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You need to post a follow up with the new amp you received (Darkstar) and the HE-6's.
Also, how does it play with the TH900s? Have you tried the Darkstar + TH900 combo yet?
I've been spending a lot of time listening to my music gear (especially the Darkstar and Decware CSP-2/Taboo amps) lately, so I've been kind of away from the forums. Now, here's the deal: The Fostex th900 sounds kind of odd - and with some background hiss - out of the Darkstar. Definitely not a match made in heaven. The music feels kind of disjointed and claustrophobic...It feels like a gecko (the th-900) trying to wrestle with Godzilla. This is one in which too much raw power leads to nowhere. Conversely, as I've remarked before, the Hifiman EF-6 amp - a rather powerful amp as well, but not as powerful as the Darkstar - with the th-900s is (to my ears) a match made in heaven, although I have it connected to my Headroom Ultra (non-balanced) headphone amp, which is serving as its pre-amp, in order to have better control of the volume since the volume knob of the EF-6 is a monstrous stepped-attenuator type that offers very little control over the volume (note: by the way, the th-900 driven by the Headroom amp sounds amazing as well). It must be noted that there is still a very slight residual hiss with the EF-6 (not surprising given the high sensitivity of the Fostex headphones), but once the music starts playing...behold, the promised land. By the way, the Darkstar is an amazing amp primarily with three headphones: (1) Hifiman HE-6; (2) Sennheiser HD800; and (3) Beyer T1. With the Darkstar the Hifiman HE-6 is just amazing...all the power you need for these erstwhile problematic pig-to-drive cans. I don't care what the specs say about the Darkstar (there has been much controversy about the specs in other forums), the amp is pure power wearing a silk glove. I listen primarily to classical music, so I was afraid that the darkstar would be too dark for the HE-6 and HD-800s, so I upgraded the cables in these two cans with balanced moon audio silver dragon cables to try and get that extra treble extension that classical music really needs to thrive. When it comes to the HE-6 the search is definitely over...I don't need to upgrade anything else...I'm playing for keeps with this pair (i.e., i don't need to buy an old receiver or anything else to drive them). What I get is wonderful bass, extended highs, sublime mid range (i.e., great with solos and choruses), expanded soundstage, grain-free sound, black-as-night background, great transient speed, not distortion whatsoever...everyting is integrated, balanced...just wonderful. Two of my non-classical test pieces are the "You can call me Al" and "Girl with Diamonds in the Sole of her Shoes" tracks from Paul Simon's Graceland album. I use these tracks because of the great bass and drums utilized and the just wonderful engineering of the recording. The sound of the HE-6/Darkstar combo has to be heard to be believed. Wow...this are not just classical music cans, they are all rounders. I must clarify that while the HD800 sounds just dandy with the Darkstar, I like their sound just a tad better when driven by the CSP-2 Decware amp. I've come to realize that in order to get that little extra 5% out of the HD800 you need a tube amp (i.e., now I understand what people are referring to by "tube magic"; i'm sorry, but I've never felt such magic coming out of a solid state headamp). With the CSP-2 I am using three Mullard 6922 tubes and a Phylips 5R4GYS Rectifier, both of which I purchased from Upscale Audio. Now, this combination is the best I've heard anywhere (including the Darkstar/HE-6 combo) and is my new reference setup when it comes to classical music. The music coming out of this combo (mind you, using the moon silver dragon cable for the HD800, which may seem counter-intuitive given that the Senn Treble has been problematic for some) is ethereal. When listening to Bach's Mass in B minor (i.e., the Suzuki BIS recording in SACD; my source is the Oppo 95 universal player) you feel like you are in a huge very wide cathedral with lots of air around every intrument and the solo voices. The sense of distance between the listener and the orchestra/chorus extends sideways, up, down, and back (i.e., great depth). This is pristine, utterly realistic sound at its best. There is like a heavenly halo surrounding the sound that is really hard to describe...the sound of Angels is the best way to describe this. I have to admit that on a couple of occasions I've been so moved by the sounds comming out of the Senns that tears have flowed from my eyes...this comming from someone who has been accused by some of being somewhat aloof, distant, and unemotional (i.e., by the way, I am an atheist, so having tears come out of my ears listening to Bach's Catholic mass is really odd for me!). While the Darkstar/HE-6 combo is not far behind, it is the huge soundstage, warmth, and airy nature of the CSP-2/HD800 Combo that has made it the best system I have heard or expect to hear probably for the rest of my life when it comes to Classical. It must be stressed that the same does not apply to music other than classical with the HD800/CSP-2 combo...the Darkstar/HE-6 beats them probably in all other kinds of music where a huge soundstage is not needed or wanted (i.e., like the aforementioned tracks from the Graceland album). Thus, the Darkstar/HE-6 is an extremely versatile system where everything you throw at it sounds great...but in order to climb the highest peaks of classical music - the most demanding type of music when it comes to headphone/headamp performance - it is the HD800/CSP-2 for me. I am so satisfied with my current systems that I had not other option than to cancel my order for the Blue Hawaii Special Edition amp/SR009 combo, which was already in the works, as I don't think $11K will be enough to supplant my current systems. I've definitely lost my craving for Electrostatic Headphones...not motivated anymore. I've never been so happy or satisfied in my life...yes, in my whole life. Classical music is everything to me and I've finally reached nirvana.