Shahrose

Thanks Lars, I actually received an email from David an hour ago asking if I wanted the gain-reduction instructions...I'll pass them off to a friend who'll do it for me. A gain of 1 is more than enough I think. At the moment, I can't even go above ~9 o' clock (4 steps) because it's far too loud with the HD800/HD650 and even more so with the PX100/KSC-75. BTW, I don't hear any sort of noise from the amp, even at the highest step. Oh and I've also found that reducing the volume on the computer (digitally) reduces SQ. I always have the output set to bit-perfect so the signal remains at 100% volume and completely intact without truncation.

I just got the HA-006++ upgraded version ($450). Initial impressions: Build quality is pretty good, and the pot has annoyingly large steps, even at gain 3 (guess I should have gone for gain 1). I'll do a mini sound comparison with the M^3/Sig-11 in my setup after about 100 hours of pink-noise burn-in.

Your KSC-75s would suffice for the comparison

Just the writeup I was looking for. Thanks. Could you test the two amps with something more power-hungry, like a full-sized headphone? Now I'm wondering how the upgraded $450 HA-006++ would compare with the GS-1.

Has anyone compared this amp to the GS-1 or Gilmore Lite? If this is only a little better than the Glite, then I'll pass, but if it turns out to be as good as a GS-1 then it would be a terrific bargain. BTW I'm referring to the upgraded version: HA-006++ selling for $450. Pics here: http://www.head-fi.org/forums/6573925-post84.html

The Shure SRH840 sound kind of like a closed version of the HD650 in terms of tonal balance, but in terms of SQ, they're significantly lower. I tried to like them, but eventually sold them and decided that I could live without a closed headphone. I wouldn't bother with any of the low-end closed cans if I were you.

The HD650s are gems. Never getting rid of mine, and yea, I also preferred them over the 600s.

Both valid points, but some will prefer its MO just like some prefer the coloration of certain tube amps over SS.

I've used the Teralink-X2 with good results. It definitely colours the sound though. Warm, smooth, large soundstage. Not as transparent as the M2Tech hiFace but more pleasing IMO.

I don't hear that peak either. My HE-5 went from being HD650 level (or a bit worse) to significantly better than them in about 20 hours of pink noise burn-in. It was definitely the most dramatic change I've heard from burn-in in a pair of headphones. I think most people would be surprised to hear that the HE-5s are as smooth as the HD650 in my system without being veiled and rolled off. I'm surprised at the amount of complaints of sibilance when mine are more forgiving of badly recorded treble than the HD650s. As mypasswordis mentioned, it could be QC variations among units, the listener's source/amp being revealed, the differential sensitivity to certain areas in the upper frequency spectrum or a combination of all of the above and more. All I know is I love mine. It's hard to slip into hyperbole when describing these, but they are a pretty big step up from the HD650s (to use a ubiquitous headphone as a benchmark).

If this sounds as good as the DIY Dynalo I heard, I think this is a hell of a deal. Now if these guys started building value-priced Beta22's I'd be all over it.

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