[citraian]

I knew you would do that... person!

 

[dan.gheorghe]

 

Previous 

Bakoon HPA-21 Review

 

 

The Sexy Martin Logan Mikros 90

Posted on August 4, 2013by HeadMania
Hey guys,

When I have seen these headphones for the first time they got my attention with their looks.  They have a very nice design and a stylish and sturdy build quality. They are intended to be a fashion headphones, that is for sure, and I’ll be damned if I have seen a better looking headphone. They really blow the competition out of the water with the looks, feel and style.



They are almost completely covered in leather. The headband has a very strong & thick metal body. The cable is detachable and even if it has volume control on it, it still is a very good cable. Why am i telling you this? Because the cable from Focal Spirit One can be used with the Mikros. After using the cable from Spirit One, I have realized that the stock cable from Mikros bring more detail, better transient response, and open the sound more.



While admiring the looks, I realized they are Martin Logans! Now it really got my attention. I really respect and admire this company for the excellent speakers they make.  When I first heard their entry level electrostatic speakers, the Martin Logan ElectroMotion ESL, they really blew me away. I have never heard such sound-stage, level of details, transparency, transient response, etc in a speaker system, especially at that price.



These headphones are on year and you must be attentive with this as if you don’t set them well on the head, you won’t get a good seal and it will affect the sound ( bass & body the most).

From what I have seen, the cups set on the ears with an angle, so I think these are meant to be like that, as angled drivers usually offer more sound-stage and a better stereo image.

Some people may find the clamping force a little too strong, but I think it gets looser in time.

The package comes with a nice portable storage box that I think is also made of leather, the detachable cable and with a 3.5 to 6.3 adaptor.

Sound Impressions

The first listening impression was somehow weird and a little disappointing, as I felt they lack body & bass. After a few minutes of changing some songs it started to get to me. They really have some interesting features that make them stand out of the crowd.

Treble

This is one of the strongest points of these headphones. The treble is crystal clear and very well extended & detailed without being harsh or sibilant. I never heard such quality treble in an closed headphones yet. It is amazing!

Mids

The mids are quite good. The voices are clear & transparent but lack some body. The guitars and other similar instruments have a very good impact and presence.

Bass

Ok this may seem one of their weakest points at first glance. The first thing you will notice at your first listen is the lack of body. However, if you give them a chance you will notice it has a very good punch and the bass is very well controlled & extended . After burn in the bass kicks in.I am sure there will be people to consider the bass to be too shy but I like it. On some songs I enjoy the fast, controlled , well extended  & punchy bass.

Details

The details were very nice especially on the higher mids and treble.

Transient response

This is another thing that really drew my attention. The plucking of the guitar, the percussion, hand claps, etc were very impressive.  The decay is natural and not lazy at all. I just love how the piano, guitars, violins sound on these babies.

Transparency

Never expected this level of transparency from a portable headphone, but the music really gets the hold of you and letting aside the strong clamping force, you forget about the headphones.

Instrument separation & sound-stage

If you look at the headphones you wouldn’t think they will have a wide sound-stage, especially with their size and the fact that they are closed, but they sound very open and clean to my surprise. The instruments are very well separated  and placed into space.

Conclusions

The Mikros is a very interesting pair of headphones and managed to impress me on many levels. They are good for instrumental music, pop, classical,  jazz & vocals, even though these genres could use some bass presence too sometimes.

One other thing you should remember, is that they don’t like poor recordings.

I, however enjoy listening to  some house music & electronic , like ATB, Armin van Buuren, Infected Mushroom, etc on them too, but not as much as with other headphones like spirit one, d7000, amperior, momentum, etc.

Don’t forget to let them break in for at least 20h, as they really open up, even the bass starts to get better.

Martin Logan bring an interesting new approach and style to the market with these headphones.

So if you care for the looks, crisp & detailed treble, transparency and are not into heavy bass, but still punchy and tight bass, give them a listen.

I tested them with Burson Conductor, Galaxy S4, Fiio E17.

Loved them from the S4 and E17. These headphones really grew on me. I am starting to think of buying one myself.

E17 and the Mikros 90 are a very good combo, as fiio really adds bass presence. I found myself listening to rock in this combo and enjoying it 

Pros

1. excellent treble
2. good transient response
3. nicely detailed on higher mids and treble
4. good instrument separation & stereo image
5. excellent transparency
6. excellent build quality & very good looks
7. decent isolation
8. portable
9. storage box

Cons

1. lacks some body & bass presence
2. hard to get a good seal sometimes

 

 

Next:

The Extinct Denon D7000

 

[dan.gheorghe]

Ah, I forgot to say that my otitis has been healed and the hearing tests showed me I have excellent  hearing  
 
I am expecting something like this now ) 
 

 

[dan.gheorghe]

 

Previous :
 
The Sexy Martin Logan Mikros 90

 

The Extinct Denon D7000

Posted on August 4, 2013by HeadMania
Hey guys,

I’ve been waiting for a long time for an opportunity to listen to the famous D7000 and I am really happy I have a few days with it.

In one of my visits to Jack-Fi, I found a pair of forgotten Denon D7000 there, as they are specialized in speaker systems mostly. After 3 weeks I’ve been there again and found them in the same place and same position. So it was clear they would part with them easily for a few days 

I like its’ overall looks, but it feels a little cheap compared to other headphones at that price. They are very light weighted and very comfortable though.



One thing that popped into my attention was the fact that the cable is not detachable, and at the price was selling, I don’t find that ok.



Sound Impressions

The first time I have listened to them I liked them very much. They have an interestingwow factor because of their fun and engaging tonality.

Bass

The bass is very present in these cans, especially the mid bass. However the bass lacks some punch and is a little loose. Overall I like the bass presentation, but sometimes there is too much bass leaking into the mids.

Mids

Some of the instruments are a little in the background but still enjoyable. However, the mids bring the vocals forward. I just love listening to Leonard  Cohen, Frank Sinatraor Lana Del Ray on D7000.

Treble

I’ve heard people complaining the D7000 is bright. I found the treble quite on the smooth side, even recessed on some ocasions.

Fun Tonality

I like the  fun tonality of the D7000 a lot. It has a meaty & full sound.

Transparency & Openness

What I felt was missing is clarity,  transparency & openness in the sound that made me putHD800 on, just to take a “breath of fresh clear air”.

Transient response & decay

I find that the transient response is not that impact-full as I would like. The decay is a little slow in my opinion. I feel this could be a little improved with a good silver cable.

Imaging

The positioning of the instruments is not so clear, the sound being somehow congested, instruments tend to blend in on the same layer.



Conclusion

Overall the sound of the D7000 is very engaging, energetic and fun. They are absolutely brilliant with rock.

I also love both male & female vocals with it.

So in the end loved to listen to rock, electronic music, vocals, pop and even some jazz with it.

Even-though they have a lot of cons, I think they are my favorite closed cans now for the music genres above.

I am quite sad Denon discontinued them. I am very curious how D7100 stands near it.

Pros:

1. full bodied tonality
2. energetic & fun
3. excellent with vocals
4. good build quality
5. very comfortable

Cons:

1. loose bass
2. congested
3. lacks transparency and clarity
4. poor imaging and instrument separation
5. the cable is not detachable

[size=medium]Next:[/size]
 
[size=medium]MSB Analog Dac - Review[/size]

 

[dan.gheorghe]

I have the MSB Analog Dac at the test bench...I am listening with tears in my eyes....What...Does this hobby end somewhere? 

 

[longbowbbs]

Quote:

I have the MSB Analog Dac at the test bench...I am listening with tears in my eyes....What...Does this hobby end somewhere? 

yes...With the complete dCs stack......

 

[dan.gheorghe]

Or complete MSB Diamond 4 Stack... ) . I will soon have the Plantinum IV+ too . This will be a hard review. Must get my words together.. )

 

[dan.gheorghe]

 

Previous
 
The Extinct Denon D7000

 

MSB Analog Dac – Review

 

Posted on August 12, 2013by HeadMania
Hey guys,

I was quite happy with my system in the last few weeks. Hydra & Conductor withHD800 & LCD2 were rocking my life lately. I have bought the AG500 Power Regenerator from Power Inspired and it got my system some steps up again. Don’t worry, I will soon review the AG500 too.

So I was thinking how much better can this and in what ways? Hard to imagine at that moment.



Meanwhile I was getting “attacked” by a friend that also had Burson Conductor but got a PS Audio PWD2 instead, telling me every day what a big difference it makes. I trust his ears but didn’t have the chance to test something that let Burson Conductor far behind until now,  as a dac or headphone amplifier.

As you may know, I only have a headphone system at home. Maybe someday, I will go on speakers, but only after getting a proper bigger house or something. However, when I want to hear some good speakers, I go to jack-fi and have a good listen there. Well…what can I say . They were nice to me, now they can’t get rid of me : ” Hey guys, it’s me again!”



In their main room they have a MSB Diamond DAC IV complete line. I have always been impressed by it. I’ve once heard it with a pair of Focal Maestro Utopia speakers and 2 MSB monoblocks . It was the best speaker system I have heard in my entire life.

The sound was so relaxed…so effortless, the positioning was amazing, I was staring like an idiot in the center of the room, hearing the whole music band as it was in front of me, there… The bass went so deep, so controlled, so fast, the dynamics out of this world (for me). The sound was so opened, but with a very natural tonality, so detailed and yet relaxed.

I’ve also heard the MSB Diamond Dac IV with Conductor (as amp) and Sennheiser HD700 & Audeze LCD2, but for a too little time. However, in that short time I was really impressed of it.

Well, the Diamond IV is absolutely stunning, and I was spending time with it but I knew the “relationship” between us is not possible as we are in different social classes, like a peasant having an affair with a duchess , as the price is astronomical for normal people like me. Never even thought of asking to take it for a review, as I was afraid to carry it in my car or anything happening to it.

One day the MSB Analog Dac came in.  At first, I didn’t notice it, as it was a small “tray” or cover on the top of the Diamond line. This baby is starting at 7000$, and I didn’t think of it either, but Jack heard I had some questions about some better dacs, and he lent it to me to answer my previous question “can it get better than this? how? “

“You’ll see >”:



So “who” is MSB? Some of the very passionate audiophiles know of it as it is known to make one of the best, if not the best dac in the world.

However the prices are very high, and it makes only deluxe products in general, so many people may not know of it because of this.

I only know of it because I have read David’s incredible review, which I consider to be the most mature and excellent headphone review catalog of all time. It is there I have read that David had the MSB Diamond IV dac. After seeing the price, I was quite sure I will have little chances to hear one in my life, and then I have discovered Jack , where they have it 

 .

When I have seen it in the show room, I was like :



MSB has been on the market for over 25 years and since then it had importantachievements over the years:

1. Demonstrated first AC-3 output for LaserDisc to Dolby 1994
2. First THX approved LaserDisc Player (Runco LJR II 1995)
3. First out board AC-3 demodulator (Lexicon LDD-1 1995)
4. First out board DTS processor (Millennium 2.4.6 1997)
5. First digital output on a DSS receiver (1997)
6. First mass marketed 24 bit 96K DAC (LINK DAC 1998)
7. First discrete sign-magnitude 384 kHz Ladder DAC (Platinum DAC 2000)
8. First discrete asynchronous upsampler (Platinum Plus 192 kHz Upsampler 2001)
9. First 80 bit DSP based digital filter (16X Filter 2005)
10. First iPod based digital music server (iLink 2006)
11. First 384 kHz inputs and upsampling (DAC III 2009)
12. First 32 bit interface (Xport 2009)
13. First 384 kHz Bit Perfect USB input (Signature USB on DAC IV 2010)
14. First CD transport that could play data files up to 32 bit, 384 kHz (Data CD IV 2010)
15. First clock with Jitter under 1 psec (77 Femtosecond Galaxy Clock – 2011)

I have used for tests the following gear: MSB Analog Dac with stock power supply,Burson Conductor (as amp and dac), Audiobyte Hydra, Power Inspired AG500 Power Regenerator, Sennheiser HD800, Audeze LCD2, Martin Logan Mikros 90.



I have used the MSB mainly with the usb input. I have tested Audiobyte Hydra on coax too, but I found the usb input from Analog Dac to be better than it. It had more details, more energy, better impact, better soundstage, etc.

I have also tested the usb input with a cheap usb cable vs Chord Silver Plus. I didn’t find any differences between the two.



Listening experience

Well, the first minute I started to listen to it, I was stunned on my chair. There were some songs that just got my hair up on my hands and tears in my eyes!



I will write my impressions on some songs:

Sara K – Stars (Stockfisch Vinyl Collection)

The sound was so natural, the voice so well textured and detailed, the details & micro-details incredible. The guitar’s extension is hard do describe in words. The plucking and chord extension just tickles your ears to maxim audiophile pleasure.

Mormon Tabernacle Choir (Soun Classical Great Perfomances) – Scofield: “Battle of the Repuplic”

Ok with this one I have made a trip to the Opera. I really felt there. The voices were amazingly layered and positioned. I just had a “black out” moment here while writing this, as I was listening to the song and I forgot what I was doing and where I am, as I was completely transposed into the song.  The positioning of the instruments and the air between the instruments are out of this world for me. You can hear the strong transient response of the instruments in the back.

Murray Perehia – Piano ( Sony Classical Greate Perfomances )

The first thing I heard when I got Hydra that had a better clock than Conductor was the crisp and detail notes of the piano. I really think that it is one of the way to tell if the clock is very good or not. With Analog Dac the piano was the closest I have heard to real life experience. The notes were just flowing which such ease, clarity and musicality that it just gets to your heart and soul.

Luigi Boccherini (Sony Classical Great Perfomances) – Minuet for string orchestra and various instruments in A major

I have ran out of words, really. The naturalness of the sound is just something I will never forget in my entire life. It flows  effortless and with ease like a crisp mountain river. The voice was so real that i felt it here in the room with me. At the end of the song I felt like applauding the artist and orchestra.

Leonard Cohen – Old Ideas – Going Home ; Lullaby

Ok, after this song I have to make a pause. I am getting too emotional, to involved into the music, I just might overload. At the end of the song I felt like I know Leonard Cohen personally, that we are old friends. God, the voices are so natural and with such texture , with such naturalness that you just cannot not get emotionally involved into the song. The guitar again is just tickling your ears, while Leonard and the the female chorus sing and warms up your feelings.

Gino D’Auri – Ida Y Vueta (Flamenco Guitar)

I’ve been recently to a flamenco show in Barcelona, Spain and just loved it. With Analog Dac, this song transposed me near the stage, in Barcelona again.  The transients of the instruments, the tactility make you really get involved in the already emotional flamenco song.

Pink Floyd – The Dark Side of The Moon – Time

I have heard things in this song I’ve never heard before. Because of the extensions of the ringing, I could see the metal bells from the clocks vibrating, feel the frequency of the vibrations till the end. The positions of the drums pinpointed with extreme accuracy. The chorus and main voice extremely well layered and very textured while the guitar in the back was telling it’s story like never before.

Jen Chapin – Songs of Stevie Wonder – Pastime Paradise , Big Brother

I’ve never been in so many places in one day before. Every song transposed me in a different concert hall, recording room, mood and place. Again I felt there… near the artist, the band. The percussion had incredible detail and impact. The trumpet was so well extended, so palpable, so real, so well placed. The tactility of the instruments is beyond everything I have ever heard before.

Gothart – Ketri Ketri

The bass is incredibly deep, and extremely well textured and controlled. Again the impact and tactility of the instruments were out of this world.

The Cranberries – Linger

I haven’t ever put accent or really noticed the first part where the small violin plays far in the back. Now I felt every detail, every note from it , it’s whole extension, even though it was far in the back and very subtle. The sound is so energetic, so dynamic, yet so smooth and effortless that is kind of hard to get a grip of what it’s going on and how 

 ) .

Therion – Deggial – Enter Vril-ya

So does it rock? Hell yes, it does. The energy just blows you out from the chair. The strong guitars are so deep and extended that you can feel them in your lungs, as you would be listening to a speaker system. The chorus again is amazing and the voices are beyond excellent.

Infected Mushroom – Becoming Insane

With this DAC, I sure am. I haven’t found any weak spots in it, just extremely strong points that gets all the emotion out of any song I have thrown at it. The bass is incredible with it. It goes very low, it hits hard and is very energetic, fast, and controlled.

Let’s make a little recap and study the sound a little closer.

Bass

The bass is incredible with both Audeze and HD800. It goes extremely deep, it is fast, controlled and full of energy.

Mids

The mids are the best I have ever heard in a DAC until now, but who am I kidding, every aspect of this dac, is the best I have heard so far. The instruments have an incredible extension, detail and presence as the voices are so natural, so well textured that you get to feel like you know the singer at the end of the song.

Treble

The treble is excellent too, very well extended and detailed but smooth even on HD800. I’ve never heard such extension and energy in the treble before.

Transient Response

The transient response is breath taking. Every pluck is felt, every instrument has impact even though it may be far, far in the back, you can still feel it.

Dynamics & Micro-dynamics

The Analog Dac takes this area to another level too. You can hear the voice that sings intimately in your ear, while the guitars chords are plucked in a way that you feel in you’ve plucked them yourself, hearing and feeling all the vibration and extension of the chord, while a very subtle violin or trumpet plays very far in the back and you can still feel it’s whole extension.

Details & Micro-details

The Analog Dac made me hear somethings for the first time in many songs that I know intimately, and this is available on the whole audio spectrum from very low bass to high treble.  In Leonard’s ‘”Going Home” song,  I have heard how he touched his face with the microphone or with his hands, the sound showing that at that moment he hadn’s shaved for a day or two.

Instrument separation, layering and positioning

You want to go get transposed into music, to close your eyes and see every instrument and it’s position. Well the Analog Dac really gets you into the music, transposes you, making you forget where you are and what you are doing. The layering and positioning are incredible. The air between instruments is so natural, as in real life.  You are not listening to stereo any longer. 3D would be more accurate to say.

Tonality and Naturaleness

The name of the DAC wasn’t picked randomly. The sound is extremely natural, flowing smooth and without effort. Don’t get me wrong. Even though it is smooth, it is full of energy and very good PRAT, a combination very hard do reach.

Openness

The soundstage is very wide, deep and incredibly holographic.

Tactility 

As I said before the Audeze LCD3 were the most tactile headphones I have yet heard. The analog dac made the HD800  very tactile headphones as well. It is amazing how HD800 scaled with it.



Conclusions

Well, you can imagine what the conclusions are.

This was the most emotional musical experience of my life.

As I told you, a few days before I was very happy with my new Hydra and the AG500 Power Regenerator, which both improved the sound of my Burson Conductorsubstantially.

Is it better than Conductor? I’ve made a little test to see:

What do you think? The comparison is quite useless and would have no point, as these two are in different worlds. Don’t get me wrong, the Conductor is still a wonderful piece of hardware, but in completely other league.

The Analog Dac is the best DAC I have yet tested and heard properly. I just fell in love with it:



With it, I got transposed inside the music. I forgot about myself, what I was doing, where I was and after the song finished got out of the wonderful journey it took me, and felt like I was waking up from a long sleep, not knowing where I was and who I was for the first second, and I am not kidding about this.

Pros:

1. excellent dynamics & micro dynamics
2. extremely well detailed but still smooth sound
3. explodes with energy but again still smooth
4. excellent instrument separation and positioning
5. very opened sound
6. excellent transient response
7. natural decay
8. the sound has very very good tactility
9. natural and analog sound

Cons:

1. price ( and this is just because I can’t afford it 
   
    ) )

I really hope that sometime in my life I can look with pride at my table and see an Analog Dac of my own.

Or there might be some other way… Guys, you may stop hearing from me for a while. I think I am going to make a run for it with the Analog DAC (the peasent has kidnapped the duchess )  )


Next
 
New Burson 1793 DAC PCB Review

 

[DarKu]

Dan, I think this is your best review to date. It was very entertaining to read and also very professionally done.
Loved every word from it, Congrats !

 

[dan.gheorghe]

Quote:

Dan, I think this is your best review to date. It was very entertaining to read and also very professionally done.
Loved every word from it, Congrats !

Thank you, Darku! Glad you like it

 

[bbbonthemoon]

So, what is the price of the DAC ?

 

[Andrew_WOT]

Quote:

So, what is the price of the DAC ?

More than you can afford, pal.

 

 

[citraian]

Quote:

So, what is the price of the DAC ?

This much 

 

[dan.gheorghe]

I said in the review. It starts at 7k. However I can't stress enough how good it is. I have heard other expensive dacs(5k 8k 10k) and I wasn't remotely as impressed.

 

[davidsh]

I kinda envy your relationship to gear and music, some of it being placebo or not