philodox

You've been there for longer than me... there is something wrong with that... or me... or something. PEANUT BUTTER JELLY TIME! ...yeah, so I've been drinking...

Wait, BNC is better than AES/EBU? Really?

Ummm, huh? The ground gets connected to shield. You do not need 6 wires for balanced operation.

John Broskie is tubecad... or at least most of the designs discussed on there were created by him. The schematic that Kevin posted is a balanced version of John's Aikido amplifier. Though I suppose he was insinuating that Ray might build this soon [since he's used John's designs before] it really has nothing to do with Ray's current amps. It sounded like you were under the impression that the schematic was his reverse engineer of the B52... I just wanted to set you straight on that account. mmmmm, magic markers.

Billy, are you sniffing glue??? Ray has copied designs from tubecad in the past. That is a fact. This schematic that Kevin has shown is a balanced version of John Broskie's new amp the Aikido... this has NOTHING to do with Ray, unless he decides to copy this one as well.

You sure about that? I'm pretty sure that the standard Grado cabling is 4 wires... 2 from each earpiece. All they have to do is hack off the 1/4" and solder on some XLR's.

Thanks Kevin!

Maxed out Blueberry Audio Millet Hybrid + RS-1 ----- Just heard this at a minimeet the other day and it was fantastic. Eastsound CD-E5 + Sol Headphone Amplifier + HF-1 ----- Listening right now, sounds like butter. Wadia [forget which one] + Headroom Balanced Max + AKG K340 ----- Mommy?

Comfort issues? The GS1000 is easily the most comfortable headphone I've ever had on my head.

No big deal... if he liked them he might have taken them to the washroom. And I don't want to think about what he does in there. EDIT: Don't get me wrong, that guy was great... just kidding around. [That whole 'pain thing' was hilarious!]

Yeah, I sort of wish I had him listen to the K340's on a balanced amp... I think he thought that was just what they sounded like.

I heard it at the National and it sounded pretty good with my K340's, but was too tubey. This is strange since Ray's other amps don't sound tubey at all... and this one is balanced. Isn't balancing tube amps supposed to *remove* even order harmonics? In any case, I would be quite happy with this amp with some dryer more accurate tubes I think.

I've been following that. I want it so bad, but it is still out of my price range. Let this be a warning to other international head-fi'ers. Watch yourself in NYC... make one mistake and they will never let you forget it.

I am with hirsch here... though if he has that kind of money, why not get a good computer source [something like a squeezebox perhaps] so that he can have all the music that is on his iPod and actually take advantage of all the resolution that the SDS-XLR has to offer.

Yeah, the Wheatfield is great. I remember fondly listening to Fred's Wheatfield with $1K of tubes in it at Ray's house. Then again, my K340's weren't balanced at that time. I'd have to say [from memory] that the K340's balanced is a whole 'nother story. Sort of like the change that happens in the Senns when you balance them. I think that if Mikhail had a better source and the tubes weren't chosen specifically for his R10's it might have been a different story though. But in a way I am sort of glad. It is bad enough I am lusting after the Balanced Max. I can't afford it right now... and I DEFINATELY can't afford the SDS-XLR.

I hugged his Wife... she smells nice.

It did sound great with Grado's, that is for sure. Must put out a lot of current. I was most impressed by your Lambda's though... especially taking into account the deal you got on them.

Had fun hanging out with Mark in NYC... if I'm ever back there [head-fi related or not] I will definately be looking him up for a drink.

LOL... you should have listened to them out of one of the balanced amps James. Your Melos didn't drive them very well at all.

Very cool... you going to make something like that Nitelight that Moth Audio used to sell?

It was subtle, but I think that they did. The bass seems punchier now once you've given them a little while to settle and seal perfectly.

Hirsch - Did you try the Headroom Balanced Max with the new modules? I liked it over the SDS-XLR with my K340's.

He wasn't a head-fi'er. I also talked to Mikhail about this... completely nuts if you ask me. And coming from me... well... that's a lot!

Sounds like a plan buddy... can't wait to hear those modded HF-1's as well.

"We will have the Max version at the National HeadFi meet." Giggidy-giggidy-giggidy.