questions about headroom amps (no flaming/trolling etc please)

[tiberian]

i am curious about headroom amps and may consider buying one thats better than my xp-7. what is the headroom house sound and how does the brightness switch changes the sound? is it dramatic? any input from owners and non owners is greatly appreciated, thanks.

 

[gpalmer]

I don't think I could do justice to their house sound so I won't even try, sorry. The brightness switch is meant as a compensation measure for the effects of the crossfeed so I wouldn't think you would normally use if without the crossfeed. With the crossfeed it is meant to make the sound of the amplifer more closely match what it sounds like without it on.

 

[Sovkiller]

Why not send a PM to Todd? He carries the XP-7, and he knows all of the headroom amps for sure, he could give you an advice, comercial free in private, as you already owns what he sells, and do not like it, or are looking for an upgrade, whatever the case is....

 

[Geek]

The sound is very neutral with very smooth highs. The brightness filter works by adding back the highs taken away when crossfeed is engaged.

Headroom amps are famed or destested for their ability to create a surreal, 120 degree soundstage which is scarily realistic in prescence; others simply hear crossfeed as muddying the sound and boosting the bass, an illusion created by the crossfeed mechanism headroom uses.

I, myself, love the amp's sound with crossfeed on: it's extremely natural, very easy to hear imaging, and above all is perfectly realistic if you want to hear your music in front of you instead of unnaturally spaced out with left/right blobs. Ear fatigue caused by the blob effect simply disappears. The effect is more noticeable and 3Dish with the higher end amps and better source material.

Give the headroom amps a try. I'd suggest the maxed out home, with a reference module added, and perhaps a stepped attenuator. That will sound great, and you might like it over the XP-7.

One drawback of headroom amps is they are headphone-dependent. They seem to sound better with certain types of headphones than others, although the effect isn't that extreme. The Emmeline series is supposed to be "sweeter" sounding. I don't know if that makes them less natural or not, but people seem to have overall positive statements using different types of phones from different companies.

Conclusively, Headroom amps are great at doing one thing over all others: passing on the source signal in as pure and unchanged a state as is possible. They are designed to work with a powerful crossfeed mechanism built into all of their amps, and are easily customizable and can be fitted to your very needs.

Consider listening to one of them; if you like what you hear, go for it. I tend to prefer the Headroom amp sound more than the other models I've heard (E.A.R, Grace, Sugden, Corda); that's my personal taste. I'm one of those Headroom/Sennheiser fans. I'm definitely biased towards their amps, but you should decide for yourself what they sound like; lots of forum members have never heard them.

Cheers,
Geek

 

[Reader]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Geek Give the headroom amps a try. I'd suggest the maxed out home, with a reference module added, and perhaps a stepped attenuator.

I don't see MOHR on headroom' site anymore, are they still making it?

 

[gpalmer]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Reader I don't see MOHR on headroom' site anymore, are they still making it?

Yeah, it's here. You should call them to get the reference module installed, I don't think you can order it directly from the website...

 

[Edwood]

while the crossfeed colors the sound significantly, the shape and feel of it is very good.

-Ed

 

[Geek]

Edwood,

That's basically what I hear. Here are some more observations:

The crossfeed rolls the highs off about -3dB, and the brightness filter adds those highs back in. Some people hear it as a perceived increase in bass, others a perceived drop in treble energy, so the filter comes in handy.

I find the headroom amps to be pretty warm compared to the rather bright and grainy sound offered by other digital amps, which is kind of nice. They are still brutally revealing, but don't overhype the highs too much.

Cheers,
Geek

 

[Edwood]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Geek Edwood, That's basically what I hear. Here are some more observations: The crossfeed rolls the highs off about -3dB, and the brightness filter adds those highs back in. Some people hear it as a perceived increase in bass, others a perceived drop in treble energy, so the filter comes in handy. I find the headroom amps to be pretty warm compared to the rather bright and grainy sound offered by other digital amps, which is kind of nice. They are still brutally revealing, but don't overhype the highs too much. Cheers, Geek

I hear an increase more in the lower mids. Kind of muddies it up, but it does almost sound "tubey" in a way, so for those that like warmer sound, it could be a good thing.

I find the highs to be a bit "sparklely" sounding though with the filter on.

-Ed

 

[tiberian]

thanks for all the info guys.

 

[Edwood]

You're welcome.

Remember, Headroom has a lenient return policy so you can return it if you don't like it. It's the best way to find out, try it in your own home for a bit.

-Ed

 

[davebot]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Geek I find the headroom amps to be pretty warm compared to the rather bright and grainy sound offered by other digital amps, which is kind of nice. They are still brutally revealing, but don't overhype the highs too much.

Which amps do you find bright? I thought it might be a tube vs transistor thing, until I realized that you're calling the solid-state Headroom amps warm, right?

I'm curious because I have DT 880, which have much more of a tendency to brightness than your Senns.

Cheers,

=davebot=

 

[Edwood]

Quote:

Originally Posted by davebot Which amps do you find bright? I thought it might be a tube vs transistor thing, until I realized that you're calling the solid-state Headroom amps warm, right? I'm curious because I have DT 880, which have much more of a tendency to brightness than your Senns. Cheers, =davebot=

There is also synergy between headphones, amp, and source. Some headphones are brighter than others, getting a brighter sounding amp will make the headphones sound even brighter. Conversely, a darker sounding headphone may sound "just right" to some people with a brighter sounding amp.

Heheh, Davebot?
............mmmmmbrap..........

j/k

-Ed