[doctorjazz]

Hmmm...1 side went out on me a long time ago, haven't gotten around to getting them repaired by Koss. Seems I should get it in gear and get them back to working condition.

I also run the HD800, and the HEK, and believe me, get them repaired. People don't seem to have caught on to these phones yet,or they did, then forget all about them,when the next big thing came along.

for a while, before I got the HEK, these and the HE-560 were in rotation, but since the HEK, don't use many other over ear cans, unless I'm reviewing. But, you convinced me...

 

[Allanmarcus]

I finally sent mine back to Koss to repair some frayed cables and crinkle noise in the headband. I'm looking forward to the return. Repair was easy. You just send the stuff to the warranty/repair address, but a check for $9 and a note with the issues and the return address. Info here:
 
https://www.koss.com/support/warranty-repair

 

[ericj]

  My used ESP-950 (just purchased) have pink colored grills, instead of the black shown on Koss's website, is this indicative of a different model revision?

 
Define pink? 
 
My ESP-950 is quite old. It has very dark red grills. Before and after i sent it in because of squealing issues, for which they ended up replacing both drivers. They gave me a new headband arch too. 
 
The red grills are not unique, several people have them. But most of them are black, I think. 

 

[Andykong]

I've started running the E90 directly from the line out of my FiiO X5ii. A little annoying to keep having to swap cables/settings, but I prefer a simpler sound chain.

I have tried similar approach, the result is much better then expected, the 3.5mm input of E90 is very convenient for this kind of setup.



I added a linear power supply to the chain, the improvement is quite obvious when compare to the computer peripheral grade switching transformer.

 

[doctorjazz]

So, I tried my 950 after not touching them for a year, when they stopped working on 1 side. They worked fine. I'm a bit puzzled, but pleased.

As for LPS, I'm beginning to get the idea that any place you can use that instead of the regular power supply, you get improvements. Using some on my MicroZOTL2 right now. And, as in many things, there are better LPS units, and the sound seems to scale up...

 

[Andykong]

So, I tried my 950 after not touching them for a year, when they stopped working on 1 side. They worked fine. I'm a bit puzzled, but pleased.

As for LPS, I'm beginning to get the idea that any place you can use that instead of the regular power supply, you get improvements. Using some on my MicroZOTL2 right now. And, as in many things, there are better LPS units, and the sound seems to scale up...

Indeed improvement in power supply is a fairly reliable approach to improve system performance, but IMHO, static headphone system are particularly sensitive to power conditioning then other gears in headfi hobby, Maybe this is geographical related, I find the quality of power supply in US is generally better then Hong Kong or China, so the improvement might not as significant.

 

[Allanmarcus]

Has anyone tried the Teradak LPS? They seem reasonably priced at about $84 (shipped), with basic cable.
 
http://www.ebay.com/itm/TeraDak-TeraLink-X1-X2-DC8-5V-1A-USB-DC5V-port-external-Linear-Power-Supply-AQ-/

 

[doctorjazz]

Been playing with the MicroZOTL2, using the stock switching power supply, the Linear Tube Audio LPS, and a Mojo LPS (escalating in price). There is a definite improvement going up the line, but it costs you (diminishing returns and all that). Haven't been using the Koss Energiser, got a relatively inexpensive Stax 323II, but I may go back to the Koss as it allows for the LPS to be auditioned. May wind up in a LPS review I"m putting together...

 

[Andykong]

Has anyone tried the Teradak LPS? They seem reasonably priced at about $84 (shipped), with basic cable.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/TeraDak-TeraLink-X1-X2-DC8-5V-1A-USB-DC5V-port-external-Linear-Power-Supply-AQ-/

Well, the photo I just posted, has a TeraDak LPS feeding the E90.

 

[Allanmarcus]

Has anyone tried the Teradak LPS? They seem reasonably priced at about $84 (shipped), with basic cable.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/TeraDak-TeraLink-X1-X2-DC8-5V-1A-USB-DC5V-port-external-Linear-Power-Supply-AQ-/

Well, the photo I just posted, has a TeraDak LPS feeding the E90.

Doh! I'm gettin old.

Which one is that?

I'm thinking of getting this one. http://www.ebay.com/itm/162085156423

 

[Andykong]

Doh! I'm gettin old.

Which one is that?

I'm thinking of getting this one. http://www.ebay.com/itm/162085156423

The black box underneath the ESP/950 headphone.

The one you picked is rated at DC8.5V 1A, I don't think this is a good choice for ESP/950. Theoretically 9V 1A is all you need to do the job, but I always go for extra headroom when come to power supply, so I would suggest you consider 9V 2A LPS as your starting point.

TeraDak has adopted one of his "standard" LPS for ESP/950, I am not sure if this is available in eBay, I can give you the Taobao link for reference. It is based on 30VA transformer and is rated at 9V 2.5A

https://item.taobao.com/item.htm?spm=a1z10.5-c.w4002-2018763242.39.q1JtAK&id=35082775240




The one I got is an upgraded version based on 50VA transformer, and is rated at 9V 4A.

https://item.taobao.com/item.htm?id=36299551953&_u=7i44d8f34c9

 

[mrstrangeguy]

   
Define pink? 
 
My ESP-950 is quite old. It has very dark red grills. Before and after i sent it in because of squealing issues, for which they ended up replacing both drivers. They gave me a new headband arch too. 
 
The red grills are not unique, several people have them. But most of them are black, I think. 

Yeah dark red sounds more accurate, reminds me, I may need to send them in for squealing fix as well..

 

[Allanmarcus]

I wonder how well the iPower from iFi-Audio would work with the 950?  For $49, Music Direct sells a 9V 2A version. According to the them, it's better than a LPS. According to iFi, that is. 

 

[doctorjazz]

Well, I had these for the past 6 months or so just collecting dust. I had taken them to a meet, and 1 side stopped working. Figured I'd send them back to Koss, but didn't get around to it. For the heck of it, I connected them to my Stax SRM 323II amp I got for it (eBay, I think). These are REALLY nice headphones, I have to say (and my other headphones are HE-1000's). Listening to Ruby My Dear from Terry Adams' Talk Thelonius album (a really fine album, btw), just digging this great take on Monk!

 

[doctorjazz]

(but, I can't listen to them one after the other, as I just did...then I have to put the Koss away for a bit...)