[DaJustin]

Mine just arrived. So excited to hear them now but I must stay disciplined and stick to my evening routine ‍

 

[Tirandosaurus]

Firstly, congratulations on receiving your new Heddphone Two GT! Mine have been delayed for what UPS is saying was a customs issue but are scheduled to be delivered tomorrow. No worries these things happen.

Regarding your chain, since these are so new I'd suggest you have fun and experiment with how you'll get the best performance for your system. Maybe that would be using your DAC straight into the Aegis tube amp? Or maybe not. Maybe it's best to run it as you are DAC into your amp acting as a pre-amp into the Aegis. It would be wise to make sure your not overloading the Aegis though. I'm familiar with your IDSD Pro, as it's a blue chip source that's been around in the headphone space. But I'm not familiar with what output voltage settings it has. Again, I'd play around and experiment. Most amps are designed to take 2 or 3V from a source or a pre-amp. Some amps can take higher voltages without clipping. Again I'd continue to experiment and to find the right balance and synergy for you and your ears and system.

Excited for you. And I'll have my own set of the GTs in hand soon.

Good luck and keep us in the loop.

Thanks for the reply!

My ZMF Aegis is picking up noise from my household power (currently in the market for a power conditioner) so I use its volume pot to seek the noise floor, with any given headphone, and turn it down to an acceptable level, where it stays. I then use the Pro iCAN Sig exclusively (the Pro iDSD typically doesn't [depending on HP] provide enough gain on its own, even in pro mode) to remotely adjust the volume level of the system. Now, depending on variables (HP, impedance, Aegis volume position) the iCAN occasionally has to work a bit too hard and goes into protection mode for a few seconds. This obviously prompts me to turn off the xbass setting or reduce volume. Putting the Pro iDSD into pro fixed ouput mode takes some of the load off the iCAN (compared to hi-fi fixed mode) which keeps its volume pot lower and actually prevents it from going into protection mode.

The only way to keep the Aegis from clipping, however, is to turn up its impedance output, allowing the volume pot to be set lower, keeping those VU meters tamed, and eliminating clipping/distortion, all while maintaining the acceptably low noise floor. Depending on the headphone though, just turning up the impedance ouput is not always viable due to negative impact on frequency response and sound quality. The Heddphone 2 GT is taking it in stride, to great effect, even.

Tube rolling the Aegis could make a minimal change to the variables. Must unleash the NOS Tung-Sol 6550s later...

 

[clackbait]

Oh yeah baby

 

[BlankName]

I just got my HEDD GT today and am already blown away by the AMT driver! I'm also using an iFi Pro iDSD Sig to Pro iCAN Sig which is preamping to a ZMF Aegis (built by Cayin btw). The GT needs oodles of gain, especially since I absolutely adore it loud as F. However, the Aegis VU meters are going bonkers and produces very audible distortion on bass notes. As the Aegis has no gain switch, only an impedance output switch, the only solution is to use the XLR output at high impedance, which is 85 ohms. That's roughly twice the input impedance of the HEDD GT... but, astoundingly, it sounds amazing like this!

Normally, I would never even attempt this setting with low impedance headphones, and I was expecting it to sound awful, but I actually prefer it's sound signature at 85 ohms and the VU meters are within perfect limits now. However, is it even remotely possible I could be doing damage to the AMT drivers?

AMT, like planars, have a flat impedance so oi shouldn't affect it.

 

[DaJustin]

Time to dig in
My only question, I received a 4.4mm promotional cable when I don't have a 4.4mm output. For now I'm using an included adapter but is it possible to swap it for a 4 pin xlr one? There wasn't an option on headphones.com.

 

[clackbait]

Time to dig in
My only question, I received a 4.4mm promotional cable when I don't have a 4.4mm output. For now I'm using an included adapter but is it possible to swap it for a 4 pin xlr one? There wasn't an option on headphones.com.

I believe it only comes in a 4.4.

 

[DaJustin]

First Impressions:

GT: Less bass presence, tighter bass, smoother mids/highs, leaner presentation. Lighter, more comfortable. More intimate sounding due to the bass being pushed back a bit and the mids being more polished.

When the bass on the GT hits it feels like a jab whereas it is more present and enveloping with the HEDDPHONE 2. Makes the HP2 fun and exciting. However the GT is more intimate in its presentation which is also enjoyable. Vocals on the GT are brought a bit closer or the bass is pushed back further.

Both are capable of excellent texture and detail with the HEDDPHONE 2 providing a bit more at the cost of greater weight and more clamp. However the detail on the HP2 is more fatiguing. I wouldn't be able to handle it without EQ.

Btw both used the same EQ on my lokius.

I use the Schiit Lokius to EQ as it makes both
headphones far more enjoyable since I'm sensitive to highs.

I will be sure to continue listening. I am super divided right now as these headphones are similar in some ways but also quite different. I may keep both but we'll see.

In short, GT is smoother/more comfortable/intimate, HP2 has more detail and bass(less controlled).

 

[DaJustin]

I believe it only comes in a 4.4.

No big deal. The cable doesn't make a huge difference to me sonically anyways. The adapter works fine. Not worth the hassle.

The cable is beautiful though

 

[freddyknop]

So thrilled to read your feedback, guys!

 

[gahan]

Sound is the same with both earpads, velour and learher, on H2 GT?

 

[freddyknop]

Sound is the same with both earpads, velour and learher, on H2 GT?

Yes, that is the approach! We do not create different tunings, we measure and match the pads and make sure that the customer gets to experience the one GT sound (while being able to choose between different comfort experiences).

 

[DaJustin]

Sound is the same with both earpads, velour and learher, on H2 GT?

I have only used leather pads. I will try the new velour ones next.

 

[DaJustin]

Yes, that is the approach! We do not create different tunings, we measure and match the pads and make sure that the customer gets to experience the one GT sound (while being able to choose between different comfort experiences).

I see. I do like velour more for comfort but I'm used to ZMF Velour pads creating a flatter sound that is easier to listen to.
Looking forward to trying velour.

 

[lostumpire]

Does it fit comfortable enough for people with large heads?

 

[Doctor HiFi]

I just got my HEDD GT today and am already blown away by the AMT driver! I'm also using an iFi Pro iDSD Sig to Pro iCAN Sig which is preamping to a ZMF Aegis (built by Cayin btw). The GT needs oodles of gain, especially since I absolutely adore it loud as F. However, the Aegis VU meters are going bonkers and produces very audible distortion on bass notes. As the Aegis has no gain switch, only an impedance output switch, the only solution is to use the XLR output at high impedance, which is 85 ohms. That's roughly twice the input impedance of the HEDD GT... but, astoundingly, it sounds amazing like this!

Normally, I would never even attempt this setting with low impedance headphones, and I was expecting it to sound awful, but I actually prefer it's sound signature at 85 ohms and the VU meters are within perfect limits now. However, is it even remotely possible I could be doing damage to the AMT drivers?

Haha, interesting to see that you’re also using both the iDSD and iCAN in your chain—they’re both fantastic units!—plus a Cayin-made tube amp.

For most tracks, I find 18dB gain on the iCAN ideal, though 9dB is often sufficient for average listening volumes. On bass-heavy albums like Xerrox, Vol. 4 by Alva Noto or RITUAL by Jon Hopkins, my HA300’s VU meters mostly stay around ~<0 on the Low impedance setting (8Ω–64Ω, target 32Ω). Switching to the M impedance setting (65Ω–200Ω, target 64Ω), the meters hover around ~<1 and feel more relaxed. The sound signature is solid on both settings, but I personally prefer it on M.

As already mentioned in this thread, AMTs have a flat impedance similar to planars, so I’d assume that using the slightly higher impedance setting shouldn’t stress the drivers much (if at all). If anyone sees a flaw in this assumption, please feel free to correct me.

No distortion issues here on either impedance setting of the HA300 unless I push the iCAN’s XBass too high or the recording itself is subpar. For most tracks, I keep XBass either off or at the 10Hz setting (sub-40Hz boost).