[Sam Spade]

I've had the legendary Musical Fidelity Nu-Vista preamp with the nuvistor metal valves for ages, it is remarkable with a Cambridge Audio 840CD and CA 65OBD bluray running a Rotel RB1080 power amp and Dalisuite 3.5 floorstanding speakers. Running a Burson Conductor 3x headamp with it. But I shorted the Burson and it's off for repairs. So I dropped in a Musical Fidelity X-Cans valve headamp I have had stashed for ages. Running Audeze LCD4s and LCDxc headphones. It sounds completely awesome. I'm used to the Burson and a Sparkos Aries. I love them both, and this is no back to back comparison but I'll have to do that in the future. On first impressions the MF X-Cans is so musical and super detailed, great treble, and unbelievable mids, especially vocals. Bass is good but not as good as the Sparko's slam and tightness which is awesome.

 

[magicalmouse]

I have a (modified by pink floyd) which i have had for a decade or so, it works wonderfully with hd650 and i have never felt the need to improve on it (i use a mojo/modified meze 99/oppo pm3/hd25 (modified by custom cans) for portable use) and a irdac2 from laptop usb and coax from cd player (marantz)

I agree that the muscial fidelity x-cans are difficult to improve on in any fundamental way.

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