[bmichels]

  My very brief thoughts on the Orpheus
 
http://www.custom-cable.co.uk/blog/sennheiser-orpheus-headphones/

 
Thanks for your feedback about the HE1060.  
 
For your demo, did they used the HE1060's internal DAC or the T+A's DAC ?  (I have indeed doubts that the internal DAC may not be at the necessary level to show all the potential of the HE1060)

 

[saidentary]

one track a played I felt the bass through my body. It was incredibly low and controlled however it wasn't a track I was familiar with so can't comment too accurately on the bass.

THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!  (I'm not being sarcastic here--sincere thanks for this information)
 
If true, then this is EXTREMELY significant, because the bass response, though not awful, was really the only true weakness (in my opinion) for the SR-009.  I was under the impression that this (relative weakness in the low end) was a limitation inherent to the electrostatic driver design.  If this limitation has been overcome in this system, then from an audiophile standpoint this system has to be taken much more seriously, despite the over the top marketing hype.  If this is the case (that the bass really does rock on these things) then it becomes much more likely (IMO) that this system may actually be the best headphone system ever.  This is particularly true if what you say (in your review) about its higher level of resolution is an observation that is corroborated by other discerning, respected listeners.  If it's the most highly resolving headphone transducer ever created, and it has bass, then this will be a spectacular system.   
 
This will be very interesting to see how it plays out.  I'm not a bass head, but I believe that a TRULY spectacular loudspeaker or headphone will sound great with all musical genres, not just classical, jazz, and a few others.  It should do this without making compromises overall.  A master of all trades.  If that's what Sennheiser has created, then that will be truly a revolutionary product.  The closest I've heard to this ideal, TO MY EARS, is the HiFiMAN HE-1000, but there is far from unanimous agreement on that.
 
Thanks again.  Your answer is helpful.  The fact that you qualify your answer only adds to your credibility, in my opinion.   

 

[Music Alchemist]

  If true, then this is EXTREMELY significant, because the bass response, though not awful, was really the only true weakness (in my opinion) for the SR-009.  I was under the impression that this (relative weakness in the low end) was a limitation inherent to the electrostatic driver design.  If this limitation has been overcome in this system [...]

 
Which amps have you heard the SR-009 on? When driven properly, the consensus is that it doesn't lack bass at all. It has measurably neutral bass too. And it's capable of more, if you use EQ, colored gear, tube rolling, or a virtual surround sound processor like the Smyth Realiser A8.

 

[bmichels]

  The closest I've heard to this ideal, TO MY EARS, is the HiFiMAN HE-1000, but there is far from unanimous agreement on that.
 

 
I just bought a HE-1000, so could you tell me what AMP were you using with the HE-1000 ?

 

[saidentary]

Plenty of electrostats have accurate bass quantity down to as low as you can hear, and some even have overemphasized bass quantity. The measurements prove this. Perhaps you want more bass than is actually in the recording. Anyway, you can easily boost the bass with a parametric equalizer, as long as your amp is powerful enough to handle it without distorting. I would also recommend spending more time listening to electrostats to get to know them better.

I don't know about the measurements proving it or not.  Neutral on that.  You make a very good point that I may have a flawed perception of what constitutes "good" bass.  Maybe it's true that I want more bass than is in the recording.  I don't know.  I think it varies with the recording. 
 
Equalizers (parametric or graphic) add noise and degrade the signal somewhat, if I'm not mistaken.  There's always a trade-off. 
 
I owned electrostatics for a while and got to know them pretty well.  They sounded good, but didn't sound good enough to me, compared to my loudspeakers, so I parted with them.

 

[saidentary]

   
I just bought a HE-1000, so could you tell me what AMP were you using with the HE-1000 ?

Gladly.  The magical MicroZOTL 2.

 

[saidentary]

   
Which amps have you heard the SR-009 on? When driven properly, the consensus is that it doesn't lack bass at all. It has measurably neutral bass too. And it's capable of more, if you use EQ, colored gear, tube rolling, or a virtual surround sound processor like the Smyth Realiser A8.

Blue Hawaii only.  I qualified the statement as being my opinion, not indisputable fact.  Others are free to disagree.

 

[crashtest33]

Thanks for your feedback about the HE1060.  

For your demo, did they used the HE1060's internal DAC or the T+A's DAC ?  (I have indeed doubts that the internal DAC may not be at the necessary level to show all the potential of the HE1060)

I'm with this one too. It would be inconceivable that a headphone system priced at £50k would contain a junk DAC.
Firstly the Germans wouldn't allow such an amateur oversight and secondly, who are we to think that we could match a better DAC to a system that took 8yrs to make.
The best DAC I've ever heard is the Metrum Acoustics Octave NOS DAC. Utterly stunning at just under a grand.
The price-performance graph of a DAC climbes faster than pornstar on rent day!
But all that said n done I wouldn't go digital into it anyway.
I'd go and buy a Clearaudio Statement turntable.
Copy of Rumours. Job done. Heaven.

 

[ALRAINBOW]

My exact feelings as well. Jude did not use the built in sabre dac that's a clear sign . Although he had a really good reason and one I would said as well. He used a dac he likes and knows very well . In doing so he could better give his view on the headphone amp and not the whole chain that could muddy up the view . His words were chosen extremely well and clean to the point . Are they worth the 55000 on sound absolutely not , but to own history before it becomes one YES . Now how good do they sound I'll post when I hear them after I buy them . I want the black marble not the white though .

 

[Music Alchemist]

Now how good do they sound I'll post when I hear them after I buy them . I want the black marble not the white though .

 
When do you think you'll buy it? (Assuming this wasn't a joke.)
 
Perhaps owners could form their own private:
 

 

[ALRAINBOW]

I am not joking and group sale is better but from who. I do intend to call a few I know and see what can be done. I do not think I cloud make the first batch or run nor do I want to be in that bunch as there is always something to change especially in headphones . That must be considered . Even sennhiser makes misstaekes right . Didn't the original get changed ?

 

[Music Alchemist]

I am not joking and group sale is better but from who. I do intend to call a few I know and see what can be done. I do not think I cloud make the first batch or run nor do I want to be in that bunch as there is always something to change especially in headphones . That must be considered . Even sennhiser makes misstaekes right . Didn't the original get changed ?

 
Cool. I wasn't referring to a group buy, though. I don't know when I'll end up buying it either. My best friend wants it as well and told me he probably wouldn't be able to afford it until ten years from now. I know people who make over $50K a day, and I operate in the same type of business they do, so perhaps I won't have to wait so long. (If I stop being such a lazy bum...)
 
From David Mahler's review:
 

As far as I know, there was at least one confirmed variation made to the HE90's deisgn during the course of production. At or around serial #300, Sennheiser began producing the small remaining balance of the HE90 headphone without the amp. As this version of the headphone was intended to be paired with third party amplifiers, the manufacturer altered the design of the stators. 

 
Then there is reported variation from unit to unit, which is common for some headphones. A shame, since the HE 90 sells for five figures each.

 

[ALRAINBOW]

This headphone is a set and must remain one unless they run a mod and change where the final amp is located.
Either way it's a must have but not the first run or alt least that's how I feel now. Lol lusting changes things for all of us

 

[up late]

When he said random, he meant type. Like one type of measurement, then another type of measurement; not that measurements themselves are random.

i'm sure that he's capable of clarifying what he intended to convey without your assistance lol!

 

[tonykaz]

0.01 % Distortion @ 100db  for the 1060 in NYNY, Ho-leeee Cow
 
Tony in Michigan