed earphones can sound." Technology has gotten to a point now where $40 ear phones sound better than $100-$120 earphones form just a few years ago (case in point the the RMA's I used to own and forgot all about since I got more serious about this hobby). What a great time to know your can actually stretch your dollar to get better quality sound for less when it comes to products like this... This company is as I said making sensible products at sensible prices and I can find nothing more common sense than to say a these are a sure bet. I can recommend them for bargain seekers who want more higher end performance for adorable pricing. These earphones have absolutely no business sounding this good for this kind of coin - and I am lucky to not be a audio snob and judge everything by price or looks or name brands- these are a sure winner for the money. I should add Audio46 is my go to store because they offer free shipping and returns if I don't like it within 30 day so I can not loose. I can also add my set is not going back to Strauss&Wagner or Audio46 since I decided to keep them ... recommended.

TIME BREAKDOWN FROM DAY ONE ON...

FIRST DAY: 4/20/21- I just updated this review- as they break in for what has to be a mandatory period of nearly 100+hrs for ribbons to loosen up and sound like music I would enjoy... I have to question why I bought these (Z reviews may really owe users full disclosure here) - many new owners need to know all the quirks of these very strange headphones and I will explore them here in this review)
Right now I am trying to break them in without annoying my my wife and kids who also live here and are no where near these headphones - we have a nice sized home but they kept complaining how loud they were while trying to break them in. First I put pillows in between the drivers and on either side and covered them in multiple layers of blankets- and they still leaked through!... Then I tried using the plastic case they came in with several blankets over the nearly closed case and I can still hear the music screaming inside the black box, like I buried some poor musician inside a Pelican replica case... I can not understand this kind of headphone if it's not close to being a semi-private intimate listening experience... I may as well use my near-filed monitors I am thinking- there is so much sound escaping I am perplexed as to a remedy during break in period- maybe if I lock myself in a padded room when they come and get me. Just me and these headphones inside a padded room... yea. That may work... How is this practical unless you live alone... and then there is the sound signature- they need to be broken in... an absolute must as I remember with all ribbons when they are new- my Magnepans needed at least 150 hours to sound like they did in showroom and my friends Perfect 8 The Force use a ribbon tweeter which sounded harsh when they were installed for at least 100+ hrs... they all need break in for the ribbons.
First impression: A absolutely ridiculous and crazy purchase with a potential to turn the headphone industry on it's head... if break in does what it did for my Magnepans and for my buddies Perfect Eight.

DAY TWO AM 4/21: AT 18hrs break in- yup too much sound leakage is a con in my review. I own open backs, the HD600, Kennerton Thekks and Kennerton Wodans, the Gold Planar GL2000, maybe my SR-Lambda Stax's leak three quarters as much... none of them sound as loud as a speaker like these do... I should repeat... "nothing even comes close to how insane these headphones are" when it comes to sound leaking in the room... yes I consider headphones somewhat of an intimate instrument for personal use - some leakage is acceptable of course... as I break these in more and more I will say maybe the sound benefits could make all the negatives of this crazy headphone a worth while purchase- BUT as a reviewer I feel the need to keep it all in balance- pros and cons... and so far the break in period nearing 18 hours they are already making me feel like I need to update the review further- they sound unbelievably good... and may just make crazy make sense...

DAY TWO PM: 4/21/21 - Like any headphone review- some sound nice right out of the box and some do not... these fall in to the... umm no they do not sound good at all out of the box- they make burn in a mandatory practice and anyone looking for right out of the box pleasure look else where- you will be disappointed and maybe like I was nearly angry at how bad they sounded out of the box.. Out of box these get a 3 star rating. At 20hrs they moved up to 3.5-4 stars... So I reserve my star rating to change as I near the 100+ hours needed for typical ribbons to stretch and become musical... but know this review will be an explorative explanation of time - from the moment I unboxed them and first plugged them in... always updating what I see, feel and more importantly what I hear as they continue to break in -just stay with me...

DAY THREE 4/22/21- The continuous break in over the last 3 days has paid off and the once harsh sound is now nothing short of amazing. Bass, mid range and tremble all blend with a speed I have never heard before in any planar electrostatic or dynamic driver- a perfect blend of timing and acoustic bliss.
Are they worth the money, time to break in, the excessive amount of sound leakage? Yes the money part seems fair for what you get here. These are not precision made like the HEDD German headphones or like the RAALs- the construction is better than the STAX SR-Lambda for example, but not a robust build made with exacting construction- The door which gives users access to change the ribbons for different tuning or repairs is poorly designed and looks like you cracked the area on top where the door is visible. The space of the door and the headphone itself is large and feels cheap once removed. The silver plastic/metal like feel of the headphone is light but you know they are not metal- rather a plastic coated in silver paint. They do make the headphones light and comfortable however- some may like to use more padding such as Dekoni Nuggets at the top part of the headphone band which touches the cranium frontal and parietal area. Right now I am using the perforated leather like pads and they could be 'hot' if worn for a long while, unlike other genuine leather from Kennerton or Spirit headphones. I can say the soft velour may change the sound and I will report on that latter. The pads come off with Velcro so changing them should be ez. For now I am just sitting back and enjoying what I am hearing like nothing else I have ever put on my head. They do not need a ton of volume to hear the clarity and near perfect sound... bass and the entire midrange and tremble blend well at low-medium to medium and even loud volumes. There is a sweet spot for volume which is mid though I wills say for ideal listening over long periods... These will play loud but like any headphone go too far with them and they will let you know.. If you turn the volume up to much they will strain the ribbon - but at that volume level you would go deaf and probably blind at the same time anyway so just don't do that... They are truly like my Magnepan 3.6r fully broken in... I am using my Adcom Mosfet Amp which drives a 4 ohm load to 125watts cleanly. My Ray Samules Apache is acting as a preamp and my DAC is the Topping D90 with the Mojo Mystique R2R EVO Pro else where in my home. I can not wait to hear how these sound with the Mystique. All I can say is this is one crazy headphone that does make it all worth the trouble price and time it takes to break in, the leakage will varry among households... I know my use on these will be much less than say my closed back Kennerton GH50JM Edition which for me is my #1 go to for private listening sessions... but GL1200 may just be a top pick for the rest of the time...

---

---

4/26/21 - After some 75 hours of break in - these are truly a 5 star reference anyone with the knowledge base of it's limitations and quirkiness allow- I can say my copy of the GL1200 is far superior to any headphone I have ever heard to date in every aspect except perhaps very complex bass passages such as those on the Blade Runner 2049 track #23 Blade Runner or the grueling torture track#20 called Sea Wall but I am fine with that limitation (I just have to turn the volume down and it's fine) as most music is not that demanding and for those tracks I fall back on my GH50JM Edition if I need it to be louder or more impact- the GL1200 sound is utterly addicting and over the top for everything else- after some 75hrs of break in- they have finally transformed into something I treasure - the out of head experience is like that of my Magnepan 3.6r speakers while my closed back Gjallarhorn GH50JM Edition is like my Vandersteen 3a speakers- both I truly adore for what they do right - the leakage into the room through the GL1200 is something I need to live with or should I say my family needs to be absent for me to truly enjoy - I can not imagine it getting any better than this visceral utopian experience. Comparing the GL2000 to the GL1200 - where by the GL2000 is very wide sound stage and image among the largest I ever heard for a planar design the reduction in sound-stage is apparent when switching over to the GL1200. It's akin to listening to my Magnepans 3.6r's or as close as one can expect while wearing headphones. Insane detail that immerses you in the full mastering of the recording- without any hint of listening fatigue. I will say do not attempt to use these headphones at all with a sterile amp such as some Class D's or very linear amps like a Rotel 1050 which would be a terrible match. I would stick with Class A or Mosfet as I have done here. I have not tried a tube amp but I would expect it to do fine so long as impedance matches the headphone- forget an OTL if you need to use tubes try Push-Pull, SET or Ultralinear. Using the Adcom Mosfet I am all but 100% satisfied- the GL1200 is always composed. The amp needs dynamic range power reserves- but at that point the amp will not be the fault when trying to reproduce very complex bass passages at loud volumes- the GL1200 nature of being a ribbon will be tested most here... bass is tight 99% of the time except when the bass track is overly complex like those "artificial"recordings of Hans Zimmer in Blade Runner 2049- don't get me wrong many tracks from the soundtrack sound sublime - and don't think hard hitting bass is not done well- it's just that you may need to turn down the volume to enjoy it like a dynamic driver... As I explore more with this I will add more in next update... but I can say this is truly an insane piece of equipment that does so many things so well the faults and quirks make it all worth while... an absolute addicting sound like nothing else I ever heard in a headphone.

---

---

Review continues:

---

SUB BASS: 8.0/10 (silver ribbon) 9.5/10 (gold)
(AS TESTED WITH THE GRUELING BLADE RUNNER 2049 SOUNDTRACK/PURE WATER MIGOS)
BASS: 8.5/10 (silver ribbon) 9.5/10 (gold)
(AS TESTED WITH THE GRUELING BLADE RUNNER 2049 SOUNDTRACK)
MIDS: 9/10 (gold/silver)
HIGH FREQ: 10/10 (silver) 9.5/10 (gold)
SOUND STAGE: 10/10 (silver) 9.5/10 (gold)
IMAGE: 10/10 (silver) 9/10(gold)
BUILD: 8.5/10
SUPPLIED CORD: 9/10
ACCESSORIES: 9/10 (CASE AND EAR PADS ARE TOP NEAR NOTCH. FAKE LEATHER CAN GET HOT)
CLINICAL EVALUATION OF MUSIC: 10/10
PLEASURABLE SOUND OF MUSIC: 10/10
COMFORT: 8/10 (suggest Dekoni Nuggets for long listening)
+10 FOR SPEAKER JUNCTION BOX - BUILT LIKE A TANK
+10 FOR INCLUDED 100% OFC COPPER SPEAKER WIRE WITH HQ BANANA PLUGS
+10 FOR 3-D NATURAL SOUND LIKE NOTHING ELSE OFFERED FOR SALE AT THIS TIME OF PUBLISHING
-10 FOR EXCESSIVE SOUND LEAKAGE
-10 FOR LONG TIME BREAK IN TIME AND TERRIBLE SOUND WHEN NEW OUT OF BOX
+50? FOR IMAGE AND TRUE RECORDING RENDERING LIKE NOTHING ELSE ON PLANET INCLUDING STAX
SUITABLE FOR: INDUSTRIAL, ROCK, EDM, BLUES, JAZZ AND CLASSICAL -
(Note: has some trouble playing really loud if the track is filled with too many complex fast BPM subass and bass notes from 20 to 60 Hz - you may need less volume than a dynamic driver to enjoy it more)

PORTABLE USE: NOT POSSIBLE FOR PORTABLE USE B/C OF SOUND LEAKAGE/AMP REQUIREMENTS AT THIS TIME

AMP/DAC DEPENDENT: YES- YOU WILL HEAR WHAT YOU PLUG IN- NO HIDING HERE WITH THIS RESOLVING HP

OTHER NOTES: USE ALL COPPER WIRE, THE SILVER COATED STOCK CABLE MAY BE TOO MUCH FOR SUCH A RESOLVING HEADPHONE
THE VELOUR PADS ARE MUCH BETTER COMFORT. THE ALL PLEATHER EAR PADS WHICH COME INSTALLED SOUND A HIT MORE WITH TINY BIT MORE BASS AND HIT MORE WITH HINT OF MORE ENERGY IN HIGH FREQUENCY WHILE SMOOTHING OUT THE MID HUMP. I WOULD LIKE TO TUNE THE PADS MORE... WE WILL SEE... I WOULD LIKE TO SEE A PAD WITH VELOUR THAT TOUCHES YOUR SKIN AND PERFORATED LEATHER COMBO LIKE THE DEKONI HYBRID ELITE .

FINAL NOTES: THESE MAY TURN THE HEADPHONE INDUSTRY ON IT'S HEAD AND BRING ALL HIGH END MANUFACTURERS BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD... THEY ARE WORTHY OF ALL THE AGGRAVATION

---

Lastly: I should mention-The one that ships with the Linsoul version is a silver type ribbon at this time (NOW WITH BOTH RIBBONS as of 9/12/21- https://www.linsoul.com/products/gold-planar-gl1200 )

I am reaching out to find out more details on what else is available for buyers in the future and as of yet they are still not clear on how buyers can purchase or update to try both ribbon styles- but they are working with Gold Planar to have both available from what I understand. They are removable and that makes them interchangeable in case one gets damaged. The gold and silver ribbons are tuned slightly different--the gold is more bassy at the 'expense' of the extreme micro detail the silver one does slightly better. The gold is still light years ahead in detail compared to anything else I ever heard be it electro static, planar or dynamic - it's only when comparing itself to the silver version is the slight detail edge apparent. The detail from the gold and silver are never ever not even close to fatiguing- they are just very detailed. They are not piercing like a Utopia either. They are always accurate to the recording- and the engineers who mastered it. The gold is fuller and warmer and the better of the two for me- the silver is very revealing but not as dynamic and fulfilling for sinking into the music and loosing yourself. The silver is more expressive and expansive into the recording. What a good life to have both to choose from. Both are unlike any headphone I ever heard I can not pull myself away from listening. I think I prefer the gold for most songs but the silver has it's place... I find myself listening way too much lately (as of 7-29-21) and am growing to think these are legends in the headphone world few if none can compare. The new LCD-R - Audeze is the newest ribbon being sold and already sold out ( although only 67 units were offered- they do plan on making a new style and should be a great comparison to review to the GL1200.
GL1200 Ribbons allow for tuning unlike any other headphone I know... the gold or silver ribbon- if you want nice sparkle and nice tight lighter bass the tighter stretched thinner aluminum material 'silver' ribbon may be for you however if you like more warmth and body and over all roundness with deep punchy pleasurable but never over done bass -try the 'gold' ribbon installed. I am truly amazed at what this headphone can do... the sky is the limit... becareful not to touch the ribbon or blow on ribbon- you may just ruin it when you take it out to change. Luckily if ribbon does get ruined you can get more from Linsoul or your distributor and change them easily. Uncertain of replacment ribbon costs but you wil need a set of two at a time since they need to break in together. My suggestion is get a pair as a spare for the future.

---

---

My test gear is Mojo Audio Mystique EVO Pro R2R DAC, Topping D90, Sony CD Transport, TrippLite Medical Grade IS1000HG Isolation Transformer for my PC. Ray Samuels Apache as a preamp for the amps, B&K Mosfet Amp, Adcom Mosfet Amp.
I may be getting a VTV Class D Amplifier if the manufacture wants to send one for this and their own review... and I may be getting a test review amp from Schiit Audio called the Vidar, maybe even a Jotunheim R which is designed for ribbon headphones like the Raal and the GL1200... we will see what this Shciit does for the GL1200...
I am set with teh B&K and Adcom - I think Schiit knew they were better amps than the Jot R but not as convenient - I still would test the Vidar since it's smaller- but Schiit never followed up... so instead I am... and as for Class D the GL1200 are way too good for such nonsense amps since most sound artificial/cold in the affordable range.
SIDE NOTE: So you know, I have 3 systems at my home- my speakers are Vandersteen 3a Signatures, Magnepan 3.6r and my desk top system which uses SEAS drivers in custom D'Appolito configuration.
I edit videos and film on location for professionals- I mix sound for a living occasionally after I film them in person- sometimes I am handed tracks that are terrible masters but am asked to make videos from them without re-mastering the sound.
My IMDB page is https://www.imdb.com/name/nm8127846/ I also do IT support for Hospitals all around the NY Area.
I am not a flake or hard of hearing at all-I get sound tested by my doctor each year or two. I grew up with sound engineers in the studio who were mixing albums at The Mix Palace and Platinum Sound Recording and The Power Station, Electric Lady Studios Studios in NY to name a few. When I like something I will review it such as the Kennerton headphones I reviewed on head-fi before. If I take the time to review something it has to be meaningful- it must have moved me and compelled me to do so- I do not get paid for any reviews. I do this because I care to set the record straight on what I hear and how I felt about a particular piece of equipment.

"Because algorithms can't appreciate music.​

With no pre- or post-digital filtering, digital noise shaping, upsampling, oversampling, or error-correcting algorithms, our digital signal path is the purest possible. This is not true of many so-called R-2R designs that still incorporate algorithms for noise shaping and error correction."

It's only been at my home for 48 Hours and I will add to this as I try different streaming services, streamers, CD players, transports from Esoteric and CEC and at other locations to include "The Mix Music Palace" in Garden City NY and in/at a few friends homes in NYC and around Long Island - please book mark this as I continue.

I also plan on capturing the sound and do direct comparisons recorded by a Sound Devices professional recorder.
I will also be doing a video review to come much latter...

-John Massaria


4-19-21 9:28pm - I have been struggling to convey the emotion of sound and my impression of what I am hearing- so I devised a laborious test -it will be up soon...


I briefly hooked up the Topping D90 directly to the Sound Devices Recorder and wanted to throw it (the D90) in the garbage. The differences are not subtle. I hope to convey the differences in the recording.... stand by as I perfect this and the song selections...

photo xDuoo MT-602 (credit: Apos)​

xDuoo MT-602 Tube Hybrid Headphone Amplifier​

Nice feature all amps should have if including a preamp... like a Built-in mute circuit.... Anyone who’s ever plugged in their headphones before turning on their amplifier knows that many amplifiers make an ear-splitting “pop!” noise when turned on. Thanks to a built-in mute circuit, the MT-602 prevents this from happening, saving your ears and your patience. A very nice touch for sure.

Rolling tubes with the Sylania JHS 6AK5 may make the stage/depth a bit more focused but the stock tubes seemed very good and it really isn't a requirement to change or roll tubes here... but it is devilishly good fun to know that I can have the freedom to try different tubes latter in future.

I wish I knew about earlier... I wish I had this in my home sooner and well... I can whole heartily recommend with zero regrets. I strongly recommend this for anyone who may want to use tubes to enhance their musical pleasure- to add a dimension of sound you really can not expeience with solid state- really for me this MT602 is a must have for anyone with solid state amps.

For the price this is a no brainier purchase as a first, second or third teir in any system. I see myself buying more than one for my home (one for my bedroom, one for my desk top and a third for my office)... this was a 100% guilt free purchase where I got 10x the purchase price back in musical fun- and it's a good looking piece of kit on my desk... I got mine from APOS here - they shipped really quick and offer some crazy additions to why I use them when ever I make a purchase- this is a huge part why I trust them- they allow a 30 day return policy which honestly I think all dealers should do especially since we need to try before we buy these days- anyone not offering this as as dealer I would never use or recommend. Oppps! my bad... just checked their site and now they say it's a 45 day return.... my mistake! They clearly say they offer Free Shipping, Price Match Guarantee, Apos 2-Year Warranty and a 45-Day Return.


Product highlights

• 2 x tube + transistor power
• Class-A amplifier
• Allows for tube swapping
• Amp can be used as preamplifier
• Power supply: DC12/1A
• Output power: 1300mW (32Ω)
• Frequency response: 10Hz-60kHz (+/-0.5dB)
• Suitable headphone impedance: 16-600Ω
• Gain: +15dB
• Size: 4.7 x 3 x 1.5” (12 x 7.8 x 4cm)
• Weight: 0.83lbs (0.38kg)
• S/N: >115dB
• THD+N: ≤0.01% (1kHz & 32Ω)

What’s included

• xDuoo MT-602
• AC cable
• Adapter
• 6.35 to 3.5 converter
• User’s manual
• Warranty card

Where to buy? APOS

ABOUT ME:
So you know, I have 3 systems at my home- my speakers are Vandersteen 3a Signatures, Magnepan 3.6r and my desk top system which uses SEAS drivers in custom D'Appolito configuration.
I edit videos and film on location for professionals- I mix sound for a living occasionally after I film them in person- sometimes I am handed tracks that are terrible masters but am asked to make videos from them without re-mastering the sound. My IMDB page is https://www.imdb.com/name/nm8127846/
I am not a flake or hard of hearing at all-I get sound tested by my doctor each year or two. I grew up with sound engineers in the studio who were mixing albums at The Mix Palace and Platinum Sound Recording and The Power Station, Electric Lady Studios Studios in NY to name a few. When I like something I will review it such as the Kennerton headphones I reviewed on head-fi before. If I take the time to review something it has to be meaningful- it must have moved me and compelled me to do so- I do not get paid for any reviews.
I do this because I care to set the record straight on what I hear and how I felt about a particular piece of equipment. -JM

I am a customer of Audio46- just a guy who loves their service... so the owner reached out after reading some of my high end reviews... and said hey you want to test a few affordable in ears? I said, "sure, why not..." so here we are.. these were sent to me for review without incentive for my honest review from Audio 46. For more information Strauss&Wagner.

I received these in earphones and wasn't expecting much. Boy was I wrong and pleasantly surprised. As soon as I unboxed these and removed them from practical cloth pouch, I was like... 'ok... this will be interesting. Maybe they will sound pretty good...' and well they do. Better than many other similar priced earphones I have bought; some examples :
Better than: iPhone EarPods $19, AKG Ear buds $59, RHA MA750i (Ear buds priced at $120 at the time). The si201 are nearly as good as HiFiHear BLON BL03 $39- which requires a dongle for DAC so not as good for convenience. The si201 are nearly as good as IEM from KZZS10 Pro with the same disadvantage of separate required dongle for DAC for KZ.

I do believe the company claim of "superior less compressed DAC” built in blows away the Apple dongle dac... and is a better one piece solution...
No more worries such as my everyday thoughts "where did I leave my dongle today?"
These are a simple grab and go solution for casual listening that generally makes all recordings sound warm and fun. Are they last word on detail - no. That's not their goal for design either. These are a real treat for bass heads and for those who don't like deep insertion to get deep bass. Just lightly touch these into your ear canal and you get very decent noise isolation and nice bass. Do I prefer deep insertion ear tips like my loved Penon Orb or my Etymotic ER4P/S or my absolute end game IEM the Kinera Nanna 2.0? Not always....

Features: ​

• Built-in lightning connection for compatibility across iPod, iPhone, and iPad devices
• Three-button remote with volume and playback adjustment, as well as a microphone for calls and voice commands
• Integrated microphone allows for clearer audio quality thanks to a sensitivity of -48 dB
• White Apple-style aesthetic with stylish yet durable aluminum housing
• Large and powerful 10 mm dynamic driver for better bass response
• Stainless steel mesh nozzle
• Includes: three sizes of silicone ear tips for personalized comfort plus a carry pouch
• One year warranty

Lets get right into this... I am Italian- and these headphones are from Italy. BUT I promise there is no allegiance or preference given here due to my heritage at all. I am 100% unbiased as in all my reviews- I will tell you as I see's it or in this case hears it. But lets get real... The Italians typically are known for many great things on our planet after all...awesome food, beautiful architecture, beautiful paintings/sculptures, amazing super cars sought after and lusted after the world over, beautiful fashion, to name just a few and well of course... beautiful audio gear. Think Unison Research, Sonus Faber, Zingali Acoustics and Pathos... gorgeous looks and what really counts... amazing sound. With the Spirit Sound Designs company they certainly do continue this tradition.

The review today is for the specialized Spirit Torino Radiant Ragnarr Professional Edition. A solid milled aluminum cup system accented by all leather hand stitched headband. These are a closed back designed with a passive radiator driver on the exterior of the cup- featuring a rubber surround accented with a star pattern. The radiator adds to both beauty and functionality of the unique bass sound signature. The laser etched engraving of the double dragon (Viking King) is part of the Ragnar Edition and the wiring is part of the Professional Series denotation - a specialized high end company (Portento Audio) from Italy supplies the high purity silver wire which is directly soldered to the drivers and the cable without removable connectors usually found on the non professional series- you can order them either way. This is is a highly customizable headphone design in many ways but lets talk sound...

Bass is written in the DNA of Radiante’s signature. Depending on the track you are playing -It is sometimes overpowering but always controlled. The bass sits above everything else in most recordings- with sub-bass playing a prominent part, with peak volume around 30 Hz and a slight decrease at 20 Hz. This bass domination leads one to think this a slightly dark sound signature but it hardly dark at some ranges of the upper mid and highs... Bass is large, relentless, rich, detailed... It is a basshead’s wet dream. I think of a live event standing next to studio monitors at the club or venue. Some Tracks such as House of God by Chris Cowie are amazing as they make you feel transported to the live event at the club. It’s massive experience few if any headphones I know of can match. Spirit Torino goal of achieving the impact of a live event is unchallenged. For me the mids are not really suffering here because it is not leaking over the mids. In the Torino it does not suffocate the mids like some other dynamic drivers HP's tend to do when they try to re-create tons of bass . Bass stays well-controlled and lets midrange blend naturally. Detail and layering is present and really a breath of fresh air and openness for such a closed back headphone. Stage surrounds my head nicely - probably due to the design around the ear cups and synergy of the driver and customizable tuning but we will get into that further...
From the manufacture web site: "The motor of a Spirit headphone could only be exceptional, the basic unit is made to our specifications by driver wizard Jaco Burger and then prepared at the Spirit lab depending on the intended use, with a series of vibration damping, ventilation parameters variation and magnetic enhancement.
The optimization of the aerodynamic flows and the elaborate composite structure make it possible to reproduce the musical message with extreme timbre fidelity."

Shown above is multiple vent holes found on the open back versions- my version/closed back came with only one vent hole (see image below)- a new design for the Torino Radiante Ragnarr Professional. The variable ventilation system is used in the Spirit range. This system has two distinct purposes- one to increase soundstage outside your head and to control bass. By covering the hole- bass can increase even more! I preferred it left in stock mode but its nice to know it gets even crazier if one prefers...

​

CABLING​

Different cables for different fields of application. The Standard and Torino 1706 fittings include detachable cables made in collaboration with Portento Audio that combine lightness and flexibility.
All the termination standards on the market are available and it is possible to choose a double section version to improve performance with high current amplifiers.
Detachable cables can be configured to further customize the sound signature.

• standard cable: OFC copper designed for mobility, supplied as standard equipment.
• double section cable: OFC copper for greater control of the low range with current amplifiers
• copper/silver cable: silver-plated copper for more openness in high range sound and high definition
• double section copper/silver cable: for uncompromising listening, dedicated to high-end amplifiers

The Ragnarr version and all Twin Pulse units, on the other hand, feature uncompromising silver wiring directly soldered on the drive, avoiding two soldering points and one contact point for optimum current transfer.
The wiring includes a 4 strand braid of coaxial cable of quadruple cross-section compared to the one usually used in headphones.
Connectors and sleeves of the highest quality complete a high-end construction that will last over time.

​

PADS DEVELOPED WITH DEKONI​

​

In a headphone, the pad has a fundamental function because it delimits the chamber in which the sound takes shape to reach our ear, but it is also the element of contact with our head, so its design must take into account technical/acoustic and comfort aspects. Spirit Pads are made with a combination of fine leather and Alcantara to offer breathability and comfort. Each pad also includes a careful study of the pressure relief flow channeling to make the driver workload symmetrical in compression and decompression of the chambers. This is a new design feature updated now in the line up.​

UNIQUE TUNING SYSTEM:
The headphone comes with a rotate-able soft felt die cut pad that fits in the headphone after removing the ear pads. I prefer it installed and rotated so all holes are in unobstructed view as opposed to slightly rotating the felt disc to covering the metal underneath. For me-the the non-blocking one to sound best, as the other one places a larger emphasis on upper midrange and slightly veiled at other frequencies.



Bottom Line: The Spirit Torino Radiant Ragnarr Professional is a unique collector headphone in my opinion, a headphone so unique in it's unparalleled aluminum construction of the ear cups and laser engraving, the hand stitched headband made of soft Italian leather and real genuine suede - a headphone so well made in fact I dare to say it is a statement in it's own right and worthy of a purchase as functional art. While it is built like a tank, it falls a little short for me on sound for the asking price. I might suggest the company Spirit Sound Designs spend less on whats in the box and even the box itself. The well crated wooden box must cost a small fortune to make. And the included box is so heavy, I can imagine shipping costs are very high to ship such a heavy large box. Why? The included box is just a place to store the headphones for shipping, not really a display box of sorts- not here anyway. It's not functional for carrying around either. As a comparison- the portable pelican box like the one I received with my Gold Planar GL2000's is everything every single manufacturer should ship their precious headphones in. Why? Its all the things a person wants: cheap, light sturdy, portable functional and wicked cool to boot. The GL2000 includes a carry case and shipping case that is so so light and functional after the shipment. I get it every unboxing should be special and the Spirit Torino Radiant Ragnarr is just that, a very special unboxing experience. But keep the costs down if it's not adding anything to after the sale.-eliminate that heavy useless box please! Ok- lets keep going on how to make the Spirit Torino Radiant Ragnarr even cheaper- by eliminating the included USB drive card, while unique and very generous by offering Spirit's own wonderful high resolution (FLAC/DSD) recordings and instruction manual all on one USB card- that card must cost something- eliminate that card and put everything on line for owners to register their headphones and receive after ownership. Next way to cut the price to keep these headphones more competitive- offer a plain all copper 6nocc cable that is not mircophonic and not by some super high end company like Portento Audio. To be clear- Spirit includes the craziest wire with the Professional Raggnar- I get it its their top model. But even with their base models the cable is made by the same crazy high end same Portento Audio. Offer the other high end cable separately as an option. Enough about keeping costs down or the box... bottom line I put the Spirit up against the closed back of my own personal dreams. My Kennerton Gjallarhorn GH50JM Edition that I tuned myself which you can read about in this link and that eventually went into full production after the tuning... this is my end all be all favorite HP so far- and I say that very sincerely and with a lot of thought through my many many years of listening (to IEM's, conventional over ear dynamic, electrostatic and or planar drivers, and of course even to speakers).

I know it may not be fair for me to say ' keep the costs down', 'do this' or 'do that' so more people can enjoy the Spirit Torino hard hitting bass juggernaut of a headphone with few if any peers in that relm- how dare I suggest Spirit cut corners. Ok maybe I am wrong... but I wish they were in the $1500-1800 at most- then I would say worth it 100% but based on price alone I have to be honest and shaved one star (half) off for the price vs performance and practicality.
If deciding to EQ these headphones, they compete with open backs on soundstage, imaging, separation, and clarity. If not, you really would only need these if you enjoy bass heavy music. These are the undisputed kings of heavy drums and heavy bass like metal, edm and organic bass drums and guitars- which is a resounding win in my book. If I leave you with one impression, I will certainly miss the Spirit Torino Radiant Ragnarr Professional when it ships from my home back to the distributor. It's a like a beautiful sports car - like a Ferrari- not really all that practical for everyday driving - but a truly once in a lifetime kind of experience to drive, very memorable, a show stopper and a collectors piece. Recommended for all of that and more. -JM

ABOUT ME:
So you know, I have 3 systems at my home- my speakers are Vandersteen 3a Signatures, Magnepan 3.6r and my desk top system which uses SEAS drivers in custom D'Appolito configuration.
I edit videos and film on location for professionals- I mix sound for a living occasionally after I film them in person- sometimes I am handed tracks that are terrible masters but am asked to make videos from them without re-mastering the sound. My IMDB page is https://www.imdb.com/name/nm8127846/
I am not a flake or hard of hearing at all-I get sound tested by my doctor each year or two. I grew up with sound engineers in the studio who were mixing albums at The Mix Palace and Platinum Sound Recording and The Power Station, Electric Lady Studios Studios in NY to name a few. When I like something I will review it such as the Kennerton headphones I reviewed on head-fi before. If I take the time to review something it has to be meaningful- it must have moved me and compelled me to do so- I do not get paid for any reviews. I do this because I care to set the record straight on what I hear and how I felt about a particular piece of equipment.

POLAR REVIEWS MUST INDICATE SOME BAD COPIES OUT THERE BUT MINE WERE SPOT ON​

I CAN NOT UNDERSTAND HOW SOME LOVE THESE AND SOME HATE.... ​

MUST BE BAD COPIES IS MY GUESS... ​

​

Gold Planar GL2000 Planar Magnetic Open-Back Headphones​

​

SIDE NOTE: So you know, I have 3 systems at my home- my speakers are Vandersteen 3a Signatures, Magnepan 3.6r and my desk top system which uses SEAS drivers in custom D'Appolito configuration.
I edit videos and film on location for professionals- I mix sound for a living occasionally after I film them in person- sometimes I am handed tracks that are terrible masters but am asked to make videos from them without re-mastering the sound. My IMDB page is https://www.imdb.com/name/nm8127846/
I am not a flake or hard of hearing at all-I get sound tested by my doctor each year or two. I grew up with sound engineers in the studio who were mixing albums at The Mix Palace and Platinum Sound Recording and The Power Station, Electric Lady Studios Studios in NY to name a few. When I like something I will review it such as the Kennerton headphones I reviewed on head-fi before. If I take the time to review something it has to be meaningful- it must have moved me and compelled me to do so- I do not get paid for any reviews. I do this because I care to set the record straight on what I hear and how I felt about a particular piece of equipment.


From the moment I plugged them in I was hooked- very unique for me- I usually have to burn things in to love ‘em a bit more... not these... it was love at first listen... and yes the wonderful hype surrounding these are 100% warranted...

So to jump right into this- wow. Impressed as soon as I unpacked and opened case... Two huge (yes huge bags) humidifiers included to keep moisture out. The wire is a 4.4mm balanced silver wire with dual 3.5mm connectors to the cups. Two ear pads included- one is memory foam (comes installed) and the ear "D" shaped pads is not memory foam- just regular foam but has a suede like material touching the skin. I preferred the larger memory foam ear pad without the D shape for both sound and comfort. The D shaped pad also has small perforated pin holes which diminishes some sound for me. Now for the sound- yes. Sound stage huge. Bass - soooo yummy and accurate with my Apache RSA amp with Sparkos quad SS2590 Pro single class A modules. Tremble is sweet, smooth and articulate. The mids are amazing as well with both male and female vocals. I will be keeping these and of course really love them for all they are- and everything they aren't- they aren't expensive but feel like they should be or maybe just maybe these put other more expensive designs to shame in many ways - maybe everything else is way over priced. This is a deal and a half even at full asking price of $639. Well done is all I keep saying with my inside voice every time I hook them up and sit to listen. I feel very happy - almost like I stole them. Truly a huge value setting a new performance bar. The proverbial cherry on top here is the practical high quality carry case which is unheard of in this price range. It looks like a “Pelican” type case with custom foam cut outs. Each driver is shipped with foam inserts to protect the planar drivers during shipping.

The Goldplanar GL2000 double magnet planar headphone are excellent and even way beyond the asking price... I can sit here all day and waste pixels and your time printing more words... I suggest stop reading all reviews on this headphone... trying to figure out why these have me and many other owners hooked -just get your hands on a pair and listen and hear for yourself. I feel complete when it comes to buying Planars after these- they really do check so many boxes for me. They meet my needs and my price perfectly. I should mention- I have owned the amazing heirloom quality Kennerton Thekks and Wodans but found myself coming back to my GH50JM Edition- I always seem to grab these closed back HPs since I love the solitude of closed backs and they (GH50 JM Edition) offer me a huge soundstage nearly as wide as open backs. I loved the more expensive Kennertons- their build quality and sound BUT I wound up hardly using them- why? My closed back GH50 always won me over- when it comes to open backs these (GL2000) changed my mind completely.

SUITABLE FOR: INDUSTRIAL, ROCK, EDM, BLUES, JAZZ AND CLASSICAL

PORTABLE USE: NOT LIKELY OR RECOMMENDED FOR PORTABLE USE B/C OF SOUND LEAKAGE

AMP/DAC DEPENDENT: YES- YOU WILL HEAR WHAT YOU PLUG IN- NO HIDING HERE WITH THIS RESOLVING HP

Conclusion: This open back planar (ONLY THE DOUBLE MAGNET VERSION) will make you re-evaluate this hobby- why spend more and why listen to anything else??? unless you need a closed back and then I suggest listening to my own tuned HP from Kennerton called the Gjallahorn GH50JM Edition. My take on these is simple: awesome buy for asking price and even double or triple- save the D pads with pref holes and use full ear cups pads that come pre-installed instead for best sound- headband can feel a bit thin on middle part of skull while wearing for many hours - so maybe suggest Dekoni Nuggets- some reviewers love these some not so much- my thought there is some GL2000 left factory with some issues - no other way to explain the polar reviews. These are top tier and my copy is amazing. https://www.head-fi.org/showcase/gold-planar-gl2000-open-back.24993/-JM

ADDITIONAL: I did try the memory foam tips and preferred the Final Edge Ear Tips which are included- the isolation with the size of the nozzle and the type of tip I used seemed like the best fit for me, and made a nice mate for sound - which is unusual since I always seem to gravitate towards the memory foam as my preference.



Technical Specifications:

• Four Driver Hybrid Setup, including one 7mm Dynamic Driver, one Balanced Armature Driver and two Electrostatic Drivers.
• Sensitivity: 110dB at 1mW
• Frequency Response: 5Hz-50kHz
• Connector : 3.5mm/ 6.35mm
• Frequency response range: 5-50KHz
• Distortion: <0.8%
• Impedance: 60Ω
• Cable Length: 1.2m
• Detachable 2 Pin 0.78mm Connector Copper Wire

The driver setup provides good extensions at the lower and higher-end, providing good quick bass and smooth instrument details.




More forthcoming.

Accessories:

• Tips (22)
• Cleaning tool
• 3.5mm to 1/4″ adapter
• Magnetic 'vegan' leather case (feels like real leather)

Cable: single-wire copper cable. Good amount of softness, no micro-phonics-- no complaints.

Connection: flush 2-pin. Very slightly recessed

Build: standard resin build, solid build and look high end

Fit: similar to a custom fit for me; fits very well for my ears - love the colors

Isolation: excellent. Good nozzle length makes for a nice and secure insertion depth.


KINERA MOUNT NANNA 2.0
FINAL ANALYSIS:
Fit and Finish- 9.8/10
Imaging-9.4/10
Bass- 9.8/10
Mid- 9.8/10
Highs-9.7/10
Comfort in EAR-9.8/10
Cable-9.2/10
Packaging/presentation- 9.6/10
Clinical Sound: 9.7/10
Pleasurable Sound: 10/10
Revealing of Source: 9.9/10

NOTES: These IEMs are Amp/DAC dependent to excel and show why they are among the best. Using them with an Iphone and lightening DAC makes these IEMs ordinary. You need to feed them some power like an external amp to get the most from these IEMs.
The stock cable is kind of plain jane looking and the connectors could be more premium looking for the money. I did some wire swapping and they do open up more and benefit from better wires. They can benefit from silver wire for a bit more air- it does prove things just get better when you feed these IEMs the best you have to feed em... so there is lots of room to grow- but out of the box- they certainly do impress even with stock cable BUT I need to stress this- the Nanna 2.0 do require an external amp to strut their stuff- so be forewarned garbage in garbage out here- no magic pill here to understand good pairing.

Some equipment used: Fiio Q5s, Cayin N3PRO for portable and the RSA Apache 2020 version w/ 4Sparkos Pro 2590s, Topping A90, Pass Class A Custom Amp, DAART Yulong Aquila II but my favorite was with the RSA Apache as it is my fav to date - DAC is a Mojo Mystique R2R DAC and Topping D90.

ABOUT ME:
So you know, I have 3 systems at my home- my speakers are Vandersteen 3a Signatures, Magnepan 3.6r and my desk top system which uses SEAS drivers in custom D'Appolito configuration.
I edit videos and film on location for professionals- I mix sound for a living occasionally after I film them in person- sometimes I am handed tracks that are terrible masters but am asked to make videos from them without re-mastering the sound. My IMDB page is https://www.imdb.com/name/nm8127846/
I am not a flake or hard of hearing at all-I get sound tested by my doctor each year or two. I grew up with sound engineers in the studio who were mixing albums at The Mix Palace and Platinum Sound Recording and The Power Station, Electric Lady Studios Studios in NY to name a few. When I like something I will review it such as the Kennerton headphones I reviewed on head-fi before. If I take the time to review something it has to be meaningful- it must have moved me and compelled me to do so- I do not get paid for any reviews. I do this because I care to set the record straight on what I hear and how I felt about a particular piece of equipment.

USB DAC/Headphone Amplifier $1699-$1,999.00USD (Depending on where you buy it)
ON LOAN FROM:
Todd F. Green President
Todd The Vinyl Junkie www.ttvjaudio.com


HIGHLIGHTS:

• Hi-Res audio playback supporting DSD512 (22.6MHz) and PCM 768kHz/32-bit PCM
• Dual monaural circuit design with a high-end AKM VERITA AK4497 DAC on each channel
• 5 types of PCM digital filters and 2 types of DSD digital filters
• Up-conversion up to 24.5MHz DSD and 384kHz/32-bit PCM
• Dual on-board clocks for 44.1kHz and 48kHz frequencies, and 10MHz external clock input
• Bluetooth? receiver supporting LDAC? and Qualcomm? aptX? HD
• TEAC-HCLD output buffer circuit and TEAC-QVCS volume control for high quality sound
• 4.4mm 5-polar Pentaconn jack and dual 1/4″ TRS jacks for balanced and active-ground drives *1
• TEAC’s patent registered pin-point feet in three positions for the perfect installation *2
• “Bulk Pet” USB transfer technology, with four transfer modes to vary sound character *3
• Free TEAC HR Audio Player for DSD512 and PCM32/768 playback

TECH DETAILS:

• Hi-Res audio playback supporting DSD512 (22.6MHz) and PCM 768kHz/32-bit PCM
• Dual monaural circuit design with a high-end AKM VERITA AK4497 DAC on each left and right channel
• 5 types of PCM digital filters and 2 types of DSD digital filters
• Up-conversion up to 24.5MHz DSD and 384kHz/32-bit PCM
• Dual on-board clocks for 44.1kHz and 48kHz frequencies, and 10MHz external clock input
• Bluetooth® receiver supporting LDAC™ and Qualcomm® aptX™ HD
• TEAC-HCLD output buffer circuit and TEAC-QVCS volume control for high quality sound
• Dual toroidal-core power transformers
• Digital Isolator for separated digital and analogue sections
• 4.4mm 5-polar Pentaconn jack and dual 1/4” TRS jacks for balanced and active-ground drives*1
• TEAC’s patent-registered pin-point feet in three positions for the perfect installation*2
• Bulk Pet USB transferring technology with four transfer modes for various sound characters*3
• USB audio port for Hi-Res audio input from Windows/Mac
• Coaxial and optical digital inputs on both front and back
• Convenient analogue LINE input to use the UD-505 as a pre-amplifier
• Analogue outputs with balanced XLR and conventional unbalanced RCA outputs
• High-contrast full-graphic organic EL display with dimmer
• Full-metal body with an A4-sized footprint
• Free TEAC HR Audio Player for DSD512 and PCM32/768 playback
• Compliant with RoHS

The UD-505 is also a pre-amplifier - using an analogue processing; a wide range of analogue/digital inputs, and fixed/variable level XLR (balanced) and RCA (unbalanced) outputs. You can build a hi-fi system around the UD-505 with a stereo amplifier/pair of monaural power amplifiers and floorstanding speakers, or a simplified system based on a pair of active speakers The TEAC-QVCS (Quad Volume Control System) which is claimed to be a precise volume control design. This circuit employs four sets of variable gain-amps controlling volume for left, right, positive and negative (L+, L–, R+, R-). Each variable gain-amp is located on a simplified signal path which helps eliminate interference noise by creating a shorter signal path. In addition, the TEAC-QVCS provides precise volume control in 0.5dB steps in ‘dB’ display mode, or 100 steps in ‘step’ display mode.



The UD-505’s headphone amplifier circuit provides balanced-drive by using the TEAC-HCLD circuit, – comprised of four output transistors for each left and right channel – for headphone output. The amp uses transistors which are in parallel when a single-ended headphone is connected, the UD-505 delivers stronger driving power than most ordinary single-ended headphone amps provide. When listening to conventional headphones, it also operates in Class-A (by expanding the Class-A range of operation), despite using a Class-A/B amplifier. With challenging 600Ω high-impedance headphones the amp seemed to work very well in deed beacuse of this amp set up. Is it better sounding than my Bottlehead Crack With Speedball? Its not as musical but it certainly is faster and more precuise- meaning in many ways depending on your mood- you may want more accurate sound then it would be a clear winner for the UD505- but if you want romance in sound then using the Bottlehead is your ticket- still using the DAC in the TEAC UD-505 but bypassing the internal amp of the TEAC and RCA leads out to the Crack. Of course the 300ohm or 600ohm headphones are made for the Crack esentially and exclusively- and the Crack fails at anything under say 150ohms as an amp...Contrary - The TEAC Amp section can drive 32ohm IEMs all the way up to 600 ohm headphones- making it logical choice for both sound and convince as a one box solution.

Comparing the UD-505 as one box solution - it is a better sounding DAC and amp both judged seperately- when comparing it to the $1499 Wyre4Sound Intimo or the YULONG DA-ART Aquila II. YULONG DA-ART Aquila II is a fine cheaper solution to the one box delema and even managed to beat the Wyred4Sound Intimo... but fell short in performance when comparing the YULONG to the TEAC. The overall performance of the UD-505 puts it near state of the art honestly. They really did do an excellent job over at TEAC- again being a one box solution this punches way above most one box systems and rivals some of the best separates out there for performance and sound. It's operation flawless, whisper silent, volume as smooth as silk- a joy to use and listen to and operate.

BUT...

Comparing the amp section of the UD-505 to my PASS WHAMMY the winner goes to the PASS WHAMMY by far. The dynamics and stage using the dual OPA627 on browndogs along with the excellent engineering of the WHAMMY put this amp ahead. Kit price for WHAMMY is $200 plus the box and plus assembly, plus OPA627 on browndogs make this a $700 offering from engineer builders like the Amp Builder on etsy- if this WHAMMY design were more commercial like the TEAC with all their fancy laser etching, box construction, marketing and shipping costs the Whammy would be triple that price coming in somewhere around $1500- $1999. But kits already assembled can be bought for $800 or there abouts on ebay without hyped up boxes or silk screening.

Moving on- I wanted to isolate the UD505 as a DAC alone- Typically I use the Topping D90 which is brutal in it's ability to transfer the zero's and ones into beautiful precise music and hides nothing- I use all copper wire including the power cords from Signals Magic Power Power Cord which makes the DAC honest yet warmer than say silver or typical double or quad braided PC wire. Some may poo poo at the idea of cables. I did a long review on cables here on head-fi (https://www.head-fi.org/showcase/capistranocables-xlr-cables.24634/) where I basically determine pure copper 6n or 7n works best for me and my gear. With that being said I used the refference wire by GRIMM called SQM XLRs for the UD505 by passing the UD505 amp - therefore using it solely as a DAC. I also used the GRIMM TPR XLR wire which is slightly more warm and fun. Hooking both the Topping D90 and the UD-505 to my Ray Samuels Apache - I was able to switch on the fly. The DAC on the UD-505 utilizes the VERITA AK4497 D/A while the Topping D90 uses the 'higher' AKM chip AK4499EQ- the most expensive AKM to date. Bottom line they are close- but the D90 edges ahead in detail, bass slam and stage- but by a small margin.

The Apache is in another league when comparing head-amps to the UD-505. Everything is more transparent, 3-d and holographic when music is mastered in that way. Vocals and things like cymbals and string instruments are all great with the UD-505- but switching to the Apache- you realize why it costs $3000. Is it a fair comparison? yes. The UD-505 holds it's own and it is close. The Apache is two box system (fully balanced preamp/amp which is connected by an umbilical cord to the regulated balanced separate power supply) and adding a DAC makes it a three box system. More desk space and more money- is the pay off worth it- yes for me my combo ssystem seperates have not been beat. But the TEAC UD-505 does deliver for less ruppies (cashola AKA bread) and very close to the performance of the three box setup.


More details: Loved the dual function Pentaconn, a totally new single-plug connector for balanced headphone drive
In addition to the dual conventional 1/4” TRS jacks for balanced connection, the UD-505 employs a newly designed single headphone jack for balanced drive. The Pentaconn jack is a new 4.4mm 5-pole jack that has been developed by NIPPON DICS Co., Ltd, and complies the RC-8141C JEITA Standard, providing a single-jack solution for balanced headphones (Which I used with my IEMs and my favorite headphone of all time... the Kennerton GH50 JM Editions; with great results I might add). More Pentaconn jack-equipped headphones and cables are expected in the near future. Along with the Pentaconn jack, two 1/4” TRS jacks provide three driving modes: balanced, active-ground, and parallel drive (for two pairs of single-ended headphones).


More features:

“Bulk Pet” USB transfer technology for enhanced audio quality. When transferring large volumes of digital data for Hi-Res audio sources through USB cables using conventional isochronous transfer mode, large variations can occur in the processing loads of the sending computer and the receiving USB DAC. This can cause sound to drop out and other problems to occur. However, with our new USB transmission technology – dubbed “Bulk Pet” – a fixed amount of data is transmitted constantly, levelling out the processing burden on both devices and contributing to stable data transmission. Changing the processing burden on the computer directly affects audio quality so users can select the setting they prefer (from four transmission modes).

PCM digital filters :

• Sharp Roll Off: FIR filter with a steep roll-off that sharply cuts signals outside the audio band
• Slow Roll Off: FIR filter with a slow roll-off that gently cuts signals outside the audio band
• Short Delay – Sharp: Short delay filter with a steep roll-off that sharply cuts signals outside the audio band
• Short Delay – Slow: Short delay filter with a slow roll-off that gently cuts signals outside the audio band
• Low Dispersion: Short delay filter with low dispersion that cuts signals outside the audio band.
• Off

The USB software loaded without me having to install drivers- a huge plus and all functions worked flawlessly without issue. The preamp is whisper quiet and extremely intuitive to use. The remote is a nice touch, it is solid and controls just about everything one could want- more company's should be so thoughtful in providing this much control remotely. I tried the different filters and settled on the slow short delay for me as sounding best. Sometimes I preferred no filer so I left it off and then realized - off was maybe a tad bit more revealing but still not as musical. It depended on the tracks I used honestly.



Summery: A great buy at the price, the UD-505 is and has many features and performance few can match. I know the TEAC blew away the $1499 Wyred4Sound Intimo DAC/HEADAMP I reviewed months ago which is a very similar price to the UD-505. And you get a remote and preamp function with the TEAC. The DAC the sound is balanced, smooth and extremely detailed. If you want a very solidly built tank like desktop headphone amp, DAC and Preamp; the UD505 is a logical solid choice. It's near state of the art without having to fork over double or triple the price for just a slight sound improvement. Highly recommended as a one stop box solution that should serve owners well into the future.

Tripp Lite 1000W Isolation Transformer Hopsital Medical with Surge 120V 4 Outlet 10ft Cord HG TAA GSA

• Complete line isolation and noise filtering
• Hospital-grade plug and receptacles
• Lowers cumulative leakage current of connected equipment to under 100 μA
• Floating AC output prevents noise coupling
• TAA-compliant

Isolator Series UL 60601-1 Listed Medical-Grade Isolation Transformers offer line isolation and continuous noise filtering. An internal low-impedance isolation transformer component offers 100% isolation from the input AC line. Full UL 60601-1 medical-grade listing with hospital-grade plug and outlet receptacles makes Isolator medical-grade transformers ideal for protecting sensitive electronic equipment in patient-care areas. Faraday shield reduces the cumulative leakage current of the Isolator and connected equipment to levels less than 100 microamps. Removes EMI/RFI noise, utility switching transients and harmonics generated by other on-site loads. Reduces impact of utility- or lightning-related surge conditions. Transformer filtering provides continuous common-mode noise rejection with no wearable parts. Reduces 6000V IEEE587 Category A & B ring wave and combination wave test surges to only 0.5V common mode. Includes four widely spaced NEMA 5-15R hospital-grade output receptacles, 10-foot power cord, hospital-grade input plug, circuit breaker overload protection, lighted power switch and rugged all-metal housing. Ships ready for placement in any industrial, medical, office or network environment. PLUG/OUTLETS: Input - NEMA 5-15P Hospital Grade; Output - 4 NEMA 5-15R Hospital Grade ELECTRICAL: 120V AC, 60 Hz, 8.3A (requires NEMA 5-15R wall receptacle).
The Standard Grade Tripplite IS1000 uses two toroidal transformers. It has 4 5-15R standard grade outlets. It can be had for $272 on amazon (plus shipping?). It comes with a 6ft cord. It weighs 25lbs.

Mine is a IS1000HG which costs about $412 (+ship?) on Amazon and uses a traditional wound transformer- Magnetically shielded with magnetic core. Tripp Lite describes it as “Medical-grade, low impedance transformer-based line isolation transformer” which is suppose to be actually more precise but not as efficient as a toroidal . It comes with a 10ft cord, has 4 medical grade outlets and weighs 38lbs.

• Offers line isolation and continuous noise filtering
• Internal low-impedance isolation transformer with Faraday shield offers 100% isolation from the input AC line
• Full UL 60601-1 medical-grade listing with hospital-grade plug and outlet receptacles for the protection of sensitive electronic equipment in patient-care areas
• Reduces cumulative leakage current of the Isolator and connected equipment to levels less than 100 μA
• Floating AC output prevents noise coupling from noisy hospital ground circuits and meets agency requirements
• Inexpensive alternative to dedicated circuits and site electrical upgrades
• Removes EMI/RFI noise, utility switching transients, load-generated harmonics and ground loops
• Transformer filtering offers continuous common-mode noise rejection with no wearable parts
• Reduces 6000V IEEE587 Cat A & B ring wave and combination wave test surges to only 0.5V common mode
• Includes 4 widely spaced NEMA 5-15R hospital-grade output receptacles, 10 ft. power cord, hospital-grade input plug, circuit breaker overload protection, lighted power switch and rugged all-metal unit housing
• Ships ready for upright tower placement in any industrial, medical, office or network environment

The Tripp-Lite IS1000HG isolation transformer serves as a key building block in a high performance Distributed Power System. The unit is especially useful for headphone amps (maybe), tube amps (maybe), AV processors, DVD/CD Players, and HDTVs. But the most profound best use for the IS1000HG for me is when I connect my DAC and computer to it. As I compare my Tripp Lite Power Strip IBAR12 and IS1000HG - I do notice much better dynamics from the DAC and much more bass punch when it's connected to the IS1000HG. Instruments seem to pop out more from a 3d like black background more than than the IBAR12. Maybe it separates a bit more of the instruments creating more stage illusion. Music sounds a little more realistic and I find myself toe tapping more and grooving a bit more when connecting the DAC to the IS1000HG. The computer also seems quieter supplying music to the DAC but it takes so long to boot-my auditory memory doesn't really remember hearing a huge difference- but my initial and long term thought is music is just a tad bit cleaner with blacker backgrounds- but not the huge difference I heard between connecting the DAC to the IS1000HG. I figure the two data crunchers need that isolation more and benefit most from it.

I have no reason to use the IS1000HG with my headphone amp, as I have no grounding noise and now that the source components are treated (the DAC and the PC) I have nothing but quiet backgrounds and perfect data being amplified. All the information I have gathered proves that a simple connection to a properly wired dedicated socket with a solid power cord provide the best sound for amps. When it comes to amps keep it simple and as straight powered as possible with no chokes or filters if possible.

For power cords- I am using a Signals Magic Power Cord for both DAC and Power Amp. I should note I have compared many other power cords over the years (TG Audio is one of my favorite but no longer made, Z Cables, Stealth Audio Cloud, and some various Viborg cords- and yes they can make a DAC or AMP and even your PC sound better. Lets talk power cords for a moment- The Signals PC are reasonably priced and provide the best sound for the Topping D90 and my PASS amp for the money (even for triple the money). Price shouldn't really matter when comparing- it should be all about synergy with your gear. For example- I find the cheaper pure copper Signals Magic Power Cord (twisted design for shield) better than the more costly MagicPower Digital Reference (which uses double shielding but hinders sound-stage a bit) for the Topping D90. Copper works best for Topping D90 all around (XLR and RCA)- you can read more about my cables and reviews on what works best with the D90 here.

Anyway... I did have to try the PASS headphone amp with the Tripp Lite IBAR12 and the IS1000HG - my conclusion? I prefer the IBAR12 for the PASS WHAMMY Class A amp running dual OPA627s as I suspected. Straight power for amps is what I remember as a kid and it still holds true today. I have not used my Ray Samuels Audio Apache on any of this gear - but I may update this if I do. For now the RSA Apache is nearly perfection with its own separate linear power supply- and I really can't imagine it getting much better since their is no hum or hiss or reason for a isolation or a kind of conditioner at all- I feel it would just restrict the flow of power and so does Ray himself - as we just spoke about it today by phone.

Application Notes:

The IS1000HG could be an audiophiles dream ... Power is very strong for instantaneous energy storage and delivery and silent noise free performance for audio gear- and in the room noise - both IS1000HG and non HG units should both be silent- with no transformer hum really at all. I understand the older ones can suffer from some hum but the newer ones like mine are nearly silent- put your ear to it and you will hear a ever so slight hum. Some people with the non HG version claim they hear noise from the aluminum box- I can not comment why some have it and some do not. Mine is nearly dead quiet as it sits on the floor away from other gear. Please remember any power supplies should be as far away from all other gear as much as possible for best quietest black backgrounds. Try not to stack power supplies and keep gear clear of a monitor (LCD or LED or Plasma) if you can - avoid these things as they always have some consequences on the sound performance. When in doubt separate gear as much as possible or experiment with placement with sensative IEMs connected to your amp as you move the gear around. You will know where to put it and where not to put it... let's continue...

Larry Deniston from Sanfrancisco Audiophile Society in CA wrote:

"In a search for clean power for my system, I remembered a suggestion from Vince Galbo of MSB Technologies during a wide-ranging discussion about the MSB Analog DAC and the importance of clean power. Vince had recommended the Tripp Lite IS500HG, which is a 500 watt, hospital grade isolation transformer. I opted for the IS1000HG which is the 1000 watt version of the Tripp Lite as I was plugging everything except the subwoofer into the isolation transformer and more is better, right? While the Tripp Lite doesn’t have fancy case-work, an audiophile reputation or an audiophile price tag, it does noticeably lower the noise floor and improve the clarity of the music. The improvement is also demonstrable with an Alpha Labs Line EMI (Electromagnetic Interference) Meter (recommended by Stirling Trayle) or an Entech Wide Band Power Line Noise Analyzer which measures RFI (Radio Frequency Interference) which is a subset of EMI.

The pictures below are a little difficult to read, but on the left is a reading from the Alpha Labs meter from the wall socket in my listening room and reads 112.4 mV. The reading on the right is 25.6 mV out of the Tripp Lite isolation transformer. Readings from the wall socket in my listening room generally range from the 50’s to 120 mVs and out of the Tripp Lite are always in the low to mid 20 mVs. The Tripp Lite provides a measurable and audible improvement in line noise. I also have a Richard Gray’s 600 RM Pro and a Synergistic Research Powercell 10se III power conditioners, neither reduce that amount of EMI from the wall socket. As a side note, I have two 20A dedicated lines running to my room; the other rooms in the house range from the 200’s to over 1,000 mV readings
– some very noisy power!"






I will be testing this with more headphone amps such as my WHAMMY and RAY SAMUELS APACHE and update review


List on this is $680 BUT You can buy these from dealers for around $390-600 shipping included maybe... Some super deals on used medical supplies houses may even have them much cheaper - but be mindful of what to look for... make sure you get one that looks like mine or newer (without circuit breaker on front is the newest IS100HG- mine was unit right before that one and these are good to count on for noiseless box performance) . Be careful not to get a noisy one and ask seller to check with a load before you buy if the transformer inside hums- if it does have noise with a load on it- certainly my suggestion is to PASS on it. If they say no hum what so ever as in the case with mine- buy it!

I hope this helps people realize you don't need to spend a ton on PS Audio Re-generators - this is a great solution for a ton less. In two different videos - the Power Regen seller PS Audio says that SOME Isolators may or may not work well- that they may do some shelving of power frequencies and makes the connection even longer between circuits- and maybe even degrade power- lol. I don't think so - not so with this Tripp Lite IS1000HG Isolator at all.

Alternatives that are "audiophile" or A/V grade such as Richard Grays Power Sub Station price at $2995 -
like I said the IS1000HG is probably the best deal out there for what it does- especially used as we discussed above be alert what to look for when buying used.


BOTTOM LINE:

Do not confuse this with a simple power strip or just a simple surge protector or even a conditioner filter which are designed to work on certain noisy frequencies which choke your sound performance. This is not a UPS (Uninterrupted Power Supplies) with battery back up- those will choke your system even more- they may be ok for computers for a certain purpose (Uninterrupted Power) but not for dedicated audio equipment like a DAC or AMP or Player. But this is a great simple solution for curing not covering up issues in power and when it comes to grounding issues- the single best solution without compromise for the price.

Some people may want to isolate the power with super clean power- some may run a dedicated line with it's own circuit breaker- that is the best solution. BUT if you can't do that, this is the next best thing- and even if you did have a dedicated line (see below after review for more on electrical suggestions) - this still makes that dedicated line even better. If you have computer noise (most are very noisy environments and leak noise in to your headphone/stereo systems) and use say USB OR COAX OR TOSLINK (yes they too can be plagued with noise) to your DAC - this should make it dead silent...
or maybe you just want a safe ground isolation- to break the ground loop noise. Usually your amp will have some ground noise if any other components are not grounded properly or have an issue like COAX, USB or maybe there is RCA and XLR ground noise somewhere in the chain- which the amp will just amplify it - and this eliminates it by breaking the ground loop and worth the price of admission. Plus it protects your gear...







but....

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AND THE OBSESSED:

How to wire your house for good power?

The gauge of the wire is FAR MORE IMPORTANT than the fact that the line is “dedicated”.
Updated 2022 3-230 https://www.gcaudio.com/tips-tricks/electrical-delivery-systems-overview/
Improving your Listening Room Wiring – By Vince Galbo

NOTE: Please note that the details of these recommendations are written from the perspective of the American market – 120V system. Please make the appropriate adjustments for a 240V system.
WARNING: Please read this recommendation fully and then get an electrician to agree to do the work. If you decide to do this yourself then decide if you have actually done this kind of house-voltage electrical work before and are competent to do so and accept the risks of doing so. MSB or Vincent Galbo makes no guarantees or accepts any responsibility for any injury or the results or any damages caused by considering or performing the procedures outlined below. MSB or Vince Galbo make no guarantees the information is correct or complete. Rely only on the services of qualified personnel to interpret the information and perform it safely. The reader of this document is responsible to decide who is qualified to perform the work. The reader of this document is responsible to determine if any of these recommendations are in violation of any local codes.

Click to expand...

How to wire your house for improved audio and video performance – What is the Goal?
In many cases depending on the oxidation of connections, age of the breakers, length and gauge of the wall wiring, the above wall power changes in your home system are often a bigger improvement than any component that you can buy, especially with solid state amps. But even people with tubes report improvements if not big improvements.
People often tell me “I have 20 amp dedicated lines”. By US electrical code definitions, a 20 amp dedicated line will have 12 gauge wire in the wall. So while you may have a “dedicated line”, 12 gauge wire is absolutely insufficient for high end audio systems. We are recommending ten gauge or thicker wire here. It is the subject and goal of this paper. The gauge of the wire is FAR MORE IMPORTANT than the fact that the line is “dedicated”. The subject of this paper works on the theory that the varying musical demands of your amplifier are actually modulating the incoming power line, divorced from the utility (power company) by some resistance (12 or 14 gauge wall wiring at some length from the breaker panel has too much resistance for audio purposes). The noise coming from your utility is probably much lower than you suspect and the gauge of the wire is far more important. The amp demands current up and down with the music at audio frequencies that are of course above and below the 60 cycles from the power company. These demands are impressed on the line wavering the incoming voltage and so the amp is re-ingesting its own noise and also making the line dirty for itself AND the audio front end. This is possible because the wall wiring back to the breaker panel has some degree of resistance depending on the length of the run and the wire gauge (12 gauge or sometimes even 14 gauge). Power conditioners and certain power cord designs help because they make an effort to “shunt” this noise (short it out and kill it) and consume the unwanted frequencies. A better answer is to reduce the resistance back to the breaker panel making it difficult for the amp to modulate the power at all and also at the same time getting maximum power for the amplifier power supply. And so there are two benefits to reducing the resistance back to the breaker panel.
The Main Goal – Lower Resistance
The single biggest goal in improving audio is to install heavier gauge wire using the following guide.

• 1 to 40 feet: 10 gauge wire
• 40 to 60 feet: 8 gauge wire
• Over 60 feet: 6 gauge wire

Everything else in this paper is there to be sure you get the maximum benefit from the lower resistance of heavier wire! Skipping any steps is false economy.
Silver Paste Selection

Silver paste is important to reduce contact resistance. These pastes are called ‘grease’ but be wary of any that are actually that fluid. I have reports of migration of at least one audiophile silver grease that, because of voltage potential across the Line and Neutral attempts to migrate and close the gap between the hot and the ground. In one local attempt it burned up an outlet. That is why I use the McMaster Carr product. It is almost crumbly and never migrates upon inspection years later, nor does it seem to oxidize over time. There are reports of audiophile silver pastes that do oxidize and so the oxidized silver becomes worse than not applying silver at all. DO NOT try to use this stuff on interconnects, etc. While it could be a good thing, it is impossible to control it and it smears around in use because it never really dries. The result is a partial or complete short across signal hot and ground. I added this comment based on one audiophile who tried it on his interconnects, got no sound in one channel, weak distorted sound in the other, and spent hours washing his RCA plugs and cleaning his input/output jacks on his components. I don’t think it can be completely cleaned out and he should have replaced the jacks and plugs. In other words just don’t do it. Here is our first and second recommendation.

1. McMaster
2. Amazon

The McMaster is a pure silver paste in a minimal amount of carrier. This is the best of the silver products to use at about $85. It will last for years since you only need a very small amount. The second choice is a possible, less expensive alternatives.
Silver Paste Application
You will use the silver paste at every AC power connection that is made starting by removing the breakers and applying it to the inside of the clip on the back of the breaker. No need to apply it to the buss bar connection especially since these are always live!!! The clip will transfer the paste to the buss bar. You will also use the silver paste on the wires where they enter into the screw terminals both at the breakers and the duplex outlets. A thin film is all that is needed on all these connections and the silver actually performs better as a thin film. This stuff tends to get on the fingers and then everywhere else so be sure to clean up with Goo Gone or some such solvent since it is like liquid wire. It can be a finger-shock hazard if you are sloppy with it, so be sure to clean up any excess or smeared film with a solvent like Goo Gone even if you can’t see it. Your electrician will have a non corrosion paste that he always uses to preserves the copper connection but does not reduce the resistance of the connection anywhere near as well as the silver paste. The electrician’s paste is not suitable for our purposes. The silver or a silver-loaded copper compounds are the only choice.
Circuit Breaker Replacement

I recommend new breakers if they are older then one year or so. (they are cheap). If you get the original equipment circuit breakers (like Square D, Siemens, etc.), from an electrical supply house (not Home Depot or Lowe’s), you will likely get silver-tungsten contacts inside the breaker. Cheap replacement breakers are likely to have copper contacts which have higher resistance and will oxidize over time raising the resistance further. Research with your local electrical supply and ask them to look up the breaker contact material to confirm it is silver or silver tungsten.
New Circuits
I recommend at least two 20 amp 120 volt circuits sized based on the distance of the run.

• 1 to 40 feet: 10 gauge wire
• 40 to 60 feet: 8 gauge wire
• Over 60 feet: 6 gauge wire

The 8 gauge (or 6 gauge) requires a jump-down back to 10 gauge using a junction box, somewhere just before the outlet because the largest wire that will fit in an outlet is 10 gauge. Install one dedicated line for all front end equipment, and one for each amplifier. If you must feed old branch circuits off one of these outlets, it is not absolutely necessary that your audio lines are dedicated lines as long as the wire path at the outlet you are using goes directly back to the breaker panel using 10 gauge or heavier wire. The circuit can branch to other outlets from your audio outlet if necessary. (some people won’t agree with this).
Select Same Phase

For 120 volt circuits: MAKE SURE ALL EXISTING AND NEW CIRCUITS THAT YOU USE ARE ON THE SAME ELECTRICAL PHASE. I have had several direct experiences with an audio system connected on both electrical phases and the dual 120 volt feed from the electrical grid seems to make a good antenna to pick up RF. Connecting your system to only one electrical phase seems to prevent any RF issues that can damage equipment in areas with high RF. (No� you have no way to know if you are in a microwave path, or TV/radio transmission path, just do it!) Usually, every other breaker in the stack is the same phase. In other words, starting at the top (first) breaker in the left column you will have ‘A’ phase. The next breaker down (second) will be ‘B’ phase, and then the next (third) will be ‘A’ phase again, etc. So the two dedicated lines should be spaced one breaker apart to be on the same phase. Some newer panels may have one phase all on the left, and the other phase all on the right. If you don’t know have an electrician help or do the work. Decide if you are competent with an AC voltmeter and you will not be dangerous to yourself. If you have experience with an AC voltmeter measuring wall power and you feel you are competent then you can test between any two outlets to prove they are on the same phase by testing for AC voltage across the two shorter slots in the respective wall outlets. (the longer slot is always the neutral). Measuring between the two outlets probing their respective short slots you should have a reading near zero volts and maybe floating around several millivolts (mv). If your reading is 220-240 volts then the two outlets are on opposite phases and should be corrected.
Tighten Up the Connections
It is a good idea to ask your electrician to go around the breaker panel when he is done and tighten all of the set-screws that clamp the wires. This is especially important on the heaviest cables that feed the panel. These screws will be LIVE! so ask the electrician if he has the proper voltage-rated insulated tools to do this and if he is comfortable doing. Electricians will often do this any time they service a panel. DO NOT pick up the tools you own with the plastic or rubber grips and think you can do this yourself. Your tools are not rated for this procedure and it is fatally dangerous if you make a mistake, so DO NOT be tempted. Let an experienced, qualified, licensed, insured, person do this.
Replace Outlets

Try to find Hubbell hospital grade outlets with isolated grounds or something like the PS Audio Power Port, or Furutech. Generic commercial grade outlets are not a good substitute. Low and medium priced audiophile outlets are a good investment since they are heavier copper, better plated and really grip the blades of your power cord plug. I have no opinion about the very high priced cryogenic, etc., outlets. The isolated grounds can be run back to the panel individually.
About Power Conditioners
I don’t recommend line conditioners on amplifiers when the system is done as described above. It is generally better to go straight into the wall. But if you do use a line conditioner be sure it has NO CURENT or WATTAGE LIMITS and it is a straight-through design with any filtering elements ACROSS the line. If it does have a wattage or current rating then it would indicate some sort of treatment in SERIES with the line which is almost never, ever good for amplifiers and may even choke off lower power gear like front ends depending on the design of the conditioner. I do recommend conditioning for all front end equipment. For front ends which tend to draw little power compared to the amp, you might pursue a clever conditioner that does have elements in series but do be concerned about power limiting. (use your ears). If you only run one wall power line, plug the amp direct into the wall and then the front end into your line conditioner. It is better to install two lines (which must be on the same phase) because the amplifier will modulate the wall power fluctuating by the demands of the music and actually make noise on an otherwise quiet wall power line. Plug the amp direct into one and a line conditioner into the other which you will then plug your front end into. The Shunyata line conditioners and the Richard Gray are two good ones that I have used for amplifiers because they are straight through. I prefer the Richard Gray because they actually lower the impedance by storing some power on every AC cycle and they correct an error on the line known as ‘power factor error’. So the RG 400 is the best for amplifiers. Unfortunately 2 or 3 RG 400s are needed ‘star clustered’ together to get the collective impedance low enough to be effective for an amplifier. One RG 400 alone doesn’t do much for big amplifiers. The amp should be plugged in the wall with the RG 400s. This requires a quad box or a high quality audiophile power strip. (Since this paper was written in 2001 many line conditioners have come on the market. I believe the general theory above still holds true. Look for straight-through unlimited current-wattage for amps, then high current excellent filtering for front ends). Shunyata is another company that is dedicated to straight through design. They seem to concentrate more on shunting the noise that has already been generated and may do this better than the RG 400. Lately I am using both types together at the audio shows where I cannot do anything about the wall wiring. The RG400s provide low impedance behaving more like the system is connected closer to the breaker panel, and conditioners like the Shunyata quiet the high frequency noise from both the amplifier-modulation and the wall power noise.

Even more recently I have had success with BIG isolation transformers. They should have a VA rating at least double the ‘va’ (volts-amps) rating of your amplifier transformers. Triple the rating is better, so if your amp has a 1000 va (which is 1 kVA) transformer, the isolation transformer should be 2000 (2 kVA) minimum and may be marginal, 3000 to 5000 va (5 kVA) is better. I only mention the subject of line conditioners and isolation transformers to be complete. I prefer the amps straight in the wall and try line conditioners on the front end before you buy one.
The 240V Option

Some high end amps can be switched over and run on 220 volts and I recommend it may sound better. The transformer primaries and the core seem to run slight more efficiently yielding lower impedance so the supply might appear slightly ‘stiffer’ to the amp’s audio circuits (always a good thing). Because the amp is now running at twice the voltage but half the amps (current) the wall wiring looks twice as thick to the amp as it does at 120 volt (ohms law). Now the amp makes even less audio noise on the line and it then rejects its own line noise better. The 220 volt outlet can be a standard 15 amp with 10 Ga.. Wire up to 80 feet then 8 gauge beyond that.
For the 220 volt lines, the electrician may, or may not know about a NEMA receptacle and plug number that is the same size and form as our common Edison duplex 120 volt receptacle but the wide blade of the plug is on the opposite side as the 120 volt duplex. Hubble or commercial Leviton works fine for 220 volt, and the 6-20 series looks less industrial in your home.
It is Nema plug number 6-20P. ‘Stay on line‘ is a good source but your electrician may like a local supplier.
BE SURE TO CHANGE OVER THE AMP INTERNALLY IF YOU DECIDE TO RUN 220 VOLT !

Last Trick – Twist the conductors
Lastly, you might ask him to twist the conductors one twist every 6-8 inches or so. Each line should be alternately twisted relative to the one next to it. This prevents any coherent coupling between them. Keep them away from each other by minimum 4 inches. It is perfectly OK to cross them at a right angle.

Final Word
If your electrician has any concerns about all this, be aware he is always concerned about CONTINUOUS current draw and rates everything and splits up the loads like the air conditioning and the electric dryer for the available amperage. Please explain to him that we are designing for incredibly short peak current pulses and we need the resistance back to the utility as low as possible for best amplifier performance. The continuous draw is negligible from an electrical standpoint. 10 gauge wire is the largest size that will fit into a wall outlet and as far as I know does not violate any codes but you and your electrician are responsible to be sure this is true in your state, county, and city.
Be sure that your speaker cable is at least 10 gauge. You should consider 8 or 9 gauge for speakers that are below 87db sensitivity, and/ or 4 ohms. Some manufacturers say, ‘our 14 gauge behaves like 10 gauge, etc.’, this could be true but I go for the real measured gauge.

Now, without exception over the last 12 years, comments from those that have done the above heavy gauge wire wall power mods say there is audible improvement in dynamics while making the sound even more detailed, yet much more relaxed with dark backgrounds leaving only the notes and music. I was very surprised the first time I did this house power mod. I did not expect the mid-range and the highs to clean up and get more coherent as much as they did. Of course bass and dynamics are better as you would expect with better current delivery.

link to page: https://www.msbtechnology.com/faq/how-to-wire-your…e-for-good-power/

When thinking about the term classic - what comes to mind? How does something become a classic? Is it the lines, the functionality, the rareness? The performance? How do they exist in our world, even from the day of conception to manufacture- some people know or try and guess what car, what watch, what piece of furniture, what wine will be an invariable icon for decades to come. Some people preclude or guess what will be ordinary and what will separate to the extraordinary based on merits of all factors included - usually; performance, the nature of true rarity, attention to detail and of course desirability.


With audio equipment- there are designers who will go down in history for breaking the mold, perfecting the mold, breaking new ground and just plain creating state of the art designs that will be challenged but not bettered. Few things in audio are long lasting and highly desirable years after release- I can count a few. Think: Nakamichi Dragon Series by Niro Nakamichi, PASS Amplifiers designed by Nelson Pass, Mark Levinson designed by Mark Levinson himself, Krell amps by Dan D'Agostino. The remarkable crafted Kennerton headphones by Valentin Kazanzhi. The stratospheric creations like Audio Note Japan Ongaku series by Hiroyasu Kondo, or Lloyd Walker who went to the ends of the earth for perfecting the turntable. These designers and products we get to have grace our homes for the exchange of some cash is quiet incredible. If you are lucky enough to afford such designs - you actually have a useful functioning piece of audio memorabilia that exemplifies the state of the art for a period that transcends time. The Dragon Cassette deck is and will always be one of the best performing decks ever- no mater the time or place in the future. Same thing with Walker turntables- there will be few if any future designs to challenge his designs and flawless performance. Thus the term state of the art. Iconic for generations and highly desirable for anyone who truly knows what they are looking at or listening to. Enter Ray Samuels. I will not go into length on who Ray is but only to talk about his iconic state of the art highly desirable amplifiers. The myth the legend- the man who is known for extraordinary service and CARE! I can personally attest being a customer and acutely aware of his unbelievable care. Care in talking and dealing with customers matched by the perfection of a truly state of the art product. Beholding the units in person- you know you are in the presence of greatness- engineering that satisfy both the need for beauty and performance- his designs are beautiful to behold inside and out. Do not take my word for it- just look for yourself:

But looks alone are no reason to call a designers products iconic if it lacks in performance. It needs to exemplify the essence of what most people look for in buying audio- to sound nearly if not clearly the best of the best in the product segment. To set new standards. To break ground or surpass the ones before it and after it.... I believe the top performing, top tear products by Ray Samuels does just that, and here we are focusing like a laser pointer on The Apache.

For those who think Ray is retired- in a way he is, he may not go to the headphone shows anymore and may only have very limited amounts of inventory but he still assures me and others his products are still being serviced when need be and sometimes perfected and offered to those who seek them out. My Apache is an example of how Ray is still creating and perfecting his own product. Originally created and release in 2007, The Apache is an all solid state, truly dual-monaural design from end to end headphone amp and full functioning pre-amp that Ray just updated to Revision 4 using state of the art chips, resistors and caps for me in 2020. Before shipping out any units- Ray burns your gear in and listens to it before he ships it. WHO in the world then and now still does that? Ray is a designer who truly cares- after all... his own name is on each product. It is so clear to me Ray is one who pays attention to the art of creating, updating and maintaining his equipment so that they perform at their best. Think about it- putting your own name on a product says a lot of who you are- same thing goes for editors or reviewers I think. When a reviewer uses his own name like myself- I hide nothing and hope people get it- that by using my real name it is an expression of my sincerity to what I write and how accessible I am for critiques and comments and improvements. I suspect Ray is no different.





If an amp is suppose to just amplify and inject no sound of it's own - ok... lets talk about it. That is the goal right? Or is it? Lets talk water and bringing it down to zero ppm... If you want water filtered by ZERO Water filter company it filters out all the impurities down to 0 parts per million (PPM) and tastes like nothing really. I used Zero water filters for a few years and I always felt like maybe its lacking... lacking what? I don't know, thirst quenching effects of just carbon based water filters like the ones offered by Pure or Brita? Our water where I live on Long Island is among the best out the tap (54ppm to begin with which is very low for contaminants). So filtering it down to Zero ppm makes the water as pure as anything or is it? Is it lacking nutrients if there is such a thing in water? You know minerals naturally occurring in water that probably should be in there to begin with but was washed out with the Zero filter water system. Same with music, who wants a DEAD neutral lacking in spaciousness amplifier? I recently did an article on cables (LINK) where I compare cables to light and frequency of light which is based on Kelvin. The Sun is a natural barometer of what light should ideally be- but sometimes, I maybe not you... but I want it a little more warm than the natural sun. I wrote: "Before we get started - What does reality and things like human faces look like under different light colors in the range of kelvin? Me personally I like people and my music to be around 4000K to 4500K- a little warmer than dead neutral or natural. I like my light bulbs around my house to resemble the actual sun temperature of kelvin which again is between 4500-4900K. Some rooms look best in more blue light like a hallway or bathroom and some rooms like the bedroom look better in a warmer light. But no place looks good under blue light over 6K in my opinion." Are they accurate to reality? well sort of. Based on what frequency tendency? Should Sun light be the reference... some amps sound cooler and some warmer- ok- lets go from there...

If measured performance was that simple in stereo equipment we should all buy an amp that has the lowest total harmonic distortion (THD) and highest slew rates and best dynamic range while honoring the human hearing levels of 20khz-20hz signals and perhaps beyond that of human hearing for some. Go buy a top rated SINAD rating like the Tom Christiansen Audio HPA-1 (no Opas to switch in and out- the TCA uses a non removable TI LM4562 which has already been updated/rebranded to a Texas Instruments LME49720. I should mention both have a reputation of being a bit glaring in sound- not my words but directly from the people who have actually used it claim) The TCA HPA-1 is modeled similarly to the DYNALO Class A kit amps and very similar to my WHAMMY and many other amps. If looking for specs alone you could go much cheaper than that ... Go buy a Topping A90. They all measure extremely well... but really how well do they engage the listener after listening. I know and let me share.. I did just that, I bought the Topping A90... and I returned it after 26 days. I did extensive listening and comparing to my PASS WHAMMY (w/Dual Opa627's installed). The Topping A90 which by all respects is one of the best measuring amps of our time- especially when it comes to price. Stop here go buy one- or maybe return one after like I did... and keep searching as I did... it should have bested anything in it's path- did you listen to other reviewers who said it's nearly as good as the Benchmark HPA4 amp? Nonsensical hyperbole. In Russia (I'm Italian but my wife is Russian) there is a saying, "Вы не получите ничего для вас", or in English- "You won’t get any, there’s none for you." Another is "ты получаешь то, за что платишь" or in English - "you get what you pay for." My wife also said that's rude and do not print that- but hey here we are.... Sorry but most of the time it's true. We all want to buy the best of the best for dirt cheap. Yes the A90 is very good for the money but it will never be an iconic piece of gear that is handed down from generation to generation with a highly desirable factor attached to it. It's a fine amp, offering plenty of features for the price no doubt. Don't get upset when I say its not an end game amp. It doesn't approach the dynamics the breath the warmth and beauty that the Class A Whammy had at all - not even close. It's sound stage was not as deep or as wide and the Whammy was the clear winner. My friend who has all sorts of high end gear and could afford just about anything high end said the same thing when he auditioned the two amps side by side. He simply said the A90 was good but couldn't hold a candle to the WHAMMY. How can it? The whole amp is priced at $499 with marketing, shipping, parts and case all retailing at $499. More than half that number that for dealer cost. Half that for parts and a large portion for case, box and all the other things included with the A90. The parts alone probably cost $50 -$75 bucks at most. Then include labor to make it. Ok so its China but last time I checked they still have labor and warehousing expenses. The WHAMMY is a parts only build it yourself amp - starting at $200 just for raw parts and pc board, no case no marketing no box no shipping and no markup for retail, no labor. And it does not include a $80 Opa 627 set on Dogbrown board. My friend who is an engineer said that amp should cost $1500 maybe even $3000 retail for what you are getting in sound quality. Does it measure nearly as good as the A90 - yes. But I don't listen to measurements when I play music- I listen with my ears and my emotional senses. Does it sound musical and beautiful- does it make me say without any question this sounds so damm good it should be illegal. You see music is my drug of choice. Put the right track on with the right speakers/headphones and you are transported to that time and space like a trip. If an amp is unemotional- its as clear to me as zero water. Sure the amp may be super black quiet but so is my WHAMMY- it's a dead black silent background without any hiss or distortion. But who cares? any amp I audition or review or most of all KEEP for myself should be all those things. I don't want to bring up the absolutely horrible Wyre4sound Intimo I reviewed (LINK)- but I will. It was horrendous and the owner and creator of Wyred4Sound said there was nothing wrong with it. It sounded cheap and plastic compared to my WHAMMY and my retired Gilmore amp. I will not even go into the DAC they included in that unit- simply to state- it was something from the bad days of digital audio- again plastic sounding. Go read my review. Just because it was made and built like a tank- it literately had nothing to offer except a glamor box. Even the display was terrible and old fashioned. It has no place in my home at all. Am I brutal? ummm yea... and I will always be critical when it comes to medium to high priced gear. If the Intimo was $499 it still is a poor performer and at $1500 it should be ashamed of itself. They need to go back and re-design from the ground up. And for all the reviewers who said it was decent or (gulp) even said it was better than good... you should immediately discard them as legitimate reviewers period. Shills is a term I like to use. You see I do not shill - I am completely and 100% independent and say what I think and what I hear.

To clarify who I am and what I am about- so you know, I have 3 systems at my home and I do not have a unlimited bucks to spend on equipment. I only buy what I feel is the best of what I can afford after I exhaustively research and listen for myself. I simply won't buy and many times I return a ton of gear if it is not a stand out product. What do I own? My speakers are Vandersteen 3a Signatures, Magnepan 3.6r and my desk top system which uses SEAS drivers in custom D'Appolito configuration - similar to the Kinoshita Monitor Rey audio KM1V. I edit videos and film on location for professionals- I mix sound for a living occasionally after I film them in person- sometimes I am handed tracks that are terrible masters but am asked to make videos from them without re-mastering the sound. My IMDB page is https://www.imdb.com/name/nm8127846

I am not a flake or hard of hearing at all-I get sound tested by my doctor each year or two. I grew up with sound engineers in the studio who were mixing albums at The Mix Palace and Platinum Sound Recording and The Power Station, Electric Lady Studios Studios in NY to name a few. When I like something I will review it such as the Kennerton headphones I reviewed on head-fi before. If I take the time to review something it has to be meaningful- it must have moved me and compelled me to do so- I do not get paid for any reviews. I do this because I care to set the record straight on what I hear and how I felt about a particular piece of equipment.

What do I want from my amplifier? Richer timbre, wider sound stage, a clean quiet power supply that is isolated from the audio circuits, astonishingly neutral and truthful to the source, with very little coloration to the music. I want a very proper and wide sound stage, dimensionality, and spacial presentation. Toe tapping, head bopping, dancing to the music good- you know... a good time like when I was a teenager. I want it to take me back to the best times in my life and make new memories of just how good a song I have heard over and over now makes me nearly weep with emotion. Is that all? Nope, I want an amp to make me dream of it when I sleep, long to listen to when ever I have the free time. And the amp should not waste any of that precious time with lackluster performance. The amp should create emotion and admiration towards what ever genre of music I listen to with it. I want a party in my head. I want my third eye to nearly open as I transport mind, body and soul to a new plain of existence. I want goose bumps, I want my neck hairs to rise up and my head to tingle. I want to know with near certainty, this is probably as good as it gets - this is my end game amp and probably will be satisfying me for the very near and late future. I want to know this was an investment I take immense pleasure in owning. I want an amp I can look at and admire it's construction and know the maker wasn't some assembly line worker. I have no time to wait around on junk or almost as good products. I want it all and I want it now...

no really I just want all of that and more or at least as close to that as I can get with out forking over a fortune...

It reminds me of some of my favorite stand out parts in the film Amadeus (1984)...


Some amps are forgettable, some passable and some set the bar and exceed and break the bar of excellence- they are iconic and never are forgotten....classic through and through...they are lusted after even.

Does The Apache meet and exceed my expectations in a classic iconic piece of audio gear that will be cherished for generations to come? What do you think at this point?


UPDATE 11/8/20

The Apache does not need any power conditioner or similar devices, just a good power cable from your wall outlet - I tested a few a few inexpensive 10AWG all copper PC from China that looks like a red and black snake- and a TG Audio wire designed for amps- The TG Audio HSRi power cord sounded best with the Apache. I just completed a review on the Tripp Lite IS1000HG Medical-Grade Isolation Transformer designed for very sensitive equipment- I the IS1000HG worked best with my computer and my DAC both connected and isolated on different outlets on the unit. I continued to test and I listened extensively to the IS1000HG while connected to Apache and with my PASS amp- and exactly as Ray Samuels told me by phone- "you don't need a conditioner or isolator with my power supply - do not use a conditioner or anything. Just connect the umbilical cord to the preamp and power supply then connect it to the outlet directly" - he said, "the power supply will regulate what it needs perfectly and no noise should be heard... you will have maximum performance when you connect it to the outlet direct", he concluded. And sure enough it does sound best this way. I should mention with very sensitive equipment like this - precision demands separation from other power supply’s - so to avoid any possibility of interference, keep mindful of placement. Another words- if you want best performance do not stack the power supply on the top or on the bottom of preamp unless using the all metal spikes and supplied disc shaped protectors for a nice air dielectric separation, they also provide some vibration reduction and look really cool if you have the room. Stacking may look pretty but to go one step further for absolute best performance- it is best to keep the two separate by taking advantage of the long umbilical cord - find a physical isolated spot just for the linear power case. This will yield the quietest performance and bring out the best sound- "it was designed this way for a reason" according to Ray.

Additionally- Please make sure when you get your Apache or any other equipment that has an umbilical cord for connecting a power supply and preamp- make sure you connect the umbilical cord first to the preamp/amp and then to power supply. After confirming both power and preamp are connected together the last thing to do is connect the power supply to the outlet. Linear power supply's like the Apache have large capacitors that are designed to charge up and stay charged- so connecting the units in any other order is never recommended. Speaking of staying charged- The Apache as no power switch for reasons Ray Samuels explains as: its always warmed up and ready to go- never getting hot and never drawing more than a LED light bulb in a night light. Like the original light bulb that has been on since It's built - it was designed to be on always and shouldn't have any issues even at 50+ years old- its that well designed. Reminds me of this article: "Time will tell. Located near San Jose California, in the town of Livermore, Fire Station #6 is now the home of the oldest, still working incandescent bulb in the world: The Centennial Light Bulb. The lamp was first installed in 1901 in the old fire station where it stayed for 75 years and always on." If built properly - the very notion of turning on and turning off is the killer of circuits and capacitors and resistors. And I should also add - heat and energy is not a concern here- it should last longer than a circuit with an on off switch which stresses all internal components.


In 2020 - Ray Samuels is still offering unbelievable service and products. The newest Apaches, and for those who have older models can have all the resistors, caps are all upgraded to state of the art best available. And listen to this- Ray says old owners can send their units for upgrades at no charge! what? yes thats what I said- check with Ray for details. You do have to pay for shipping there and back. If you want the best chips added to the older models it's $100. What unbelievable care! This is a hand made amp and takes Ray more than a month and half to complete. He does have them ready to ship as I write this - but only has about 5 or 6 ready to ship- however- understand they truly are very limited. When they are gone - that is likely the end of production for the Apache without a huge price hike. I should also note- Ray always burns the equipment in before shipping out for 48+ hours (usually 72+hrs) and rechecks before boxing it up and shipping. I am doing additional break in with my 1st original Kennerton GH50 Modded by me... the Thekks are on their way from Russia next week after a complete check up at the factory in Saint Petersburg. They were concerned about my review having the crinkle noise when I first plugged them in cold- Kennerton 100% stood behind their headphones and did whatever necessary to make sure they are operating as the reference headphones they truly are. Ray is the same way with product line and customers.

Right now I am absolutely loving the combo of RSA and my original GH50Modded now into Mk2 Status by me- the clarity and whisper black grounds are unlikely found in any so called state of the art 'modern amp' with out spending a ton more than the $3K Ray is asking for these amps... as discussed above- the "volume knob" alone is after all worth $450-500 all by itself right now!

I am enjoying the music like never before with all my headphones - my usual rotation lately is - the planar Indgio Thekks, GH50sModded Version and The JM Edition, Sennheiser HD600 and even my IEMs. Of course usually connected is my modded GH50 - which is still my number one favorite headphone across the spectrum bar none for me (I just completed testing the brand new production model by Kennerton Gjallarhorn GH50 JM Edition made to honor my mod). The new JM Edition is shaping up to be my favorite headphone even surpassing my original mod and seems to be plugged in to my Apache all the time! The Apache really does do sound stage and depth much better than my beloved hard to beat WHAMMY. The Whammy is still slightly - ever so slightly more bassy due to the dual OPA627s vs the more exact sound signature of the OPA1611. I find myself always preferring the Apache.

If you have a desire for the latest and best and want to own a piece of iconic memorable state of the art- classically designed and built by hand by a living legend in our time- this is your next headphone amp and pre amp- I can safely say you can stop reading and go forward with immediate purchase from Ray Samuels right now before they are gone. You can rest assure knowing for sure this is as good as it gets. No wondering, no buyers remorse- this will be a lifelong companion. A joy to look at, to use and listen to in every sense. Highly recommended. -JM

________________________________________________________________________

EDITED HERE: 12/31/20

I am loving the APACHE more and more each month. Recently I bought a bunch of OPAs and have been mainly comparing the SPARKOS SS3601 Single Discrete Op Amp - and I can say it sounds great on top end (if a wee bit too much sparkle on high spectrum frequencies- a bit too much - think hyper Analytical on top end. It's not exactly sibilant but close- The 6kHz to 16kHz range controls the brilliance and clarity of sounds and seems very highlighted here on Sparkos ss3601 ) - this is the truth of what I hear for me but lower end is not close to OPA1611 - the 1611 for me sounds best so far- with Attack much more refined. I do plan on buying a few more OPA's and updating. For now the SS3601 x 4 is not as musical as the OPA1611 x 4. I do plan on trying the SPARKOS pro SS2590 discrete op amp.

I am now using the OPA627bp and it is an amazing warm loving amp now- more impact than Sparkos BUT I need to continue tests. For now- there is no doubt the Apache is a complete chameleon and truly a state of the art design - so quiet and so powerful with no matter the chips installed- but its like getting a new amp sound- very appealing to me. I love the OPA627bp for all it's musical presence and bass impact. It's a lovely sound and it deserves high praise and should be regarded as one of the best OPA's ever made in the last 30 years and probably will stay that statement for the next 30. But I need to continue testing-

I just ordered 4 Sparkos Pros - SS2590 will be here next week I would think... so very fun times!

UPDATED 1/10/21

Just installed 4 SS2590 - and my impressions are complete bliss- warm impact definition and authoritative- a very very great match inside the Apache. The OPA627bp was one of my favorite OPAs for it's shear musicality and ability to loose yourself in the music- never hyper analytical or soft from one end to the other- BUT the SS2590 brings the Apache to a new level of pleasure- past the OPA1611 I originally tested throughout this article. I am listening to Damien Rice and astonished at the pure synergy of matching- this fully discrete high powered Class A Opa is the bees knees-
I am loving each and every second with this combination (SPARKOS PRO SS2590x4 + RSA Apache). Sparkos writes this when comparing IC OPAs to discrete OPAs, "Discrete op amps do not have these limitations, and are a vastly superior upgrade over their IC counterparts. They can run much higher power, have much deeper class A bias, and deliver a much more realistic and detailed sound. Discrete op amps also permit the use of high quality compensation capacitors, and allow for two pole compensation schemes which are impossible to implement in IC designs. All of this translates into a more detailed and engaging listening experience with better imaging and sound-staging than IC op amps can deliver." I 100% agree- this combination is VERY much my ideal set up bringing the Apache to the brink of perfection and I think it's very limits of performance - truly amazing sound. Again, track after track this SS2590 combo is so good I can not stop listening. It's a pure addiction where there are are zero calories, zero chance of anyone getting pregnant, literality zero side effects and no repercussions for inducing a drug like stupper endorphin rush and injection of pure bliss - all my senses tell me this is the ultimate combo I will like the most. And it's only been a few hours since I installed this OPA. I will be doing more comparisons in this review to the other OPAs- namely going back to the 627bp and the 1611 but it may just be futile as my first impressions usually are my best- but we will continue to test...


How lovely this Apache truly is...
Thank you Ray Samuels for making such a statement piece of gear able to continually impress me day after day!

INSTALLED- the 4 single channel SS2590 Discrete OPA

UPDATED 11/24/20

Is the GRIMM SQM XLR worthy of our hard earned money?



CapistranoCables "Copper Diamond 16"- Custom hand braided copper 6n OCC 99.9997 cable with male 4 pin XLR cable to 4pin female mini XLR - 8 strands per conductor, 16 conductors total. This is a main cable . Shielded only through braid
as shown. Price $150 .5m pair



REVIEW: Initial sound impressions of the "Copper Diamond 16" for day 1 seems like it has all the benefits of the GRIMM TPR with a slight rise in the higher frequencies- bass seems solid and faster as well. The weave of the wires must be shielding it physically as intended - and it works. The sound is completely open and transparent so far after several songs and comparisons.
Very solid performance here and the Copper Diamonds sound amazing! Songs like "Who Do You Love" Absolutely Live by The Doors played back at 16bit 44.1Khz is a great test for vocals and harshness since the recording is so raw filled with intended distortions of electrical instruments swaying back and forth with silent transitions between- the snap of the drum is spot on and the cymbals sound so damm nice- a refreshing balance of warmth and focus into the performance unlike the GRIMM- the GRIMM is a bit more polite.

Riders On The Storm by The Doors from Riders On The Storm on Amazon Music
One of my favorite tracks by the Doors is this particular one- issued only to Amazon Prime users as far as I know. The one issued by Spotify with same name is not the same- the Prime version has a lot more ambient and back up vocals added devoid in the Spotify version. The dynamics and added special effects are a treat to the ears through headphones especially. Using my Kennerton GH-50's modded by me- I want to absolutely stop writing and immerse myself into the music- I am diving into the recording as the rain drops fill my head with tingles of the undeniable beat and percussion- the cables are truly reference quality - extremely music- much better than I would have ever though possible in this price range. Do they beat the GRIMM TPR- whole heartily yes. The next level. The "Copper Diamond 16" provide micro details at all frequencies without a hint of fatigue or harshness- remarkable. So this is what it is like to have your cake and eat it too- with the Topping D90+A90 the Copper Diamond 16 is a match for sure that will bring out every single last detail while still being warm. Where do they fall on the kelvin light scale? Well if the Grim TPR is 4500-4700 the Copper Diamond 16 is 4800-4900 making it a tad bit more open. Retaining all the great things I love about the TRP but ever so slightly more revealing with more open wider stage and pin point accuracy with instrument placement and excitement. This cable keeps on making me want to find new and old tracks---dam this sounds sooooo right- Good Stuffby Griff from Good Stuffn Amazon Music

the way this girl dances (after 2mins 55 seconds in) and feels the music is how I feel when i listen to this Copper Diamond 16... Aurora is pure music, her body and soul is pure music. She's always leaving the real world, when she is performing. Her other songs are really deep stuff.


Grimm TPR- ‘Twisted Pair Reference’ cable was developed for the rejuvenated Wisseloord Studios in The Netherlands. Their design focuses on high RF immunity and low microphonics. The symmetry of the cross-section and heavy shielding contribute to high RF immunity. Low microphonics is provided by a special interface layer under the shield and other construction details.
Price $68 Pair 1m

REVIEW: GRIM TPR is my favorite and highly recommend XLR and RCA wire bar none for price to performance.
The GRIMM TPR- The first thing I noticed was the bass- wow. These are a pleasurable bass, tight and musical. The mid range is juicy and ripe with organic feel. Treble region is as smooth as tube amp- not really to say rolled off but very pleasant like a tube sound. So smooth as I listen as I type. Dam these cables sound nice. No harshness what so ever. Musical. Groovey. Toe tapping joyful. Vocals sound so smooth- like a finely smoothed and polished piece of wood with a lacquered finish of satin or semi gloss sheen- smooth and wonderful to the touch. On the light scale of kelvin I want to say it shines like the sun, nourishing and refreshing after listening to the Chifi wire. Is it as good as the control in my system a now discontinued Hybrid Nanofiber Pure Carbon wire by Stealth? no. Its not as revealing into the recording but what wire could be especially at this price range. The Stealth Audio Nanofiber Pure Carbon is lightening quick where the Grimm TPR is a tad slower- which is okay. It's very enjoyable wire. I like. This is a match made in heaven with the Topping D90+A90 for sure. truly a blissful pairing warm & engaging . It proves that plain Jane looks when it comes to "cable jewelry" means zip, 'nada', zero and nothing in the world of sound... Makes me wonder why... or care less... I'm just listening to the music and I can say yes, yes yes. This is a great pairing... For all those into the mathematics of it all...
(GRIMM TPR + Topping D90 + A90 = BLISS÷Cost = INSANE DEAL)

Do I have to keep testing wire now? Am I done? Can I go now? Nope.... we march forward in reviewing more cable...


SQM is a balanced cable offered with Neutrik gold plated XLRs. Low microphony requires a meticulous choice of materials to minimize friction induced noise, plus a mechanically tight physical construction. SQM goes a step further here by using carbon doted sheaths around individual conductors and beneath the braided screen. To optimize immunity from electric and magnetic fields the screens are tightly woven (no ‘see-through’) and the conductors are well twisted. Magnetic shielding is further improved by the so called ‘star-quad’ construction after which “Star Quad Master” was named. 475.00€ 1meter pair ( $558.10 at time of review)
REVIEW: After using the SQM for a month now, I have nearly forgotten about them- that's how good they are... They are nearly dead center neutral, perfect for studios and those who review equipment- these are 'not tube warm' nor 'Class D boring' or solid state 'cold.' The SQM are like taking a snap shot with a top of the line perfectly white balanced camera - a near perfect render of the music in and out. I did not really notice but these are very grown up cables when you think about it- how? Well when you played the field and tested dozens of cables- this is the cable that will always be dependable. Depend on it to be real- not inflated, not good on some music but good on all music. Neutral is not always natural- is a true statement- but that is because these cables aren't really anything but truthful- of the source of the amp and of the recording. This cable is honest- don't expect it to color your music silly- that's not the intent. The intent is to be an adult. Serious and responsible. A cable that does not speed through 55MPH zones, but stays the limit with tempo tight and accurate. Timing is very tight- ever so slightly tighter than the TPR and this is a good thing of course. With TPR, the R stands for recording- yes excellent for recording indeed. But SQM is even better for those critical components that need every last ounce of detail. So with SQM, the M stands for Master (Star Quad Master). And yes it does indeed represent the name SQM perfectly... made for recording check, master cable check, and shielded from any noise what so ever - check. All boxes are checked- what else do you want from a cable designed from the ground up to accomplish these very traits? You want warmth- only if your song or dac or amp has it. You want stark details from the very depths of Helheim to Valhalla? You will get it here with the SQM if the recording has it and your amp and dac can pull it out and to your ears through your monitors. Its quite clear - because the SQM is clear- like Starphire glass if you will. Highly recommended. Even handed at all frequencies and true reference wire.
SQM hear the music not the wire...

See The Beauty, Not The Glass


CONCLUSION: The DIAMOND COPPER 16 sounds best with the Topping D90+A90 for me, and for the on the Ray Samuels Apache I actually am split between the SQM and the Diamond Copper 16. If I am reviewing equipment critically or mixing recordings the clear winner is SQM. If I want to hear every last drop of sound/music of what is recorded exactly as it is- the SQM is king. But if I want to sit back and just forget where I am and listen for hours- the Capistrano Copper 16 wins. The CapistranoCables offer the best sound over the Grimm TPR XLR- BUT for the money though the toe tapping fun of the GRIMM TPR is a sure winner above beyond anything I heard by other companies of similar nature by leaps and bounds (Canare, Pig Hog, Mogami Gold Studio, Hosa Edge etc) and a safe bet- you will not be sorry you bought them. If you want slightly more detail and slightly more sound stage and all the details without a hint of harshness the CapistranoCables Copper Diamond 16s are state of the art from what I heard- they even bested my Hybrid Stealth wires that are insane in price- but they do not sound as honest as the SQM. The SQM is a winner for transparency and true to source range enhancing nothing but the truth- they should have called these truth cables as what you feed them is what you get in return without embellishments lies or coloration-the SQM is truly a reference XLR.

Let me start with... My headphones are now finally warmed up after some 100+ hours of break in. For NAY SAYERS out there who think the need for drivers to break in or "warm up" is questionable let me put that to rest right now - you just don't know how important break in/warm up is for drivers, planar or electrostatics ... case in point...

My door bell rings, I open the package very carefully- my Thekks have arrived! (which only took 5 days to arrive from Russia to NY by the way-pretty awesome). I was like a kid in a candy store... or a teenager receiving his first kiss... I was like... well you get the point. I was excited. So excited I didn't think...I didn't think or wait for them to acclimate to my room. Upon removing them from the box and within the first 1 min of me hooking the cold Thekks in I freaked out! The planar drivers were certainly cold from being outside and in the UPS delivery truck and I thought something was wrong with the planar film as it crinkled when I turned up the volume! "OH MY GAD I GOT A BROKEN PAIR!" I THOUGHT...
At this point I was talking out loud really.... "CR&P!...how can they be broken? but they are so pretty! oh no please don't be broken! " but alas after just five minutes of playing music nervously- the planar drivers stretched out or stretched in and sounded perfect- no weird noises what so ever- even when turned up- I was freaking but then figured it out. I realized they really do need to flex when they are cold. I surmised it’s like the strings on a guitar and then tuning it up. The sound initially after some play time- they hit me with all the musicality and oomph I expect at this price range.
NOW I AM SAYING "Oh WOW" .. but for different reasons- "THESE SOUND SUBLIME. HOW THE HECK DOES KENNERTON NEVER CEASE TO AMAZE ME!" and then in my inner voice... I am thinking to myself... "Why isn't he (owner of Kennerton - Valentin Kazanzhi) a gazillionaire by now! or world wide famous?? he still answers my emails... who is this nutty professor and where did he come from? I hope he/Kennerton never changes or sells out!" I am thinking all this pretty much at the same time.
As I am exploring the contents of the soft eco-leather matterial zip carry case- looking for Russian Rubels but all I see inside are the cables, headphones and carry strap - better than rubels I think... I'M SMITTEN ALL OVER AGAIN LIKE THE FIRST DAY I BOUGHT MY KENNERTON MAGNI and opened the box... and yes I still very much think Kennerton is the best thing out right now- best looks, best prices and best custom heirloom quality - nothing like the mass produced "plastic" or "heirloom type quality" headphones... these go beyond heirloom headphones- they are a statement in what and how people decide to live and buy with their dollars/ruble /euros etc...'I like bespoke hand made one at a time stuff with out being taken to the cleaners price wise, and I want cutting edge technology.' That's what I think Kennerton offers beyond other brands.



As I type I am thinking.... 'How the heck didn't I ever hear of this brand before,' what if I never tried my first Russian made Kennerton some nearly 9 moths ago when CoVID-19 just started- what if CoVID19 never was around (wouldn't that be a better world), would I have found Kennerton at all? I'm not sure and I do not want to think of it other than I am ever grateful and thankful I did find Kennerton- I digress...


These Thekks are coming close to exceeding anything I have heard to date in this range ... I think I covet them already (less than half a week old). I see these THEKKS as one of my top go to headphone for listening and when I am not using them; proudly display them in my home on the fireplace mantel for all to see. They are like a TROPHY of excellence and great engineering with remarkable good looks. I feel like these were made just for me and fit me perfectly both in appearance, and in sound. How can I put a price on that achievement so few things I buy fail to do?


Like fine food you do want to share with family- at least that would be my upbringing as an Italian. So share and let others in my family listen I did- my daughter listened, my mom and my wife... all of them said the same kind of thing I am thinking- "I like these best" daddy, son and honey (you try and figure out who said what to me)... and this at only at 20 hours in...


I do prefer the Thekks without EQ since they are balanced and I like the stock sound but some people may want to know how the Thekks handle EQ. I experimented with the PEACE APO plug in EQ - and unlike my cherished Sennheiser HD600 (paired with the very necessary Bottlehead Crack OTL w/sb) or Stax SR-Lambdas w/ The SRM1Mk2 - which can handle only a little bit of push or pull of EQ - the THEKKS can handle very good amounts of EQ I would say similar to dynamic headphones or even speakers if one so desired- sometimes I like to EQ poorly recorded songs or news/pod casts and the Thekks will let you eq as much as necessary without a problem in high medium and low regions- remarkable.

NOT ALL IS ROSEY: I will say I do not particularly love the cable- I may plan on buying a new one that is more flexible- ask Kennerton which cable would fit the bill if you felt the need for more flexibility. I cannot however, recommend a better sounding cable at this time- as the included cable that come with the Kennerton is very musical and I see no need to change or alter the sound right now since they sound fine stock. The headband is microphonic IF you touch it or play with it while they are on your head- so don't try to play your headphone band instead play the headphones through your amp and stop touching the metal headband- unless that's your thing. My wife clinks on it to get my attention - so there is that feature. Comfort- I can easily wear these for many many hours without any part of my head, neck or ears hurting at all- its balanced and light, easy to wear and comfortable.



My Thekks are straightforward to own - I don’t see a need for much else in my stable at this time for an open back statement piece - at least by looking at other headphones on the market at present. They may not have as much bass as the Meze EMPYREAN but they are very close to their bass yet beat them in nearly all other criteria. The THEKKS may not be the stark crazy detailed of a Focal Utopia - and thank goodness for that - these are much better at listenability and sounding like pure music at its best. You do hear the details nearly as clearly as the Focal but you don’t focus on that alone and you definitely don’t get any listener fatigue at all with the Thekks- you just sit back and listen- and know it really doesn’t get much better than this- very satisfying.


Lastly: I get it if some people think I am a bit too amorous - but I stand behind my every word- if you ever get a chance to experience Kennerton even just the Magni's to put your feet (ummm ear) in and test the waters- you may just get it - other wise you are taking my and others who have tried and expressed their views on what it is like to own a Kennerton.



and I absolutely... love that color its like a chameleon... always changing colors of deep ocean blue and a bit of yellow and deep purple then dark blue again- it depends on how the light shines and reflects on it- did i make the right choice in color- yea I think so...

Russians are known for sending the first man to outer space

Russian's are Known for their Vodka

and...

Russians are known for their very pretty woman





I think Russians will now be known for creating heirloom quality and cutting edge sound with Kennerton Headphones... there really is nothing else like them in the world. We live in a time and are witnessing the growth and shift in the headphone world... not mass produced, not rushed or compromised in anyway...

Thanks for reading my review on this headphone. If you couldn't tell to sum up-
This is my personal open back near end game headphone- you could spend more but you will not get more.

Peace and be safe. Message me anytime.