THE WATERCOOLER HEADPHONE EDITION – Headphones, Amps, DACs, and desktop/home audio related – a freewheeling discussion of gear, impressions, music, and musings.

[dleblanc343]

Most of my vinyl listening is on my two channel system, but every once in a while I listen with headphones, which is always a good time. An ultrasonic cleaner helps tremendously with noise, I use a Degritter Mark II, but they are pretty expensive.

Here's my turntable, Thorens TD 125 MKII I restored with a Sorane TA-1 tonearm and Hana EL MC cart.



Phono I made is underneath, but it will be changing soon. I have an tube LCR phono build in the works, using D3a and E55L tubes. Probably will upgrade my cart after the new phono is done.

Vinyl is a PITA, but it's got that magical realism going for it that is really hard to reproduce digitally, IME.

What a hulking beast! Must sound fabulous

 

[Kiats]

Looks like the Rolls Royce of headphones. Super luxurious!

Nor surprising that Rolls Royce should come to mind. Connolly which provided the leather for both the L5000 and L3000 also provide the leather for the upholstery and leather finishings of Rolls Royce.

 

[nephilim32]

You are looking in the wrong places. Switch to Bandcamp and be amazed by the curated suggestions and the detailed search engine.

Well the keywords I said are “aren’t that much.”
I didn’t imply that there isn’t anything somewhat new that is nothing short of excellent.
Also. I’ve had Bandcamp for many many years now. That site is excellent. Explorations are a plenty and I know if you put the time and effort into that site you won’t be disappointed.

 

[nephilim32]

Last weekend I had a wonderful time playing through various headphones and re-establishing some synergies. With my latest obsession with IEM's, I've been neglecting my HP's and seldomly using them for a better part of the last year.

Well, let's just say not many IEM's even come close to most headphones pictured except for things like Annihilator or Storm which trade some small blows.



My favorite headphone is the ES-1a with DSP. This headphone is a DIY take on the legendary SR-Omega, but with an actual capability to displace air with visceral body in the lower registers, providing better macrodynamics than any of the STAX rigs I've heard. This includes maxed out SR-X9000 and SR-007MK1 on an Eksonic T2. I'm just talking about the bass however, as the rest of the raw frequency response is somewhat of a trainwreck, very much sounding like a mix of SR009 in its tuning and timbre, with SR007/ X9000 lower midrange and imaging placement. Also keep in mind that Estats are very capable of dynamics, it's just mainly STAX that voices their product in a way that is not optimal for that and more in favor of an ethereal presentation. Sennheiser HE60 is one of the better estats on this earth, a true love of mine, and over 30 years old and dynamically capable - it's too bad there hasn't been much evolution in this tech in all this time... though it seems to be picking up as of late!

When I first received this headphone, I noted the unrefined gem and potential in its technical ability + dynamic bass and decided to send it to fellow Canadian Mitch Barnett at Accurate Sound for him to tinker with his target adherence adjustment. Needless to say, the results were outstanding and my bet was a winner. With the convolution EQ there is a remarkable improvement in the tonal balance and what you get is pretty damn neutral.

Here's what it looks like in stock form:


And here's how it is based on Accurate Sound's correction (note the different scale, different target and no data beyond 5.5kHz):


I am not trying to make a sales pitch, as this is super niche stuff - but I think it's my responsibility to share something that is this awesome, to the community. We're talking Summit-Fi levels of earspeaker experience here at a much more reasonable cost than literally anything of that caliber, though there are some mildly annoying parameters to get there.

First, with the DSP EQ band, you lose a lot of SPL, requiring more headroom, so you need a lot of power reserve and gain on the amp side. Most energizers will get to clipping level if you want to rock out. My McIntosh + Mjolnir SRD7 ironically is the best pairing, though I have higher quality energizers on-hand.

Second, you will need a convolver or software that can do the processing. This requires a PC, and some bit of processing power. Thankfully ROON has this built-in capability and I've been using PC -> DAC for over a decade as my main source.

Third, the filterset (with 4 variables) is very much Accurate Sound's target, so that may or may not be compliant to your idea of neutral. I think it's pretty damn close to what I consider an in-room speaker neutral target. Mitch has been in the studio business for decades now, so he's not just "some guy", so there's my opinion.

Lastly, due to seating variance on coupler/ unreliable reads, the DSP is only affecting 20Hz through 7700Hz, leaving most the mid treble and upper treble untouched (though this still psychoacoustically changes due to the EQ lower in the FR range). Because most individuals will have their preferences in sound dialed in based on treble elevation relative to the frequency balance, Accurate Sound offers 4 configs - it's not much, but enough to toggle your pairing based on music types and preferences to a notable degree:

Drop in the overall level in high frequencies beyond 7.7 kHz eq cut off point in 1 dB increments:

A = -2 dB
B = -3 dB
C = 0 dB reference
D = -1 dB

As a headphone collector, it's very difficult to "pick 1" headphone and be done. Actually, it's impossible, so I will keep picking stuff up and do the chase. For the last 7 years, my go-to or "favorite" headphones has been the Susvara, but since 2022, Susvara has lost its favor to the ES1a and W2022, both being more complete or realistic experiences in their own way of reproducing music. I will be receiving a Susvara Unveiled shortly and hope this to be that small increment in transparency and dynamics to bring it back into position #1, but only my ears will be able to tell.

What's also very fun is that I will have trial #5 with HE1, but this time at home and will be able to use with a better DAC than I had tried way back (Dangerous Convert-2). HE1's built-in DAC is average and restricts the sound potential quite a bit. I think it's the best HP system in the world as plug and play, but many Head-Fiers have achieved as good if not better with well dialed-in Susvara or X9000/ Shang SR rigs.

Now if HiFiMAN could make a Shangri-La Unveiled...

This is one hell of a post. I respect it.
Terrific setup as well. Very inviting.

 

[nephilim32]

Music getting worse? Hogwash. There’s an endless supply of new amazing talent producing interesting riff, hooks, and harmonies. Now it may not be pop music or dj, I mean what to make of illit and magnetic and a genre may lull from time to time, but all main genres keep pumping out talent I guess the question of taste and preferences aside. John was right and wrong, yes there’s songs to be written that haven’t been done before.

It is not getting worse. I would say it is getting more redundant. Sometimes we have to take a step back and ask ourselves some real questions regarding the relevance of what is considered “new.”
Is it the band or the actual music itself? For me. 99% of the time it is the band lol.
Modernizing musical genres that have already long been established doesn’t all together make that music “new.”
Now when bands offer a creative twist or a genre fusing to an already established genre, that is what makes somewhat of a “new’ sound to us.

 

[Kiats]

Last weekend I had a wonderful time playing through various headphones and re-establishing some synergies. With my latest obsession with IEM's, I've been neglecting my HP's and seldomly using them for a better part of the last year.

Well, let's just say not many IEM's even come close to most headphones pictured except for things like Annihilator or Storm which trade some small blows.



My favorite headphone is the ES-1a with DSP. This headphone is a DIY take on the legendary SR-Omega, but with an actual capability to displace air with visceral body in the lower registers, providing better macrodynamics than any of the STAX rigs I've heard. This includes maxed out SR-X9000 and SR-007MK1 on an Eksonic T2. I'm just talking about the bass however, as the rest of the raw frequency response is somewhat of a trainwreck, very much sounding like a mix of SR009 in its tuning and timbre, with SR007/ X9000 lower midrange and imaging placement. Also keep in mind that Estats are very capable of dynamics, it's just mainly STAX that voices their product in a way that is not optimal for that and more in favor of an ethereal presentation. Sennheiser HE60 is one of the better estats on this earth, a true love of mine, and over 30 years old and dynamically capable - it's too bad there hasn't been much evolution in this tech in all this time... though it seems to be picking up as of late!

When I first received this headphone, I noted the unrefined gem and potential in its technical ability + dynamic bass and decided to send it to fellow Canadian Mitch Barnett at Accurate Sound for him to tinker with his target adherence adjustment. Needless to say, the results were outstanding and my bet was a winner. With the convolution EQ there is a remarkable improvement in the tonal balance and what you get is pretty damn neutral.

Here's what it looks like in stock form:


And here's how it is based on Accurate Sound's correction (note the different scale, different target and no data beyond 5.5kHz):


I am not trying to make a sales pitch, as this is super niche stuff - but I think it's my responsibility to share something that is this awesome, to the community. We're talking Summit-Fi levels of earspeaker experience here at a much more reasonable cost than literally anything of that caliber, though there are some mildly annoying parameters to get there.

First, with the DSP EQ band, you lose a lot of SPL, requiring more headroom, so you need a lot of power reserve and gain on the amp side. Most energizers will get to clipping level if you want to rock out. My McIntosh + Mjolnir SRD7 ironically is the best pairing, though I have higher quality energizers on-hand.

Second, you will need a convolver or software that can do the processing. This requires a PC, and some bit of processing power. Thankfully ROON has this built-in capability and I've been using PC -> DAC for over a decade as my main source.

Third, the filterset (with 4 variables) is very much Accurate Sound's target, so that may or may not be compliant to your idea of neutral. I think it's pretty damn close to what I consider an in-room speaker neutral target. Mitch has been in the studio business for decades now, so he's not just "some guy", so there's my opinion.

Lastly, due to seating variance on coupler/ unreliable reads, the DSP is only affecting 20Hz through 7700Hz, leaving most the mid treble and upper treble untouched (though this still psychoacoustically changes due to the EQ lower in the FR range). Because most individuals will have their preferences in sound dialed in based on treble elevation relative to the frequency balance, Accurate Sound offers 4 configs - it's not much, but enough to toggle your pairing based on music types and preferences to a notable degree:

Drop in the overall level in high frequencies beyond 7.7 kHz eq cut off point in 1 dB increments:

A = -2 dB
B = -3 dB
C = 0 dB reference
D = -1 dB

As a headphone collector, it's very difficult to "pick 1" headphone and be done. Actually, it's impossible, so I will keep picking stuff up and do the chase. For the last 7 years, my go-to or "favorite" headphones has been the Susvara, but since 2022, Susvara has lost its favor to the ES1a and W2022, both being more complete or realistic experiences in their own way of reproducing music. I will be receiving a Susvara Unveiled shortly and hope this to be that small increment in transparency and dynamics to bring it back into position #1, but only my ears will be able to tell.

What's also very fun is that I will have trial #5 with HE1, but this time at home and will be able to use with a better DAC than I had tried way back (Dangerous Convert-2). HE1's built-in DAC is average and restricts the sound potential quite a bit. I think it's the best HP system in the world as plug and play, but many Head-Fiers have achieved as good if not better with well dialed-in Susvara or X9000/ Shang SR rigs.

Now if HiFiMAN could make a Shangri-La Unveiled...

Nice write up! Yes, the ES-1a is such a joy to listen to. Considering it is a small run production piece.

Where does the HE-60 sit in your collection?

 

[MindBreak]

Anyone using their headphone for listening to mostly records? Most of my time is spend like 90% records and 10% streaming. Using a ZMF Atrium Closed. It taught me how to really learn how to clean a record good but also appreciate some pops and crack since well they all can't be gone. Must just feels so natural this way. My turntable setup isn't anything wild. A Project X2 with a Sumiko Moonstone. Once I upgrade my amp and phono stage.. (I'm look at you MJ3 and Future Schiit Tube Phono Pre) I am dive into the world on MC carts.

Not listening to records on it, but I can definitely attest to the MJ3 and Atrium Open sounding good together. I would assume it would not be a bad pairing with Atrium Closed as well.

 

[Huntersknoll]

I am so thankful that my rack is chock-full of amps I couldn't fit one in. Because.. I still stare at my rack every now and then and make mental measurements where a turntable may fit. Used to have one in my twenties (that's thirty years ago). I still have a few records I've been keeping boxed since, mostly some rare jazz records. But I'm keenly aware that my obsessive nature will get me so deep into that rabbit hole, I'm glad logistics are holding me back. For now.. Streaming and CD transport scratch the itch until then..

You know I thought about switching to getting more CDs but I’m so deep in the rabbit hole there is no getting out. I was trying to justify it by telling myself if I ever moved again it’s easier to move CDs lol.

Most of my vinyl listening is on my two channel system, but every once in a while I listen with headphones, which is always a good time. An ultrasonic cleaner helps tremendously with noise, I use a Degritter Mark II, but they are pretty expensive.

Here's my turntable, Thorens TD 125 MKII I restored with a Sorane TA-1 tonearm and Hana EL MC cart.



Phono I made is underneath, but it will be changing soon. I have an tube LCR phono build in the works, using D3a and E55L tubes. Probably will upgrade my cart after the new phono is done.

Vinyl is a PITA, but it's got that magical realism going for it that is really hard to reproduce digitally, IME.

I have the same feeling about the degritter as I have about my vpi record cleaning machine. At first I thought I’d never get one then my collection grew and it was a solid investment. My collection grew again and now I’m eyeing one up. I look at it as an investment as I tell myself.

I’ve only heard good things about the Hana’s. It’s on the top of my list

It is a PITA but there is something about sitting down and listening to a record or two before I go to bed with cat on my lap. Makes it worth it lol.

 

[gammi]

I meant getting a custom convolutions for those cans

I've sent multiple of my headphones to Mitch. The Expanse, Utopia, and Liric filters were all made with my headphones.

I asked him about sending in my X9000 and 007mk1 as well and he said he's interested but he's been very busy the past few months and has yet to provide a time for me to send them. I think they'd be incredible with his tuning.

 

[goldwerger]

I've sent multiple of my headphones to Mitch. The Expanse, Utopia, and Liric filters were all made with my headphones.

I asked him about sending in my X9000 and 007mk1 as well and he said he's interested but he's been very busy the past few months and has yet to provide a time for me to send them. I think they'd be incredible with his tuning.

if/when you get them, would be very curious to get your impressions..

 

[timeslip]

What is this I hear? Ray Samuel Adams is still relevant?!?! My first amp was a tomahawk, and I loved that thing for years.

Anyone have any opinions about the B-21 Raider? How would you compare it to the AIC-10 or WA33 Elite JPS? For context, I had a susvara & abyss 1266 phi tc and a susvara unveiled and immanis on pre-order

 

[goldwerger]

What is this I hear? Ray Samuel Adams is still relevant?!?! My first amp was a tomahawk, and I loved that thing for years.

Anyone have any opinions about the B-21 Raider? How would you compare it to the AIC-10 or WA33 Elite JPS?

yea.. he is very much active and launching a brand new amp... I just published a full review of it:

https://www.head-fi.org/showcase/ray-samuels-audio-b-21-raider.27324/reviews#review-34409

So, funny you should ask, as I'm listening to the AIC10 as I'm typing (currently a CC demo unit I got from Zach; wonderful).

So these are 2 very different products:

• B-21 has 2 amps - a dynamic amp and an estat amp / AIC10 is of course a dynamic amp
• B-21 is solid stage / AIC10 is hybrid
• B -21 costs $12.5k (which is essentailly for 2 amps; so ascribe half or whatever portion of it you think should go to the dynamic amp) / the AIC is $20k (or less if you get a deal) - however you compute it, it's a whole price tier more expensive
• B-21 is 2 stack components / AIC10 is a more comapct single unit
• B-21 is headphones amp only / AIC10 has both headphones and speaker outputs
• B-21 is balanced output only (no SE port) / AIC is both balacned and SE outputs

so, mechanical details out of the way (there's more, but quick and dirty calibration), comparing the dynamic amp section only:

The AIC10 remains, for me, the best dynamic amp I've ever had or heard - but it costs double or more. The hybrid nature of the AIC really comes into play, that single 12au7 gain tube affects the tuning quite a bit, and you get the flavor pf that tube tuning coupled with the immense class A output stage. It's an oraganic sound the likes of which is, at the moment, unbeatable for me (AIC+Susvara, for me, equals in enjoyment a listen on the HE1, which I really loved each time I demo-ed).

The B-21 dynamic amp is phenomenal. It reminds me most of my prior CFA3 ('dukei' built) which now @number1sixerfan owns (who also had the AIC10 at home to demo, so he may have some insights as well on that).

The B-21, like the CFA3, has a tremendous sense of space with a very expansive soundstage, and a very fast attack/decay, crisp bass (the CFA3 is a touch brighter perhaps, but very similar).

Both the AIC and B-21 are crazy powerful. Ton of headroom on Susvara OG, Tungsten, etc.

Biggest difference qualitatively is that the AIC10 is more "textured", more weight on the notes perhaps, more organic feeling; while the B-21 is more about fast, spacious, clean and effortless feel.

I liked all planars I tried on both (and I really don't think dynamic headphones are the forte of either, though both can drive them fine). To my taste - I prefer the AIC for the Susvara and Tungsten (I think it's the best amp I've heard both with; and reason that made me buy it). On the B-21, I liked the Caldera (open) and Rognir (planar) - both of these on the B-21 were the best synergy I experienced with them; I think because they are more "weighty" headphones to start, that amp's neutrality and speed matched them best.

Now, improtantly - the B-21 is also an elecrtostatic amp, which is at least 50% of the reason why one should get it.

I don't have any material experience with the WA33 so I will avoid offering any irresponsible comments on something I don't know well

This is a quick and dirty note, as I gave my structured impressions in my detailed writeup above. Hope this gives you some color.

---

Edited for typos..

 

[bigbeans]

yea.. he is very much active and launching a brand new amp... I just published a full review of it:

https://www.head-fi.org/showcase/ray-samuels-audio-b-21-raider.27324/reviews#review-34409

So, funny you should ask, as I'm listening to the AIC10 as I'm typing (currently a CC demo unit I got from Zach; wonderful).

So these are 2 very different products:

• B-21 has 2 amps - a dynamic amp and an estat amp / AIC10 is of course a dynamic amp
• B-21 is solid stage / AIC10 is hybrid
• B -21 costs $12.5k (which is essentailly for 2 amps; so ascribe half or whatever portion of it you think should go to the dynamic amp) / the AIC is $20k (or less if you get a deal) - however you compute it, it's a whole price tier more expensive
• B-21 is 2 stack components / AIC10 is a more comapct single unit
• B-21 is headphones amp only / AIC10 has both headphones and speaker outputs
• B-21 is balanced output only (no SE port) / AIC is both balacned and SE outputs

so, mechanical details out of the way (there's more, but quick and dirty calibration), comparing the dynamic amp section only:

The AIC10 remains, for me, the best dynamic amp I've ever had or heard - but it costs double or more. The hybrid nature of the AIC really comes into play, that single 12au7 gain tube affects the tuning quite a bit, and you get the flavor to that tube tuning coupled with the immense class A output stage. It's an oraganic sound the likes of which is, at the moment, unbeatable for me (AIC+Susvara, for me, equals in enjoyable a listen on the HE1, which I really loved each time I demo-ed).

The B-21 dynamic amp is phenomenal. It reminds me most of my prior CFA3 ('dukei' built) which now @number1sixerfan owns (who also had the AIC10 at home to demo, so he may have some insights as well on that).

The B-21, like the CFA3, has tremendous sense of space and a very expansive soundstage and a very fast attack/decay crisp bass (the CFA3 is a tough brighter perhaps but very similar).

Both the AIC and B-21 are crazy powerful. Ton of headphone on Susvara OG, Tungsten, etc.

Biggest difference qualitative is that the AIC10 is more "textured", more weight on the notes perhaps, more organic feeling; while the B-21 is more about fast, spacious, clean and effortless feel.

I liked all planars I tried on both (and I really don't think dynamic headphones are the forte of either, though both can drive them fine). To my taste - I prefer the AIC for the Susvara and Tungsten (I think it's the best amp I've heard both with; and reason that made me buy it). On the B-21, I liked the Caldera (open) and Rognir (planar) - both of these on the B-21 were the best synergy I experience with them; I think because they are more "weighty" headphones to start, that amp neutrality and speed matched htem best.

Now, improtantly - the B-21 is also an elecrtostatic amp, whcih is at least 50% of the reason why one should get it.

I don't have any material experiencew ih the WA33 so I will avoid offering any irresponsible comments on something I don't know well

This is a quick and dirty note, as I gave my structured impressions in my detailed writeup above. Hope this gives you some color.

Is the B21 a limited production or will it be produced without limitation like the AIC 10?

 

[timeslip]

yea.. he is very much active and launching a brand new amp... I just published a full review of it:

https://www.head-fi.org/showcase/ray-samuels-audio-b-21-raider.27324/reviews#review-34409

So, funny you should ask, as I'm listening to the AIC10 as I'm typing (currently a CC demo unit I got from Zach; wonderful).

So these are 2 very different products:

• B-21 has 2 amps - a dynamic amp and an estat amp / AIC10 is of course a dynamic amp
• B-21 is solid stage / AIC10 is hybrid
• B -21 costs $12.5k (which is essentailly for 2 amps; so ascribe half or whatever portion of it you think should go to the dynamic amp) / the AIC is $20k (or less if you get a deal) - however you compute it, it's a whole price tier more expensive
• B-21 is 2 stack components / AIC10 is a more comapct single unit
• B-21 is headphones amp only / AIC10 has both headphones and speaker outputs
• B-21 is balanced output only (no SE port) / AIC is both balacned and SE outputs

so, mechanical details out of the way (there's more, but quick and dirty calibration), comparing the dynamic amp section only:

The AIC10 remains, for me, the best dynamic amp I've ever had or heard - but it costs double or more. The hybrid nature of the AIC really comes into play, that single 12au7 gain tube affects the tuning quite a bit, and you get the flavor pf that tube tuning coupled with the immense class A output stage. It's an oraganic sound the likes of which is, at the moment, unbeatable for me (AIC+Susvara, for me, equals in enjoyment a listen on the HE1, which I really loved each time I demo-ed).

The B-21 dynamic amp is phenomenal. It reminds me most of my prior CFA3 ('dukei' built) which now @number1sixerfan owns (who also had the AIC10 at home to demo, so he may have some insights as well on that).

The B-21, like the CFA3, has tremendous sense of space and a very expansive soundstage and a very fast attack/decay crisp bass (the CFA3 is a tough brighter perhaps but very similar).

Both the AIC and B-21 are crazy powerful. Ton of headphone on Susvara OG, Tungsten, etc.

Biggest difference qualitative is that the AIC10 is more "textured", more weight on the notes perhaps, more organic feeling; while the B-21 is more about fast, spacious, clean and effortless feel.

I liked all planars I tried on both (and I really don't think dynamic headphones are the forte of either, though both can drive them fine). To my taste - I prefer the AIC for the Susvara and Tungsten (I think it's the best amp I've heard both with; and reason that made me buy it). On the B-21, I liked the Caldera (open) and Rognir (planar) - both of these on the B-21 were the best synergy I experience with them; I think because they are more "weighty" headphones to start, that amp neutrality and speed matched htem best.

Now, improtantly - the B-21 is also an elecrtostatic amp, whcih is at least 50% of the reason why one should get it.

I don't have any material experiencew ih the WA33 so I will avoid offering any irresponsible comments on something I don't know well

This is a quick and dirty note, as I gave my structured impressions in my detailed writeup above. Hope this gives you some color.

Appreciate the quick and detailed reply to my question. I've never considered estat headphones until a little birdy (cough @bigbeans) put the idea in my head. I am open to a new amp, but I also have quite a bit invested in my wa33 elite jps (kr tubes + western electric 274). It sounds like I really should decide if I want to venture into estat first before making a purchase like this. Otherwise, the AIC-10 might be on my radar as a possible replacement for my wa33.

Do you happen to know the physical dimensions on the B-21?

 

[goldwerger]

Is the B21 a limited production or will it be produced without limitation like the AIC 10?

First batch is 20 amps (of which 6 were already ordered as of a few days ago). But, unlikely some wrong info I think that was shared somewhere, I confirmed personally with Ray that he will continue to produce it based on demand. So, it's not intended as a limited edition, but will be made to match whatever demand there is.

I've never considered estat headphones until a little birdy (cough @bigbeans) put the idea in my head. I

Well, slippery slope and all...

yea, estat is a commitment. a whole different chain. specific amps (or "energizers") that can't be use with anthying else. a real PITA. but... a whole different presentation. like dynamic and planars are different, except even more so.

I recommend spending some time demo-ing a couple of headphones at a dealer or canjam to see what it's all about. some people spend their lives listening to estats, others spend their lives never listenign to them..

part of the value prop of the B-21 is that you get 2 in 1- saves quite a lot of space and effort getting two-in-one instead of needing to build a dedicated chain.

Do you happen to know the physical dimensions on the B-21?

When stacked, height is about 10" and width is about 16" (depth a bit less). so, foot print is close but a bit smaller than a full size rack component.

the AIC-10 might be on my radar as a possible replacement for my wa33.

It's truly a musical masterpiece. I love mine to death.