[JaZZ]

Wilson...

...I second your own idea: The DT 880 is my favored headphone since half a year, when it replaced the HD 600 in this role. I actually didn't miss anything with the latter (then with the foam pads removed). But the DT 880 is the more transparent headphone with an even higher resolution and greater musicality after all, despite the lighter bass. Sennheiser is about to launch the HD 650 which is proclaimed, beside sounding livelier, to have a cleaner bass. As much as I like it, the HD 600's bass indeed sounds as if there's relatively high harmonic distortion, one thing the DT 880's very clean bass reveals in comparison. But the most obvious difference is the Beyer's ultra-clear and slightly pronounced treble -- the sheer opposite to the rather dark HD 600 and admittedly a trace overshot. But hey, what a soundstage, what a transparency and musicality! Sometimes slightly on the bright side, but never sharp, very smooth and unfatiguing instead. Comparable to electrostatics (of which I own three and barely use them since I have the DT 880), but with the musicality and body of a dynamic headphone. If you don't want to wait for the HD 650, I suggest you to consider the DT 880.

Each of my amps, the Corda HA-2 and the Earmax Pro, forms an excellent synergy with it, though in very different manners. So my warm recommendation for both. The EMP's tuberolling option offers you the possibility to fine-tune your system's sound to your liking (I guess this doesn't count as «internal modifications»

).

 

[DanG]

I don't think I've piped in here yet, so I'll give my few suggestions...

I would not for any reason suggest the CD3000. It's a headphone, as said, that can work well all-around but which needs just the right tube amp even to do that. With one amp it can sound far too bright, while with another tubey amp (like the Holmes Powell DCT-1) it can sound far too syrupy (though the amp has that tendency). The HD600 seems a poor choice as well in the role of only headphone, as it is what I would call an "apologetic" headphone. It doesn't let dynamics through unless you beat it with a lash, and the treble is too polite even with an upgraded headphone cable (I had the Cardas on it).

The Grado HP-1000 HP1 and HP2 are great all-around cans as they are neutral but somehow make up for faults in upstream equipment. Since you're buying new, the best replacement for the HP-1000 is the Grado-made Alessandro Music Series Pro, the tweaked version of the RS-1 which I currently use (and have also had in the past). It can be purchased new (though not cheap) from http://www.alessandro-products.com . I would suggest looking at some high-end pro audio dealers (the kind that will sell high-end tube guitar amps) as apparently some musician stores do sell Alessandro headphones as well as amps.

Buying the MS Pro from Alessandro himself would run you $699 (full retail). That leaves $1600 for the amp. From the reviews of the Singlepower amps, I would suggest going with one of those and getting some nice tubes. I have heard the Cary 300SEI with the MSP and honestly, it's just not that good. Very luscious and sweet so it's great with mezzo-soprano, but it doesn't do justice to the treble which is too recessed. It was great with the AKG K1000, though. Carlo claims to have had good luck with the Cary SLI-80 (better, in fact, than with the 300SEI -- the review is somewhere around here), and that should be available in many audio stores where headphones are not.

If you can get over your desire for new, new NEW stuff

then perhaps it really is worth checking out a modded Melos. My regular Melos SHA-1 (actually, with slight modifications) works wonders with my Meri and I think it would be great for you too.

Whatever you choose, though, should be at least a tube hybrid amp. I just love tubes now and am supremely addicted to them (though I don't get headaches if I go without them as happens with coffee or cigarettes). The MS Pro is an aggressive headphone in that it's not reserved in any sense of the word. Dynamics are spectacular, attack is palpable, while treble is still sweet if the amplification lets it be. It can sometimes tend to the dark side with the wrong equipment, and the bright side with equipment on the other side of the spectrum; while overall neutral like the HP-1000, it will sometimes let emphasized traits in the system come through perhaps even more emphasized. But your source is already great and all you need now is an amp to match.

Good luck, and sorry for my ranting style. Hope this helps at least a bit!

 

[grinch]

Quote:

Originally posted by Wilson M. My sonic priorities are: immediacy (not to be confused with forward), low-level detail, tonality and rhythm. The best systems are the ones where you can pick out any instrument, follow it without a problem, hear extremely good detail but be able to listen to everything as a whole without instruments vying for attention.

this is *exactly* what i look for in a headphone system and i whole-heartedly believe that you need either hp-1 or stax omega 2's. i really really think you'd like the omega 2's and they are very readily available. e-mail EIFL http://www.eifl.co.jp/index/export/export2.htm and go for the omega 2's. i am fairly certain they will not disappoint.

p.s. i only have heard omega 2's extensively, but from what i have gathered from comments and the like, is that they are far different from any other headphone that stax has made in the past. i too listen to a fairly spread-out range of music, and omega 2's haven't let me down yet.

 

[Mastergill]

Hi Wilson M,

You've talked about buying a preamp ( Nagra PL-L...) within a year or two.

I know what you need !!. Just save a little more and buy a Manley 300B preamp, at $5250 it's not cheap but i can assure you will have the best line driver in the world and maybe also the best headphone amp...at least with HD600. Buy also a Cardas cable ($150) it's a must buy if you want HD600 at it's best.

Regards.

 

[Zanth]

Wilson check here!
So there we go. You can go hard, $550 for the amp give or take then pump the mods from carlo in there and get yourself some HP-1000's and call yourself complete and in headphone nirvana.

 

[SteeleBlayde]

In regards to DanG's suggestion to listen to the Alessandro Music Series Pro, I have a pair of them. I'd love to bring them along for people to listen to if we have a meet soon. Soon, that is. I'll be away for a month starting on the 8th.

Keep in mind, dont hog 'em,

I stillw ant to A/B them with an RS-1 if one shows up at the meet.

 

[MERTON]

the mspro a a gilmore reference when it comes out.