[achristilaw]

Quote:

Originally Posted by thinker /img/forum/go_quote.gif i was switching between HE-5 and Senn HD-800 today.I gave the phones to my wife to compare- she said the KRELL/HE-5 just blow the HD-800 completely away.I agree with her and say that the HE-5 puts life in music that i have never ever experienced from any audio component before.The question is how much power does the HE-5 need to perform on this level and what a role does the balanced connection play here.

I'm sure both are working in concert and aid in the performance you are hearing.

I ordered the Apuresound balanced cable also..but I went a step further. I am also having made at the same time a female pair of XLR's to BARE WIRE adapter for exploring some home amps I have available. The GSX will have power enough perhaps along with the Balanced Beta, but if not I can reach further and juice them with some home amp power!

I can change the Gain of the Beta for example but at the expense of the other eight balanced phones that don't require the juice, I'm hoping I don't have to resort to doing that.

I have a slew of Gain Clones (47 labs, Amp1, Nixon mono's etc) that are reasonably quiet and some home brew passive attenuators that I'm going to try. The LFD is a quiet integrated that would match well (perhaps). With the adapter's I have more options...

I should have bought that First Watt when I had a chance, instead I passed and didn't think I had the need...I'm not always the sharpest knife in the drawer.

 

[MrGreen]

Any consensus on amping requirements of these yet?
Still conflicted after the 'bleeding levels from an ipod' and 'these need a big amp'

 

[paaj]

I've not heard this HE-5 but it's not about sound level, it's about control. Those statements are not conflicting.

 

[Skylab]

It will not give the sound it is capable of right from an iPod. Sounds OK (I tried it briefly), but the sound is far, far more impressive with a good amp.

 

[MrGreen]

Quote:

Originally Posted by paaj /img/forum/go_quote.gif I've not heard this HE-5 but it's not about sound level, it's about control. Those statements are not conflicting.

I guess. Well, to use another quote, the EF1 was recommended as an adequate amp by fang.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skylab /img/forum/go_quote.gif It will not give the sound it is capable of right from an iPod. Sounds OK (I tried it briefly), but the sound is far, far more impressive with a good amp.

how good? Can you name a few models that it achieves >95% of its potential with?

 

[Skylab]

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrGreen /img/forum/go_quote.gif how good? Can you name a few models that it achieves >95% of its potential with?

Well this is impossible for me to answer, since I have no way to know what the 100% amp is

What I do know is the sound is excellent from the $1,200 Audio-GD Phoenix, and from the $800 Decware CSP-2. It was also very, very good from the $400 JSoundLab "Headphone".

 

[MrGreen]

I knew that first part was coming

Thx for the info. Sounds like a big amp is necessarry. Might have to wait until after I build my b22.
Anyone got an idea of how long this phone will be in production? (If its limited or whatever)

 

[Xan7hos]

Would a M^3 or Purity Audio KICAS fair well with these phones? If so it's time to clean house and order one ASAP. I imagine a Caliente would fair better than the KICAS to give the Bass some more oomph?

 

[tim3320070]

Quote:

Originally Posted by tim3320070 /img/forum/go_quote.gif What are the connectors at the headphone side- they look like mini coax? Can someone give me a part number as I may build my own cable to avoid warranty issues with cutting the end of the cable to reterminate.

Can anyone answer the above?

 

[Silenced]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Xan7hos /img/forum/go_quote.gif Would a M^3 or Purity Audio KICAS fair well with these phones? If so it's time to clean house and order one ASAP. I imagine a Caliente would fair better than the KICAS to give the Bass some more oomph?

Also wondering about this... and by the way how does the M^3 compare with the Purity Audio offerings? Is there any better amp than those 2 in this price range. Thanks for all the help... loving the impressions in this thread, it's cool to know that you can have the best headphone in the world for only 600$.

 

[sachu]

Quote:

Originally Posted by tim3320070 /img/forum/go_quote.gif Can anyone answer the above?

They are SMA connectors.

 

[achristilaw]

My sound level concerns stem from the needs of serving the Music at hand. Being able to follow the large dynamic contrasts (if you want to do it faithfully) require a hefty supply.

IMO. Solid-State or hybrid will do fine. The "Classic" listeners will need more oomph than others. These guy's can flat out fly

!

Having them making noise, to having them driven, then on to having them fill their full potential....takes some grunt!

 

[achristilaw]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Silenced /img/forum/go_quote.gif Also wondering about this... and by the way how does the M^3 compare with the Purity Audio offerings? Is there any better amp than those 2 in this price range. Thanks for all the help... loving the impressions in this thread, it's cool to know that you can have the best headphone in the world for only 600$.

As always the "BEST" is subjective..and in the Ear of the beholder (always)!

I have both the Purity and M3, and the M3...that would do better! Especially if the M3 had the Sigma PS to power it.

 

[achristilaw]

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrGreen /img/forum/go_quote.gif I knew that first part was coming Thx for the info. Sounds like a big amp is necessarry. Might have to wait until after I build my b22. Anyone got an idea of how long this phone will be in production? (If its limited or whatever)

It's just arrived..and sales will determine the longevity (along with parts suppliers).

 

[Ashirgo]

All we have to do now is to wait for some more unbiased opinions and comparisons. I would be happy to hear about some shortcomings of these HE-5. No headphones are flawless, anyway.

Too sad that we have to wait till late November.