[Vertigo-1]

It's probably not worth my time or effort or money in the end to go and search for another amp given all I want is no hiss and a stronger treble, so I guess I'll just wait for the amp JMT's building for me. I know for a fact the Altoid amps are definitely crystal clear bright.

I tried replacing the tubes and then letting the tubes run for about 8 hours or so...and there's still hiss. Oh well, maybe there'll just have to be an RKV for sale in the near future...

 

[pigmode]

Are you using some good quality silver interconnects? That might help solve half the problem.

 

[Tomcat]

Quote:

DETAIL. MAD DETAIL AND TREBLE

Vertigo,
This doesn't sound like the Earmax, somehow. The Earmax seems to be about things like musical accuracy, liquidity, low-level linearity, micro-dynamics, ambience, timbral fidelity, homogenousness, and bass extension. A solid state amp like the Sugden or a JMT might be more to your liking. I don't know whether introducing a transformer into the RKV's signal path would be a solution either. After all, some of the RKV's superior musicality is probably due to its OTL design.

The lowest impedance phone I have tried with the Earmax Pro hass been a Grado SR-125. There was no hiss, but I found the treble to be really annoying and over-emphasized. I thought this was simply the Grado sound I didn't like. The lowest impedance phone I have used extensively (for more than a year) with the Earmax is the Audio Technica ATH-A5, a closed design with 60 Ohms and 100dB/mW sensitivity. Again: not a trace of hiss and more bass extension, slam, body and presence than with the Senns HD 580/600. To me, the Earmax is dead silent. markl has been more critical of its performance with low impedance phones, but I wonder whether this might be attributable to his 110 volt version.

Themegifts seem to think that it works great with the ol' King o' phones, but the R10 has a nominal impedance of 40 Ohms, might be even lower at some frequencies. On the other hand, if you can return the Earmax: what is the risk? And, before all: I would like to read your review comparing the RKV and the Earmax, of course.

 

[CRESCENDOPOWER]

Vertigo_1, If you try the Sudgen Headmaster, and think you need more detail, and transparency you need to give up.
Of all the big boy headphone amps I have heard none of them even comes close to the transparency, and detail of the Headmaster, but musical it isn't.
Want more detail? Try some silver interconnects.
Good luck!

 

[ppl]

Veritgo-1: If i were you i would wait for the JMT amp. and if possible ask him if he could put a real High Current output stage in it that has at least 1/2 of an Amp of output current. Your Cans like lots of output Current and thay respond well by having it available.