I have spent the last four days continous with the ML combo and it has revealed me some shocking truths. One of them devestated me as I really like it but can't justify it. Read on!!!!!
1. Earmax Pro anniversary= This amp has really impressed me. It IS better than the EMP. But given the fact it's twice the price of an EMP and 4 times when it's used then I will not be keeping it. It's a shame really as it beats the EMP with its bass performance. The main reasons why I won't be keeping it is because with the HP-2's it is terrible. There is a claimed 7x gain over the standard EMP but there is no way this is the case. The grace 901 with the hp=2's simply sound better than the EMP anniv. Also the only one input and one output seriously hampers this amp in my case. But it makes the senns 600 come alive like you have never heard it before. Truly magical. It is the only amp I have owned and heard which makes the senn 600 this good.
2. Grace 901=This amp is a lot better than what people give it credit for. The volume control is crap but the hp-2's really sing with this amp. I ran the senns 600 + hp-2's at the same time. The hp-2's sounded better with more mid range than the hd600's. I think this is great amp with a lot of features which makes up for the volume control shortcomings.
3. RS-1's= No matter what this is THE headphone for me. Whether I used the EMP anniv. or the grace 901 this headphone really blew me away. I tried all my headphones with the ML combo and this is the one I used most. Most headfiers don't like it because of the colouration and lack of soundstage. Well I am fortunate to own a cd combo which has the most detail, warmth, pace, soundstage I have ever heard and these qualities are passed on to the RS-1's. Therefore in light of my opinions I am selling off all my headphones beside the RS-1's and the hp-series at the moment. I have hopefully secured another "super" headphone but they have not arrived so I cannot compare to the RS-1's. But when it arrives I will compare it to the RS-1's and whichever is better for me then I will downgrade to a one phone system.
4. no 31 transport= This is really special. How do I know? I connected up the tri-vista sacd player and used that as a transport. It was really good and impressed me. Using the 30.5 dac for decoding duties, it really opened the tri-vista to a new level with its redbook performance. But it was still behind the 31 transport. It lacked that final detail and therefore sounded duller than the 31 transport. Not to mention that 31 transport remembers every programmed playlists I have entered into it. But best of all, when I listen to a live recording, I am there in the audience. Scarily real.
All these comments and opinions are all IME+IMO. These only apply to me. But already I am considering upgrading the dac to 30.6 status. This was the last dac that ML ever produced. Best thing is I can upgrade the 30.5 to it. Woudln't like to guess the cost tho!!!
