EyEPoD
100+ Head-Fier
- Joined
- Nov 27, 2003
- Posts
- 455
- Likes
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My old gear is on the way out and the new gear just came in. It looks like I'll have all weekend to compare these two systems.
Power conditioning used for both setups: PS Audio P500 w/ 5 PS Audio Plus PCs (~$2000 new)
Setup 1 (old):
Edit (note): Prices listed are the Prices I paid and their condition at time of purchase.
Source: Cary 306/200 ($2500 used)
Amp: E.A.R. Yoshino HP-4 ($1500 used)
Headphones: Grado PS-1 ($1000 used)
Interconnects: Stealth PGS Solid Gold RCA ($250 used)
Total (including power): $7250
Setup 2 (new):
Transport: RME HDSP 9632 ($600 new)
DAC: Benchmark DAC1 ($975 new)
Amp: 2005 Stepped Headroom Blockhead ($3000 new)
Headphones: Sennheiser HD650 w/ Balanced Zu Mobius ($650 new)
Interconnects: Cardas Golden Reference ($450 used)
Total: $7675
My main focus is to compare the nearly opposite sound signatures of these two setups. Keep in mind, however, that the Blockhead, Zu Mobius, and the Benchmark DAC1 are all brand new. The Blockhead has been on for about 24 hrs, the Benchmark has only been powered for about 5 hrs.
Test Tracks:
(x).......Artist
...........Album Title
...........Song Name
Folk/Rock:
(1).......Damien Rice
...........O
...........Volcano
(2).......Nick Drake
...........Five Leaves Left
...........Day is Done
(3).......Dave Matthews Band
...........Crash
...........Say goodbye
(4).......Radiohead
...........OK Computer
...........Paranoid Android
(5).......Iron and Wine
...........Endless Numbered Days
...........Passing Afternoon
Classical:
(1).......Beethoven
...........Sonata No. 8, Op.13
...........Pathetique (3 movements)
(2).......Mozart
...........Requiem (Telarc recording)
...........Sequenz Nr. 5: Confutatis
(3).......Tchaikovsky (earlier of two Telarc recordings)
...........Op. 49
...........1812 Overture
(4).......Bach
...........Cello Suites (performed by Rostropovich)
...........Suite Nr. 1 in Gmajor (6 movements)
Soundstage:
DAC1/Blockhead/HD650 (referred to as Blockhead setup): I thought it most appropriate to begin with this criteria, as the Blockhead was my most anticipated piece of gear. Despite having just a few hours of use, I can say the Blockhead/HD650 combo handles staging and instrument separation better than any headphone setup I've ever heard (which is limited but includes my Omega2 setup and Max setup). Voices sing beautifully from distinct locations near and far. The sound becomes incredibly natural and full when receiving music from so many angles.
Cary/PS-1/HP-4 (referred to as PS-1 setup): This is the weakest area for this combo, or more so for this headphone. The closeness of the sound surely adds to its intensity, but the sound is projected in, roughly, the straight line from ear to ear. Vocals are crisp and abundant in the center of your head. Instruments in the distance appear either distant to the right or distant to the left. The soundstage of this setup is not necessarily a negative as we'll see later, but in songs or pieces with many distinct instruments the sound can become cluttered.
Detail:
DAC1/Blockhead/HD650: Every note comes through clear and distinct. There is very good detail on everything from the symbol crashes and plucks of the highest guitar strings, to that of the deepest bass. Instruments sound full and create a three-dimensional sound you feel as though you can reach out and grab. However, when directly compared to the PS-1 setup, It's almost as if the texture of each sound is blurry. This may be a negative aspect of the distant placement of many of the instruments, but the notes don't come through quite as precisely as they do on the PS-1 setup. I don't want it to sound like a massive downside to the Blockhead setup, as this is a very slight difference in detail, and only apparent on some instruments. Most notably, acoustic guitar strings sounds absolutely crystal clear on the PS-1 setup, but when switching to the Blockhead setup the sound becomes fuller but also loses the minute texture and detail of the attack.
Cary/PS-1/HP4: While Im sure, based on researching Head-fi, that there are amps more detailed than the HP-4. However, this combo produces an incredibly detailed sound (comparable to the Omegas from my brief experience with them) from top to bottom. Instruments appear thinner in presentation, which is perhaps due to their limited placement upon the soundstage, when compared to the Blockhead setup, but the texture of every note from its attack to its decay comes through incredibly clear. A great deal of this apparent detail may come from the closeness of the instruments and the voices, but when compared to the Blockhead setup on recordings with intimate presentations, the PS-1 setup is the more detailed of the two.
Bass:
DAC1/Blockhead/HD650: The deepest bass I've ever heard from a headphone setup. The bass on this setup is detailed, beautifully textured, and can be forceful when needed. When directly compared to the PS-1 setup, the bass goes a little deeper and has more texture.
Cary/PS-1/HP4: Most powerful, abundant bass I've ever heard from a headphone setup. The bass goes nearly as deep as the Blockhead setup, but is much fuller and spine rattling on the attack. Its is like comparing a system with a subwoofer to one without a subwoofer, which is saying a lot given the fact the Blockhead setup has very capable bass. The bottom heavy PS-1 setup (which is definitely a combination of the Cary sound and the PS-1) is not always beneficial to the music. In some cases the bass sticks out sorely, and in others it really adds a great deal to the intensity.
Speed:
Hard to comment in this area because both setups are very aggressive. Ultimately, the the PS-1 setup has more punch on the lower attack and more detail on the instrumental attack. The speed is a strength of each setup, however, and is one characteristic the two setups share.
Tone:
DAC1/Blockhead/HD650: Very natural and realistic. I was quite surprised by this setup when comparing it to the tubed PS-1 setup. Overall I simply prefer the tone of the instruments on this setup. Cello strings sound fuller and more natural, woodwinds and brass sound realistic with texture beautifully matching their tone. This is an incredibly solid-state sound, but one that is so balanced and transparent that every instrument and vocal sounds equally impressive.
Cary/PS-1/HP4: I had gone to considerable length to match the tonality of this setup to my liking. I used warm ICs and Tubes to restrict some of the harshness of the upper mids and the highs. I didn't mind the added bass and appreciated the added fullness. However, when directly compared to the Blockhead setup many notes sound thin, and the overall sound becomes relatively harsh and fatiguing. Perhaps this is the downside to the setup's incredible detail and attack when compared to a setup that is more distant and less detailed. When strictly listening to the instrumental tones (aforementioned strings, woodwinds, and brass) the sound is brighter and lacking the three-dimensional texture of the Blockhead setup. There is more apparent detail and texture on the attack, but is a thinner and harsher tone than that of the more balanced setup. This may seem like a harsh (no pun) analysis of an important area for enjoyment, but keep in mind this is not for every instrument, and the differences aren't as drastic as I make them seem. Most are only apparent when A/Bing the two setups. Both setups are entirely enjoyable after a few moments of being lost in the music.
Overall:
Both setups excel in certain areas. If you want a transparent and balanced solid state amp with good bass and a huge soundstage then you should definitely consider building a setup around the Headroom Blockhead. If, however, you are seeking the elusive combination of Bass and Detail then look no further than the PS-1.
There are many other attributes not fully represented by either of these setups. I would not suggest either if you are looking for a liquid or overly warm sound. I'm sure such a thing would be possible with the HP-4 in your system, but every other component used is very much solid state. Also, In both cases, neither setup is incredibly musical. The PS-1 system is more colored, but with that coloration it focuses mostly on intensity. As for the blockhead setup, the degree of musicality would greatly depend on the choice of source. When paired with the DAC1 it is definitely musical, but is so severely neutral that it leaves me to believe other setups could easily surpass this in musicality. All and all, I am quite happy with my new gear and will update this thread as I notice changes with burn in.
Also, I have pictures if anyone wants to host them for me.
Power conditioning used for both setups: PS Audio P500 w/ 5 PS Audio Plus PCs (~$2000 new)
Setup 1 (old):
Edit (note): Prices listed are the Prices I paid and their condition at time of purchase.
Source: Cary 306/200 ($2500 used)
Amp: E.A.R. Yoshino HP-4 ($1500 used)
Headphones: Grado PS-1 ($1000 used)
Interconnects: Stealth PGS Solid Gold RCA ($250 used)
Total (including power): $7250
Setup 2 (new):
Transport: RME HDSP 9632 ($600 new)
DAC: Benchmark DAC1 ($975 new)
Amp: 2005 Stepped Headroom Blockhead ($3000 new)
Headphones: Sennheiser HD650 w/ Balanced Zu Mobius ($650 new)
Interconnects: Cardas Golden Reference ($450 used)
Total: $7675
My main focus is to compare the nearly opposite sound signatures of these two setups. Keep in mind, however, that the Blockhead, Zu Mobius, and the Benchmark DAC1 are all brand new. The Blockhead has been on for about 24 hrs, the Benchmark has only been powered for about 5 hrs.
Test Tracks:
(x).......Artist
...........Album Title
...........Song Name
Folk/Rock:
(1).......Damien Rice
...........O
...........Volcano
(2).......Nick Drake
...........Five Leaves Left
...........Day is Done
(3).......Dave Matthews Band
...........Crash
...........Say goodbye
(4).......Radiohead
...........OK Computer
...........Paranoid Android
(5).......Iron and Wine
...........Endless Numbered Days
...........Passing Afternoon
Classical:
(1).......Beethoven
...........Sonata No. 8, Op.13
...........Pathetique (3 movements)
(2).......Mozart
...........Requiem (Telarc recording)
...........Sequenz Nr. 5: Confutatis
(3).......Tchaikovsky (earlier of two Telarc recordings)
...........Op. 49
...........1812 Overture
(4).......Bach
...........Cello Suites (performed by Rostropovich)
...........Suite Nr. 1 in Gmajor (6 movements)
Soundstage:
DAC1/Blockhead/HD650 (referred to as Blockhead setup): I thought it most appropriate to begin with this criteria, as the Blockhead was my most anticipated piece of gear. Despite having just a few hours of use, I can say the Blockhead/HD650 combo handles staging and instrument separation better than any headphone setup I've ever heard (which is limited but includes my Omega2 setup and Max setup). Voices sing beautifully from distinct locations near and far. The sound becomes incredibly natural and full when receiving music from so many angles.
Cary/PS-1/HP-4 (referred to as PS-1 setup): This is the weakest area for this combo, or more so for this headphone. The closeness of the sound surely adds to its intensity, but the sound is projected in, roughly, the straight line from ear to ear. Vocals are crisp and abundant in the center of your head. Instruments in the distance appear either distant to the right or distant to the left. The soundstage of this setup is not necessarily a negative as we'll see later, but in songs or pieces with many distinct instruments the sound can become cluttered.
Detail:
DAC1/Blockhead/HD650: Every note comes through clear and distinct. There is very good detail on everything from the symbol crashes and plucks of the highest guitar strings, to that of the deepest bass. Instruments sound full and create a three-dimensional sound you feel as though you can reach out and grab. However, when directly compared to the PS-1 setup, It's almost as if the texture of each sound is blurry. This may be a negative aspect of the distant placement of many of the instruments, but the notes don't come through quite as precisely as they do on the PS-1 setup. I don't want it to sound like a massive downside to the Blockhead setup, as this is a very slight difference in detail, and only apparent on some instruments. Most notably, acoustic guitar strings sounds absolutely crystal clear on the PS-1 setup, but when switching to the Blockhead setup the sound becomes fuller but also loses the minute texture and detail of the attack.
Cary/PS-1/HP4: While Im sure, based on researching Head-fi, that there are amps more detailed than the HP-4. However, this combo produces an incredibly detailed sound (comparable to the Omegas from my brief experience with them) from top to bottom. Instruments appear thinner in presentation, which is perhaps due to their limited placement upon the soundstage, when compared to the Blockhead setup, but the texture of every note from its attack to its decay comes through incredibly clear. A great deal of this apparent detail may come from the closeness of the instruments and the voices, but when compared to the Blockhead setup on recordings with intimate presentations, the PS-1 setup is the more detailed of the two.
Bass:
DAC1/Blockhead/HD650: The deepest bass I've ever heard from a headphone setup. The bass on this setup is detailed, beautifully textured, and can be forceful when needed. When directly compared to the PS-1 setup, the bass goes a little deeper and has more texture.
Cary/PS-1/HP4: Most powerful, abundant bass I've ever heard from a headphone setup. The bass goes nearly as deep as the Blockhead setup, but is much fuller and spine rattling on the attack. Its is like comparing a system with a subwoofer to one without a subwoofer, which is saying a lot given the fact the Blockhead setup has very capable bass. The bottom heavy PS-1 setup (which is definitely a combination of the Cary sound and the PS-1) is not always beneficial to the music. In some cases the bass sticks out sorely, and in others it really adds a great deal to the intensity.
Speed:
Hard to comment in this area because both setups are very aggressive. Ultimately, the the PS-1 setup has more punch on the lower attack and more detail on the instrumental attack. The speed is a strength of each setup, however, and is one characteristic the two setups share.
Tone:
DAC1/Blockhead/HD650: Very natural and realistic. I was quite surprised by this setup when comparing it to the tubed PS-1 setup. Overall I simply prefer the tone of the instruments on this setup. Cello strings sound fuller and more natural, woodwinds and brass sound realistic with texture beautifully matching their tone. This is an incredibly solid-state sound, but one that is so balanced and transparent that every instrument and vocal sounds equally impressive.
Cary/PS-1/HP4: I had gone to considerable length to match the tonality of this setup to my liking. I used warm ICs and Tubes to restrict some of the harshness of the upper mids and the highs. I didn't mind the added bass and appreciated the added fullness. However, when directly compared to the Blockhead setup many notes sound thin, and the overall sound becomes relatively harsh and fatiguing. Perhaps this is the downside to the setup's incredible detail and attack when compared to a setup that is more distant and less detailed. When strictly listening to the instrumental tones (aforementioned strings, woodwinds, and brass) the sound is brighter and lacking the three-dimensional texture of the Blockhead setup. There is more apparent detail and texture on the attack, but is a thinner and harsher tone than that of the more balanced setup. This may seem like a harsh (no pun) analysis of an important area for enjoyment, but keep in mind this is not for every instrument, and the differences aren't as drastic as I make them seem. Most are only apparent when A/Bing the two setups. Both setups are entirely enjoyable after a few moments of being lost in the music.
Overall:
Both setups excel in certain areas. If you want a transparent and balanced solid state amp with good bass and a huge soundstage then you should definitely consider building a setup around the Headroom Blockhead. If, however, you are seeking the elusive combination of Bass and Detail then look no further than the PS-1.
There are many other attributes not fully represented by either of these setups. I would not suggest either if you are looking for a liquid or overly warm sound. I'm sure such a thing would be possible with the HP-4 in your system, but every other component used is very much solid state. Also, In both cases, neither setup is incredibly musical. The PS-1 system is more colored, but with that coloration it focuses mostly on intensity. As for the blockhead setup, the degree of musicality would greatly depend on the choice of source. When paired with the DAC1 it is definitely musical, but is so severely neutral that it leaves me to believe other setups could easily surpass this in musicality. All and all, I am quite happy with my new gear and will update this thread as I notice changes with burn in.
Also, I have pictures if anyone wants to host them for me.
