[Pharmaboy]

• The tube risers (socket savers) also permit better heat dissipation from the tube glass. I would also get them for the 6SN7s: if you roll those, you will be able to grip them by the micanol base rather than by the glass - thereby avoiding detachment from the base.
• Amplified Parts (direct / via Amazon):

Great info. Thanks!

So the P-ST9-900's pins fit 12AX7/12AT7/CV533s? (dumb question)

 

[jonathan c]

Great info. Thanks!

So the P-ST9-900's pins fit 12AX7/12AT7/CV533s? (dumb question)

Those are general nine-pin adapters: will fit. [There is probably a 1940s industry manual that specifies the length, width, separation of the pins and set those as standard.]

 

[jonathan c]

After a most auspicious debut in my system, HP8 is keeping the Zalytron 5692 pair and will use the Brimar CV455 (KB/FB 1956: Footscray).

The following lyric from West Side Story comes to mind as warm-up begins shortly…

 

[jonathan c]

…in the middle of The Best of Stephanie Mills via the Beyerdynamic DT-880 (600 ohms). This headphone is usually a ‘toughie’ - high impedance, mid/low sensitivity; wonderful when ‘fed right’.
• My word! What a job HP8 does with the DT! Ambience, clarity, dynamics, ease, evenness, focus, heft, openness…..power to spare. With the high impedance setting, the volume knob does not get past ‘eleven o’clock’. Even the Woo WA2 (OTL) has to have a ‘later’ volume setting. Plus, the bass reproduction from HP8 runs more deeply and tightly than that from WA2.
• In sum, I am enthralled that HP8 can ‘coax’ this level of sonic performance from such a ‘recalcitrant’ headphone. ZMFs should be real treats with HP8……

 

[jonathan c]

And onwards to ZMF Atrium….

• What to make of HP8 / Atrium?….Think Bogart & Bacall, think Astaire & Rogers….The ‘chemistry’ between the two is astounding.
• HP8 brings out all the Atrium virtues (which have been well covered in Head-Fi) in a manner which brings to mind: ‘we hold these truths to be self-evident’. Obvious is obvious, subtle is subtle. In effect, I ask myself: ‘should I even be using another h/p/a for Atrium?’.
• The music, with all its cadences, dynamics (and even mistakes) is conveyed by HP8 with absolute assurance & veracity. Audiophile checklist? What else can be said?
• To feel this way about HP8 after listening via a trio of headphones as varied as Beyer DT-880 (600 ohms), Grado RS-1x, and ZMF Atrium is easy. Such is the HP8.

 

[geoffalter11]

And onwards to ZMF Atrium…. • What to make of HP8 / Atrium?….Think Bogart & Bacall, think Astaire & Rogers….The ‘chemistry’ between the two is astounding.
• HP8 brings out all the Atrium virtues (which have been well covered in Head-Fi) in a manner which brings to mind: ‘we hold these truths to be self-evident’. Obvious is obvious, subtle is subtle. In effect, I ask myself: ‘should I even be using another h/p/a for Atrium?’.
• The music, with all its cadences, dynamics (and even mistakes) is conveyed by HP8 with absolute assurance & veracity. Audiophile checklist? What else can be said?
• To feel this way about HP8 after listening via a trio of headphones as varied as Beyer DT-880 (600 ohms), Grado RS-1x, and ZMF Atrium is easy. Such is the HP8.

What a cool post. Atrium and HP8 makes me happy too. HP8 and just about everything makes me happy.

 

[geoffalter11]

@Paladin79 made me a pair of RCA interconnects for my HP8. It needed a better set of wire. My Blue Dragon RCAs were 5 yrs old and falling apart. Just another reason to love this amp. it scales to whatever you give it. I have this desire to get another tube amp because the HP8 sounds so good. I automatically think, if the HP8 sounds this good, what will a Stellaris sound like. Bottom line, the HP8 is more than enough. You nailed its sound by saying that it is dynamic, veracious, and just easy. Tonight is the Auteur Classic in all its glory. Raytheon Vt-231s and the Telefunken 1950s Grey Plate 12AT7 are a fantastic pairing.

 

[The Jester]

When something like the HP8/ signature is in the system you may hear a difference in everything, tubes, source, interconnects, power cables …

 

[Pharmaboy]

And onwards to ZMF Atrium…. • What to make of HP8 / Atrium?….Think Bogart & Bacall, think Astaire & Rogers….The ‘chemistry’ between the two is astounding.
• HP8 brings out all the Atrium virtues (which have been well covered in Head-Fi) in a manner which brings to mind: ‘we hold these truths to be self-evident’. Obvious is obvious, subtle is subtle. In effect, I ask myself: ‘should I even be using another h/p/a for Atrium?’.
• The music, with all its cadences, dynamics (and even mistakes) is conveyed by HP8 with absolute assurance & veracity. Audiophile checklist? What else can be said?
• To feel this way about HP8 after listening via a trio of headphones as varied as Beyer DT-880 (600 ohms), Grado RS-1x, and ZMF Atrium is easy. Such is the HP8.

"Such is the HP8" (indeed!)

Which impedance setting did you use w/the Atrium?

 

[geoffalter11]

"Such is the HP8" (indeed!)

Which impedance setting did you use w/the Atrium?

High all the way. No other choice, in my opinion... I use the M for my low impedance headphones. My Radiante and 4z are absolutely dead quiet and perfect on the M setting.

What about you Peter and Jonathan? This thread is finally getting its due. This amp is a serious contender for End Game!

 

[Pharmaboy]

I've done most of my listening to the HP8 with my silkwood VO, a match made in heaven. I use only the high impedance setting for the VO and Aeolus.

Just ordered the 3 tube risers and will probably postpone any more tube-swapping until those show up. None of the 3 sockets in my HP8 are outright loose, but none seem as a tight & secure as they probably were new.

Before installing the risers, I probably should figure out how to take the top cover off (it doesn't look simple or easy to do) and tighten the left & right socket screws for each of the 3 sockets.

Anyone manage to get the top off yet?

 

[geoffalter11]

Do you have take the sockets out to put the risers in? Or do they just fit right into the sockets of each?

 

[jonathan c]

High all the way. No other choice, in my opinion... I use the M for my low impedance headphones. My Radiante and 4z are absolutely dead quiet and perfect on the M setting.

What about you Peter and Jonathan? This thread is finally getting its due. This amp is a serious contender for End Game!

High for Beyer, Senn, ZMF; Medium for Focal Clear; Low for Audeze LCD-X, Gjallarhorn, Grado.

 

[Pharmaboy]

Do you have take the sockets out to put the risers in? Or do they just fit right into the sockets of each?

They fit right into current sockets: male pins are on the bottom (inserting into orig. tube socket) & female pins on top (to accept pins of the tube that goes in that socket).

 

[jonathan c]

I've done most of my listening to the HP8 with my silkwood VO, a match made in heaven. I use only the high impedance setting for the VO and Aeolus.

Just ordered the 3 tube risers and will probably postpone any more tube-swapping until those show up. None of the 3 sockets in my HP8 are outright loose, but none seem as a tight & secure as they probably were new.

Before installing the risers, I probably should figure out how to take the top cover off (it doesn't look simple or easy to do) and tighten the left & right socket screws for each of the 3 sockets.

Anyone manage to get the top off yet?

I wouldn’t tamper with the copper plate. It adds mass and rigidity to the HP8 surface: adds shielding and probably helps to eliminate amplifier microphonics.