Where to begin... First a big thanks to our gracious host, Craig. Ken for making that driving up from Santa Barbara and bringing his Platinum Extreme and K340s. John long hauling it down to So Cal and taking the whole gang out to a great Sushi lunch--thanks again. Can't forget those negligent and damage prone folks at DHL for damaging John's HD2 and are responsible for necessitating the HD2's rebirth and at least somewhat for this meet.
Laurie (NU62) had already arrived early and had been listening and comparing the EC509 and the HD2 with his K-1000s, K701s and Craig's Cicadas. Craig had the Moth Audio DAC sourcing this set-up. Initially I thought the EC509 had an excellent sound presentation especially with the K701s, but the K-1000s definitely sounded much better with the HD2. I had only listened to a few unfamiliar tracks per Laurie's selection and did some back and forth. After Laurie left I did some speaker listening with the HD2 and compared the amp going balanced and single-ended.
So here's my impressions...
The biggest surprise had to be the audible differences going single-ended to balanced. I've never heard it make such a noticeable change in the sonic presentation both on speakers and headphones. In the past I've listened to the GS-X both single-ended and balanced on the HD-650 and preferred balanced, but never felt it was night and day. Even with the Dynamite going between single-ended and balance with the HD650s I thought I could easily live with the the Dynahi (single-ended version). I don't know if it is just the HD650s, those SS balanced amps, the source or combo of factors, but it seemed at the time not as drastic an improvement. Listening to the HD2, however, was a completely different story.
Reimyo --> HD2 (singled-ended to balanced) Cicadas*, K-1000s and L3000:
Cicadas (*exception Moth Audio DAC):
I listened to a Willie Nelson track showcasing primarily his voice and his acoustic guitar. As a guitar player I felt I could really appreciate this track. The biggest difference, going balance offered much better control and focus. The vocals and guitar had a superior level of transparency and imaging. Overall both were excellent, but balanced on the HD2 truly raised the bar to a level I could no long merely classify as slightly more than negligible improvements.
K-1000s:
I've had a pretty cold response to the K-1000s most of the five or six times I've heard them. I would have to say that the HD2 balanced comes as close to the best I've heard them sound and possibly only bettered by foo_me's Emm Labs and Zanden rig. I would need to compare them side-by-side with the same source and what not to truly know, because it's close.
L3000s:
Here's where I felt most at home and, even though, my cable is stock (single-ended) I heard noticeable improvements going balanced. I cued up a very familiar track on Sgt. Pepper, when I am sixty-four, and went back and forth between single-ended and balanced. There's a reverb effect on Paul's voice that only became apparent once I got the Reimyo, but I only thought the effect had been used sparely. However, flipping the switch to balance and this effect has a presence nearly throughout the entire track and extended and seemingly decayed into infinity. Going balance with the L3000s single-ended cable had an unmistakable improvement--better: transparency, control, focus, imaging, air, separation, dynamics, etc...
HD2:
Overall I have to say this is probably the finest sounding headphone amp I've heard. It has it all; neutrality, transparency, balance, excellent extension, control, large soundstage, harmonics, warmth and organic musicality. Then flip the switch to balanced and it gets even better. I want one.
EC509:
I didn't spend as much time with the EC509, but right off the bat felt it had an inviting sound that made me want to listen. It drove the K-1000s very well, but I liked listening to the K701 probably most. It had a great dynamic range and exciting drive that seemed to emphasis the bass a tad bit. It had great musicality while still retaining a good amount of transparency and neutrality.
That's it for now, more impressions later.
