The Sennheiser Orpheus 2? A First Look At The Sennheiser HE-1 (The New Orpheus)

[up late]

Ok you got me. I'll stop after this post until I hear them and setup to buy.
My last honest statement
First senhiser knows little in making dacs of ultra high end grade
Second as I own the hdvd800 its internal dac is very far from what the headphones hd800 can do. Not saying it's only 2K but still it's a simple chip solution. Name me one dac that could fit in that case that is of ultra high end stature
Next I would think for 55K a really good dac should be used and I feel sennhuser is doing what most high end audio does to us that is Bilk us. The headphones I am sure are very good amongst the best for sure. As there is no best. But I am for now disappointed that the dac is not a second case with tubes to roll. Maybe I am spoiled with my lampi head dac but it is a fraction of the cost and is truly world class sound.
As the main tubes cannot be rolled or difficult to justify the need the dac is the obvious point of reference to change up with.
And last even the original dac was never Ina class like the headphones were. Now I'll stop and go away for whine and no longer comment on the dac until I hear it on my own music and circumstances.
Also don't take me as I dislike the dac it's just my feelings and Rememeber my comment on the reviewer and he or she's words on the dac itself away from the headphones. Jude did it right by using his own point of reference let's see what others do and please don't tell me a laptop is a purposeful source for any real view on this product.

lots of supposition here to which i simply say don't knock it until you've tried it

 

[mulder01]

lots of supposition here to which i simply say don't knock it until you've tried it

 
He's not the only one who's skeptical - a lot of serious 5-figure-system-owning members are equally as doubting of the dac but just a bit less vocal.  He never specifically said it was definitely rubbish - more just thinking out loud and I guess that's all everyone is doing at this stage.

 

[up late]

scepticism is okay up to a point...

 

[dharma]

If Sennheiser could adopt some 'superproduct-DAC' into existing 'marble box', then it would be great, sure. But to put second 'box' (as someone suggested) with 'DAC' beside 'hp-amp box' means, they must first redesign not only 'outlook' somehow.  And not one but two 'marble boxes' means added big price, plus 'superDAC' price. All together it will be much pricier than now and those wealthy 'yacht owners' maybe even don't care to have 'two units' if 'one' is 'nice' enough. Sure, healthy 'hardcore hifiers and highenders' would like to have some version of not so nice/expensive 'new Orpheus system'.

 

[Deftone]

any reviews from headfiers yet?

 

[icebear]

There are no reviews from anybody on this set up.
Some impressions from people who went almost gaga in front of the rising tubes and lifting cover.
Nothing but speculation at this point.
 
Even speculation that the DAC in the unit is not top notch.
First of all people who haven't heard the unit give their generous $0.02.

Why on earth would the folks at Sennheiser present their all gloves off, no cost constrains engineering masterpiece with a ****ty DAC? They developed this set up to achieve what they think is the ultimate audio reproduction tool. Obviously everybody is keen on dissecting the individual parts, changing cables, rolling tubes, changing the cover lift and the case work from marble to jade just to count the most important things to modify

.
 
Once people actually have their own units they can play around at hearts content.
Just to throw in my $0.02 and I also haven't heard it yet

 

[Sal1950]

  There are no reviews from anybody on this set up.
Some impressions from people who went almost gaga in front of the rising tubes and lifting cover.
Nothing but speculation at this point.
 
Even speculation that the DAC in the unit is not top notch.
First of all people who haven't heard the unit give their generous $0.02.

Why on earth would the folks at Sennheiser present their all gloves off, no cost constrains engineering masterpiece with a ****ty DAC? They developed this set up to achieve what they think is the ultimate audio reproduction tool. Obviously everybody is keen on dissecting the individual parts, changing cables, rolling tubes, changing the cover lift and the case work from marble to jade just to count the most important things to modify

.
 
Once people actually have their own units they can play around at hearts content.
Just to throw in my $0.02 and I also haven't heard it yet

Same as I posted here a couple times now. Whatever the DAC, Amp, and Cans are or are not, they're the best shot at the SOTA by a company with the reputation of knowing what they're doing. And in any case a large segment of the folks here are dedicated to having the absolute SOTA at all times and if you follow the posts here they change components more often then their underwear. If the 1060 turned out to be considered the worlds best it won't be within 6 months. If you follow ComputerAudiophile the current fav is generally considered the Schiit Yggdrasil but how long will that last till it falls from grace? I'm sure Schitt is working right now on something to replace it.
The 1060 IS a SOTA product and a work of art that many affluent audiophiles will love to have on display in their music rooms and like it's predecessor will remain so for many years to come.
 
OH NO, It's DAC doesn't have MQA decoding, that's it, I'm not buying the pair I had ordered for my winter and summer homes.

 

[icebear]

Originally Posted by Sal1950 /img/forum/go_quote.gif
 
...And in any case a large segment of the folks here are dedicated to having the absolute SOTA at all times and if you follow the posts here they change components more often then their underwear. If the 1060 turned out to be considered the worlds best it won't be within 6 months. ...
 
OH NO, It's DAC doesn't have MQA decoding, that's it, I'm not buying the pair I had ordered for my winter and summer homes.

LOL, indeed.
What is the target of high fidelity? Getting as close as possible to the original live music event isn't it? For the last 20 years a lot of high end products have been inching closer and closer to that goal. There won't be a giant leap in the future and everything will be converging to some common target (unless someone explicitly wants a certain coloration of the sound). At some point it's how close are we and is the next version even closer or just at a different point/angle circling the target.
 
Ideal or improved impulse properties (?) and record low distortion figures might have brought some improvement in the 1060 over the previous Orpheus. That might actually be something that does contribute to acoustically perceivable properties, whereas bit format of DACs and music files and oversampling freq. in the Mhz range and dynamic range of 170dB

 
And THX for reminding me that the Orph. doesn't have MQA, I also just cancelled my order, I would have been totally disappointed

 

[dharma]

'Dynamic system' has little more flexibility...
For example Viva Audio Egoista valve headphone amplifier at $15,999 (or some other...)
From hp-s, there are discontinued models like Final Audio Design Muramasa VIII for $8,000 estimated (discontinued, msrp was $8,000 but since only five were ever made...) and two discontinued from Sony for about $5,000. Still in production are several models like Sonorous X, Ultrasone Edition 5 Limited Edition, Abyss AB-1266 for about $5,000 (For more? Some covered with gold and diamonds are available too ....)
And finally, 'most important'... DAC. $90,000-130,000 for MSB Technology’s Select II DAC system (or...some other, free-tube-rolling system)...
All for...

 

[mulder01]

Sal1950 I have to ask what SOTA stands for - I think you're the only one I've seen use it and you use it frequently...
 
I suppose talking about how good it might be is just as pointless as talking about what NOT to like... AFAIK, nobody has one in their home yet and nobody will for a while.  If I had plenty of spare cash and bought one would I bother writing up a detailed review and comparison for head fi?  Probably not.  I wonder if the handful of people on here that can afford one would bother either.  And let's say they did - does it mean that you will definitely agree with their thoughts?  Probably not.  Are you going to buy one even if your tastes are identical?  Probably not.  If you were considering buying one, you would be in one of two camps - 1. Plenty of money and don't really care about value against other products - even if it's only 1% better than the 009, you will buy it anyway.  2. You're a serious head fi-er and will find a way to audition it yourself because there's no way you'd spend that sort of money based on the opinions of others on the internet.  Does this thread serve any purpose apart from general discussion?  Not really.  Let people discuss whatever they want.  Who cares.

 

[seanwee]

  Sal1950 I have to ask what SOTA stands for - I think you're the only one I've seen use it and you use it frequently...

I interpreted it as State Of The Art

 

[up late]

correct

 

[Sal1950]

  Sal1950 I have to ask what SOTA stands for - I think you're the only one I've seen use it and you use it frequently...
 
I suppose talking about how good it might be is just as pointless as talking about what NOT to like... AFAIK, nobody has one in their home yet and nobody will for a while.  If I had plenty of spare cash and bought one would I bother writing up a detailed review and comparison for head fi?  Probably not.  I wonder if the handful of people on here that can afford one would bother either.  And let's say they did - does it mean that you will definitely agree with their thoughts?  Probably not.  Are you going to buy one even if your tastes are identical?  Probably not.  If you were considering buying one, you would be in one of two camps - 1. Plenty of money and don't really care about value against other products - even if it's only 1% better than the 009, you will buy it anyway.  2. You're a serious head fi-er and will find a way to audition it yourself because there's no way you'd spend that sort of money based on the opinions of others on the internet.  Does this thread serve any purpose apart from general discussion?  Not really.  Let people discuss whatever they want.  Who cares.

Yes SOTA = State of the Art, the very best available in the here and now.
 
"Does this thread serve any purpose apart from general discussion?  Not really.  Let people discuss whatever they want.  Who cares."
 
Yep, your right, I just get a little tweaked at the continuous whining. 
Personally I have the components I have, I love the way they sound, and I spend exactly zero time worrying about or looking for an upgrade in one area or the other. Traditionally my system tends to remain stable for sometimes decades at a time, only changing when something broke or some new tech came along that REALLY made a difference.
I believe the Orpheus is an absolutely beautiful piece of industrial design besides being Sennheisers best shot at building the best DAC to Phone integrated system they know how. IF I had the money to buy one I would do so without so much as a preview, I know it's going to be SOTA + or - a VERY minuet amount. It would take it's position of honor on my equipment shelf and would remain so for as far into the future as I can possibly see.
If I had the money to buy a Bugatti Veyron, I wouldn't need a reviewer or test ride to see if it would run 250 MPH+, I know dang well it will and be VERY close to the fastest production car available. + or - a tiny bit. LOL

 

[mulder01]

   IF I had the money to buy one I would do so without so much as a preview, I know it's going to be SOTA + or - a VERY minuet amount. 

 
You would take the gamble and hand over $55k before you spent $1k (or possibly less) on a flight just to double check first?  
 
If it arrived and was not necessarily your cup of tea that would be a very expensive lesson - even if it's objectively the world's best system, doesn't 100% guarantee it will be your subjective favourite system...

 

[ubs28]

If you are willing to spend $55k for a headphone system, I''m pretty sure those people have a high-end DAC themselves.

The DAC of the orpheus 2 is probably just to make it work without a hassle but can be improved with an own DAC.