Originally Posted by Fearless1 /img/forum/go_quote.gif
Would have been all over that a week or two ago, I picked up a Headroom desktop (always wanted to try it) and the allocated funds need replenishing.
Nice.. looking forward to hearing how the HE-400 sound with it. I've wanted to hear the Headroom desktop amps, too.. they've got a sort of "tried & true, time tested" aura about them. Hope it works out for ya.
That's high praise for the HE-400 Flysweep. I really want to try the V200 but I just can't justify spending so much on an amp right now, but anyway it sounds like an awesome pairing.
I know the feeling.. in all honesty, I wasn't planning on getting the V200. I happened to get an
incredibly generous offer on the V800.. so my (snobbish) audiophile tendencies kicked in and I decided to get the V200 for aesthetics sake. Unless i"m ready to drop cash on an EC or DNA amp, the V200 will most likely be the last solid state amp I get for the foreseeable future (famous last words, right?). Hope you get a chance to hear the Vio stuff (again, most definitely with the HE-400 or another ortho).. I think you'll be impressed.
I've typically found that neutral-ish phones tend to sound best with tube amps.. so it was a welcome surprise to hear how nicely the HE-400 paired with a good Amperex tube (in the TD-11). It does wonders for that midrange.
Originally Posted by
KetchupNinja /img/forum/go_quote.gif
Different strokes for different folks I'd say. I wasn't a fan of the treble but I still consider the HE-400 a great can. Got the HE-500's earlier today and couldn't be more happy.
. While it wasn't an issue for me, I can certainly see how the HE-400's treble could rub people the wrong way. I've been fortunate enough to find gear that smooths it out without taking away from it's resolving ability or masking what I find to make the HE-400 sound special/unique. The HE-400 certainly couldn't be my
only phone.. but as a "change of pace" type of can, it's excellent.. and why I've kept it around. I find it quite complimentary to something like the HD600, HE-500, or the HD800.
Glad you like the HE-500.. I actually went the opposite way of you.. I owned the HE-500 for a good part of last year.. I really enjoyed it and it was, no doubt, quite technically impressive.. but I found the signature too warm, thick, and closed in: the midbass centered boost, forward mids, and treble that rolled off too soon (for my tastes) made the soundstage feel a little too confined in terms of width (but the phones had terrific soundstage depth). I opted for the ageless wonder, the HD600.. and couldn't have been happier (until the HD800 came calling).