[Paladin79]

For me, I look to the VO when I want to FEEL the intensity of the music; to the HD800S when I want to hear the airy detail (read: "treble").

Airy detail for me is provided by Focal Utopias, my favorite with my own amps. Before those I felt like there was a glass ceiling that treble could not shatter.

 

[Zachik]

Is that a GE 5998A? Are those good tubes?

Yes to both questions. Recently a half dozen of us bought some to try out and overall reactions were quite good. Not Tung Sol 5998 level on high frequencies but excellent bass and mids. Plenty of NOS for about $47.95.

Those would work without adapters in GOTL amp. Right?

 

[Paladin79]

Those would work without adapters in GOTL amp. Right?

If the amp is set up for a 6080, 6AS7g I would assume so. I do not know much about that amp to be honest. None of my group has one.

 

[Fatdoi]

MAHLER Symphony No. 2 ADAM FISCHER Tünde Szabóki | Nadine Weissmann Düsseldorfer Symphoniker is my actual favourite recording. Excellent live recording with concert hall feeling. Happy listening

normally i use Simon Rattle, Berliner Philharmoniker

 

[Fatdoi]

For me, I look to the VO when I want to FEEL the intensity of the music; to the HD800S when I want to hear the airy detail (read: "treble").

going bit off topic, I wonder how HD800s stacks up with hifiaman Arya and HE1Kse

 

[whirlwind]

Those would work without adapters in GOTL amp. Right?

Yep...they will work fine.

 

[Paladin79]

Yep...they will work fine.

I did include a GE 5998A with the loaner amp I am sending out as well as a black glass round plate Tung Sol 6sn7. I also included a grey glass Tung Sol but I am not certain of the plate structure within that tube. There is also a 50's Foton and Melz 1578. Both are 6sn7 equivalents. I have never been interested in designing for the use of multiple types of tubes, my amp was designed to show off 6sn7 equivalents with specific power tubes.

Also like ZMF I like to make use of quality woods and make the amp appealing to the eye. I do not do metal boxes, nor would I ever, even a power amp I built had to have its own type of wooden cabinet.

 

[JLoud]

Very nice looking.

 

[Paladin79]

Very nice looking.

Thanks. A Class A SET I threw together to win a bet. 15 watts.

Tiger maple and white walnut.

 

[JLoud]

I absolutely love the look of the Tiger Maple. And class A SET is my favorite flavor of tube amp as well. Well done my friend, well done.

 

[Rowethren]

Thanks. A Class A SET I threw together to win a bet. 15 watts.

Tiger maple and white walnut.

Super Extreme Temperature amp?

 

[chrisnyc75]

going bit off topic, I wonder how HD800s stacks up with hifiaman Arya and HE1Kse

Long story short: the 800S shapes the sound to fill its "bubble of sound" at all times; Arya has plenty of soundstage to work with, but presents the sound in a more organic way without forcing it to take any particular shape. Although Arya is planar magnetic and HD800S is dynamic, I find the presentation of VO closer to Arya than HD800S.

 

[Paladin79]

Super Extreme Temperature amp?

Class A dissipates a lot of heat, but I only do class A, you get used to it.

 

[Pharmaboy]

My humble ZMF collection

IMO no other HP designer/mfr comes close to ZMF in the diversity & quality of fine woods used. These pictures illustrate that pretty clearly.

Notice the open grain pores in the zebra wood--not filled in, sanded and lacquered until invisible (as some would finish it). Those pores are visible (it's a beautiful wood). My padauk Eikon was finished the same way, and I never tired of looking at it. By contrast, the ironwood and burl are sanded perfectly smooth with beautiful, rich color palettes. Each wood is finished in a way that maximizes its grain, figure and color.

These headphones are really gorgeous...and the best part (I own a few ZMFs myself) is they sound as good as they look.

 

[Pharmaboy]

I did include a GE 5998A with the loaner amp I am sending out as well as a black glass round plate Tung Sol 6sn7. I also included a grey glass Tung Sol but I am not certain of the plate structure within that tube. There is also a 50's Foton and Melz 1578. Both are 6sn7 equivalents. I have never been interested in designing for the use of multiple types of tubes, my amp was designed to show off 6sn7 equivalents with specific power tubes.

Also like ZMF I like to make use of quality woods and make the amp appealing to the eye. I do not do metal boxes, nor would I ever, even a power amp I built had to have its own type of wooden cabinet.

That wood is killer...tiger maple?