pataburd
Headphoneus Supremus
The first, God willing, of several 337/PH-12 comparisons, with this particular one based on using stock AKG K501 headphones.
BRIEF INTRODUCTION:
After about a week with the Darkvoice, the Bada is back on line. To be honest, the K501 were the sore spot during my initial audition of the 337; I just couldn't quite get them to sound "right." Not one of the various 6SJ7/6AS7* tube combinations I tried seemed to unfetter the inherent musicality of the AKGs, although the RCA 5693/Tung-Sol 5998 pairing came the closest. With the Darkvoice, the K501 sounded a bit stark, despite sounding surprisingly more detailed and even more expansive, if you can imagine that.
*Tubes used:
RCA 6AS7G black plate, GE 6080W, Tung-Sol 5998;
JAN Philips 6SJ7WGT, Philco 7C7, Sylvania VT-116A, JAN Sylvania 7C7, RCA 5963.
SET UP:
To begin with, the Tung-Sol 6SN7GTB is not my favorite driver with the Bada, plus I've exchanged the EVS PCOCC interconnects for the slightly less forgiving Millersound copper-clad aluminum ones (the latter are "NOS" cables that are probably still breaking in, too). On top of all that, I have 2x Raytheon 6SN7GTs (tilted toward the efficient/lean side of the spectrum) in the power sockets. So the set-up right now is not what I'd consider optimal.
PRELIMINARY VERDICT:
Things as they are, though, I must admit that I prefer the K501 driven by the Bada. While not as quiet, detailed, expansive, dimensionally pin-point or dynamically robust as the 337, the PH-12 nevertheless brings a tonal/harmonic richness and lends a fluid coherence that serve the K501 (and my individual listening tastes) more faithfully.
Gordon Lightfoot's vocals ["If You Could Read My Mind" and "The Pony Man"] simply sound more lifelike and full of breath. Also, the K501's headspace sounds more saturated, integrated, organic and involving--at least to my ears. There's a musical delicacy and intimacy with the Bada that, IMHO, the 337 does not or perhaps cannot comparably deliver (at least with the 6SJ7/6AS7 tubes I've tried so far). Switching from the Darkvoice to the Bada brought back the sound of the K501 that I have come to know and treasure.
The Darkvoice 337 and the Bada PH-12 constitute two very different, but respectively enjoyable, listening experiences. The former tends more toward neutrality, iron-clad control and orderliness; the latter is more about synthesis and tonal/harmonic complexity (while employing--at least for me--a more desirable driver tube).
Meanwhile, the Mullard 6080 power tubes are en route for the 337, and I can't wait to try them! However, the critical 6SJ7 driver--no, I haven't tried the Sylvania WGT "mesh plates" yet--may become the consummate point of departure for me and the Darkvoice.
But who knows? One short week with the Darkvoice really isn't much compared to the year or so I've spent with the Bada rolling a lot of 6SN7s, so these first impressions are by no means the end-all. There are plenty more 6SJ7 driver tubes to try yet. : )
FOOTNOTE:
The HD600, on the other hand, have scaled up extremely well with the Darkvoice and, of the three sets of headphones I currently own, are probably the best-sounding/responding with the 337. The Sennheisers step out of the dark and shine quite radiantly with the 337. The HD600 sound better with the 337, and the K501 sound better--or "more themselves"--with the PH-12, IMHE. (That will present complications while a/b-ing the HD600 and the K501.)
The D2000 sound great with either amp; well, perhaps slightly better with the Bada. These Denon are really starting to grow on me! : )
BRIEF INTRODUCTION:
After about a week with the Darkvoice, the Bada is back on line. To be honest, the K501 were the sore spot during my initial audition of the 337; I just couldn't quite get them to sound "right." Not one of the various 6SJ7/6AS7* tube combinations I tried seemed to unfetter the inherent musicality of the AKGs, although the RCA 5693/Tung-Sol 5998 pairing came the closest. With the Darkvoice, the K501 sounded a bit stark, despite sounding surprisingly more detailed and even more expansive, if you can imagine that.
*Tubes used:
RCA 6AS7G black plate, GE 6080W, Tung-Sol 5998;
JAN Philips 6SJ7WGT, Philco 7C7, Sylvania VT-116A, JAN Sylvania 7C7, RCA 5963.
SET UP:
To begin with, the Tung-Sol 6SN7GTB is not my favorite driver with the Bada, plus I've exchanged the EVS PCOCC interconnects for the slightly less forgiving Millersound copper-clad aluminum ones (the latter are "NOS" cables that are probably still breaking in, too). On top of all that, I have 2x Raytheon 6SN7GTs (tilted toward the efficient/lean side of the spectrum) in the power sockets. So the set-up right now is not what I'd consider optimal.
PRELIMINARY VERDICT:
Things as they are, though, I must admit that I prefer the K501 driven by the Bada. While not as quiet, detailed, expansive, dimensionally pin-point or dynamically robust as the 337, the PH-12 nevertheless brings a tonal/harmonic richness and lends a fluid coherence that serve the K501 (and my individual listening tastes) more faithfully.
Gordon Lightfoot's vocals ["If You Could Read My Mind" and "The Pony Man"] simply sound more lifelike and full of breath. Also, the K501's headspace sounds more saturated, integrated, organic and involving--at least to my ears. There's a musical delicacy and intimacy with the Bada that, IMHO, the 337 does not or perhaps cannot comparably deliver (at least with the 6SJ7/6AS7 tubes I've tried so far). Switching from the Darkvoice to the Bada brought back the sound of the K501 that I have come to know and treasure.
The Darkvoice 337 and the Bada PH-12 constitute two very different, but respectively enjoyable, listening experiences. The former tends more toward neutrality, iron-clad control and orderliness; the latter is more about synthesis and tonal/harmonic complexity (while employing--at least for me--a more desirable driver tube).
Meanwhile, the Mullard 6080 power tubes are en route for the 337, and I can't wait to try them! However, the critical 6SJ7 driver--no, I haven't tried the Sylvania WGT "mesh plates" yet--may become the consummate point of departure for me and the Darkvoice.
But who knows? One short week with the Darkvoice really isn't much compared to the year or so I've spent with the Bada rolling a lot of 6SN7s, so these first impressions are by no means the end-all. There are plenty more 6SJ7 driver tubes to try yet. : )
FOOTNOTE:
The HD600, on the other hand, have scaled up extremely well with the Darkvoice and, of the three sets of headphones I currently own, are probably the best-sounding/responding with the 337. The Sennheisers step out of the dark and shine quite radiantly with the 337. The HD600 sound better with the 337, and the K501 sound better--or "more themselves"--with the PH-12, IMHE. (That will present complications while a/b-ing the HD600 and the K501.)
The D2000 sound great with either amp; well, perhaps slightly better with the Bada. These Denon are really starting to grow on me! : )
