[Deleeh]

What amp did you go with? And how are you liking it?

I have bought an Eric Mcchanson Ultimate in wooden version, which is also equipped with Mundorf Sgo caps, and another one with a selectable switch.
The amp has a rectifier tube,2 6y6 as output and a 12at/au/ax7/6SN7/6SL7 as driver tube.
The output tubes can be used by 6v6 and other equivalents like 6F6,6L6 as well as El34,KT series,with adapter also various EL tubes.
So very interesting and far away from conventional amplifier design.
3Watt power and absolutely quiet, no tube hum and Zmf suitable.

Very happy about the purchase. if you are interested, check out Mcchanson Threath.
https://www.head-fi.org/threads/eric-mcchanson-headphone-amp.718350/page-446#post-17771207

 

[G8torbyte]

Stayed with the Atrium! Listening to the Atrium & Caldera side by side I thought they were actually pretty close, so no real need to spend the extra $$$. I even went the cheap route and got the standard cherry version, they also had the Bocote Ltd. edition but I liked the cherry wood better. Maybe I'll use the money I saved for some tubes.

The Atrium is currently burning in on my Burson Soloist, that is probably the most play time that amp will ever get....

Cherry Atrium Open on the Icon HP8 (paired to RME ADI-2) is my favorite combination at this time. I'm using the Ultra Perforated pads which to me seems to make it even more comfortable/lighter and expands the imaging. I do enjoy planar sound as well and will likely get a Caldera later to run on my SS amps.

 

[skraggy1981]

I know this is not the Atrium thread, but I'm curious if you guys have any insight. Right now my Atrium does not sound as good as it should, so I will have to check a few things:

a) give it more playtime (so far it has approx. 30 hours on the Burson) and reconsider my stance on burn-in
b) change the installed mesh, no idea what was on the demo unit though and I don't think that's it
c) change the pads, I suspect the suede pads I have keep too much of the sound in - got the Caldera suede pads coming tomorrow, I hope those help

Any other ideas?

 

[Deleeh]

I know this is not the Atrium thread, but I'm curious if you guys have any insight. Right now my Atrium does not sound as good as it should, so I will have to check a few things:

a) give it more playtime (so far it has approx. 30 hours on the Burson) and reconsider my stance on burn-in
b) change the installed mesh, no idea what was on the demo unit though and I don't think that's it
c) change the pads, I suspect the suede pads I have keep too much of the sound in - got the Caldera suede pads coming tomorrow, I hope those help

Any other ideas?

Definitely give more playtime when the Atrium is new.
Padswap I would only do after 200h or more burn in.
It makes no sense to do it before then, when the headphones have not yet fully developed.
And I wouldn't change the mesh on the atrium either, not until the burn in is finished.
In general, I don't think it's the best option.

Thinking about a tube amp would be the last thing I would do.
If you want the sound to be more variable, you would be well advised to do so.
The Icon would definitely be one to take a closer look at, and is also suitable for Zmf.

 

[skraggy1981]

Definitely give more playtime when the Atrium is new.
Padswap I would only do after 200h or more burn in.
It makes no sense to do it before then, when the headphones have not yet fully developed.
And I wouldn't change the mesh on the atrium either, not until the burn in is finished.
In general, I don't think it's the best option.

Thinking about a tube amp would be the last thing I would do.
If you want the sound to be more variable, you would be well advised to do so.
The Icon would definitely be one to take a closer look at, and is also suitable for Zmf.

I already have the HP8...

 

[Deleeh]

I already have the HP8...:zwinkern:

That will be even better for you.
Then time is the factor you should give at the Atrium.
The rest then simply comes by itself.

 

[JerseyD]

I know this is not the Atrium thread, but I'm curious if you guys have any insight. Right now my Atrium does not sound as good as it should, so I will have to check a few things:

a) give it more playtime (so far it has approx. 30 hours on the Burson) and reconsider my stance on burn-in
b) change the installed mesh, no idea what was on the demo unit though and I don't think that's it
c) change the pads, I suspect the suede pads I have keep too much of the sound in - got the Caldera suede pads coming tomorrow, I hope those help

Any other ideas?

A. Is the correct answer at this point. With ZMFs, burn-in is real. 30 hours is nothing.

Learn from my mistake though (albeit with Verite): at first I let them play 24/7 for a few days (NOT on my Icon HP8, on a solid state amp) and when I went to listen, they sounded horrible! I don’t know if the drivers fatigued or what. Switched to only playing for about 10 hours overnight each night. Then I could listen a bit during the day (and they sounded fine) and monitor the changes. After about 3 weeks of these overnight sessions, the sound to my ears pretty much had stopped changing - and then they sounded FANTASTIC. At that point, playing with pads, cables and mesh can fine-tune the experience and get the sound right where you want it.

And for what it’s worth, I have yet to try a suede pad of any ZMF variety that I prefer (sound-wise) to its perforated lambskin counterpart (even though I prefer the feel of suede).

 

[jonathan c]

HP8 Signature (KenRad VT-231 pair, Telefunken ECC801S single) & Neumann NDH-30 (Fog City Audio cable) are ️️️:

 

[Slim1970]

HP8 Signature (KenRad VT-231 pair, Telefunken ECC801S single) & Neumann NDH-30 (Fog City Audio cable) are ️️️:

How do the Neumann’s sound?

 

[jonathan c]

How do the Neumann’s sound?

Panoramic, detailed, extremely wide frequency range, layered; a ‘studio monitor’ type of sound without the laboratory sterility! [Especially in the system above.]

 

[jclyle]

Are there any retailers in the US that carry the Signature edition? MusicDirect only lists the MK2 model.
https://www.musicdirect.com/equipme...con-audio-hp8-mkii-triode-tube-headphone-amp/

 

[JerseyD]

Are there any retailers in the US that carry the Signature edition? MusicDirect only lists the MK2 model.
https://www.musicdirect.com/equipme...con-audio-hp8-mkii-triode-tube-headphone-amp/

None that I know of. Audioarcan in Canada is the North American distributor and regularly sells to US customers. Give Warren a call and order it the way you want it. For instance I did not want bluetooth in my Signature edition. He is great to work with.

 

[Deleeh]

Are there any retailers in the US that carry the Signature edition? MusicDirect only lists the MK2 model.
https://www.musicdirect.com/equipme...con-audio-hp8-mkii-triode-tube-headphone-amp/

You can also order it directly in England and have it delivered to your home address.
You will then have to pay duty on it whether it is sent via Canada or England.
It is possible that it might be a little cheaper via England, but it doesn't have to be.

 

[jonathan c]

Raytheon JAN-CRP-6SN7WGT pair + Telefunken ECC801S are a tremendous trio for HP8!

Detailed, exciting, luscious, spacious … full-range!

 

[WorksUnit]

Finally the Hp-8mk2 is booked in for its cap upgrade....
Turns out there was a guitar amp specialist literally 2 minutes down the road and like a cocksocket I never noticed it o.0
Going through the cap options the Mundorf EVO silver Gold oil is what he is sourcing, and hopefully a bit of channel imbalance when switching low and medium impedance can be ironed out...