lan
Videographus Supremus:Makes audio cables using super-advanced materials, like "some clear tape" and "some not so clear tape."
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- Sep 4, 2002
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I've had this combo for about 8+ months and been very happy with it. The sound is clearer and more detailed than most other stuff I've heard. Since then, I've upgraded the K1000 cable, SE9 tubes and powercord because I felt there were a few things that could use improvement. Some people say the treble is rough, too bright, or even metallic and others say the bass is lacking. These variables are of course dependant on hearing perception, taste, and equipment. In my particular setup I've been satisfied with the bass for most types of music but not rock. The treble was a tad bit rough but not metallic and I thought it was bright only on bright recordings. One thing which I sort of felt lacking was the soundstage. By design the K1000 could create some crazy soundstage but I never felt it was pulled off right. I had ended up using some crossfeed regardless of this "natural" crossfeed.
I'm using ART DI/O modified by Bolder Cables (MENSA), their DI/O powersupply, and M-80 interconnect going to SE9.
UPGRADING THE K1000 CABLE
Take #1 - Nov. 2002. I auditioned Orpheus' cable in my system as well as bozebutton's system at the Nov. NYC head-fi meet. My conclusion was the same on both systems. The treble was tamed but there somehow was some sort of loss of detail. I decided to stay with the stock cable although his cable was smoother and seemed more musical. One thing to note was bozebutton's system was a bit brighter than mine. Maybe he was using silver interconnects. I don't recall.
Take #2 - May. 2003. I auditioned Stephan AudioArt Equinox cable in bozebutton's system at the next NYC meet. Difference was that he was using NOS tubes this time. His system somehow sounded way brighter than I recalled and even for my tastes. People couldn't tell the difference between the Equinox and the stock cable and I could determine just a small difference. It was a tad bit smoother and frequency extension was a bit better. But I didn't think it was worth spending the $$$.
Take #3 - June 2003. At this point I decided that getting the Equinox may not be worth it so I decided to make my own cable. I didn't need a long length since I sit pretty close to my system so my cable is only 1.5ft. It's made with the same ingredients as Orpheus' cable, quad star wire topology for each channel.
I found this new cord's main benefits was taming the highs and increased detail. Treble was smoother now, and less bright. This is great when there's a lot of cymbals and similar percussive instruments. When they are bright and rough,as with the stock cable, it gets kind of annoying. The added detail gave a greater sense of space, instrument separation, and horizontal soundstage. The bass got a little bit better. I say only a little because I could hear the bass guitar and drums in their own space easier but it's not as if they really changed.
UPGRADING THE POWER CORD
I was using a 16 gauge cable as "stock" not the 18 gauge that comes with most stuff. I decided to use the Bolder Cables Type II. I like Bolder's stuff for bang for buck performance. I figured, amps could use the extra juice.
This new cord gave music extra umph. I noticed transients were faster, there was more punch, and bass was tighter and to my delight even a bit more of it. Since things were a little "faster", I'd say a wee bit more detail came in. I guess a bit more juice did do some good.
At this point, I'd say my K1000 cable gave me more benefit.
Putting the stock K1000 cable in, I noticed the sound had less air / ambience, and sounded more closed in kind of like playing in a small room vs. a bigger one.
UPGRADING THE TUBES
At this point, I'm keeping the powercord in but changing the tubes and swapping the K1000 cable for comparision. I still found it strange that I couldn't tell the difference between Equinox and stock in bozebuttons' systems earlier so I wanted to try to compared both cables when doing incremental upgrades.
NEW 5AR4 (NOS MULLARD) RECTIFIER
I figured since I gave the amp more juice with the powercord, the rectifier would give it more of the same good stuff. Well it added a bit more detail and better dynamics. I found the instruments sounded more articulate and had more soul / feeling to them. The soundstage has widened up a bit. I really liked the sound now.
Putting the stock K1000 cable in, SURPRISE! The differece in sound wasn't as different as when swapping the cables when the stock rectifier and powercord were in. Just like in bozebutton's system, the difference wasn't big. At this point I would prefer to get a NOS 5AR4 and powercord instead of a replacement K1000 cable. The stock cord wasn't sounding bright now and was less rough than with stock tubes. In this situation it had a bit less detail than my cable but totally acceptable.
NEW EL34s (NOS MULLARD)
Although we're at another level of clarity, I still felt somethings still not quite right with rock music. Yeah yeah, I know some of you are like Grado is better for rock. I didn't notice these missing element until I put these new EL34s in. Basically, there was a bit more detail again which presented itself as a fuller body, better decays, smoothness went up a notch, and the soundstage was just.... tremendous. Finally my kick drums not only had that initial slam but the body behind it. I no longer needed to use crossfeed at this point, the K1000 was finally doing it by itself well. The sound is so engulfing, it's just insane.
I put the stock cord back in and it wasn't necessarily much worst. I feel it just had a different sound, kind of like being in a smaller room again. Things were pretty smooth, detailed, and controlled still. I think it's just preference. I may just use both and swap off depending on type of music or if I need to sit farther away.
NEW 5751s (GE)
Uh.... the adventure stops here (for now). I couldn't tell the difference between them and the stock Electro Harmonix 12AX7-EH
WHEW! What a long post. I love the K1000s. I think they're the best dynamic headphones.
I'd like to thank bozebuttons for hooking me up with the tubes. Best upgrade ever!
I'm using ART DI/O modified by Bolder Cables (MENSA), their DI/O powersupply, and M-80 interconnect going to SE9.
UPGRADING THE K1000 CABLE
Take #1 - Nov. 2002. I auditioned Orpheus' cable in my system as well as bozebutton's system at the Nov. NYC head-fi meet. My conclusion was the same on both systems. The treble was tamed but there somehow was some sort of loss of detail. I decided to stay with the stock cable although his cable was smoother and seemed more musical. One thing to note was bozebutton's system was a bit brighter than mine. Maybe he was using silver interconnects. I don't recall.
Take #2 - May. 2003. I auditioned Stephan AudioArt Equinox cable in bozebutton's system at the next NYC meet. Difference was that he was using NOS tubes this time. His system somehow sounded way brighter than I recalled and even for my tastes. People couldn't tell the difference between the Equinox and the stock cable and I could determine just a small difference. It was a tad bit smoother and frequency extension was a bit better. But I didn't think it was worth spending the $$$.
Take #3 - June 2003. At this point I decided that getting the Equinox may not be worth it so I decided to make my own cable. I didn't need a long length since I sit pretty close to my system so my cable is only 1.5ft. It's made with the same ingredients as Orpheus' cable, quad star wire topology for each channel.
I found this new cord's main benefits was taming the highs and increased detail. Treble was smoother now, and less bright. This is great when there's a lot of cymbals and similar percussive instruments. When they are bright and rough,as with the stock cable, it gets kind of annoying. The added detail gave a greater sense of space, instrument separation, and horizontal soundstage. The bass got a little bit better. I say only a little because I could hear the bass guitar and drums in their own space easier but it's not as if they really changed.
UPGRADING THE POWER CORD
I was using a 16 gauge cable as "stock" not the 18 gauge that comes with most stuff. I decided to use the Bolder Cables Type II. I like Bolder's stuff for bang for buck performance. I figured, amps could use the extra juice.
This new cord gave music extra umph. I noticed transients were faster, there was more punch, and bass was tighter and to my delight even a bit more of it. Since things were a little "faster", I'd say a wee bit more detail came in. I guess a bit more juice did do some good.
At this point, I'd say my K1000 cable gave me more benefit.
Putting the stock K1000 cable in, I noticed the sound had less air / ambience, and sounded more closed in kind of like playing in a small room vs. a bigger one.
UPGRADING THE TUBES
At this point, I'm keeping the powercord in but changing the tubes and swapping the K1000 cable for comparision. I still found it strange that I couldn't tell the difference between Equinox and stock in bozebuttons' systems earlier so I wanted to try to compared both cables when doing incremental upgrades.
NEW 5AR4 (NOS MULLARD) RECTIFIER
I figured since I gave the amp more juice with the powercord, the rectifier would give it more of the same good stuff. Well it added a bit more detail and better dynamics. I found the instruments sounded more articulate and had more soul / feeling to them. The soundstage has widened up a bit. I really liked the sound now.
Putting the stock K1000 cable in, SURPRISE! The differece in sound wasn't as different as when swapping the cables when the stock rectifier and powercord were in. Just like in bozebutton's system, the difference wasn't big. At this point I would prefer to get a NOS 5AR4 and powercord instead of a replacement K1000 cable. The stock cord wasn't sounding bright now and was less rough than with stock tubes. In this situation it had a bit less detail than my cable but totally acceptable.
NEW EL34s (NOS MULLARD)
Although we're at another level of clarity, I still felt somethings still not quite right with rock music. Yeah yeah, I know some of you are like Grado is better for rock. I didn't notice these missing element until I put these new EL34s in. Basically, there was a bit more detail again which presented itself as a fuller body, better decays, smoothness went up a notch, and the soundstage was just.... tremendous. Finally my kick drums not only had that initial slam but the body behind it. I no longer needed to use crossfeed at this point, the K1000 was finally doing it by itself well. The sound is so engulfing, it's just insane.
I put the stock cord back in and it wasn't necessarily much worst. I feel it just had a different sound, kind of like being in a smaller room again. Things were pretty smooth, detailed, and controlled still. I think it's just preference. I may just use both and swap off depending on type of music or if I need to sit farther away.
NEW 5751s (GE)
Uh.... the adventure stops here (for now). I couldn't tell the difference between them and the stock Electro Harmonix 12AX7-EH
WHEW! What a long post. I love the K1000s. I think they're the best dynamic headphones.
I'd like to thank bozebuttons for hooking me up with the tubes. Best upgrade ever!
