Audio-GD HE Series: HE-9, HE-7, HE-1, HE-350

[dguitarnut]

I finally got around to preamp the Luna Wa23 into the HE-9Le and it did give it a slightly different flavor…..maybe not enough for me to want to burn 2K of upgraded tubes to attain it though.
After much comparing I “think” the Abyss TC-1266 sounds a little more alive with the straight HE-9Le……..and the Caldera Open is more to my liking with the Luna.
It’s good to be King …..and have both…..lol

 

[rsbrsvp]

Well- I use a audio-gd HE-1 preamp for my HE-9 headphone amp. Sound is thicker, meatier this way. It is to my liking...

 

[FredA]

Well- I use a audio-gd HE-1 preamp for my HE-9 headphone amp. Sound is thicker, meatier this way. It is to my liking...

I use a thick-sounding headphone set with my he9. I guess I would go tubes for a rather lean set.

 

[rsbrsvp]

I have the HE-1 Tube preamp as well- but the HE-1 is thicker sounding..

 

[FredA]

I have the HE-1 Tube preamp as well- but the HE-1 is thicker sounding..

The latest one? Maybe burn-in is not quite done on your he9. My he9's sound is at least as warm as my old m1 was I would say. Long time ago, not sure. The he9mkii is much more neutral as a pre than the old he9 and about the same as HP amp. Could be that the mkiii is not as warm. But only the chassis has changed.

Or again, not enough time on your mkiii. I am puzzled. Ask audio-gd what they think.

 

[rsbrsvp]

I believe what you have heard is what audio-gd says.


My HE-9 MK3 preamp is more neutral than the previous HE-p MK1 I owned- but still a full bodied sound. Thick, dark, smooth IMHO. My HE-1 MK3 as a preamp makes things really more analogue- rounder, darker- IMHO- this is what I am hearing. I think all preamps- no matter how neutral add some color between the dac and headphone amp- unless maybe they are passive preamps. The HE-1 tube preamp does not really male things much thicker, just a bit darker and with tube sparkle. That's my view. I own them all..

Steven

 

[FredA]

I believe what you have heard is what audio-gd says.


My HE-9 MK3 preamp is more neutral than the previous HE-p MK1 I owned- but still a full bodied sound. Thick, dark, smooth IMHO. My HE-1 MK3 as a preamp makes things really more analogue- rounder, darker- IMHO- this is what I am hearing. I think all preamps- no matter how neutral add some color between the dac and headphone amp- unless maybe they are passive preamps. The HE-1 tube preamp does not really male things much thicker, just a bit darker and with tube sparkle. That's my view. I own them all..

Steven

Good, i hope you don`t regret getting the mkiii. At least, you get better dynamics and resolution IMO.

 

[rsbrsvp]

no regrets. I'm thrilled.....

audio-gd is as far from NEUTRAL sound as you can get. Topping, anything with a sabre chip, maybe Mytek- these are in the neutral category. audio-gd is a thick, bold ,lively, dark- more flattering sound. It is addictive. Putting the R-7HE in NOS makes it much more neutral and closer to these other players but it is still weightier and meatier than them. But I prefer 8X which is the roundest and most flattering sound. Most colored IMHO- but I love the analogue color. It sounds better than triode tubes....

By the way- my ears do not find the new MK3 versions of the m9 and R-7HE less warm than the mk1 models. Maybe they are even warmer. I think mostly they are smoother and less edgy- but further from "thin" than anything I have ever tried. Im actually going to switch my copper usb cable for a silver one to make things a bit colder.

 

[FredA]

no regrets. I'm thrilled.....

audio-gd is as far from NEUTRAL sound as you can get. Topping, anything with a sabre chip, maybe Mytek- these are in the neutral category. audio-gd is a thick, bold ,lively, dark- more flattering sound. It is addictive. Putting the R-7HE in NOS makes it much more neutral and closer to these other players but it is still weightier and meatier than them. But I prefer 8X which is the roundest and most flattering sound. Most colored IMHO- but I love the analogue color. It sounds better than triode tubes....

By the way- my ears do not find the new MK3 versions of the m9 and R-7HE less warm than the mk1 models. Maybe they are even warmer. I think mostly they are smoother and less edgy- but further from "thin" than anything I have ever tried. Im actually going to switch my copper usb cable for a silver one to make things a bit colder.

I share you opinions, for the most part. I would still call audio-gd slightly warm and other brands you mention, clearly lean. I love to be able to time travel to the old days listening to jazz records, thanks to this thick sound (using OS8 as well) . For me, there is no going back. Other brands have way more coloration than audio-gd. Coloration is the worst thing IMO. I like when instruments sound real and rich. But i don't like a sirupy sound. Or any aspect that departs from real live music.

I don't like exagerated frequency bands but enjoy the richness introduced by well tuned distorsion. Maybe the microphones used for recording just can't pick up all the harmonics and some need be added back during playback... Go figure

 

[rsbrsvp]

Perhaps my definition of coloration is not correct- but I would certainly say audio-gd is thick, bold, dark, solid, saturated, smooth, highly textured and very lively. I could perhaps call it a tonally ultra rich sound (instead of colored). Agreed- not syrupy at all- quite dynamic in fact. But it is the thick solid tone that is the main feature I love that I have not found to be matched by anyone at any price. I cannot stand the ultra crisp, lean, bright, analytical offerings out there regardless of their supposed technical superiority. They do not satisfy my emotional disposition. For headphone listening, this tonal saturation and solidity creates an intimacy that no speakers can match; again triggering my emotional cravings in a way that nothing else has done.

They say audio-gd measures terrible. So what? I am not a machine but a human being. Like Fred said, "well tuned distortion"- which is addictive. and IMHO sounds better than tube distortion by 100 times.

 

[FredA]

Perhaps my definition of coloration is not correct- but I would certainly say audio-gd is thick, bold, dark, solid, smooth, highly textured and very lively. I could perhaps call it a tonally ultra rich sound (instead of colored). Agreed- not syrupy at all- quite dynamic in fact. But it is the thick solid tone that is the main feature I love that I have not found to be matched by anyone at any price. I cannot stand the ultra crisp, lean, bright, analytical offerings out there regardless of their supposed technical superiority. They do not satisfy my emotional disposition. For headphone listening, this tonal saturation and solidity creates an intimacy that no speakers can match; again triggering my emotional cravings in a way that nothing else has done.

They say audio-gd measures terrible. So what? I am not a machine but a human being. Like Fred said, "well tuned distortion"- which is addictive. and IMHO better sounds than tube distortion by 100 times.

Kingwa is a tuning artist.

 

[PeterCraig]

Compare to live music and you will clearly see who is neutral sounding and who is artificial sounding.

 

[dguitarnut]

This amp is so good…….i can’t get over how well it pairs with the Abyss TC 1266………it’s omg good …..our little secret…….and now with Las Vegas heat setting in …..runs so cool!

 

[rsbrsvp]

The HE-9 MK3 and the Mass Kobo 394 MK2 are the two best SS headphone amplifiers I ever heard. Both have the power to push anything out there I know of to outrageous volumes. Both have a rich full, solid, tone. The HE-9 is perhaps a bit mellower stressing the lower tones by just a bit and the MK a bit more lively with a bit more upper frequency extension and driver grip- but still extremely meaty and saturated. The HE-9 is half the price of the MK. But the MK is around 1/10th or less the weight and size of the HE-9 which is really nice.....

These are the two best I have heard. I owned an Audma and CFA-3 before so I'm comparing to good stuff- but those types of amps stress air, and detail at the cost of thickness of tone. I hate THIN. all IMHO.