[bflat]

Ok I just tried with my own 1Z to pair with the KSE1200.
If I go below 80 (of 120) on the 1Z on low gain and use more of the KSA1200 amp (90% of the volume pod) with -10dB padding to get to my listening volume, then vocals exhibits a bit of sibilance and the overall sound is drier, probably due to the KSA1200 reaching/near it's amplification limit. The sweet spot is at 90 on the 1Z, and the KSA1200 amp volume pod still gives me about 50 degrees of turns before it max out. I'm thinking that somewhere between about 60-70% of the amp's volume output is where it performs best to my ears and that's where I'll try to aim for from the source output to get it to that level.

Interesting. I'm going to have to revisit the Onkyo DP-S1 then because what you describe is what I heard - dry and sibilant.

Also tried the new double flange Spinfit 240. Bass sounds tighter and not quite a boomy as the regular Spinfits. Isolation and comfort are better for my ears. Also size is different for me - small for 800, med for 240.

 

[Mimouille]

Seems to be working OK so far on high gain max volume, -10db pad. Don't know why I could not make it work last time.

 

[Tawek]

read a lot of bad comments about synergy 1z + kse 1500 so what is the truth? Kse is good with 1z or not in my opinion firmware 2.0 changed a lot

 

[normie610]

Seems to be working OK so far on high gain max volume, -10db pad. Don't know why I could not make it work last time.

So how’s the sound with 1Z?

 

[Mimouille]

So how’s the sound with 1Z?

Good.

 

[normie610]

Good.

Thanks Michael

 

[TYATYA]

1st pic : CP155 spinfit ear tip for 6mm sound port of wireless inear.
Order it but not suitable for charging.
2nd pic : put it on kse1500( with "adapter" cut from a cp800)
This is a best luck!!!
. Best fit
. Best comfort
. Best sq
. Best isolation

Shape of CP155M do fit to my ear

 

[TYATYA]

As promised here are my Tests results with the Spinfit CP800.

Well... results are very convincing, I have a cleaner sound than before. Very enjoyable, and good confort for long listening time (but... not very good isolation. I guess you can't have all).

But also I must share another "revelation": I finally followed Jude's advice and set the KSE1500 input to - 10 dB, so that I can now set the A&K SP1000 at full volume (150), changing the volume level only through the KSE1500's knob.

and... I have the strong impression that the sound is really better ! May be it is because the A&K's volume level set at 100% , I have now a "real" line out, bypassing the distorsion of the SP1000's volume level management, or, may be it is... effect placebo

Anyway, I am now very happy with my Spinfit CP800 and also the BRIMAR 16x cable.

Read it before but didnt notice about volume and pad setting bcs I was focus my eyes on ic cable.

Read again now and notice about volume matching, similar my way.
With some track which recorded at not too high spl, can set sp1000 linout at 0.7V feed direct to kse amp W/O using pad (pad =0) will give better sound in compare to a volume using somewhere 125-130 (as said, some track wont broke sound at this vol).
(Normal 125-130 may be same level as Line out @0.7V)
Not a placebo effect. I think it is real.
But 0.7V still 50-50 chance of broke up sound level for kse.
So I am trying EQ: with flat(and any other profile) eq ON, sp1000 seems to apply some -dB gain. It lead to 0.7V line out level is Okay for kse W/O pad.
I trust in eq of sp1000 than the pad of kse.

 

[nanaholic]

Read it before but didnt notice about volume and pad setting bcs I was focus my eyes on ic cable.

Read again now and notice about volume matching, similar my way.
With some track which recorded at not too high spl, can set sp1000 linout at 0.7V feed direct to kse amp W/O using pad (pad =0) will give better sound in compare to a volume using somewhere 125-130 (as said, some track wont broke sound at this vol).
(Normal 125-130 may be same level as Line out @0.7V)
Not a placebo effect. I think it is real.
But 0.7V still 50-50 chance of broke up sound level for kse.
So I am trying EQ: with flat(and any other profile) eq ON, sp1000 seems to apply some -dB gain. It lead to 0.7V line out level is Okay for kse W/O pad.
I trust in eq of sp1000 than the pad of kse.

It's definitely not placebo, but I also have to say the AK Line Out Mode sucks too.
Except for AK DAPs like KANN which has a true line out jack where the amp is completely bypassed, so AK device's Line Out mode is only a button which maxs and locks the volume with one touch just for the sake of convenience, but it's a terrible idea to use here because the input headroom for the KSE amp is actually quite low even with the -10dB pad in my experience. Case in point with the AK70 if I use the Line Out Mode, the input indicator lamp on my KSE1200 will occasionally flash red thus indicting clipping as the input is being overwhelmed, and that's only a visual confirmation of what I hear - as the sound is TERRIBLE with break ups everywhere. I find manually managing the output volume on the source (for AK70 I use 120 or below) will yield much better results instead of trusting the AK Line Out Mode. This applies even more for Chord products where the Line Out mode outputs insane levels of voltage....

 

[siruspan]

The reason for this is that KSE are electrostats and they have completely different power needs. Usually daps and dacs like mojo power output is couple of hundred od mA with 2-3v of voltage and the current that KSE they need is only 1mA but with 200v voltage. For this reason stax amps are called energizers.

 

[bflat]

Read it before but didnt notice about volume and pad setting bcs I was focus my eyes on ic cable.

Read again now and notice about volume matching, similar my way.
With some track which recorded at not too high spl, can set sp1000 linout at 0.7V feed direct to kse amp W/O using pad (pad =0) will give better sound in compare to a volume using somewhere 125-130 (as said, some track wont broke sound at this vol).
(Normal 125-130 may be same level as Line out @0.7V)
Not a placebo effect. I think it is real.
But 0.7V still 50-50 chance of broke up sound level for kse.
So I am trying EQ: with flat(and any other profile) eq ON, sp1000 seems to apply some -dB gain. It lead to 0.7V line out level is Okay for kse W/O pad.
I trust in eq of sp1000 than the pad of kse.

0.7V and 0 dB padding still clips on some of my high dynamic recordings. 1V with -10 dB is clean for me. enabling EQ drops volume by -4 dB.

 

[TYATYA]

The reason for this is that KSE are electrostats and they have completely different power needs. Usually daps and dacs like mojo power output is couple of hundred od mA with 2-3v of voltage and the current that KSE they need is only 1mA but with 200v voltage. For this reason stax amps are called energizers.

I think Ksa is an voltage amp. While normal voltage output of common devices vary from 0.7 to 2, or some to 5v or 7v. For mobile phone almost 0.6- 1.0V....
Shure designers know it.
So idk why ksa doesnt work at 0.7V w/o distortion. It seem amplify scale of ksa is too high.

With new baby ksa1200, there's no more option -20db. May be they already change amping scale ?

0.7V and 0 dB padding still clips on some of my high dynamic recordings. 1V with -10 dB is clean for me. enabling EQ drops volume by -4 dB.

Bcs I belive there must be extra processing in ksa amp in digital section when set pad -10 or other than zero, I try not to use pad input.
IMO, turn eq on (flat proflie) on sp1000 to reduce "pre" gain is better.
Btw event flat eq + increase volume to compensate( to be equal spl as eq off), it seems like sq still not as good as eq set off. Can not AB test this option so I am not sure

 

[siruspan]

If anyone is interested I've decided to return the KSE1200 for various reasons. They have been a little bit pricey for my budget, they needed the amp to function, cable kinda heavy, plastic shells. Back to the shop they went but.... ah yes the infamous BUT! Sonic downgrade was so painful that I couldn't go back to my old headphones. I wouldn't say that I've lost passion for music, it was just I dind't care anymore on which headphones I was listening because it was never as good as on KSE. I was hanging on for 2 weeks after I've purchased KSE1200 once again..... This time I've no intention on letting them go. They are simply exquisite.

 

[aangen]

I have a pair arriving tomorrow. I can't wait to see what all the fuss is about. My current faves are the SE 846.

 

[bosiemoncrieff]

Tried them on my flight from Berlin to London today. They really attenuated the noise tremendously. You could hear it, but it was a dull, distant rumble.