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- Aug 18, 2007
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The Vampire 780's have 544 hours on them and still sound fantastic. I haven't heard any major changes since 200 hours, just a little smoother and more refined.
Using the same Marantz CD5001, I am currently running the Edition 9 via Apogee mini-DAC (S/PDIF on the coax) to the Woo WA6 with a highflyin9 silver plated copper RCA-mini. AT THE SAME TIME I am playing the Vampire 780's through just the Headroom Micro Amp which is connected directly to the Marantz CD player RCA outs with a Headphile silver cpu RCA-mini. I also tried swapping the headphones between the two rigs.
The Results: Well, there were two different comparisons - the rigs and the phones. Until the Woo's huge V-caps and BlackGates burns in, the $2500 rig isn't a whole lot better than the $600 rig (not including headphones). I also need to get the $200 Jensen Transformers XLR to RCA out 4:1 transformer, since the XLR is better than the mini-out on the Apogee.
Next, the Edition 9 are still better, but not massively better. I assumed this was due to the relatively low hours on the WA6 (63 hours), but the Micro only has 125 hours and hasn't changed much out of the box while the Woo has made big changes. Switching the headphones between the two rigs doesn't have a dramatic change, and the Edition 9 continue to better the 780's, but only by the same difference. It's the same increased body, soundstage, and refinement that I've mentioned before. But it's amazing that these truly are 90% of an Edition 9. It's seems to be that last 10% that makes or breaks them (another ALO780 owner sold me his ALO 780 and bought Edition 9 after hearing mine). It's even more amazing how good either one can sound with a $299 CDP and $299 amp (2006 model) - resolving, detailed, transparent, punchy, crisp, accurate, exciting, hypnotizing, and engaging.
Of course the WA6 is gonna sound a lot different in 1,000 hours when the V-caps and BlackGates are burned-in, and I install my Aperex Bugle Boy GZ34 in it, and I am pushing it with XLR>RCA transformers.
Just my thoughts.
Using the same Marantz CD5001, I am currently running the Edition 9 via Apogee mini-DAC (S/PDIF on the coax) to the Woo WA6 with a highflyin9 silver plated copper RCA-mini. AT THE SAME TIME I am playing the Vampire 780's through just the Headroom Micro Amp which is connected directly to the Marantz CD player RCA outs with a Headphile silver cpu RCA-mini. I also tried swapping the headphones between the two rigs.
The Results: Well, there were two different comparisons - the rigs and the phones. Until the Woo's huge V-caps and BlackGates burns in, the $2500 rig isn't a whole lot better than the $600 rig (not including headphones). I also need to get the $200 Jensen Transformers XLR to RCA out 4:1 transformer, since the XLR is better than the mini-out on the Apogee.
Next, the Edition 9 are still better, but not massively better. I assumed this was due to the relatively low hours on the WA6 (63 hours), but the Micro only has 125 hours and hasn't changed much out of the box while the Woo has made big changes. Switching the headphones between the two rigs doesn't have a dramatic change, and the Edition 9 continue to better the 780's, but only by the same difference. It's the same increased body, soundstage, and refinement that I've mentioned before. But it's amazing that these truly are 90% of an Edition 9. It's seems to be that last 10% that makes or breaks them (another ALO780 owner sold me his ALO 780 and bought Edition 9 after hearing mine). It's even more amazing how good either one can sound with a $299 CDP and $299 amp (2006 model) - resolving, detailed, transparent, punchy, crisp, accurate, exciting, hypnotizing, and engaging.
Of course the WA6 is gonna sound a lot different in 1,000 hours when the V-caps and BlackGates are burned-in, and I install my Aperex Bugle Boy GZ34 in it, and I am pushing it with XLR>RCA transformers.
Just my thoughts.