Right, I got the 'phones today.
Very nicely/solidly made cable/jack btw.
First off I measured the impedance and they are 1700 Ohm designs.
So I guess I have the HD 480-13 II[size=xx-small]UK[/size] ones then.
Then I noticed that the jack plug is slightly different to a standard 1/4" jack. It's very very slightly fatter and slightly more "bulbous" on the tip.
This means that plugging it into the X-cans directly is OK, but you have to seat it firmly, otherwise you only get sound from the left ear. I also made my own extension cable using OFC wire and a spare 1/4" female plug module. This normally works fine with any other headphone I've ever used (and no loss of quality either
) but here, I can't seem to seat it well enough to get stereo sound (only comes out of left ear again). So it's no more extension cable for me then.
Here it is next to my slightly modded X-cans and also with them warmed up, ready to go
Sound is Fan-screwing-Tastic. The x-cans have
no trouble driving these 'phones at all. Loud levels are at the 12'oclock position, with comfortable listening at 11:30ish.
Also, bringing the x-cans home may have solved the background hum I heard previously in my flat and using the HD575's. No hum or hiss at all. Lovely transparent clear sound
.
Overall VERY happy with both the SQ and the loudness
Thanx everyone for your thoughts, I'm now a very happy bunny.
PS. Still considering some DIY re:Amp...
PinkFloyd, will the op-amp/cap/valve upgrades do anything specific or generally improve all areas?