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

[TheAbyss2022]

Today was a good day.

If you can't already tell, we love the MK1 007!

 

[goldwerger]

Speaking of which...any chance for that Dahlia/Arashi comparison?

I haven't forgotten, but I have misjudged my timing, logistics wise. I needed to send the Dahlia out on tour, so as not to delay 15 people waiting for it, before I got to doing this comparison thoroughly side by side. But, I do have the Arashi myself and I now plan to get the Dahlia for myself after the demo. So when do, may spend some more time doing this properly.

Meantime, let me not punt and skirt your question. Memory based writeup caveat and all, here is my honest and highestly subjective summary take on the Dunu Arashi vs. HFA Dahlia.

I’ll start by saying straight out that I like both, a lot. I have the Arashi and plan on getting the Dahlia. So consider me biased.. with that, to my ears:

The Arashi offers good resolution with really nice sub-bass and treble detail. Its tuning is pretty flat and linear. I think it would appeal grateful to folks who like neutral tuning. Yet, the Arashi is engaging musically. Timbre is really nice, and mids, which are a little more forward, are quite beautifully rendered. While tonally balanced, the Arashi still feels a touch warm (as in rich and smooth vs. lean sounding). Imaging is excellent.

The Dahlia, in contrast, provides a more classic Harman-like tuning with a gentle mid bass and treble elevations and an organic sound. There is something about their presentation that feels lush and organic. Notably, it has a “wet” presentation, with a sense of reverb that creates a great sense of spaciousness that I find very enjoyable. Mids are comparatively more relaxed in their presentation. If you prefer more intimate vocals, Arashi would be your choice; but while they are more laid back on the Dahlia, vocals sound very and, as a reward for this tuning choice, these headphones have a bit more air as a result.

Another way to try to describe the contrast between these headphones would be that the Arashi is the more precise set while the Dahlia are more euphonic, but neither veers too much in either direction and offers both engagement and believability from their respective vantage points. In other ways, they give some of what one would expect from a good planar and dynamic driver headphones, respectively.

Both headphones are equally comfortable and great for long listening sessions. While both are very well built, the Arashi exudes an extra sense of understated quality of engineering, materials, and design.

Given their price points -- Arashi at $1400, and Dahlia at $880-$1,000 (depending on cable choice) – both of these headphones are remarkable achievements and punch way above their price brackets.

 

[DenverW]

Cool thanks.

I think this is the one:

https://reverb.com/item/82859366-1963-amperex-mullard-12au7-ecc82-vintage-blackburn-gf2-preamp-tube-t100

For Amperex tubes, the pre 1955 long plate 45 degree slanted D getter with welded plates was my favorite of all versions. That tube compares well with the best of the best.

 

[Doug2507]

For Amperex tubes, the pre 1955 long plate 45 degree slanted D getter with welded plates was my favorite of all versions. That tube compares well with the best of the best.

Pretty sure that'll be the same as a Copenhagen, print on the bottom of the tube being △* K6*, '51-'55 philips tube, mostly branded Valvo. Up there with the best, different sound from M8136.

 

[DenverW]

Pretty sure that'll be a Copenhagen, print on the bottom of the tube being △* K6*, '51-'55 philips tube, mostly branded Valvo. Up there with the best, different sound from M8136.

Sounds right to me; I believe they go back into the 40's but my memory may be faulty.

 

[goldwerger]

Pretty sure that'll be the same as a Copenhagen, print on the bottom of the tube being △* K6*, '51-'55 philips tube, mostly branded Valvo. Up there with the best, different sound from M8136.

How’d you compare their sounds?
Thanks

 

[Doug2507]

Sounds right to me; I believe they go back into the 40's but my memory may be faulty.

Tail end of '50 was the first I think, K60, bit of a unicorn. Love these as well, firm spot in my top five!

How’d you compare their sounds?
Thanks

@goldwerger

M8136's main talent i think is stage if we're talking about box plates, they throw it quite wide. Reasonable difference in sound between the various different box / toaster plates throughout the years most notably on top end smoothness and change in resolution which goes for most philips tubes as the years went by. There's also M8136 with completely different structure such as a Brimar M8316 with black long half plates for example which are basically a long plate version of CV(X)4003.

The Copenhagens have a slightly warmer / more organic tonality and higher resolution vs the M8316's I've got in the drawer (early box plate with double post square getter). I'd say they're a half step down from Hivac / Valvo foil D on resolution with a slightly softer bottom end.

I'd need to sit down with them when back onshore to give an accurate A/B for you. Can easily sort something out for your own ears to decide...

 

[yrstruly]

Any Liric 2 fans here? Keen to give them another go as love the form factor. It doesn’t seem to be getting much love here but could be wrong!

 

[LXMc]

I haven't forgotten, but I have misjudged my timing, logistics wise. I needed to send the Dahlia out on tour, so as not to delay 15 people waiting for it, before I got to doing this comparison thoroughly side by side. But, I do have the Arashi myself and I now plan to get the Dahlia for myself after the demo. So when do, may spend some more time doing this properly.

Meantime, let me not punt and skirt your question. Memory based writeup caveat and all, here is my honest and highestly subjective summary take on the Dunu Arashi vs. HFA Dahlia.

I’ll start by saying straight out that I like both, a lot. I have the Arashi and plan on getting the Dahlia. So consider me biased.. with that, to my ears:

The Arashi offers good resolution with really nice sub-bass and treble detail. Its tuning is pretty flat and linear. I think it would appeal grateful to folks who like neutral tuning. Yet, the Arashi is engaging musically. Timbre is really nice, and mids, which are a little more forward, are quite beautifully rendered. While tonally balanced, the Arashi still feels a touch warm (as in rich and smooth vs. lean sounding). Imaging is excellent.

The Dahlia, in contrast, provides a more classic Harman-like tuning with a gentle mid bass and treble elevations and an organic sound. There is something about their presentation that feels lush and organic. Notably, it has a “wet” presentation, with a sense of reverb that creates a great sense of spaciousness that I find very enjoyable. Mids are comparatively more relaxed in their presentation. If you prefer more intimate vocals, Arashi would be your choice; but while they are more laid back on the Dahlia, vocals sound very and, as a reward for this tuning choice, these headphones have a bit more air as a result.

Another way to try to describe the contrast between these headphones would be that the Arashi is the more precise set while the Dahlia are more euphonic, but neither veers too much in either direction and offers both engagement and believability from their respective vantage points. In other ways, they give some of what one would expect from a good planar and dynamic driver headphones, respectively.

Both headphones are equally comfortable and great for long listening sessions. While both are very well built, the Arashi exudes an extra sense of understated quality of engineering, materials, and design.

Given their price points -- Arashi at $1400, and Dahlia at $880-$1,000 (depending on cable choice) – both of these headphones are remarkable achievements and punch way above their price brackets.

Sorry didn't intend to rush you! Thank you, this is great and helps give me a solid idea on where the Arashi lands.

 

[jawicedman]

NVM wrong sub

 

[nephilim32]

Today was a good day.

If you can't already tell, we love the MK1 007!

Well who needs a kitchen table anyway.
Now that is a headphone party.

 

[goldwerger]

Sorry didn't intend to rush you! Thank you, this is great and helps give me a solid idea on where the Arashi lands.

No problem, I needed a reminder

I will have a bit to say about this since I just got done with the Arashi (the Dahlia is actually the headphone that compared most closely in many respects, IMO) if I ever find time to type up my notes, hopefully this weekend!

Would be great to see how your notes compare

M8136's main talent i think is stage if we're talking about box plates, they throw it quite wide. Reasonable difference in sound between the various different box / toaster plates throughout the years most notably on top end smoothness and change in resolution which goes for most philips tubes as the years went by. There's also M8136 with completely different structure such as a Brimar M8316 with black long half plates for example which are basically a long plate version of CV(X)4003.

My reference is the Mullard M8136 from the 60s (Mitcham factory) in case you’re familiar with it?

 

[Doug2507]

My reference is the Mullard M8136 from the 60s (Mitcham factory) in case you’re familiar with it?

Reasonably. Same as what I've got albeit I use an earlier one, same plates, little bit different elsewhere. There's around 10 different construction box plates, early ones being 630, later 631, differences within each.

This is a 3rd rev (I'd need to verify, might be 2nd) 630, 1956 if I remember correctly ...double post square getter with the getter set at an angle relative to the post.

Anyway, I'll ping you a PM in a bit, save boring the others with tube chat.

 

[RenoGu]

Any Liric 2 fans here? Keen to give them another go as love the form factor. It doesn’t seem to be getting much love here but could be wrong!

not from the Liric 2 but from the 1, I am not a super fan of the sound without EQ, but damn they are comfortable and seal very well on my head. I tend to use them with some EQ for working long hours. I have found a good match that works for me with a tube preamp and a Cayin amp with slight EQ.

 

[betula]

Any Liric 2 fans here? Keen to give them another go as love the form factor. It doesn’t seem to be getting much love here but could be wrong!

Liric 2 is a decent closed back. Certainly an improvement over the og. The only issue with it that ZMF closed backs exist.