[filmgeek47]

Hi everyone,

I'm Charlie.

Long time lurker; getting back into the audiophile rabbit hole after a couple of years and enjoying myself quite a bit in the process.

My current setup is a Bifrost 4490 into an amb M3 into my new he-560. Loving the headphones, although I'm not convinced the M3 is the right pairing. Anyway, I digress. Hello world!

 

[Giupy]

Hey, Charlie!

Great to have you here!

If you don't think it's the right combo because of the harsh treble, that's just what they sound like in general due to their planar lineage, I fixed it to a certain extent using different pads that dampen the sound a bit.

I've also heard that a good way for that is a tube amp and using tubes that are less treble-abrasive.

Anyway, great to have you here and welcome!

 

[filmgeek47]

Thanks! Out of curiousity, are you referring to the focus a pads, or did you mod yours? I've never had a tube amp, but I've been contemplating building an ember or Polaris (I know it's SS, but I've read a bit suggesting it's tube like in its signature).

 

[Giupy]

I had the Focus pads, but aside from those, Hifiman also sells some cheaper velour pads, which from what I hear can do a decent enough job taming the wild treble

The point about the tube amp was the fact that getting a tube amp allows to alter its sound signature by tube rolling and selecting some less treble-centric tubes. Of course that is if you want to do it and the tube availability is also a factor. You may want to try out a tube amp at a local audio store. I know it's not easy to find one, but every now and then you can find places that have equipment out for testing

 

[filmgeek47]

Yeah, I wish I had more local options for testing, but at least where I am in California, it's a bit limited. Definitely thinking about getting those pads.

Honestly, my thing with the he-560s is less the treble, then that the mids feel just a step too ressessed, to the point where any music that isn't extremely well mixed feels like the vocals get lost. It's not bugging me quite as much as it was when I first got them, but I was hoping to find an amp pairing that would bring out the mids more.

I'm in no way an expert, but from what I've read around the webs, it sounds like the he-560s scale well with lots of power, and from what I've been able to gather, the M3 isn't an ultra powerful amp. No idea if that'll actually improve things for my issue, but I figured it'd be worth a shot.

Do you think tube rolling would be a way to boost the mids? Should I just be looking at an equalizer?

 

[Giupy]

If it's just recessed mids, then you can just try and tweak the EQ. If that doesn't seem to work at all, then do try another amp, but I think that would be going a bit too far... Not mention that it could be costly

 

[filmgeek47]

If I'm being honest with myself, I think I just want to try another amp for the sake of hearing a different signature and audio adventuring I need to research EQ as well though. I'm pretty basic on the playback side of things (just iTunes). I've tinkered with iTunes built-in eq, but I'm not sure if there's a better way to do things to maintain quality. 
 
More experimenting to be done...
 
Thanks so much for the warm welcome, and all the info!

 

[buke9]

I would also suggest the Project Ember it plays quite well with Planars. Don't own one but have heard it a couple of times and it sounded nice with the HE1000 and the Ether C's. Tube rolling can be fun but can get expensive real quick if you get too sucked into it. I have a few of them but only two that I use and a different tube can make a big difference in sound.

 

[filmgeek47]

Yeah, I've been researching the ember II a bit. Might be my next amp if I decide to try something new. I'm also toying with putting a higher voltage power supply and new op-amps into my M3 to see if I can juice it up a bit, but I confess that tube rolling sounds like a fun adventure

 

[Giupy]

Yeah, I've been researching the ember II a bit. Might be my next amp if I decide to try something new. I'm also toying with putting a higher voltage power supply and new op-amps into my M3 to see if I can juice it up a bit, but I confess that tube rolling sounds like a fun adventure

And an expensive one, to boot!

Ah, the thrill of tube-hunting on ebay from various Russian vendors...

 

[filmgeek47]

I'll have to tread carefully with my wallet then And yet gadget acquisition syndrome persists...

 

[buke9]

I'll have to tread carefully with my wallet then And yet gadget acquisition syndrome persists...

I think a Project Ember would fill the need. For starters ; )

 

[filmgeek47]

It's definitely my next purchase, as soon as I've got the money for it. Thanks for the recommendation!

I know you don't own one, but have you heard about any tube recommendations for the he560?

 

[Giupy]

It's definitely my next purchase, as soon as I've got the money for it. Thanks for the recommendation!

I know you don't own one, but have you heard about any tube recommendations for the he560?

Perhaps this thread might help http://www.head-fi.org/t/764585/tube-amp-recommendations-for-he-560

I've always like the Valhalla 2 for its aspect and price, but I doubt that helps

 

[filmgeek47]

Wow, can't believe I overlooked that. Thanks!