Deadneddz

Happy Birthday Steve!

Yay Steve! Which KT77s are you going to roll? New Genelex Gold lions?

Happy B-day Deepak!

Uncle Eriks Zana Deux was one of the best i've heard the HD800 single ended. But I was not particularly impressed with the Marantz SA8001 CD/SACD player. The HD800s really benefit from having more power, and balanced is where I hear the most improvement. With the Zana Deux, the sound was good but the impact was not that great. These cans are highly sensitive to upstream components which may account for so many different impressions, and the 8001 was not the best i've heard with the HD800s. Imo a phone like the O2s are more boundless in a sense that they impose no certain size when playing a recording. The HD800s still suffer from imposing a rather large sound field on almost any recording. While this may be pleasing on large scale minimally milked recordings, they just don't shrink down the size for more intimate recordings when it calls for it. And this ultimarely kills dynamics. They are however better than the he90/hd6x0 series(less diffused) when it comes to compromising in soundstage size. I personally like them, and think that many have not found a suitable system match up for them yet.(being relatively new)

I understand that this is your take on the HD800, but I would not stubbornly jump to conclusion that the HD800s are "calculative, clinical and sterile." It seems to me that your listening experience with the HD800s is limited to only your associated equipment. I have not heard the HD800s with any of the associated equipment you listed, but I have heard them from amps such as the Luxman P-1, SDS-XLR, BUDA, DNA Sonett, Audio gd Phoenix, Balancing act, Zana Deux, ect...with several different setups/sources both balanced and single ended. What I did notice in my sampling was that the HD800s sounded different in almost every setup. While some were not particularly great, some setups had the most dynamic sound i've ever heard. Some people who don't know better might take your write up and conclude that the HD800s are exactly how you describe them to be without ever trying out different setups themselves. Also have you actually listened to any of the other phones you listed besides the ones you own(k1000, 4070, O2)?

Definately looks like the 306 pro sacd. But regardless I have to say you could possibly get away with the tapes over the Cary, but that shameless tape over the BHSE engraving does absolutely nothing to hide its value. The BHSE just looks expensive.

Thanks for the tips, just wanted you guys to know that my "quibble" on the O2s treble is coming from the SRM-T1, which is definately an amp known by many to be insufficient in driving the O2s. I had bought the T1 earlier because I thought I was also aquiring a set of Lambda Sigs at the same time while I wait for the BHSE. I told myself that I would not even bother to plug the O2s into the T1 and use it only with the Lambda Sig, but alas the Lambda Sigs never came. It looks like my curiosity got the best of me and now im paying for it with frustration. It just so happens that a pair of Lambda Sigs are coming my way now, so I can safely put the O2s to rest until the BHSE comes... Although i'll probably pull it back out of its case once I listen to the Lambda Sigs and say "WTF.....what is this unrefined piece of ****":chair:

A Fine Frenzy-Bomb in a Birdcage Absolutely lovely

Ok thanks, I was almost certain they were, but the flash just made them seem almost too light in color to be lambda signatures. The foam on the inside of the cup(by the ear) is missing. Should I even bother to replace it with another fabric or just leave it as it is?

Quick question for the Stax HCs, Im trying to identify these headphones, are these the Stax Lambda Signatures?

Well thats good to hear Deepak:). This is really the first time i've experienced such sheer transparency and yet have to struggle to listen at the same time. The only quirk I have with the treble on the O2s is that it leads me to concentrate too much into analyzing the sound of the phones as a whole. What I mean by this is that the detail this phone pulls out really makes me try too hard to hear and feel whats going on at the upper end. Although I can clearly hear the finest textures and nuances, its not enjoyable having to "aurally scrutinize" just to try and feel whats going on at that upper end. Its all there, I just cannot hear it loudly enough. I think that the reason why it bothers me so much, is that all frequency aspects of the O2s are so closely tied together that even the small imbalance causes too much of a distraction from the picture as a whole. The treble response is kind of sitting there deep in the soundstage, and it refuses to walk up and enter the performance, and that...I find a little annoying. Its like while the show is going on, theres a crucial member of the cast that is going along but farther away and not in the spot light with the rest of the cast. I find myself watching the cast, but batting my eyes constantly at that one member that is out of place. I dont have the BHSE yet, so my opinions might change when I have better amplification. I want neutrality and so far, this is a form of coloration for me.

I have listened to the SR-Omega and its very special, but that $3500.00 market price is just too much and the reliability of the drivers is another issue. The O2 is pretty much perfect for me in all aspects except that its treble reponse is too polite with the T1. I also cannot stand the fussy coupling(rotating earcups). Im going to go through with the BHSE because im highly curious as to how they will transform the phones im hearing now. I did listen to the BHSE at Canjam but not with my source and definately not in a quite environment for an extended period of time. Up-front immediacy is tricky for me. Its usually a trade off between excitement and fatigue, and I have yet to really figure out if that sound is for me or not.

The LE's sound like a good compliment to the SR-007, i'm seriously considering putting down for the next he60 that shows up, but the prices are too insane to consider that seriously. I know that the T1 is not a great match for the O2, especially considering that past 9 o'clock it becomes ever so slightly edgy and loses focus, but goddamn the O2s are just too polite for me in the treble region. SR-404LTD or HE60? The answer is probably SR-Omega.

Shes so talented imo, watching/listening to some of her live videos give me goosebumps. Shes wonderful in Frou Frou also.

Simaudio gear in general is built wonderfully and my unit sounds fantastic:)

HPA, are you refering to the soundstage(preceived illusion) or headstage(actual sound localization), when you are refering to the HD-25-I-II and Grados?

Guzziguy's custom title "Honda Rebel" is a better euphemism.

While those waiting may need support:rolleyes:, its those that wont be receiving one that needs a support group. Wow, safe to assume your coworkers will be slightly interested when they see it? I sure as hell would be lucky if the guy next to me brought a BHSE to work. But thats only because I know what it is I guess, ignorance is not bliss in this case:p

FTFY

FTFY:D

Michael, what happened to the dynamic crew? Where are the heavy hitters like the HD800s and Sony Qualias? I have listened to both briefly, but am really wanting to sit down and have a good listen with those. If you dont like them anymore you can send them my way. Needless to say my custom iems are getting almost no headtime whatsoever. Even with the T1, the O2s trounce them in everyway, (probably due to the nice source:)). I guess now its time for Vicki to step in, since hers should arrive today!

oooooo, Team Blue Hawaii SE is slowly forming.

Didn't you already receive an answer at the other forum regarding the srm-252? I think that it was pretty clear that those who have listened to the O2s with the srm-252 thought it was very inadequate. Im using the srm-t1 as a transition amp for the moment and imo it doesn't do the job either. After about 9 o'clock on the dial images start to solidify and it runs out of juice quickly. If I was going your route, I would think about investing in the srm-717 as a baseline and possibly think about investing in an aftermarket amp later on. Skimping on source and amplification with the O2s just doesn't make sense and is not going to give you good results price to performance wise imo. If you want to go dirt cheap look elsewhere, not the O2s.

okay, I was just curious and knew that it had to be just placebo from having the volume pot cranked up higher. Its hard to gauge these things when the amp starts to solidify images past 9 o'clock. Shows how important a difference in volume can make when listening or comparing equipment. It also shows how much I need a BH, lol:p