What are you using with your CD3Ks?

[blessingx]

Know in one form or another this has been asked before, but without search lets start a new thread. Looking for an amp for some CD3000s and curious what you're currently using and what you tried and moved away from in the past? Basically looking for good and bad pairing.

 

[Iron_Dreamer]

I am currently using the Gilmore V1 with stepped, and after extensive amp auditioning at the LA meet, that will not change until I can afford an Emmeline Stealth. I have not heard a $400+ amp sound "bad" with them, assuming you're using a good source, though some are more to my taste than others, with one exception, the Melos Maestrobator. The mids and highs are very nice (perhaps lacking a smidge of top end extension) but the bass is very muddy and slow, and really kills it for me, especially considering my musical tastes. Other, cheaper amps that aren't that good for the CD3K are IMO: Gilmore Lite (a bit too thin), META42/PIMETA (waaay to thin), Perreaux (makes the CD3000 sound like a poor imitation version of the HD600). I also don't recommend the Headroom amps (way overpriced for the perfomance given). To me a good tube amp is best, giving all the solid state power, dynamics, extension, punch, and the tube midrange which the CD3K (especially without woodies) needs, unfortunately, the only ones I've heard are the Stealth and Singlepower Supra and Maestro.

 

[tkam]

Currently using a Singlepower MPX3 and in no particular order I've had and sold a meta42, gilmore v1 and gilmore v2se the MPX3 is the best match of the bunch for the cd3k's.

 

[tiberian]

ray samuels XP7

 

[psxguy85]

I've always wanted the Corda HA-1 MKII for my CD3000's since I bought them. I recently acquired a MKII, but I have yet to try it with my CD3000's. Now, I know that my source is not high quality enough and I plan to upgrade it soon, but from what I have read on this site, Corda HA-1 MKII and CD3000's was a good pairing of headphones together. I'll hopefully post impressions when I get back to Cali and have my CD3000's to listen to. I'm tempted to try Iron_Dreamer's setup to listen to the amazing sound coming through his source and amp.

 

[ooheadsoo]

I enjoyed Iron_dreamer's setup immensely at the socal meet last weekend. I'll have to hit him up for soundcard mods when I get the money together.

 

[commando]

Sonica (optical) -> glass cable -> AOS Ally Dac -> PPA -> Triad Diamond Buffer.

To be honest it sounds only slightly better than the sonica analog output thru my Pimeta, so i'm suspecting that there's something wrong with the setup. I'm going to try changing sources (sonica -> rca -> Pioneer DVD digital out) and see what difference that makes as soon as I can get all the gear into the same place.

 

[ampgalore]

Grace 901

 

[Sovkiller]

I'm using a PPA now with uncle Phil diamond buffers, linear PSU, and bassboost, other I have tried and like a lot was the Perreaux, I don't know how the hell Iron_Dreamer get it sounded like a poor imitation of the HD600, IMO there is no way to make the CD3000 sound like the HD600 at all in any way, as both are extremely different headphones, must be a source related issue, or black magic. With the same source, both PPA and Perreaux sounded extremely nice with the CD3000, the soundstage of the Perreaux is simply magic with the CD3000...

 

[Nightfall]

I have been an almost completely dedicated CD3000 user and have heard them with virtually everything available (excepting Nik's amp, and the latest, top of the line post -Supra ear amps from Singlepower).
They definitely sound best with tubes, IMO, as it tames the slightly overextended treble just perfectly. The best amp I have ever heard them with is Jude's Antique Sound Labs Twinhead Mk II (the famous CES Ringer amp). However, production MkII's have never lived up to that performance and thus, it isnt available. The second best amp I've ever heard them with is the Cary SLI-80 Signature Integrated amp, which I bought to pair with them.
Other amps that work extremely well with them are the second generation Singlepower Supra, and, at a substantially lower price, the PPX3.
I have not personally heard the combination, but have been told, by people whose ears I respect, that the Moth Si2a3 sounds incredible with them, and may equal or surpass the ASL Twinhead Mk II ringer amp. I have the new, upgraded and ultimate version of that amp on order now, and will report back when I receive it.
If you, for some reason, insist on going solid state with the CD3000's, of all the ones I've heard, the Emmeline HR2 cannot be beat in that class, and its steal for the money. I simply find good solid state amps in combination with the 3000's too strident and difficult to listen to for any extended period.
I hope this helps.


JC

 

[dalida]

very happy with the combination.
started with HA-1, tried Perreaux (nice amp, but no big improvement over HA-1), then Prehead LM6171 which I found too harsh sounding.
hope this helps

 

[Iron_Dreamer]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sovkiller I don't know how the hell Iron_Dreamer get it sounded like a poor imitation of the HD600, IMO there is no way to make the CD3000 sound like the HD600 at all in any way, as both are extremely different headphones, must be a source related issue, or black magic.

I thought maybe it was mis-synergy with a source as well, so I tried my soundcard, the Cary 306, and Meridian 588. In all of them the Perreaux attenuated and smoothed off the highs (i.e. HD600) destroying the details in the process, and made the bass sound huge thick and muddy (i.e. HD600 midbass hump but far worse). The soundstage was also as compressed as I've heard from the CD3000. I think the Perreaux is a complete joke at its' price, considering the pathetic build quality, dinky knob, and very colored sound. It competes with the Little More Power to be the most colored sounding high-priced amp. Sorry pal. Glad you like the PPA more, so did I, it is a very nice amp, at least the cool silver one upstairs at the meet (forgot the name of the Bruin who built it).

 

[nanahachi]

the Iron Dreamer pulleth no punches.

 

[Iron_Dreamer]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nightfall Other amps that work extremely well with them are the second generation Singlepower Supra, and, at a substantially lower price, the PPX3.

Definitely agree on the Supra, though the bass was a bit much for me, and I prefer the cleaner, more detailed sound of the Maestro. The PPX3 is waaay to tubey for me, and seems to round off the detail and attack in favor of the "tube sound" too much, thus sacrificing some of the benefits I love about these cans. Of course others think it is just their flavor, and at a steal price, which it is if you are really into tubes.

Quote:

the Iron Dreamer pulleth no punches.

Nope, not my style, and never has been, and I doubt it ever will be. After all what does that accomplish? It's not like telling your date "I really like that blouse, it just doesn't look so good on YOU."

 

[acs236]

My favorites with the CD3000, so far, have been the Corida HA-1 MKII, the PPX, and the Gilmore V1.

I listened to the CD3000 with the Headroom Max for a little bit, and liked it a lot, but I didn't get to listen enough to recommend it considering the price.

I think the CD3000s ask for a fairly analytical amp. They have a slightly colored, warm sound to begin with, so I find that pairing them with an amp with these qualities can be a bit much. It probably explains why I don't like the Perreaux with the CD3000 (and the Perreaux doesn't do very well at low volumes with highly senstitive cans).

The wonder if there is a better amp for the CD3000 for the price than the HA-1 MKII. Everything is so tight and controlled, and FUN.

The PPX with its incredible midrange detail matches the CD3000s strength. It is also probably the least warm tube amp I have listened to (but I've only listened to to it, the Supra proto-type, and the ASL OTL 32). Tremondous punch.

I listened to the Gilmore V1 with the CD3000 for a bit more than the max and liked it a lot. Unfortunately, I didn't get to listen enough to really compare it to the MKII, and unfortunately, they are very hard to come by. I do really want to hear the V2 now, though.