purk

Not surprising really b/c the L3000 and PS-1 are very alike. The Qualia is for those who prefer pinpoint imaging and details. I found them to be slightly too cold in tonality and a bit lacking in midrange. If you do have the right fit, the Qualia is pretty tough to beat as I found them to sound much better with a good fit. When I had Mike Qualia for 2 weeks, the Qualia was almost there with my R10s playing SACDs (hint...wamer tone).

Guess we will never know until we see one in person. I believe MarkL use the moon-audio as an upgrade cable.

I hope he doesn't mind me sharing this with you guys. Basically, the D5000 improved quite a bit, of course, not to the R10 level. Again, this might also just be as the case of source. The R10 is very very critical on front end and won't sound its best until your source is there. Although, his Eastsound E5 w/ op-amps modded gotta sound good, but I don't expect it to be in same class as my Exemplar Denon let alone my Modded SCD-777ES. Also this could be the case of input tube. I'm using GE12AY7 and Tungsol 2C51 as input tubes when driving my R10. My R10 sounds a lot more dymamics and airy with the GE12AY7 as the input tube.

I actually curious about his modifications actually. I just talked to Nikongod and he seem to really like his MarkL mod D5000. His setup is pretty similar to mine in exception to the source. I believe he is using an op-amp modded Eastsound while I'm using kern/modwright modded Sony SCD-777ES.

Have a Happy Birthday Mike!!! Let's celebrate!!! I might let you borrow my Bogdan Ghost for a day..

Even though auction in japan is safe but there are several fraudulent items as well, so be careful. The deputy service will not help out when come to fraud. You bid at your own risk as they are only after the fees.

Hope you feel better soon!

I doubt that you want to purchase the Zana when you already have the Dragon. If I'm not mistaken, the Dragon should be in same level as my SDS-SE. I gave the GE12AY7 to Mike recently for him to use as an input tube and he is even more impressed with the Supra SE now.

Well, the ATH-HA5000 was voiced for the W5000 not the L3000. If you want to hear what the L3000 can really do check them out with the DHA3000, Extreme Platinum, or Single Power Supra with high voltage tubes. Mulveling tried his L3000 with just about every headphones amp including PPA, Sugden, HA2002, Melos Sha Gold, HR Max, stock supra SDS, Zana Deux, Micro Zolt, Pico, and Woo WA-5 and his favorite is the Supra SE (high voltage tubes) that he bought from me.

I did prefer the Lambda Pro + ES-1 to the OII + KGSS and Lambda Pro over the HE-60 on the ES-1 that's for sure. That is not to say that the OII won't sound good with the ES-1, I just haven't got the opportunity to try them. I was only voicing my opinion that I do like the Lambda Pro and they do sound great. My view on what sound good is probably different than Sprizer's as I also love the sound of the R10, Qualia, K1000, and L3000 too.

Birgir, I'm not sure what to say really, but we all have preference. You will always prefer the sound of the OII+KGBH SE over the HE90 with any amp, while I might prefer the HE90+ES-1/HEV-90 over the OII + any amp. I plan to get the OII one day to use with my ES-1 but I might still not be good enough unless I get the KGBH to use with the OII, according to what you have been saying. Nothing is absolute and I was only offer my view that the Lambda Pro is a very good headphones and I know number of people who love them and I happen to like the sound of the my Lambda Pro + ES-1 over the OII + KGSS. Don't worry about it. I wish I explained myself better. It is difficult to work and post at the same time.

My point is I never thought of the Stax Lambda pro as a bad sounding headphones and I take it over OII out of the KGSS. Heck, I even take my SDS + L3000 over the OII out of the KGSS anyday. Its not about the synergistic, but the Pro always sound good to my ears even out of the HEV70 amp.

I think you are mistaken my point. The Lambda Pro sounds darn good out of my ES-1 and that is one of the reason I kept the Lambda pro as the back up to my HE90 and sold the HE-60. The lambda pro out of stax amps might sound bad but out of my ES-1, it sounds amazing. I talked to Hirsch and number of people about the ES-1+Lambda Pro and we share simlar finding. Also many people who attended last year Florida meet were pretty impressed by the Lambda Pro out of the Woo GES as well. Mulveling and Tom stopped by at my place and they love the sound of the Lambda pro out of my ES-1 as well.

Agreed. I take the Lambda Pro + ES-1 over OII + KGSS anyday. The Lambda pro is pretty nice sounding headphone IMO.

Thanks Justin for clarification. The iBasso D2 even use similar chasis to yours Pico but your looks way better probably sound wise too.

correction.

How about the iBasso D2? Same DAC chip for $300 less. I believe the two amps feature the same DAC chip, but the PICO has an upsampling circuit and the D2 doesn't. It will be interesting to hear the two side by side. http://www.ibasso.com/ShowNews.aspx?ID=63

Welcome to HC Andy!!

How about the iBasso D2 for more than 40% the price of the Pico? http://www.head-fi.org/forums/f5/ibasso-d2-viper-pictures-impressions-reviews-read-rules-303849/

I love the look of that amp though. My ES-1 doesn't run all that hot Birgir.

Fing, http://www.head-fi.org/forums/f5/sds-xlr-here-292411/index6.html#post3904807 Check out your budget HE-90 amp!!

Mike, Just use the Tungsol 6SNGT or Kenrad VT231 blackglass as the input tube, and your Senn HD-650 should sound fantastic.

I use them every now and then with my SDS-SE. Sound pretty amazing with the SDS though.

Got the Pico as well and has been very happy with how it performs with my L3000. Sound surprising good with the L3000, although struggle a bit with the HD-650.