[chrisnyc75]

Yeah, the are discontinuing it. I asked about a replacement and they gave no clear answer. I also asked about an HD900, and they gave no clear answer. I'm not sure the Senn reps really know what is going on, or there's nothing

Yeah, definitely discontinued. My wholely uninformed guess is that in this modern era of Aperios and Shangri-Las and CRBNs it just isn't worth their time to keep overengineering what was once a unique product but no longer is.

 

[betula]

Yeah, definitely discontinued. My wholely uninformed guess is that in this modern era of Aperios and Shangri-Las and CRBNs it just isn't worth their time to keep overengineering what was once a unique product but no longer is.

The market reacted the same way when Sennheiser updated their legendary HE-90 Orpheus to the HE-1. Change, innovation and progress is inevitable. Sennheiser is keeping up. That's a good thing.

 

[chrisnyc75]

The market reacted the same way when Sennheiser updated their legendary HE-90 Orpheus to the HE-1. Change, innovation and progress is inevitable. Sennheiser is keeping up. That's a good thing.

If they drop a new successor model it's a VERY good thing. If they just discontinue HE-1 to continue focusing on HD6xx & HD800S it's just lazy. Just my 2 cents.

Fwiw I would LOVE to see Sennheiser drop a standalone electrostat, minus the italian marble dac/amp frippery, to show that they are still the headphone company to beat in 2024. But frankly, they've done little to nothing since HD800S that is really worth mentioning, and I suspect they are discontinuing HE-1 because even the few who could actually afford it know they can get more headphone for half the cost in modern times.

 

[Frankie D]

Yeah, the are discontinuing it. I asked about a replacement and they gave no clear answer. I also asked about an HD900, and they gave no clear answer. I'm not sure the Senn reps really know what is going on, or there's nothing

Both!

 

[betula]

If they drop a new successor model it's a VERY good thing. If they just discontinue HE-1 to continue focusing on HD6xx HD800S it's just lazy. Just my 2 cents.

Agreed. I don't know, what's going on but I doubt Sennheiser with its heritage would take a similar business/profit focused attitude that Audeze did under the umbrella of Sony; focusing on gaming and studio gear.
I see more pride and honour to their heritage with Sennheiser. I guess, if they don't want to let us know at this stage, only time will tell. But if I had to bet, I would say they definitely have some new things in the make.

 

[Monsterzero]

I now have an Atrium Open. I will use it with Gustard R26 and Cayin HA-3A. Can anyone recommend a different dac or amp that would be good for the atrium? I am also open to cable suggestions.

Like was mentioned before, what sound are you going for and at what budget? You can check out and ask questions in the ZMF amp thread.

 

[Hiker816]

The biggest surprise of the show for me was just how good the Composer sounded off the WA24.

Twice now, I've been really impressed with the WA24 on multiple cans. I wonder how much of what you're hearing is the amp vs the composer.

 

[goldwerger]

CanJam Dallas Day 1 - TLDR​

Highs

• Audma HPA1 - Amp/DAC/pre from Italy launched this year ($9.6k msrp, $8.2k at show) - with Susvara OG it is fantastic. Insane headroom, clean, lush - Go listen if you can (also, unique and well-implemented analog cross-feed controls)
• Noble Chronicle - best Noble IEM since Sultan, to my taste. Exquisite

Lows

• Hifiman Isvarna - everything I feared, realized

 

[Doug2507]

I didn’t like the Magna. The Immanis also didn’t live up to the hype completely. I’m hearing in on the Envy. It’s good, but I was expecting more. I dunno I need to hear it more probably. It does sound good, but the hype was crazy on it. I was expecting the best thing I’ve ever heard, and it didn’t live up to that hype. I’ll properly evaluate it whenever Raal finally sends my Immanis. Who knows when

Edit: I do t like the Envy though. I’m gonna drive it off my VM-1a, which might be better

100% need to hear Envy with different tubes, totally different ball game. Stock tubes fall way short of what it can do.

Edit: The majority seem to take tube amps at face value / stock tube combo, this I just totally don't get on the whole (yeah, it's what's generically provided so I get the 'off the shelf' value), depending on your experience with tubes. I'm still very much a 'noob' but one thing I've learned this year is a tube amp is a seriously versatile audio tool and you can tune it to / between extremes. I've still to find out what difference different amps can make (and explore other tube types) but I can swing Envy to sound like mediocre at best to GOAT depending on tube combo, and that also changes with transducer. What you get at shows / demos is very likely nowhere near what a tube amp can produce given time / effort, and I'm guessing that goes for most of them. Had to say it as I'm always reading tube amp 'A' vs 'B' this and that but it's always stock tubes with very little thought given to rolling. I'd take any tube amp dialled in for 'X' transducer vs an off the shelf unit at any price point.

 

[Ciggavelli]

Twice now, I've been really impressed with the WA24 on multiple cans. I wonder how much of what you're hearing is the amp vs the composer.

Yeah, I’m gonna go try to find a Composer off a different amp tomorrow. I didn’t like the Diana WA24 combo, but I also don’t like the Diana. I really should have brought my 1266 TCs. Just with air travel and having to already bring my laptop, I didn’t have room.

Tomorrow is gonna be that new Hifiman closed back, a Mass Kobo somewhere if it exists and the Aperio again. I’ll try to listen to the immanis off the VM-1a too.

 

[Marutks]

I now have an Atrium Open. I will use it with Gustard R26 and Cayin HA-3A. Can anyone recommend a different dac or amp that would be good for the atrium?

Aegis! I think AO has magical synergy with the Aegis.

 

[leylandi]

R26 and HA-3A is pretty decent already. Is there anything you don't like in this combo? What would you like to improve? Or you are just after a similar tonality with better resolve etc? What's your budget? IMO if you want anything significantly better, you will have to at least double your budget.

My curiosity was about synergy. I can't spend any more money right now. I wondered if there was a better package for a similar budget.

I have a foza noir hybrid cable that is compatible with hifiman. Can I make it compatible with zmf?

 

[AudioDuck]

My curiosity was about synergy. I can't spend any more money right now. I wondered if there was a better package for a similar budget.

I have a foza noir hybrid cable that is compatible with hifiman. Can I make it compatible with zmf?

Yes, Forza should be able to reterminate it for a small fee if you reach out to them and arrange it, then ship the cable to them for the work.

 

[betula]

My curiosity was about synergy. I can't spend any more money right now. I wondered if there was a better package for a similar budget.

I have a foza noir hybrid cable that is compatible with hifiman. Can I make it compatible with zmf?

Honestly, for a similar budget I don't think there is a much better package. If you only plan to drive high impedance dynamics, you could experiment with similarly priced OTL tube amps as synergy between ZMF dynamics and OTL is great. Otherwise, the HA-3A as TC tube amp is much more versatile to drive low impedance planars.
For a more significant improvement you would have to spend a lot more, but the Rockna Wavedream with the ZMF Aegis could be a next step up.

 

[leylandi]

Honestly, for a similar budget I don't think there is a much better package. If you only plan to drive high impedance dynamics, you could experiment with similarly priced OTL tube amps as synergy between ZMF dynamics and OTL is great. Otherwise, the HA-3A as TC tube amp is much more versatile to drive low impedance planars.
For a more significant improvement you would have to spend a lot more, but the Rockna Wavedream with the ZMF Aegis could be a next step up.

Atrium can't keep up with fast-paced music. Meze Elite comes to mind as a similar tone planar. I know you've had Elite for a long time. What do you think are the differences? Is switching a good step?