[ZimBlabim]

I bought the Mapletree Audio Design Ear+ Headphone Amp/Line Preamp in kit form and built it my lonesome. My first DIY electronics project and a truly great experience. I've been using it for a week or so now, and am real impressed with this amp. It's got a great synergy going with my Grado SR-225 cans: Clean, punchy, tight, and balanced. I enjoyed using a Corda Blue (Modified Corda HA-1) with the Grados for a while. I've been switching back and forth tonight. In comparison to the Corda, the Ear+ has a more controlled, tighter bass. Corda's bass is a bit loose or boomy sounding. The Ear+ midrange is a little more clear to me than the Corda's slightly muddy mids. Highs are equal, though the general more balanced presentation of the Ear+ gives the impression (illusion?) of more detailed highs.

I spent a very small amount of time with a Beyer DT-880 and the Ear+. Not a bad combo at all, but nothing special. Based on what I heard today, I prefer the Corda Blue/880 union.

I don't have a speaker setup now, so I can't talk about preamp performance. I did hook the outputs of the Ear to my Yamaha YST-MS50 computer speakers to make sure they worked, and I was shocked that they (the speakers) sounded so mucho many times better than running off their own power alone. I like the flexibility of having the option to use this headphone amp as a preamp in a little speaker rig sometime down the road.

Anyway, to sum it up: The MAD Ear+ has really taken my Grado's to a higher place. I'm very happy with this headphone rig. (For now anyhow!

)

Source: Sony C222ES
Cables: DH Labs BL-1 cable with Cardas rca's
Note: Grado 225 "tested" with Senn pads
Another Note: This Ear+ has Alps Blue Velvet Stepped Attenuator and Black Gate upgrade options installed

 

[scrypt]

Glad you're enjoying your EAR+/Grado symbiosis. I happen to like the EAR with a number of other headphones as well and also use it as a preamp with my ancient receiver. The receiver sounds incredibly dull without it; I'll be interested to discover whether the EAR+ still works for me as a pre after I purchase a better amp and speakers in the late fall.

One thing: I'm sending my EAR+ back to Lloyd next week to repair a leaky capacitor. I'm contemplating the Alps and Blackgate upgrades. Did you ever test whether the caps made a difference sonically?

 

[ZimBlabim]

Hi scrypt. Nice headphone inventory. Looking forward to hearing the RS-1's one of these days.

I've only heard this Ear+ with the upgrades. No idea if the Blackgates make a noticeable difference or not.

 

[BDA_ABAT]

scrypt: would be insterested in hearing your opinions if you DO decide to go for the upgrade. I've got the smooth Alps pot but not the Black Gates... have never heard other iterations of the amp. Although I'm very happy with the sound from the Ear+, would be good to find a modest upgrade to further improve the sound quality.

BTW: to others with the Ear+, couple new tube recommendations, (thanks Hirsch!)...

Ei Elite 12AX7EG
Sovtek 12AX7LPS

Fairly inexpensive tweaks that can improve the sound quality and add gain. My personal favorite with Etys right now are the Ei Elite. But for those with harder to drive cans, may want to consider the Sovteks... has greater gain than the stock tubes and provides a very nice sound.

Bruce

 

[soupy]

Bruce, where'd you pick up your Ei Elite tubes? I could only find them in Euro retailers. I'm thinking of giving them a try cuz I'm boored. Right now I'm using a NOS RCA 5751 Black Plate and it's sounding pretty good. Slightly better than the stock NOS tube but it's very hard to tell.

 

[BDA_ABAT]

soupy: had not done extensive shopping... but did find them at Antique Electronic Supply link. I just started searching through the lvast inks of tube info listed in the sticky on the Amplification page.

The stock tubes with the Ear+ sound very, very good. I think the Ei bring out just a bit more and more refined sound.

BTW: Also ordered the Electo-Harmonix from them. Haven't fully burned it in yet, but so far the Ei (and Sovtek) sound better to my ears.

RE: boredom and tubes.... dangerous combination!!! (kidding)
Swapping tubes is such a simple thing to do, not expensive (unless you're going for old and rare tubes), and is easily reversible. Perfect tweak!!!

Good luck!
Bruce

 

[ZimBlabim]

Bruce, Thanks for the tube tips. Does the Ei increase the gain noticeably from the stock Sovtek? I was planning on sticking to 5751's for tube rolling. The gain level, as it is now, is good for my Grado's, but if the Ei Elite isn't that much hotter, I'll give it a try for sure.

You said you had the "smooth" Alps pot. That mean it's not the stepped pot, right? It's not enough of a big deal for me to consider changing it, but sometimes it bugs me not being able to fine tune the volume between two steps.

 

[BDA_ABAT]

zimblabin: I think the stock tubes are Sylvania 5751. I've had a chance to try only a couple tubes so far for any extended periods and have been very pleased with the results. Nothing earthshattering, just somewhat different character and gain with each different tube.

The increased in gain is greatest for the Sovteks. Very, very good sound and increased gain mean that it might be a better choice (or at least something to consider) for folks that have higher impedence cans (e.g., Senn HD 600 and the like).

I've really been enjoying the Ei Elite 12AX7 recently. The gain is only slightly greater than the stock Sylvania 5751. Not enough of a difference to be a big deal. But to my ears, the sound is very rich, nicely extended, just a lovely sound.

After the note about the Electo-Harmonix yesterday, I realized that I had not let it burn in for very long. Left it going for a while more yestterday, then took another listen. The sound quality has improved with additional burn-in time. Will reserve judgement on it until I get some more hours on it.

Not sure if additional gain means much for this amp... whenever I've moved the pot to the maximum position (no music), there's been ZERO noise. Nothing. Nada. Zilch. Truly amazing. But I don't know what the sound quality is like at the louder points along the continuum.

Potentiometers: When I ordered my kit, the Alps stepped attenuator was not an option. The Alps "Blue" (smooth pot) was the only upgraded pot that he offered at the time. I had been interested (still am!) in the stepped pot because of all that has been written about them. I don't know if there's a noticable improvement in sound quality giong from the Alps stepped attenuator to the Alps smooth pot (or vice versa). Given that I'm veeerryy happy with the sound of the amp right now, AND that I'm fairly clumsy with a soldering iron, I'm not that excited about upgrading the pot. (Course, if a DACT stepped attenuator found it's way to my house, would figure out a way to get it installed.

)

Anyway, good luck!

Bruce