[Radio_head]

 The BA is the point where things really take off in terms of openness and to a lesser extent detail. I'm surprised he doesn't charge more for it.

Certainly with the markups some other companies charge Craig's price is quite reasonable as a commercial option.  When he outline the versions of the Electra he was looking at making with the first run price estimate I was surprised with how cheap he was going.  With the price of the other 'top' stat options between 4.25-7K+ it's pretty great that he's bucking the trend.  
 

 

[Dr. Roberts]

Serial #1400 reporting in. Evaluation done with absolutely no burn-in, straight out of the box. Front end consists of Marantz SA-7S1 (SACD only), Aesthetix Calypso Signature Pre (with NOS tubes), and EAR HP4 (with NOS tubes). Have read through almost all of this thread so had a working knowledge as to what to listen for. To this listener, bass response is sufficient, tight and tuneful. These cans are very musical and have the ability to transport one to a state of audio nirvana, especially when coupled with just a wee bit of medicinal herb. There is an emphasis of the higher frequencies which is pleasing to these less than youthful ears except that sibilance is a problem on certain recordings. Hopefully some break-in will smooth out the highs as other reviewers have stated will happen. One suspects that some owners of these truly magical cans may be disappointed if their rig is not up to the challenge, since the W3000's will seemingly ruthlessly reveal shortcomings in ancillary gear. Don't think these gorgeous looking as well as sounding cans will be leaving the listening room any time soon.

 

[AppleheadMay]

 
Quote:

Serial #1400 reporting in. Evaluation done with absolutely no burn-in, straight out of the box. Front end consists of Marantz SA-7S1 (SACD only), Aesthetix Calypso Signature Pre (with NOS tubes), and EAR HP4 (with NOS tubes). Have read through almost all of this thread so had a working knowledge as to what to listen for. To this listener, bass response is sufficient, tight and tuneful. These cans are very musical and have the ability to transport one to a state of audio nirvana, especially when coupled with just a wee bit of medicinal herb. There is an emphasis of the higher frequencies which is pleasing to these less than youthful ears except that sibilance is a problem on certain recordings. Hopefully some break-in will smooth out the highs as other reviewers have stated will happen. One suspects that some owners of these truly magical cans may be disappointed if their rig is not up to the challenge, since the W3000's will seemingly ruthlessly reveal shortcomings in ancillary gear. Don't think these gorgeous looking as well as sounding cans will be leaving the listening room any time soon.

 
 
Very nice setup and very good impressions I must say.
In my experience the highs get tamed a bit after burn-in indeed.
 
I am wondering what the HP4 sounds like though but the "medicinal herb" statement worries me a bit in that conext.
Might you be hinting at that the HP4 is a lush, tubey sounding amp?
Have you compared the HP4 to other amps?

 

[Lliam]

Just received ATH-W3000ANV from Beach Camera for $999.  Serial # 1571.  Just now burning in but they sound (and look) beautiful even playing through an i-pod without amp.

 

[Dr. Roberts]

Thanks Applehead May. I am obviously not a professional when it comes to reviewing headphones. I don't think the HP4 is "lush" or "tubey" sounding but check out Robert Levi's review in the Positive Feedback Online's archive. The "medicine" only tends to enhance an already pleasurable musical experience, not alter the basic characteristics of the gear.
 
Don't have another headphone amp to compare the EAR to but have a Leben CS-600 on the way.
 
 

 

[purrin]

Robert Levi has also been known to make outlandish claims such as the PS1000 having "supreme neutrality, and ultra linear frequency response" and "outperform" STAX electrostats"; and the Ultrasone Edition 8 as having "the flattest sounding, most extended headphones I have ever heard" when subjective impressions from those with considerable experience with those headphones and objective measurements say otherwise.

 

[LFF]

 
Quote:

Robert Levi has also been known to make outlandish claims such as the PS1000 having "supreme neutrality, and ultra linear frequency response" and "outperform" STAX electrostats"; and the Ultrasone Edition 8 as having "the flattest sounding, most extended headphones I have ever heard" when subjective impressions from those with considerable experience with those headphones and objective measurements say otherwise.

 
What else can you expect from someone who thinks Ultrasone Edition 8's are reference level cans!?!?!?

 

[purrin]

Hearing damage, drugs, undisclosed personal/business relationships, or hong-bao.

 

[LFF]

 
Quote:

Hearing damage, drugs, undisclosed personal/business relationships, or hong-bao.

 
Sounds feasible to me....

 

[Dr. Roberts]

Unfortunate as it may be, Levi's is the only professional review that has been done on what most in the know consider to be one of the finest headphone amps on the planet. The HP4 has been inexplicably ignored by both "Stereophile" and "The Absolute Sound". Go figure!

 

[AppleheadMay]

Found the review, thanks. Will be a bedtime story together with the reviews of the Apex.
Let's see how high he was or how big that envelope was.
Still, I remember Blackmore being quite fond of the HP4.
I just wonder if it sounds tubey or clear and spatial.
Will look up some more impressions on HF tomorrow as well.

 

[Skylab]

The few people I know with an HP4 have shown zero interest in other headphone amps. Blackmore especially I respect, and he does indeed like it a great deal. I'd like to hear one, someday.

 

[musicman59]

 
Quote:

Would the GS1 sound cleaner than the P-1u?
And the Apex, is that the 10k$ one?

 
I used to own the GS-1 with stepped attenuator and I had a P-1u loaner for 3 weeks at home. IMO the GS-1 is more analytical sounding compared to a warmer P-1u sound.
 

 

[musicman59]

 
Quote:

Better than most solid-state, worse than the BA or 2A3. That is in terms of depth - and general "openness" which transcends just "soundstage." Zana seems just as speedy though. Not as clear or detailed as BA, but YMMV depending upon your DAC. All EC amps are very close in terms of how they sound. It's a matter of refinement (more resolution, less grain, more relaxed, more detailed) when you move up the ladder. The BA is the point where things really take off in terms of openness and to a lesser extent detail. I'm surprised he doesn't charge more for it.

 
 
Maybe were the tubes in it but the Zana that I listened to had a very lush sound. I sounded great but in the warm and lush side which is the general taste of the owner.

 

[musicman59]

 
Quote:

I just went for a little trip through the T1, D7000 and DX1000 this weekend and I just came back to the W3000ANV. Wow! These headphones are awesome! They became my favorite closed headphones.

 
 
Been catching up pages of posts in some threads today and I missed quite a bit of stuff it seems even the wonderful *cough* new D7001.
 
I love the W3000 but as an overall best headhone the D7000 is as close as it gets to me for now, that might change with the TH900.
 
I have some strange thought in my mind though, I am looking for an amp that works well with ATs and Denons. Ok, I have and had a few that are good for these phones but I have a specific sound signature in mind.
What I would like is as much soundstage, detail and clarity (even up to what some may call bright) as possible. Tubes or SS, both are fine. I don't want any typical tube warmth whatsoever but I found some tube amps I had sounded less warm than some SS ones.
I fine with a cheap amp or an expensive one, but not ridiculously expensive.
 
Any specific suggestions?

 
I think my WA5-LE with the EML 300B, NOS Sylvania 6SN7WGT Brown Base/Chrome Top and USAF 596 rectifiers sounds open, fast and detailed for a tube amp and works beautifully with the W3000ANV and D7000.