Elephas

I think I mentioned the Shuguang Treasure Series CV181 and 6CA7 tubes before here. I finally got around to buying some and they seem to be quite good! The CV181 were actually more expensive than the 6CA7 at US$58 each and I got a matched pair. The 6CA7 was US$44 each and I got a matched quad. I'm using them all in a Single Power ES1, along with a pair of Bendix 2C51 (using adapters) in the first gain position and the CV181 pair in the second position. I bought them from an auction site in Taiwan (Chinese-language only) and the tubes were shipped from China. I'm aware that Grant Fidelity in Canada is a distributor for these tubes in North America, and charges significantly higher prices. I'm not sure how the large markup is justified, they seem to claim that their tubes were somehow specially selected "export versions." I've heard this kind of claim from some China-based vendors before. Usually, I believe, in order to rip-off the "foreign devils." I'm just joking, I won't know if the "export version" tubes are really better unless I have a set to compare. During the past few months I've been experimenting with various tubes and headphone combinations with the ES1. In addition to the default tubes types, I have several adapter types (2C51, ECC1, 5687 and 3D21A) so there are many tube combos to try. And I still haven't tried some substitutes, such as 7N7 or 6F8G for 6SN7. For the O2Mk1 and O2Mk2, my Go-To tube complement is either the Bendix 2C51 or Sylvania 5751 in the first gain stage, Sylvania 6SN7W metal base in the second stage, and a quad of Mullard xf2 EL34. I also like Philips EL34 metal base and Mullard xf1, but I'm saving them for the ES1 vs. BHSE shootout. I won't list all the tubes I've tried in the ES1 so far, but it has been a large variety. Some very expensive, such as Tung-Sol 6SN7 round plates, black glass (I only have one pair! ) or the Mullard 10M Series ECC83 (liquid smooth midrange! works great in the Aristaeus too). Some I thought were pretty good values, such as the GE 6CA7 Fat Boys, Sylvania 6SN7 Bad Boys, Ken-Rad 6SN7 black glass and Tung-Sol 2C51. Some performed not so well but are not very expensive, such as Tesla EL34 and various Sylvania, RCA, Tung-Sol, etc. old stock 6SN7. I've tried some current production tubes such as Groove Tubes ECC83 and Electro-Harmonix EL34, and all were disappointing enough that I stopped buying current production tubes. These Shuguang have been the only exception so far, and I admit I got them basically because they are a supposedly "special" series and have black glass and special "Treasure Product" printing on them. I didn't really expect much from them, and that's why it took a while to get around to actually buying them. All that effort, all those keystrokes and clicking "Buy" on an auction site, then electronic fund transfer, waiting for the package to arrive, and opening that box! Whew, I need a one hour listening session to recover. My initial impression of these tubes, plus the Bendix 2C51, in the ES1 driving the O2Mk2 is quite good. I don't think they beat my Go-To set, or several other combinations of old-stock tubes, but they are certainly a lot less inexpensive. I already think that they are good enough to keep listening to, and that's saying something considering the old-stock tubes that I could be using instead. I'm looking forward to comparing the ES1 with a BHSE using this quad of Treasure 6CA7 as well as various old stock EL34 types. It's a bit visually disconcerting when the gain stage tubes are larger than the power tubes!

"the Senns seem to reproduce the attacks and transients the best" Ouch! I voted for the AD2000 and have made fun of the HD600, HD650 (veiled , slow, lack details), and the K701 and other headphones that were on the consideration list. I confess and beg for forgiveness! Hmm, but that was only with one amp.

I almost cried when reading his response. OK, a couple tears did somehow squeeze themselves out. Remember, if you have elephant-like ears and they touch the AD2000 driver covers, put some foam strips or other type of padding under the earpads, just enough so the ears don't touch.

I got some Neotech power cable in bulk, but haven't tried their XLR or RCA interconnects. I would assume (just speculation) that they would be somewhat similar to some Acoustic Zen interconnects. I do have a pair of Acoustic Zen Silver Reference 2 XLR. Can a mod change the title of this thread to "The Do Cables Make a Difference Useless Arguments on Internet Forums Thread?" So I can stay out of it.

Haha, I would've thought a young strong guy could've "carry-on" the Sony SACD player in a backpack.

Yes, we already know that the O2Mk1 and O2Mk2 sound exactly the same, the alleged differences were not only being exaggerated by some people, they're imaginary. Can we keep the "Cables make no difference" debate out of the Stax thread!? And get back to debating O2 earpads (if n_maher isn't around)?

I got a Das Keyboard recently and like it very much. Yes, the name might be a bit weird. It has labels on the keys and there's a choice of three models with different feel, pressure and sound of the keys. I also have a clicky keyboard I got from Unicomp that feels and types great, but it is really loud and huge. I couldn't stand using it while listening to headphones. This Das Keyboard doesn't have as strong springs in the keys, but it is a lot quieter (but not silent) and also works very well.

OK, if the beef is with the difference between the Mk2's and Mk1's midrange, then I can somewhat understand the dislike of the Mk2. I say 'somewhat' though, because to me whether I prefer the Mk1 or Mk2 at any moment can depend on the type of music or even the specific track being played. The more forward midrange of the Mk2 can make vocal's stand out more in some tracks, which can result in a more vivid or intimate type of experience. This is also the case with the O2's vs. the HE90 or SR-Omega, and depends mostly whether the track sounds better to me with the two latter headphones' larger soundstage and brighter sound. Also, most other headphones's midranges are more different from the O2Mk1 than the O2Mk2. The HE90 and SR-Omega, just two examples, have different midrange tonality that can make some female vocalists sound higher pitched in comparison to the O2Mk1 or O2Mk2. To me, dismissing the Mk2 so completely due to its midrange is like rejecting a beautiful, attractive, intelligent, good-hearted, understanding, compatible girl because her breasts aren't perfect compared to the "references" in certain adult publications.

I've heard a demo SR-404 at a store but never at the same time with the SR-SC1. Supposedly Airbow did some mods to it, including cryo. They are basically the same headphone, aren't they? How different can they be? Assessing the difference as quite far apart is to me an exaggeration, just like characterizing the O2Mk1 and O2Mk2 as being vastly different. I don't know how you guys are perceiving the O2Mk2 to be similar to the SR-404. That is completely not how I'm hearing the O2Mk2 vs. the O2Mk1, SR-SC1 and, based on admittedly fading memory, a demo SR-404 driven by a 006tII.

C'mon, the O2Mk2 "halfway" between the Mk1 and SR-404?! That's like saying the HD600 is halfway between the HD650 and the K701. You Mk2-haters must be unable to listen to any headphone other than the Mk1, if you're so picky and the Mk2 sounds so off to you. The Mk2 sounds a lot closer to the Mk1 than any other headphone, including the SR-404 (disclosure: my unit is an Airbow SR-SC1).

You primates must have 10 thumbs. The Mk2 pads are so much easier than the Mk1 to install it's not even funny. The Mk1's flimsy, thin and soft wrap-around part is much more difficult to wrap into the housing. Oops, aren't we not allowed to talk about O2 earpads anymore?

Haha, all the crazies are gathered in one thread. It's been a year and a half and I'm still gushing about the HE90. 1. HE90 2..100. All other headphones, probably. Ah, I've only heard the HE90 first with an Aristaeus and then with an ES-1. The tubes were probably deficient! You should hear the ES-1 now, with the O2Mk1 and O2Mk2. Sylvania 5751, Sylvania 6SN7W metal base, Mullard EL34 xf2 FTW! We can leave the HE90 hooked up to the Aristaeus. I'm enjoying the O2s now, too, but the HE90 wow never goes away. Is there a cure?

Please don't scare people like this. Do you know that crazy people become extremely uncontrollable and lose all self-restraint when a manufacturer introduces a Special Edition? It appears to be a unit with additional hi-lo impedance switch and nickel plated capacitors. (Front page)

Hi Purk, you might get to see internals of two ES-1.

If you do manage to open up the case, please let me know. I haven't tried opening up my unit yet, but I'm interested in doing so. I don't understand why Mikhail would want to talk to you, unless it's to give you instructions on how to open up the case.

No, I didn't mean I'm going to attend. I'll just read about everyone having fun and be envious. Only ten A-10 units available at the introductory price and apparently only six of those left!

I realize very few have heard these amps and probably no one has heard even two. I was just reading about the A-10 and for some reason heard "voices" and felt some "urges." A hint? Someone in Florida has an Aristaeus, I believe. So plenty of people have heard the HE90+Aristaeus. Maybe some of them will post impressions from CanJam. I can't wait for CanJam!

A-10 vs. Woo electrostat amp vs. BHSE for HE90 Which of the three amps would you choose to drive the HE90? I assume that the BHSE would be a better choice for the Stax O2Mk1 or O2Mk2. But the choice doesn't seem as clear for the HE90. People at the recent Detroit mini-meet have posted about the HE90+A-10 combo as well as other gear. Jude says the HE90+A-10 is probably the best headphone system he's ever heard. Link Given that the HE90 is the priority, might the A-10 be a better match than the BHSE? Or the new Woo electrostatic amp?

Thanks for the link. I think the 12AX7 in the Aristaeus affect the sound more than the ECL86. With this amp, I can understand why some people become very obsessive about preamp tubes. I also think the first two gain stages in the ES-1 affect the sound more than the power tubes. I have the ECC1, 2C51 and 5687 adapters, so I can use those as well as 6SN7 and 6BL7. With the Sylvania 5751, I think I've gotten to a point where the O2Mk1 and O2Mk2 are as good as they're ever going to be in my current system. I don't doubt that they can get better, but I don't think that any improvement will be a large one. Is this the definition of "done"? Please, please, tell me I'm done, finished, zip, zilch, nada, the end, bye-bye!

That could be true. I've only tried a few types of new production tubes, Electro-Harmonix, JJ, Mullard-brand, Groove Tubes, mainly 12AX7 and EL34. I haven't had good results with any of them. There are a lot more available. I'm curious about the Shuguang special Treasure series, but haven't gotten around to trying some yet. I'm hopeful they're good but I wouldn't be too disappointed if they're not. The old tubes are hard to beat. Many of the less in-demand ones, and therefore less expensive, can be quite good. Those are really great values.

Yes, it is very, very dangerous to buy tubes off eBay, or anywhere else for that matter! The best thing to do is not buy any tubes at all! Go solid state! Cool-running, no changing tubes, no hassle! Yay solid-state! If you really really must (think it over first, and then thing again, please) buy tubes, buy the new-production tubes. Don't buy or bid on any old EL34 tubes, especially Mullard xf1, xf2 or metal base types! The new-production tubes come with warranties! Mullard-brand is even available, they look great with clean crisp print and new shiny pins, much better than those dirty-looking old tubes with rubbed off printing! (I think I just used up my 2009 allocation of exclamation marks. Only capable of whispering from now on.)

OK! By your command. Let's see, you can send me a ThinkPad X200 or X300 for cheap, too, I'm too weak to lift that T61p. I did get a bit carried away with acquiring 6SN7, and the only amp I have that uses them is the ES-1. When using two 5751 in the 1st gain stage, which I'm probably going to do permanently, that means I only need one pair of 6SN7 in the second gain position. For some reason I never liked using 6SN7 in both the first and second positions, I prefer either 5751 or 2C51 in the first. Rihanna's voice in "Take A Bow" is sounding particularly sexy. I'm pretty sure it is the 5751 and O2Mk2 that's doing it.

Now you tell me. So what am I going to do with all these 5751, ECC83 and 6SN7 tubes? But, at least I can use the 5751 or ECC83 in the Aristaeus too. Double duty is good. I've read about substituting 7N7 for 6SN7 with an adapter, but there doesn't seem to be many 7N7 types. Also, I'm scared to use a 3rd party adapter in the ES-1 and then having something break, it'll complicate things even though I'll probably find someone local to fix it. Yes, I paid way too much for those SP adapters, but it's all right, at least if something goes wrong SP can't blame something else. So, can the BHSE with only four tubes be better than the ES-1 with eight or the A-10 with nine?

New Rule No one shall bid on any of the following. Actually, the rule is that you can't bid against me, but since there's no way to be sure, just refrain from bidding at all, thank you, much appreciated, elephants and your wallet will thank you. 5751 Sylvania (any type) EL34 Mullard xf1 and xf2 EL34 Telefunken Ulm-made 5 crimped plates EL34 Philips, Mullard, Telefunken metal base (to be safe, include any kind of metal base) 6SN7W Sylvania (both regular black base and metal base) 6SN7GT Tung-Sol round plates black glass ECC83 Telefunken, Mullard (50's thru 60's, including ECC803S and 10M Series)

I got a new PC! Intel Core i7 965 Thermalright CPU cooler with 2x Noctua 12cm fans Asus P6T Deluxe V2 6GB RAM (thinking of going to 12, moar RAMDisk, please!) 128GB SSD 2x 1TB hard drives 2x Asus HD4870 DK 1G SEED 1000W power supply Lian Li PC-X500 chassis I don't really do much gaming, this is dedicated for Head-Case browsing!