[Mr.Sneis]

In my limited bubble of audio adventures in the Phoenix-metro area I have met dealers and audiofools alike to buy various things over the years.  In almost every case it appears that "speaker guys" have never truly delved into headphones; they didn't even get their start as headphone guys.  Asking dealers about headphones or related gear and they almost always tell me stuff wouldn't sell, etc.  IME I bet this same kind of mentality goes all the way up the chain.  I don't blame them quite honestly, most of us headphone guys are cheap and picky.
 
The irony is I'm the type that wouldn't blink to spend $800 on a new set of cans but wouldn't even consider a set of speakers costing that much.  The dealers seem to cater mostly to the guys who spend $$$$.

 

[rgs9200m]

Actually, Woodbridge Stereo in NJ introduced me to Stax and AKG phones back in the early 1980s. I'm not sure if they still carry headphone eqpt.
They actually used to repair audio equipment in their shop.
(I tip my hat to the people there. Some of the guys have been there for 15-20 years and sponsor exhibits at the NY audio shows.)

 

[MorbidToaster]

On a side note that new McIntosh unit looks gorgeous...

 

[Icenine2]

Yes is does.

 

[obobskivich]

+3 to the new Mc; hopefully it's not just a pretty face. I remember their tube/SS hybrid preamp (the big'un) being pretty nice with Grados a few years ago when I heard it, so maybe it'll be a nice component. Then again, they've put out a lot of overpriced "consumer lifestyle" crap in the last two years, so I'm skeptical.

 

[Hiyono]

We tried the HE-6 with the Pass Labs XA30.5 today.  It sounded very nice but there was too much gain.  It had lot of humming. 
 
Emm labs Dac2 > Cavalli Liquid Glass > Pass labs xa 30.5

 

[MorbidToaster]

Making use of that Loop out I'm guessing?
 
Quote:

We tried the HE-6 with the Pass Labs XA30.5 today.  It sounded very nice but there was too much gain.  It had lot of humming. 
 
Emm labs Dac2 > Cavalli Liquid Glass > Pass labs xa 30.5

 

[Hiyono]

I was using the LG as a pre amp. Not sure why it is humming.  Will have to play with it and see whats up.

 

[MorbidToaster]

I was using the LG as a pre amp. Not sure why it is humming.  Will have to play with it and see whats up.

Tried new tubes?

 

[Radio_head]

Does your Dac have a preamp, or is Emm averse to volume control circuitry in their DACs?  If it has a preamp, run it straight to the Pass.  Otherwise, substitute a different preamp for the LG, should isolate the issue to the offending component.  

 

[Hiyono]

The emm labs has no pre amp. Just a dac. I tried with different tubes too. I'll try rr routing power later tonight.

 

[preproman]

 

[Smeckles]

Ground loop from using different outlets?
 
That's a great system and low noise would be one of the pluses I would expect from that set up.

 

[eugenius]

because unlike most speakers which are reasonably good, most headphones are actually crap.

that's why the notion of a 2000$ headphone with +/-10dB in the highs is not laughable. in the speaker world you couldn't get away with that in a 20$ speaker.

 

[h2oxide]

Sugden do one which I thought was pretty cool. Would like to see a head amp from Plinius to match my stereo amp.