NeilPeart
Headphoneus Supremus
The AMB/Morsel M-cubed amplifier is the real deal. While it is difficult for me to distinguish between two quality solid state amplifiers of similar design (especially in meet conditions), the design of the M-cubed alone is superior to the PPA. The M-cubed was designed from the ground-up as strictly a home-based amplifier; it also uses MOSFETs instead of buffers. When I mentioned that the M-cubed was a PPA-killer I wasn’t referring to its sonic advantage but rather its design. The M-cubed had great synergy with the HD650/Zu (not my balanced one) as well as the dark 600ohm Beyer DT990; it’s my choice for the solid state, single-ended headphone amplifier.
The Sensaphonics 2X-S and Ultimate Ears UE-5 were present at the meet, and the Sensas definitely seemed more robust. I quickly compared the two from Lindrone’s Sony 333ES SACD-modded CDP/Emmeline HR-2 amplifier – while the two certainly didn’t fit well, my preference of the 2X-S agrees with my theoretical judgment based on Lindrone’s review.
The woody/re-cabled CD3000 was also present, and despite what others think it’s still a CD3000 to me (albeit a more natural, less artificial-sounding version). I’ve never been a fan of the CD3K, and comparing it to the R10 is silly, IMO. Sure the detail of the CD3K is much appreciated (and probably what compels folks to drawing such conclusions regarding its abilities), but it lacks much of what makes the R10 so special: its realistic, instrument-placing soundstage, clear, liquid midrange and smooth, yet extremely revealing treble (NOT artificial hyper-treble present in the CD3K). The CD3000 hardly reached Tier 2, and placing it on the level of the R10, HE90, L3000 and HP-1000 is ridiculous and an insult to those aforementioned ‘phones.
The Bel Canto DAC2 and Benchmark DAC1 were next, and to be honest the difference was extremely subtle. However, despite my long and rewarding relationship with the DAC1 I must confess that the slightly smoother treble and warmer midrange of the Bel Canto DAC2 make it the winner in my book (though by a very slight margin). This does not mean that I’m selling my DAC1; the DAC2 lacks the balanced output and headphone amplifier of the DAC1, which are important features to me. The DAC1 is staying with me while the DAC2 remains a memorable 1-night stand.
Comparing my MS1 to my old SR225 revealed that the MS1 is indeed slightly more relaxed-sounding and the SR225 does have more impact-full bass. I still prefer the flats to the other pads, but the vwaps come very close and are even more comfy than the flats (and far cheaper). The bowls still don’t agree with me and those comfies need the quarter-hole mod badly. The RS pads aren’t too bad – for $3 ya can’t say too many negative things so I’m keeping ‘em for now.
The re-cabled K501 through the Gilmore Balanced Reference sounded very clear and warm, far from the cold analytical sound I recall from my fling with the Austrian headphone. While it’s still a bass-less wonder, it sounded close enough to the HE90 (though lacking the Sennheiser’s ultimate natural warmth, vertical soundstage and bass depth, among other facets) for me to consider buying it again (and driving it balanced of course). I wasn’t impressed with the tube amp connected to the computer (over-saturated mids, weak treble and flabby bass), but the E-MU 0404 was certainly a nice soundcard that does sound similar to my 1212M (if slightly less detailed and more aggressive, a true head-to-head would be necessary to truly determine its quality – I should have connected my DAC1 to the 0404 for a nice comparison).
I was a bit disappointed with the RudiStor RP5cav amp. While it was certainly soulful and warm, the bass just wasn’t as tight as I would have liked and the treble seemed fuzzy and sibilant. I wonder about the tubes used and why the HD650/Cardas and HD650/Zu sounded so wrong through that amp. On the other hand, the cheap little HP-100A amp beside the RudiStor amp sounded great with the Sennheiser – perhaps the Rudi amp and the German ‘phones simply lack synergy…or was it a poor choice of tubes?
The Qualias again sounded supremely detailed yet completely un-involving and bright as a mo-fo. There is no phone more resolving that the re-cabled (copper-silver hybrid XLR cable) Qualia 010 driven balanced from the Gilmore Balanced Reference and the Accuphase DP-85 – the resolution was unbelievable but I didn’t enjoy it at all. If one’s main interest in music is the tiny nuance/subtle facets of the recording then the Qualia is one’s ultimate headphone. I listen to music to relate to the passion, creativity and technique of the performers/composers so other headphones suit me better.
The R10 sounded very nice out of the Gilmore Balanced Reference, but I preferred it driven by the Audio-Technica DHA3000. I will reserve judgment of the R10 until I hear it through Alex’s forthcoming Singlepower Balanced SDS amp, because as much as I dislike tubes I admit the R10 loves ‘em. Still I’ll take the R10 any day over the Qualia (with any amp too) – sure the Qualia has that last bit of detail and resolution that the R10 lacks (as well as a more present bass response), but the R10’s natural-as-life midrange and surreal soundstage places it in my top 3, a place the Qualia is not welcome.
The L3000 sounded best through its own amp, the DHA3000. The L3000 actually sounds more balanced than the R10, but it lacks the Sony’s midrange magic and “you are here” soundstage – it also lacks the R10’s instrument placements and ultimate resolution. I’m still not a fan of Audio-Technica’s headphones, but the L3000 is easily their best effort and it’s a terrific headphone (surprisingly enough it also has great synergy with its soul-mate amp). The L3000 is a top-5 headphone and leagues better than any other AT phone, IMO (especially the hollow, overrated W2002).
The HP-2s were here, and Alex’s pair had the Joe Grado Ultra-wide Bandwidth cable while Kurt’s had the Standard cable. I’d like to say there was a night-and-day difference (or even a subtle, sunset-and-dusk difference), but the truth is I could hear no variance at all. Perhaps a prolonged listening session in an appropriate facility would reveal such nuances, but the 10-minutes-in-a-loud-meet-room session simply was not sufficient to draw any conclusions. I would still choose the HP-2 with the JGUWB cable because the title is so long. Yeah the HP-2 was more accurate than the PS-1 throughout the spectrum (especially the detailed bass), but the PS-1 is just so much more fun. Listening to the funky live Dave Weckl album and later the groovy Stevie Wonder masterpiece, Innervisions (yes I prefer Talking Book but Innervisions is a better-recorded album) highlighted the PS-1 bass bloat that I love and hate so much. With many albums the hyped bass would present an insurmountable distraction but many rock/hip hop/funk records sound so fun who cares (as long as the HE90 is nearby for everything else). The HP-2 rendered jazz so well but after 5 minutes I was ready for nap-time. The PS-1 lulled me out of my slumber and forced me to boogie – and I’m a terrible boogier. So I admit, I prefer the euphonic PS-1 to the more accurate, technically superior HP-1000 – sue me.
Finally the HE90 is donned yet again. I cannot deny my love for this headphone and it pains me every time it’s in my vicinity, for I realize the love is prohibited. Sure the Qualia is slightly more detailed and clear, the R10’s midrange is slightly fuller and the PS-1 has impact to die for. However, none of them can reproduce the HE90’s charm with any convincing authority. The HE90 features a natural, warm midrange that is actually addictive to some cultures. The soundstage is at least as wide as the SR-007 (Omega II – not present at this meet) and more accurate with regards to instrument placement than even the R10. It even demonstrates better vertical positioning than the (maligned at this meet) K1000. The bass is deep and warm, though it can never reach the impact of the best dynamic ‘phones – I don’t care. The treble is detailed and resolving, though never, ever harsh, a quality that the Qualia wished it could achieve. I don’t really need to say anything else about the HE90, as I’ve been gushing about them since I borrowed Alex’s rig. The HE90 is the sound I look for in a headphone system and it really sucks that it’s so expensive. However, a KGSS/HE60 rig is a lot cheaper than the Blue Hawaii/HE90 system…
The SuperMacro was my choice for gotta-have-it device. It presented a large improvement over the headphone output of my iMP-550 and was so portable. Its ability to use both batteries and AC is another win for me (I can use it at work without worrying about batteries and then un-plug it for those long trips with my HD25/MS1). I cannot think of a more versatile headphone amplifier. The SuperMacro is the only meet gear that has persuaded towards a purchase so quickly.
I met so many great people at this meet (and re-visited with old friends). The Head-Fi community really is something special – our passion for music and its reproduction unite us. Thank you to Frank and his cousin for hosting this event; thanks to Christina and Ti for designing such a great amp; thanks to Alex for bringing his esoteric arsenal; thank you Clarke for bringing your cool switch box, table and delicious cookies (thanks again for “forgetting” them here for me to enjoy); thank you Lindrone for letting me see those high-end canal-phones; thank you Xin for designing such a versatile amplifier; thank you Justin for sharing your stuff yet again; and finally, thank you Bruce, everything (cool guy, great pilot and cover-charge payer) – this is easily our 4th or 5th meet, man! I had a blast as usual, and I invite anyone to hear the K1000 in a more congenial environment.
Alex – the HD650/Blockhead is my favorite dynamic system but the DAC1/HD650 doesn’t suck THAT much!
I’m glad the BlockHead at least quelled the outright hatred you felt towards the HD650. I’m already anticipating the next meet, people (and maybe the baby Orpheus will attend).
Top 5 Rigs:
1. Blue Hawaii/HE90
2. Blockhead/HD650
3. DHA3000/R10
4. DHA3000/L3000
5. Gilmore Balanced Reference/Qualia 010
The Sensaphonics 2X-S and Ultimate Ears UE-5 were present at the meet, and the Sensas definitely seemed more robust. I quickly compared the two from Lindrone’s Sony 333ES SACD-modded CDP/Emmeline HR-2 amplifier – while the two certainly didn’t fit well, my preference of the 2X-S agrees with my theoretical judgment based on Lindrone’s review.
The woody/re-cabled CD3000 was also present, and despite what others think it’s still a CD3000 to me (albeit a more natural, less artificial-sounding version). I’ve never been a fan of the CD3K, and comparing it to the R10 is silly, IMO. Sure the detail of the CD3K is much appreciated (and probably what compels folks to drawing such conclusions regarding its abilities), but it lacks much of what makes the R10 so special: its realistic, instrument-placing soundstage, clear, liquid midrange and smooth, yet extremely revealing treble (NOT artificial hyper-treble present in the CD3K). The CD3000 hardly reached Tier 2, and placing it on the level of the R10, HE90, L3000 and HP-1000 is ridiculous and an insult to those aforementioned ‘phones.
The Bel Canto DAC2 and Benchmark DAC1 were next, and to be honest the difference was extremely subtle. However, despite my long and rewarding relationship with the DAC1 I must confess that the slightly smoother treble and warmer midrange of the Bel Canto DAC2 make it the winner in my book (though by a very slight margin). This does not mean that I’m selling my DAC1; the DAC2 lacks the balanced output and headphone amplifier of the DAC1, which are important features to me. The DAC1 is staying with me while the DAC2 remains a memorable 1-night stand.
Comparing my MS1 to my old SR225 revealed that the MS1 is indeed slightly more relaxed-sounding and the SR225 does have more impact-full bass. I still prefer the flats to the other pads, but the vwaps come very close and are even more comfy than the flats (and far cheaper). The bowls still don’t agree with me and those comfies need the quarter-hole mod badly. The RS pads aren’t too bad – for $3 ya can’t say too many negative things so I’m keeping ‘em for now.
The re-cabled K501 through the Gilmore Balanced Reference sounded very clear and warm, far from the cold analytical sound I recall from my fling with the Austrian headphone. While it’s still a bass-less wonder, it sounded close enough to the HE90 (though lacking the Sennheiser’s ultimate natural warmth, vertical soundstage and bass depth, among other facets) for me to consider buying it again (and driving it balanced of course). I wasn’t impressed with the tube amp connected to the computer (over-saturated mids, weak treble and flabby bass), but the E-MU 0404 was certainly a nice soundcard that does sound similar to my 1212M (if slightly less detailed and more aggressive, a true head-to-head would be necessary to truly determine its quality – I should have connected my DAC1 to the 0404 for a nice comparison).
I was a bit disappointed with the RudiStor RP5cav amp. While it was certainly soulful and warm, the bass just wasn’t as tight as I would have liked and the treble seemed fuzzy and sibilant. I wonder about the tubes used and why the HD650/Cardas and HD650/Zu sounded so wrong through that amp. On the other hand, the cheap little HP-100A amp beside the RudiStor amp sounded great with the Sennheiser – perhaps the Rudi amp and the German ‘phones simply lack synergy…or was it a poor choice of tubes?
The Qualias again sounded supremely detailed yet completely un-involving and bright as a mo-fo. There is no phone more resolving that the re-cabled (copper-silver hybrid XLR cable) Qualia 010 driven balanced from the Gilmore Balanced Reference and the Accuphase DP-85 – the resolution was unbelievable but I didn’t enjoy it at all. If one’s main interest in music is the tiny nuance/subtle facets of the recording then the Qualia is one’s ultimate headphone. I listen to music to relate to the passion, creativity and technique of the performers/composers so other headphones suit me better.
The R10 sounded very nice out of the Gilmore Balanced Reference, but I preferred it driven by the Audio-Technica DHA3000. I will reserve judgment of the R10 until I hear it through Alex’s forthcoming Singlepower Balanced SDS amp, because as much as I dislike tubes I admit the R10 loves ‘em. Still I’ll take the R10 any day over the Qualia (with any amp too) – sure the Qualia has that last bit of detail and resolution that the R10 lacks (as well as a more present bass response), but the R10’s natural-as-life midrange and surreal soundstage places it in my top 3, a place the Qualia is not welcome.
The L3000 sounded best through its own amp, the DHA3000. The L3000 actually sounds more balanced than the R10, but it lacks the Sony’s midrange magic and “you are here” soundstage – it also lacks the R10’s instrument placements and ultimate resolution. I’m still not a fan of Audio-Technica’s headphones, but the L3000 is easily their best effort and it’s a terrific headphone (surprisingly enough it also has great synergy with its soul-mate amp). The L3000 is a top-5 headphone and leagues better than any other AT phone, IMO (especially the hollow, overrated W2002).
The HP-2s were here, and Alex’s pair had the Joe Grado Ultra-wide Bandwidth cable while Kurt’s had the Standard cable. I’d like to say there was a night-and-day difference (or even a subtle, sunset-and-dusk difference), but the truth is I could hear no variance at all. Perhaps a prolonged listening session in an appropriate facility would reveal such nuances, but the 10-minutes-in-a-loud-meet-room session simply was not sufficient to draw any conclusions. I would still choose the HP-2 with the JGUWB cable because the title is so long. Yeah the HP-2 was more accurate than the PS-1 throughout the spectrum (especially the detailed bass), but the PS-1 is just so much more fun. Listening to the funky live Dave Weckl album and later the groovy Stevie Wonder masterpiece, Innervisions (yes I prefer Talking Book but Innervisions is a better-recorded album) highlighted the PS-1 bass bloat that I love and hate so much. With many albums the hyped bass would present an insurmountable distraction but many rock/hip hop/funk records sound so fun who cares (as long as the HE90 is nearby for everything else). The HP-2 rendered jazz so well but after 5 minutes I was ready for nap-time. The PS-1 lulled me out of my slumber and forced me to boogie – and I’m a terrible boogier. So I admit, I prefer the euphonic PS-1 to the more accurate, technically superior HP-1000 – sue me.
Finally the HE90 is donned yet again. I cannot deny my love for this headphone and it pains me every time it’s in my vicinity, for I realize the love is prohibited. Sure the Qualia is slightly more detailed and clear, the R10’s midrange is slightly fuller and the PS-1 has impact to die for. However, none of them can reproduce the HE90’s charm with any convincing authority. The HE90 features a natural, warm midrange that is actually addictive to some cultures. The soundstage is at least as wide as the SR-007 (Omega II – not present at this meet) and more accurate with regards to instrument placement than even the R10. It even demonstrates better vertical positioning than the (maligned at this meet) K1000. The bass is deep and warm, though it can never reach the impact of the best dynamic ‘phones – I don’t care. The treble is detailed and resolving, though never, ever harsh, a quality that the Qualia wished it could achieve. I don’t really need to say anything else about the HE90, as I’ve been gushing about them since I borrowed Alex’s rig. The HE90 is the sound I look for in a headphone system and it really sucks that it’s so expensive. However, a KGSS/HE60 rig is a lot cheaper than the Blue Hawaii/HE90 system…
The SuperMacro was my choice for gotta-have-it device. It presented a large improvement over the headphone output of my iMP-550 and was so portable. Its ability to use both batteries and AC is another win for me (I can use it at work without worrying about batteries and then un-plug it for those long trips with my HD25/MS1). I cannot think of a more versatile headphone amplifier. The SuperMacro is the only meet gear that has persuaded towards a purchase so quickly.
I met so many great people at this meet (and re-visited with old friends). The Head-Fi community really is something special – our passion for music and its reproduction unite us. Thank you to Frank and his cousin for hosting this event; thanks to Christina and Ti for designing such a great amp; thanks to Alex for bringing his esoteric arsenal; thank you Clarke for bringing your cool switch box, table and delicious cookies (thanks again for “forgetting” them here for me to enjoy); thank you Lindrone for letting me see those high-end canal-phones; thank you Xin for designing such a versatile amplifier; thank you Justin for sharing your stuff yet again; and finally, thank you Bruce, everything (cool guy, great pilot and cover-charge payer) – this is easily our 4th or 5th meet, man! I had a blast as usual, and I invite anyone to hear the K1000 in a more congenial environment.
Top 5 Rigs:
1. Blue Hawaii/HE90
2. Blockhead/HD650
3. DHA3000/R10
4. DHA3000/L3000
5. Gilmore Balanced Reference/Qualia 010
