On first listen (MASS-Kobo 465), Tungsten's bass sounded "recessed", lower in level and impact than on Susvara and other headphones I'd listened to throughout the day. This remained consistent (to varying degrees) on the other amps I tried, and across a variety of genres and tracks. My subjective impression was that bass notes had decent initial attack, and then receded quickly without proper sustain, like there was a damping blanket on the "woofer". This had a palpable impact on the Tungsten's ability to convey
groove... again,
to my ears.
@goldwerger , whose ears I respect, actually owns the headphone and has heard it at great length, in better conditions, and on a plethora of amps, so maybe I simply failed to find the "magic synergy" that makes the Tungsten sing. OTOH, given the its lack of availability, insane amping requirements, and the fact that I simply enjoy (without any fuss) a number of other headphones at or around the $2k level more, I don't see
myself investing any more time for the foreseeable future pursuing it. YMMV.
well, I've just rolled some new output tubes on my DIY Aegies, replacing my beloved EL37 with Tung-Sol made RCA 6550 (this amp is particularly great for tube rolling, and most responsive in sound signature to the choice of output tubes).
Listening now with the Tungsten (ds; ultra perf pads). These tubes defintely extracst a much deeper and tighter bass (not surprsiing, as they were the US version of the European KT88 and of similar DNA).
The bass is awesome! Now, for those that look for "bassy headphones", I found that means that they often love headphones that are tuned with a real bass shelf. The Tungsten isn't, it's tuned naturally without any artifical coloration of FR tilt. But, when bunch is called for, it's just awesome - natural, not exaggerated, right quanity and well textured.
I just put on the track "OK" by Kirk Franklin, a gospel song with some real earth-shattering sub-bass and mid banss (an awesome testing track btw, and so much fun regardless
). The Tungsten capture the sub-bass rumbel (e.g. min 1:03 to 1:20); doesn't physically shake you (for that, see
Atrium Closed; or perhaps 1266 for those who can live with that device), but it renders is very well without exaggeration. And lower/mid bass is super physical, lush, and impactful. These headphones are just f$%^-ing awesome!
Also, they render bass with a very satisfyting attack with sufficeint decay to make the notes both impactful and organic sounding. I've now switched to this jazz/classic fusion piece by Jacques Loussier that has tons of hard-hirring fast drums, as well as highly percussive piano. I'm just having a blast!
Now, as for ease of amplification...
With the new release of the commrecial version of the Aegis this past weekend for $3.2k release price if I recall (will be $3.5k later I think) -- there is now a very accessible TC tube-amp option that is mid-priced (realizing this will be too expensive for many, so using this adjective in relation to a very wide spectrum of amps).
The Aegis has a very (very) broad selection of tubes rolls that allow for very signifciant tuning to taste. At this moment, the 6550 are proving to be a bass-lover delight, while retaining great reoslution and clarity.
