vlach
1000+ Head-Fier
I've just started reading this thread (because I just bought a LD Mk VIIISE ;~) and have been interested in some of the tube rolling comments.
Conspicuous by their absence, is the (12AT7) GEC A2900 (or CV6091 - military version, but the same tube). I've been collecting them (on eBay) since they were $60 - $85 a pair; but now up to $250/pair, which should say something about their desirability. In fact, they'll knock all other 12AT7's out of the park (I promise!) I use them in all my 12AT7 apps:
Atma-Sphere MP-3 balanced phonostage (3 pairs)
McIntosh MC275 amplifier (2 pair)
Little Dot MK VIII SE (very soon ;~)
These tubes (when in good shape) have the highest transconductance (gain) of any 12AT7 you will run across. This is an especially important quality when they are used as drivers for (whatever) power tube(s) because they can provide unflinching control over the power tubes' grids. Their sonics are also excellent, as in my phonostage -- but of course once again, their incredible gain makes the biggest difference in the phonostage too. (in S/N ratio)
If you're eBay-shy, you can buy brand new ones (matched and guaranteed) from Jim Rhodes at Langrex in the UK, or from his eBay ad: http://www.ebay.com/itm/260877535635?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT
I'm really anxious to hear the LD Mk III SE. So far, I don't have 'balanced' and 'tube' in the same headphone amp ;~) My current 'stuff' is:
I know, it's nuts; but it was all an accident . . . honest! The truth is, a year ago, all I had was the two pairs of Sony's, and NO amps, except a little ASL HD-1 headphone tube buffer that was plugged into the tape loop of my preamp; oh, and the headphone jack on my Nak CR-7A cassette deck ;~)
- Melos SHA-1 tube headphone amp (single-ended)
- HeadRoom Balanced Home Amp; the 'Beast', with outputs for two pairs of BAL headphones
- HeadRoom 'Cosmic' headphone amp
- 2 pr. Sony MDR-V6
- 2 pr. Senn 650 (one w/ AudioArt Equinox SE cable)
- 1 pr. Senn 600
- 1 pr. Denon AH-D7000 (w/ AudioArt Equinox BAL cable)
- 1 pr. Grado SR60
- 1 pr. Grado SR125
- 1 pr. Yamaha YH-1 (w/ Cardas FatPipe BAL cable)
- 2 pr. Yamaha YH-2's
You can see my main system here: http://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/fr.pl?vevol&1109799786
I just turned 71 today (thanks! ;~) and my hearing, while not exactly "shot", is of course, old ;~) And I find I'm getting a lot of enjoyment listening to headphones. Often more than my beautiful main system and speakers (sniff, sniff ;~) One thing that contributed to that turn of events, is the "Crossfeed" feature on HeadRoom's line of headphone amps. Before that, I just couldn't bear the "ping pong, hole-in-the-middle" effect of headphone listening (except of course when I could listen to an occasional rare binaural recording.) I only wish HeadRoom (or somebody) would make a balanced tube unit with that feature (or am I uninformed?)
Anyway, I've enjoyed reading all your posts, and expect to be much better informed for doing so! I need to do some 'weeding-out' (obviously ;~) but please feel free to criticize (or advise;~) on my current collection of stuff; keeping in mind my deteriorating hearing, and the fact that I probably don't have a lot of time to amortize any (expensive) changes ;~) Thanks.
Neil
My advice: sell the X qty of headphones that will allow you to purchase the HD800 and never look back