drarthurwells
Headphoneus Supremus
- Joined
- Jul 1, 2005
- Posts
- 2,604
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- 15
Yes the SA5000 is so much better than the AKG K701, when:
Using the BLAudio LP 1 MKII battery powered high end preamp and headphone amp with a really good source like the Eastsound E5 (or better).
The BLAudio is a very smooth and sweet headphone solid state amp that is best with headphones of 100 ohm impedance or more. It works great with the Etymotic 4S. Click on the BLAudio link below in my signature listings.
The SA5000 is superior to the Etymotic 4S in every way (click on the ER 4S link below).
The AKG K701 is more pleasing than the SA5000 in the typical set up. Click on the AKG K701 link below.
However, using an Etymotic 4P to 4S converter-extenion at the end of the ER4 stereo plug, with both the AKG K701 and the SA5000 (to bring their impedance up to about 150 ohms), the following is heard:
The K701 is too euphonic in providing a tube like liquidity to the point of being unnatural - the SA5000 has really nice tone image delineation and openness of separate tone images while prviding for the right amount of tone body and richness - much more natural and realistic.
The differences between the SA5000 and AKG K701 can work in favor of the SA5000 and against the AKG K701 with some amps.
Iron_Dreamer was right!
You can use two .5 watt resistors of 75 to 100 ohms (or slightly more) wired in series on the left and right channel leads from the BLAudio to the headphone, to boost impedance, or buy the Etymotic 4P to 4S converter.
A really nice system is:
1. E5 CDP
2. Sony SA5000 (best), or Etymotic 4P (but either must be used with Etymotic 4P to 4S impedance converter, or wire two .5 watt, 75 to 100 ohm resistors in series with the left and right positive headphone leads to the BLAudio headphone output)
or the Etymotic 4S and
3. BLAudio LP I MK II pre-amp/headphone amp
Using the BLAudio LP 1 MKII battery powered high end preamp and headphone amp with a really good source like the Eastsound E5 (or better).
The BLAudio is a very smooth and sweet headphone solid state amp that is best with headphones of 100 ohm impedance or more. It works great with the Etymotic 4S. Click on the BLAudio link below in my signature listings.
The SA5000 is superior to the Etymotic 4S in every way (click on the ER 4S link below).
The AKG K701 is more pleasing than the SA5000 in the typical set up. Click on the AKG K701 link below.
However, using an Etymotic 4P to 4S converter-extenion at the end of the ER4 stereo plug, with both the AKG K701 and the SA5000 (to bring their impedance up to about 150 ohms), the following is heard:
The K701 is too euphonic in providing a tube like liquidity to the point of being unnatural - the SA5000 has really nice tone image delineation and openness of separate tone images while prviding for the right amount of tone body and richness - much more natural and realistic.
The differences between the SA5000 and AKG K701 can work in favor of the SA5000 and against the AKG K701 with some amps.
Iron_Dreamer was right!
You can use two .5 watt resistors of 75 to 100 ohms (or slightly more) wired in series on the left and right channel leads from the BLAudio to the headphone, to boost impedance, or buy the Etymotic 4P to 4S converter.
A really nice system is:
1. E5 CDP
2. Sony SA5000 (best), or Etymotic 4P (but either must be used with Etymotic 4P to 4S impedance converter, or wire two .5 watt, 75 to 100 ohm resistors in series with the left and right positive headphone leads to the BLAudio headphone output)
or the Etymotic 4S and
3. BLAudio LP I MK II pre-amp/headphone amp