Iron_Dreamer
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Posts posted by Iron_Dreamer
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At least from the internal pictures I've seen, it looks quite a bit like a single-ended version of the 220, as far as the output stage and chips used go. However from what I recall, it didn't have seperate transformers for analog and digital, and the transformer is of a different type than the 220's.
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See I have a slightly different take on this, I'm concerned that with the growth of the hobby and the industry that we could actually see a decrease in quality. Once the market is large enough the manufacturers won't really have any incentive for creating new ground breaking (or even just great) headphones. They'll just be happy churning out large quantities of average quality phones to the masses.
While I can see the point, which is likely true for the mid-low end of the market, I'd think that Manufacturers would take not of how many people are willing to use multi-$k amps and systems with $400 and think "perhaps I can get these people to buy my multi-$k headphones, if I make them good enough." Or do you think the headphone boom of late has only created people interested in IEMs and iPods?
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Dimensions, going off memory, would be about 8" x 11" x 1.8", weight, hmmm my guess would be 5-6lb.
The headphone amp is pretty good, I'd compare it to a Gilmore Lite (w/o upgraded PSU). I'd say you'd need a tube amp (different flavor) or medium-high-end SS amp to be worth using instead.
I bought mine from Soundpure.com, and it was a very good experience. I know they are also carried at mercenary.com, from which I've bought other things in the past.
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RIP:
Stax Lambda Pro (and variants. SR-404, the latest of the line, is a poor substitute for the earlier ones)
Stax Sigma Pro
Audio Technica L3000
AKG K-1000
Sony MDR-R10
Sony Qualia 010
Grado HP-1000
Grado PS-1
Sennheiser Orpheus
Sennheiser Baby Orpheus
There is some sort of irony that just as headphone audio is coming into its own, the industry has backed away from statement products en masse. The amp builders are getting better and better, but the headphones worth driving are few and far between.
I must say that to take the first list as an indication that the industry is backing away from statement headphones, is a bit misleading. The Lamda, Sigma, and HP1000 were discontinued before Head-Fi ever existed (as were the HE60/90 AFAIK, not counting the Meier ed HE90 one-off). The L3000 was limited-edition from the start, so it wasn't going to last forever regardless, as was the PS1 (limited production anyway), if I recall the talk surrounding it. The R10 was discontinued because Sony had a new flagship to tout.
That leaves us with the K1000 and Qualia as the only of the top list to be recently discontinued. Though I liked the Qualia sound, the fit and build quality issues were a bit much for such a product to survive. The K1000, well you explain that one to me, 'cause I don't see why they saw fit to get rid of it.
Furthermore, though the GS1K might not be to one's taste (I've not heard one), you can't just dismiss that Grado has put out a new high-end flagship (moreso than the PS1 IMO, since that was never meant for widespread distribution, and was a one-off, nearly unofficial product anyway).
I don't think the issue is that high-end cans are going away, more that we are in a sort of coincidental lull. A-T is always tossing out a new headphone, so that one's just a matter of time (of course I think the current W5000 is nothing to sneeze at, but I'm biased). Beyer has never made a truly high-end headphone, so why expect that to change? Sony seems to have taken a step back from the arena, but who's to say that will last, considering their history? Sennheiser seems to be content with their current offerings, since the end of the HE series, but many who use them balanced consider them top-tier anyway. Stax would seem to have little impetus to put out new offerings, when there is literally no competiton in the 'stat world. We already know what Grado has done. This leaves AKG, do they have something in the works, or are they taking a Senn-esque stance?
Of course, the more mainstream audiophile coverage the headphone scene gets, perhaps the closer we come to new entrants into the headphone business. I think the sheer growth of the market will bring forth new high-end headphones before long.
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looks nice... but can't they make the foams in black or gray rather than yellow?
They are, or at least, they should be out there soon. I've got a very nice set of black foams, which apparently are still in development. They are a bit more comfortable, and much more durable than the old yellow foams.
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Yeah, I was there after he had already arrived. The trip he did on me was later, just before we went to dinner.
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Ayt and Iron_Dreamer,
You guys should have seen him introduce the Zhalou, IIRC he had a unit with the cover off and another covered unit. He's a damn good salesman, have to give him that. I think it's also worthy of note that I don't remeber but someone mentioned that on toher forums, the Zhalou isn't fairing nearly as well as on Head Fi.
I just remember him insiting I had to listen to the R10 on that set of junk he brought, how it was way more synergous than my rig at the time. Yeah, perhaps if you like buying the R10's only to make them sound like V900's
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I've only heard one once, not knowing what it was at the time (before this whole craze began), and it was hooked up to a DIY tube amp I knew nothing about, but it sounded pretty crappy to me. That system made the R10's sound like under-driven HD650's, UGH!
I know at least a few people have had major reliability problems with it, like hum, high DC offset, channel mismatch, etc.
Zhaolu = cheap-fi
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That would be funny -- driving US$150 worth of speakers with US$1500 worth of amp.
Almost as funny as driving headphones that cost me $10.84 with an amp that originally sold for over $2100
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I couldn't log in either, until I cleared my cookies.
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I wouldn't ditch the amp though; I'd save it for portable use. Takes D batteries.
Where's the spare backpack when you need it?
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I've noticed the difference before, but it's generally such a minor difference, that it's not worth bothering with for me. Perhaps this would change with better speakers? I guess I'll find out someday.
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darn grado copying me. evil them.
here's my small form-factor balanced amp....
I love that little amp! You gonna have some proper volume knobs on it next time?
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I could always be coerced
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In a nutshell.... natural sounding treble with excellent extension, slightly forward midrange with a little bit of warmth, deep textured bass. The soundstage isn't quite as large as the HD-650 but it's instrument placement is far more precise, it definately doesn't suffer from the three blob effect. The sound signature is on the bright side of neutral but is never harsh or bright. The PRaT is outstanding.
I can only echo these sentiments.
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I just picked it up this afternoon. Only heard the first song so far, which was pretty good, I especially liked the chorus, but that song alone doesn't really stand up to much on Lateralus (my preferred Tool album).
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I have used the Lavry a lot with my W5K, and find it to be a great pairing, in fact I find the improvement of using the Dynahi with the Lavry's DAC output to feed the W5K is pretty minimal.
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They probably are the best all arounders, in that they have less glaring flaws than almost any other headphone I can think of. They don't rise to be the best of any particular catergory of sound performance that I can think of, but they do very well across the board. A very easy headphone to recommend, since unless the owner-to-be has much high-end audio experience, they will almost certainly be satisfied. Hmmmm, perhaps this is why Headroom now touts them. Anyway, enjoy 'em, and hopefully Yikes' pair will come in soon (aside: I wish I could hear your recabled SA5K).
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Perhaps the server became overstuffed with pretzels?
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Indeed, the price is what makes these headphones more than anything. It's not that they do anything particularly well, more that considering the price, they do little if anything that is particularly sub-par.
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I figured that I've got 0.83 set up so well to my liking, it wasn't worth the effort of trying the new version, and for what so that scrolling my 10,000 song playlist will use a few less CPU cycles? I don't overclock for nuthin'
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Essentially that the dynahi is made to work at a fairly high gain, and lowering it reduces stability and bandwidth. Unity gain is a BAD idea.
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Nevermind, got my answer on headwize
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I got to thinking, that my source outputs PLENTY of voltage, so I could possibly get by with a headphone amp in unity gain, only suppling additional current. Is it possible to properly operate the dynahi this way? I am aware of how to change the gain, and fortunately dgardner socketed the gain resistor for me. My understanding of gain tells me that this resistor would essentially be bypassed to run unity gain, correct? The unusual nature of that setup is what made me wonder if it were possible. Certainly I could stick in a 100ohm resistor to get to a gain of 2, right?
At any rate, is there any point to this? I figured that lower gain would equal less noise, since the voltage is already high enough coming out of the source.
In 5-10 days...
in Home Source Components
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That's not to say it won't sound great, it probably will, esp. for the price.