Hey guys, wow, thanks for all the recommendations! I'm getting a cary 300sei from my friend Len on this board, along with some Tungsol roundplate and sylvania 6sn7w, EH 300b's. As much as I'd love to get a modded Sugden headmaster, I ultimately ended up going with the cary because 1. I've heard them and liked them with my existing MS Pro's, and 2. I wanted a one-box solution to drive my headphones and my pair of Triangle Titus 202's in my bedroom. But knowing me, my curiosity will probably drive me to get a sugden one of these days anyway
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Bangraman: To address the tonal situation, I can see where the w2002 might bug someone. So far with the Meridian as headamp, piano sounds just a touch "off". I'm hoping I can tweak it with some tuberolling or cable-rolling when I get the cary. I've listened to different tube combinations on the cary, and I can only say that the differences are not insignificant by any means.
"I have what may prove to be a stupid question. I hear almost exclusively good things about the A900's, but more than a little criticism of these headphones." -- Good question. Perhaps at this price level, people do (and should) expect a helluva lot from a phone. Some critical listeners will love ATH's, some will love Grados, and others Sennheisers, or Stax. It's all a matter of which manufacturer's design philosphy comes most closely with what your expectations are of a good headphone. Plus, we all hear differently anyway, so as they say, one man's trash is another man's treasure.
But boy, these cans sure are pretty.
