best56
100+ Head-Fier
- Joined
- Aug 19, 2010
- Posts
- 210
- Likes
- 117
Hi guys,
After many years spent listening to many headphones and related facilities, linked to them, feeling a little all that the market has proposed in the past two decades, in particular as regards the so-called Top Headphones, as Sennheiser, Audeze, HiFiMan, Pioneer , AKG, Ultrasone, Taket, Abyss, Stax and Grado, and related Drivers connected with them, I decided how and what had to be the perfect my set Up to optimize the driving of my beloved headphones, regarding Driver, Sources , Dac and Cables for Dynamic and Ortodynamic Headphones. I have always thought and sustained, that better results could be achieved, just alongside to each headset, a particular Set-up, and this is still true, but the problem comes when you get to have a dozen or headphones, and then you know well that the thing is complicated considerably, in terms of space and investment. So after dialing my best Set Up possible for headphones Electrostatic Stax and Piezoelectric Taket, in my possession, with appropriate drivers, type HeadAmp KGSSC and / or Trafomatic T2 + and Digital Sources Accuphase DP80L/DC81L, Krell KPS-20i and Ayon CD3 Double Frame, and RTR Analog Ampex ATR100 and Studer A812 TC-MKII, I decided to do the same thing for the other, the Dynamics and Ortodynamics, but this time trying to choose possibly, only one Driver, designed and built in such a way Sartorial, to be coupled to a couple of Reference Digital Sources such a CDP and a DAC, designed to play to the best, the software CD and Liquid Music, in my possession. The choice is then fallen on two important items, such as the CDP RISE 3-V3 and WEISS DAC-202, both with a strong character and thickness of Music.
For the Driver, the first and only choice fell on a Tube Amp with Valves 845, especially after having had the good fortune in 2014, to listen, Viva Egoista 845 and 2A3, which has now redefined, my concept of how it should sound an Amplifier for headphones. However, the purchase of this type of Driver, is very challenging, from a purely economic point of view, since for them in the house, touches spend about € 11,5K for the one, that uses the 845, and a little more of € 7.5K of euro, for what it makes use of 2A3. So both, outside the normal scope, for many fans of headphones, and also for the subscribed.
So I decided to do a careful market research and put myself in search of a great manufacturer, which could have a great know-how, on the construction of this type of equipment, but most of this type of valves, the 845, very difficult, because difficult and challenging to drive, but also to the high cost that entail the same valves and output transformers, which must necessarily be made in a workmanlike manner, to help the valve to deliver extremely high sound performance, in a Single Ended system . The other condition imposed by me in the search, it had to be to be able to address to a product not closed, as are the Viva, which purchases almost as they are proposed by the Manufacturer, Amedeo Schembri, and there are few possibilities to have and / or require customization of such products, except for some cosmetic variations of the coating and the type of output connectors for headphones. But I wanted to be able to interact actively and constructively with the manufacturer, the type and model of valves to be mounted and the internal and external components to be applied, and on the definition, in terms of design and final livery, but always in combination with the knowledge, skills and Manufacturer of industrial feasibility. So after various contacts made throughout the country, the final choice fell on Gabri's Amp. A beautiful reality of the North East of Italy, where there are many Artisans and small Industries, which then leads to the birth of special Products, with an unequaled highest value, and that characterize after the philosophy of the brand, being Artisans, for fans, and not for mass consumption.
The design bases had to contain these requirements, for me fundamentals: Amp Single Ended Class A, with External Power Supply, a maximum power output of 15W + 15W, an excellent control in all frequencies, especially to High and Low frequence, Transparency, Musicality, Warmth, Detail, Transformers built at State of the Art, and at least 6 different Impedances, between 32 to 300 ohms, as my own current Dynamic and Ortodynamic Headphones, with the same output power, thanks to the construction of specific Trafo. Finally, the look, in terms of frames and livery, had to have a design in form and color, that would express the dynamism and aggressiveness characteristics, so special and appealing. So when I thought about how it should have been, I imagined close to the stylistic features of the my Dream Car, the Lamborghini V12 AVENTADOR, where the combination between power, control and style, in the Forms and Design, blend in excellently and unique, to embody the DNA of the Bull, a real gem of Design, Research and Innovation, capable of giving unforgettable driving experience, with the adrenaline that remain, even after turning off the its V12 engine.
Therefore, after decided all aspect of this project, with this Manufacturer, which is shown immediately interested in this crazy idea, not having them, this type of product, specific for headphones, in their catalog, we have chosen the type and model of valves 845, to assemble, going on the new PSVANE 845-T / 2 Matched, because thanks to its new building, ensures a sound that I love very much, warm, full, soft and tonally saturated, especially with instruments such as guitars , pianos. The T / 2, is simply a fascinating tube, perhaps one of the best, now present in the world, as regards 845 of new generation. It has everything I want, speed, heat, fullness of sound, the saturation, and low noise, making the sound of the piano played by Yamamoto and/or Petrucciani, absolutely charming with a warmth without end, and it works well with all music, and then unlike the NOS valves, are easily available and their technical characteristics, they are constantly reproduced, and thus without the fear of the final result, that you have with the so-called "NOS", hard to find, expensive to capacity and that they sound equally and consistently.
To which after four months of gestation, has found the light the Aventador Driver 845, a strongly Ampli characterized by the choices required by the subscribed both in terms of musical performance that final layout. The paint is original Lamborghini Aventador PPG-0115 and PPG-0117, a surplus which I could not resist, but the end result was certainly rewarding, at least for me. These Frames are large 48x40x30 for Amplifier and 30x28x25 for External Power Unit, for the weights, here we are in the Maxima category, 30 Kg and 12 Kg.
Now to be able to describe its quality or not, it will be necessary to allow to work Ampli and Valves, for at least 200 hours, so as to ensure the right Burn Up to the assembly, before giving a final judgment on this amplifier. Although the first power up, the comments by the constructor, they have been very flattering, but it is right that the whole system has been tested for good, to also check its reliability. Follow future comments on Sound and Technical Features, meanwhile quoto some pictures of Driver Aventador 845 and up Set associated with it.
Source: CDP Rise V.3 & Weiss DAC-202
Driver: Aventador 845 S.E. Class A with External Power Unit
Cables Signal: Megaptera Cables Reference Line
Power Cables: Megaptera Cables Reference Line
Headphones: Senn HD-800; Hifiman HE-6 & HE-500; Grado PS1000, G.S.E. & Grado Twin Pulse by Spirit Labs; Ultrasone ED10; Beyer Reference Edition by Spirit Labs, all rewired with aftermarket cables and in balanced configuration (2 x XLR 3 Pin and XLR 4 Pin)
This are the Site of Manufacturers, if you want contact them for future informations:
https://www.gabrisamp.it/prodotti/
http://megapteracables.wixsite.com/megapteracables/reference-line
https://www.facebook.com/spiritlabsheadphones/
After many years spent listening to many headphones and related facilities, linked to them, feeling a little all that the market has proposed in the past two decades, in particular as regards the so-called Top Headphones, as Sennheiser, Audeze, HiFiMan, Pioneer , AKG, Ultrasone, Taket, Abyss, Stax and Grado, and related Drivers connected with them, I decided how and what had to be the perfect my set Up to optimize the driving of my beloved headphones, regarding Driver, Sources , Dac and Cables for Dynamic and Ortodynamic Headphones. I have always thought and sustained, that better results could be achieved, just alongside to each headset, a particular Set-up, and this is still true, but the problem comes when you get to have a dozen or headphones, and then you know well that the thing is complicated considerably, in terms of space and investment. So after dialing my best Set Up possible for headphones Electrostatic Stax and Piezoelectric Taket, in my possession, with appropriate drivers, type HeadAmp KGSSC and / or Trafomatic T2 + and Digital Sources Accuphase DP80L/DC81L, Krell KPS-20i and Ayon CD3 Double Frame, and RTR Analog Ampex ATR100 and Studer A812 TC-MKII, I decided to do the same thing for the other, the Dynamics and Ortodynamics, but this time trying to choose possibly, only one Driver, designed and built in such a way Sartorial, to be coupled to a couple of Reference Digital Sources such a CDP and a DAC, designed to play to the best, the software CD and Liquid Music, in my possession. The choice is then fallen on two important items, such as the CDP RISE 3-V3 and WEISS DAC-202, both with a strong character and thickness of Music.
For the Driver, the first and only choice fell on a Tube Amp with Valves 845, especially after having had the good fortune in 2014, to listen, Viva Egoista 845 and 2A3, which has now redefined, my concept of how it should sound an Amplifier for headphones. However, the purchase of this type of Driver, is very challenging, from a purely economic point of view, since for them in the house, touches spend about € 11,5K for the one, that uses the 845, and a little more of € 7.5K of euro, for what it makes use of 2A3. So both, outside the normal scope, for many fans of headphones, and also for the subscribed.
So I decided to do a careful market research and put myself in search of a great manufacturer, which could have a great know-how, on the construction of this type of equipment, but most of this type of valves, the 845, very difficult, because difficult and challenging to drive, but also to the high cost that entail the same valves and output transformers, which must necessarily be made in a workmanlike manner, to help the valve to deliver extremely high sound performance, in a Single Ended system . The other condition imposed by me in the search, it had to be to be able to address to a product not closed, as are the Viva, which purchases almost as they are proposed by the Manufacturer, Amedeo Schembri, and there are few possibilities to have and / or require customization of such products, except for some cosmetic variations of the coating and the type of output connectors for headphones. But I wanted to be able to interact actively and constructively with the manufacturer, the type and model of valves to be mounted and the internal and external components to be applied, and on the definition, in terms of design and final livery, but always in combination with the knowledge, skills and Manufacturer of industrial feasibility. So after various contacts made throughout the country, the final choice fell on Gabri's Amp. A beautiful reality of the North East of Italy, where there are many Artisans and small Industries, which then leads to the birth of special Products, with an unequaled highest value, and that characterize after the philosophy of the brand, being Artisans, for fans, and not for mass consumption.
The design bases had to contain these requirements, for me fundamentals: Amp Single Ended Class A, with External Power Supply, a maximum power output of 15W + 15W, an excellent control in all frequencies, especially to High and Low frequence, Transparency, Musicality, Warmth, Detail, Transformers built at State of the Art, and at least 6 different Impedances, between 32 to 300 ohms, as my own current Dynamic and Ortodynamic Headphones, with the same output power, thanks to the construction of specific Trafo. Finally, the look, in terms of frames and livery, had to have a design in form and color, that would express the dynamism and aggressiveness characteristics, so special and appealing. So when I thought about how it should have been, I imagined close to the stylistic features of the my Dream Car, the Lamborghini V12 AVENTADOR, where the combination between power, control and style, in the Forms and Design, blend in excellently and unique, to embody the DNA of the Bull, a real gem of Design, Research and Innovation, capable of giving unforgettable driving experience, with the adrenaline that remain, even after turning off the its V12 engine.
Therefore, after decided all aspect of this project, with this Manufacturer, which is shown immediately interested in this crazy idea, not having them, this type of product, specific for headphones, in their catalog, we have chosen the type and model of valves 845, to assemble, going on the new PSVANE 845-T / 2 Matched, because thanks to its new building, ensures a sound that I love very much, warm, full, soft and tonally saturated, especially with instruments such as guitars , pianos. The T / 2, is simply a fascinating tube, perhaps one of the best, now present in the world, as regards 845 of new generation. It has everything I want, speed, heat, fullness of sound, the saturation, and low noise, making the sound of the piano played by Yamamoto and/or Petrucciani, absolutely charming with a warmth without end, and it works well with all music, and then unlike the NOS valves, are easily available and their technical characteristics, they are constantly reproduced, and thus without the fear of the final result, that you have with the so-called "NOS", hard to find, expensive to capacity and that they sound equally and consistently.
To which after four months of gestation, has found the light the Aventador Driver 845, a strongly Ampli characterized by the choices required by the subscribed both in terms of musical performance that final layout. The paint is original Lamborghini Aventador PPG-0115 and PPG-0117, a surplus which I could not resist, but the end result was certainly rewarding, at least for me. These Frames are large 48x40x30 for Amplifier and 30x28x25 for External Power Unit, for the weights, here we are in the Maxima category, 30 Kg and 12 Kg.
Now to be able to describe its quality or not, it will be necessary to allow to work Ampli and Valves, for at least 200 hours, so as to ensure the right Burn Up to the assembly, before giving a final judgment on this amplifier. Although the first power up, the comments by the constructor, they have been very flattering, but it is right that the whole system has been tested for good, to also check its reliability. Follow future comments on Sound and Technical Features, meanwhile quoto some pictures of Driver Aventador 845 and up Set associated with it.
Source: CDP Rise V.3 & Weiss DAC-202
Driver: Aventador 845 S.E. Class A with External Power Unit
Cables Signal: Megaptera Cables Reference Line
Power Cables: Megaptera Cables Reference Line
Headphones: Senn HD-800; Hifiman HE-6 & HE-500; Grado PS1000, G.S.E. & Grado Twin Pulse by Spirit Labs; Ultrasone ED10; Beyer Reference Edition by Spirit Labs, all rewired with aftermarket cables and in balanced configuration (2 x XLR 3 Pin and XLR 4 Pin)
This are the Site of Manufacturers, if you want contact them for future informations:
https://www.gabrisamp.it/prodotti/
http://megapteracables.wixsite.com/megapteracables/reference-line
https://www.facebook.com/spiritlabsheadphones/