Stock rectified (Sofia backorders, USAF 596 coming from eBay (adapter coming from Woo, because, um, Woo?).
Power tubes upgraded to 13EM7's from Woo (Westinghouse). I'll start reading the tube rolling threads for others to play with.
First impressions: Very well packed, no complaints. Arrived 2 days ahead of estimated delivery date from FedEx. I am a bit disappointed they were delayed so long for the silver unit, but basic black is fine.
Very well crafted, these units feel very substantial. The umbilical cord is much shorter than I imagined, but that makes cable management easier.
Listening through my Focal Clear MG's (55Ω) with cheap silver/copper Lutz cable (high impedance jack). Using my Douk P1 as a DAC from my PC USB (because my SMSL VMV D1SE is somewhere in China, apparently). EQ is off.
Boston - "More Than A Feeling" is clean, precise, and very "70's Rock" thick. Nice. Cymbals are a touch suppressed. "Hitch a Ride" is strong, close, but slightly hollow. Turning the EQ on and off illustrates what I don't like about these headphones (they're very clinical).
Usher - "Yeah!" has plenty of bass, but again, it's a bit thick and not quite defined. Highs don't "sparkle". This is a very "tubey" amp/tube combo, that's for sure.
John Williams and the London Philharmonic Orchestra - "Star Wars - Main Theme" sounds big and wide as it should, a better recording would serve this better, I think. The harp and triangle are a bit buried. "The Throne Room" is impactful. The brass really sings here. "The Imperial March" sounds better - the orchestra is placed correctly.
General take - very, very warm and thick, this is a lot more of what I was looking for. I'll try the Sennheiser HD8XX's tomorrow night for comparison. In the meantime, any suggestions?
Also, there's a very slight buzz, which I attribute to my cheap power cord, cheap DAC, and lack of burn-in. I assume that'll go away?