[pigmode]

Quote:

Originally posted by Tomcat pigmode, you could try ordering the German 230V Earmax or Earmax Pro from Markus Belzer, he is a German retailer who claims to speak English, and this is his website: http://www.hifibelzer.de/brocksieper_earmax.htm But I have to admit: I have no experience whatsoever with him.

Thanks Tomcat,

I think I'd prefer to avoid the use of transformers etc. I guess $600 from STONEAUDIO is the best deal available.

RickG,
How do you compare the EMP to the Melos?

 

[RickG]

Quote:

Originally posted by pigmode RickG, How do you compare the EMP to the Melos?

Piggy-

The EMP sounds very "tubey"...much warmer and at the same time articulate in the mids and bass. The Melos (IMHO), shines in the area of it's sweet top end. However, the Melos does not sound like a tube amp to my ears...not that there's anything wrong with that. The EMP just makes me tap my foot with the music.

My listening has become much more simplified...I use my Stax Omega system downstairs in my main hi-fi system as my "reference" phones. I use my EMP upstairs next to my bed at night for a beautiful nightcap. (usually with either my SR-325s or HD 600s) The Melos is not currently in my system. After months of AB test, tube rolling, and such, I've decided that I prefer my NAD C 160 much more for a pre amp. While the Melos does the top right, the NAD seems to pull together the mids and bass in a way that makes my system sing. I'm planning to eventually send my Melos Gold to MARs for full restoration and then sell it. It's sitting in the closet now!

 

[joelongwood]

Quote:

Originally posted by bootman The earmax only need a 19 VAC PS. I would think that a simple voltage converter (like those found in RS) would work fine in this application. If I'm not mistaken, Joelongwood took this same approach.

That's correct, bootman. I've had no problems whatsoever with the RS converter. Seems to work fine.

 

[acidtripwow]

Has anybody compared the Earmax with the Moretto HAP-03? Just wondering.

 

[daycart1]

Quote:

Originally posted by acidtripwow Has anybody compared the Earmax with the Moretto HAP-03? Just wondering.

That would be verrry interesting since the Moretto is obviously modelled on the Earmax. Cosmetically, I think it comes off at least as well! And the tubes suggest similar internal design.... But the Moretto can be had for less than $300!

FWIW, Moretto owners have praised the HA-3, but not as strenuously as Earmax owners praise theirs. I was hoping for an Earmax in the Headroom tour...

 

[Hirsch]

Quote:

Originally posted by acidtripwow Has anybody compared the Earmax with the Moretto HAP-03? Just wondering.

Staring into my crystal ball, and knowing an EarMax owner who lives nearby, I can predict such a comparison occuring sometime in the next few weeks...

 

[pigmode]

Quote:

Originally posted by RickG Piggy- The EMP sounds very "tubey"...much warmer and at the same time articulate in the mids and bass. The Melos (IMHO), shines in the area of it's sweet top end. However, the Melos does not sound like a tube amp to my ears...not that there's anything wrong with that. The EMP just makes me tap my foot with the music. My listening has become much more simplified...I use my Stax Omega system downstairs in my main hi-fi system as my "reference" phones. I use my EMP upstairs next to my bed at night for a beautiful nightcap. (usually with either my SR-325s or HD 600s) The Melos is not currently in my system. After months of AB test, tube rolling, and such, I've decided that I prefer my NAD C 160 much more for a pre amp. While the Melos does the top right, the NAD seems to pull together the mids and bass in a way that makes my system sing. I'm planning to eventually send my Melos Gold to MARs for full restoration and then sell it. It's sitting in the closet now!

Thanks Rick,

Hmm, interesting take on the EMP and the Melos. My impressions from listening to the EMP a while back are very favorable. OTH, while I did like the Melos, I did not get a sense of greatness.

 

[SumB]

Quote:

That's correct, bootman. I've had no problems whatsoever with the RS converter. Seems to work fine.

I take it that means it isn't introducing any noise? I'm seriously pondering ordering my third from a European country. At $600 USD or less it's just too tempting to pass up.

 

[joelongwood]

Quote:

I take it that means it isn't introducing any noise?

Not that I can hear, even with no music playing........silence.

 

[daycart1]

Quote:

Originally posted by Hirsch Staring into my crystal ball, and knowing an EarMax owner who lives nearby, I can predict such a comparison occuring sometime in the next few weeks...

Given what folks from the Dallas meet were saying (Earmax "a little" better than MG Head), and the comparison I did between the Moretto and MG Head (thread: "head to head"), I'd expect the Moretto/Earmax showdown to be very close indeed...

As usual, we await Hirsch for enlightenment.

 

[SumB]

Quote:

Given what folks from the Dallas meet were saying (Earmax "a little" better than MG Head)

This is like saying the Headmaster is a "little" better than the OBH-11 - understatement personified.

 

[TimSchirmer]

Just the fact that with the earmax, the signal goes through almost no circuitry makes me want it more than the MG Head. I used to own the MG head, and found the sound to be a bit too "dulled" for my taste.

 

[lini]

The Earmax Pro looks very alluring, indeed. I'm just thinking that it might be a better idea to try this one instead of the Headmaster, as I already have the Corda HA-1... So maybe it's time for some tube gear, now. Are there any common issues with the Earmax Pro one should be aware of?

Tomcat: Where did you buy yours, btw? I've only found Belzer on the web - but there's no Brocksieper homepage to be found, where I'd exspect a dealer list...

Greetings from Munich!

Manfred / lini

 

[Tomcat]

lini,

No headphone amp at first, and now a second one? That's definitely collectitis. But it feels so good, doesn't it?

There is no German Brocksieper site, as far as I know. The German distributor and retailer for the Brocksieper (or Earmax) headphone amps is "Hifi-Studio Linzbach" in Bonn. I asked them about their prices in February:

Earmax: roughly 360 EUR
Earmax Pro: 510 EUR

You can contact the Linzbach people at:

HiFi Linzbach
Kekuléstrasse 39
53115 Bonn
Germany

Tel. +49 (0) 228 - 91 50 50
Fax +49 (0) 228 - 26 12 14
info@hifi-linzbach.de

Viel Spaß!!!

 

[lini]

Tomcat: Thanks a lot. Now let's see what my bank account says...

Btw, have you noticed the ocean blue version on the Belzer page?

Greetings & thanks from Munich!

Manfred / lini