[elwappo99]

I use a Lake People G109S (same company that makes Violectric) and I too love how it makes my HE500 (and HD650'S) sing.

 
Had a V181 balanced amplifier and for some reason it really hit a good spot with the HE-500. Almost makes me regret selling it. 

 

[wooo headphones]

Unfortunately that's not a good pairing there. Many suggestions for amp pairing on this thread though. I use a violectric amp and the 500's sing.

 
Lol that's actually got me excited. If what I'm listening to isn't considered good then I can't wait to hear the real thing!!
 
Is there anything specific about the Valhalla that makes it a bad pairing with the 500? I was previously using it with HD600/650s.

 

[raybone0566]

Lol that's actually got me excited. If what I'm listening to isn't considered good then I can't wait to hear the real thing!!

Is there anything specific about the Valhalla that makes it a bad pairing with the 500? I was previously using it with HD600/650s.

Vahalia is an otl and is really designed for high z cans like the senns. I believe the 500's are what 35 or 50 ohm. A hybrid like the lyr or ss would probably work better. Tried the little dot mk. Iii with 560's once and nothing special

 

[Draulius]

Does anyone know where to buy these anymore? I only see 1 used pair on Amazon.

 

[RojasTKD]

eaby or the for sale/trade forums.

 

[raybone0566]

Does anyone know where to buy these anymore? I only see 1 used pair on Amazon.

They are discontinued, so used is your only option. I regret selling mine.

 

[Guidostrunk]

There's a few on here in the for sale/trade forum. Nicely priced as well.

Does anyone know where to buy these anymore? I only see 1 used pair on Amazon.

 

[Guidostrunk]

I'm always one to keep things honest on here. And I have to say. You're correct in your statement.

After reading your post , I re-terminated my cable to see if anything changed. I had an extra pack of banana plugs laying in the drawer.

To my surprise, things sounded better. Imaging, and transparency benefited the most. I wouldn't say the change were night and day. But definitely an improvement over all. I honestly thought it wouldn't matter beings nothing else in my signal chain was balanced. Thanks for the advice bro. I won't be using the adapter anymore. Lol.

Cheers

If you are connecting to speaker taps, you are starting with a balanced signal. This adaptor will sum both negative phases into a common ground in the sleeve, allowing for a single ended connection. Why is this bad, you ask? Summing the negative phases into a common ground will halve the voltage swing and slew rate vs. just running balanced all the way up to the headphone. In short, the amp is sending less juice and less information to the headphone.

While it is certainly possible to have SE connections that sound every bit as good as balanced, in this case the comparison is 1:1, and signal degradation is the only possible outcome.

 

[nc8000]

I'm always one to keep things honest on here. And I have to say. You're correct in your statement.

After reading your post , I re-terminated my cable to see if anything changed. I had an extra pack of banana plugs laying in the drawer.

To my surprise, things sounded better. Imaging, and transparency benefited the most. I wouldn't say the change were night and day. But definitely an improvement over all. I honestly thought it wouldn't matter beings nothing else in my signal chain was balanced. Thanks for the advice bro. I won't be using the adapter anymore. Lol.

Cheers

What you are describing is essentially how I would describe most of the difference going from single ended to balanced

 

[Hansotek]

I'm always one to keep things honest on here. And I have to say. You're correct in your statement.

After reading your post , I re-terminated my cable to see if anything changed. I had an extra pack of banana plugs laying in the drawer.

To my surprise, things sounded better. Imaging, and transparency benefited the most. I wouldn't say the change were night and day. But definitely an improvement over all. I honestly thought it wouldn't matter beings nothing else in my signal chain was balanced. Thanks for the advice bro. I won't be using the adapter anymore. Lol.

Cheers

 
Happy to help!

 

[Badfish5446]

Is there anything with similar strengths of HE-500 (I'm totally fine with the bass now that I'm driving them better) but perhaps a better soundstage?

The only thing that helped with soundstage on my HE-500 was a pair of Phillips MiniWatts 6922's in the Lyr.  I don't find the soundstage lacking but comparing to the T1 (with same tubes) the HE-500 is like a venue at a bar, the T1 is like Red Rocks Amphitheater.  Sorry no tricks or tips for your Polaris.

 

[disastermouse]

  The only thing that helped with soundstage on my HE-500 was a pair of Phillips MiniWatts 6922's in the Lyr.  I don't find the soundstage lacking but comparing to the T1 (with same tubes) the HE-500 is like a venue at a bar, the T1 is like Red Rocks Amphitheater.  Sorry no tricks or tips for your Polaris.

Oh no, I meant other headphones that either compliment the HE-500 or something.

 

[Badfish5446]

 
Oh no, I meant other headphones that either compliment the HE-500 or something.

Sorry... in that case I can wholeheartedly recommend the T1.  These are going to remain my reference cans... unless I get a killer deal on an HE-6 anyway

 

[disastermouse]

Sorry... in that case I can wholeheartedly recommend the T1.  These are going to remain my reference cans... unless I get a killer deal on an HE-6 anyway

Is the T1 v-shaped sounding? I have been thinking about EL-8 Titanium for portable planar goodness. HiFiMan doesn't really have a product that compares.

 

[Hansotek]

 

Sorry... in that case I can wholeheartedly recommend the T1.  These are going to remain my reference cans... unless I get a killer deal on an HE-6 anyway

Is the T1 v-shaped sounding? I have been thinking about EL-8 Titanium for portable planar goodness. HiFiMan doesn't really have a product that compares.

 
If you want a portable with a similar sound to the HE-500, I'd recommend opting for the Oppo PM-3 instead. The EL-8 is... not so great, IMO.