Torpedo

Happy Bday

It all depends on the "bass needs" your dad may have. If he's going to listen mostly to chamber music, vocals and such, then the ESL63 are a great option. Otherwise, newer Quads would deliver more bass which makes them more suitable for other music styles. You may think that a subwoofer may solve the bass issue with the ESL63, but IME, the midrange of the ESL63 is so special, clean, natural, etc that matching a sub to that sound and getting a good blend, is a really tough task. No <1000 euros sub would qualify. The 988 doing some rework on the frame to make it stiffer are very good speakers. The even newer series are crap. They're made in China and the guys mounting them not even know how to put the right component into the right place , so forget about soldering in a proper manner. Once reworked sound really good, but as with all planars, you need a lot of room (6ft or more) behind them to the front wall. Another great option IMO are the Apogee Duetta, which can be found used from time to time. Their only problem is they need beefy amps, but I'm quite sure you may find in the UK a used Audio Synthesis Desire Decade for well under 1000 GBP, which drives them gorgeously. A friend of mine had the Duettas and I loaned him my AS. It was an excellent system, but he had to sell the Duettas for his using a pacemaker. The huge magnetic field from the Duettas interfered his device, which wasn't a great idea

Thanks for the heads up. Looks like they're visiting Madrid in November, I'll try to attend

Yum yum, that sounds like a very interesting meet. I kind of hate you, but just a little bit

Hahahaha you replied faster than I managed to edit my silly question Saw the price in the Woo website Thanks Al.

Woah! Impressions as soon as possible please

That'd be fantastic Dreadhead

Me too, why not? Looks interesting in the least

They'll be very welcome. It's a pity you haven't lived with the 717 too for some time, it's my only decent reference so far.

I found [ame=http://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conector_DIN]this[/ame] on the Spanish Wiki for the 5 pins DIN, which meets my previous experience with those connectors. Many moons ago I also had a microphone using a 3 pins connector into a recording machine. I'll translate the numbers assignation: 3 Left channel "out" (I suppose it means -) / Mono 5 Right channel "out" (stereo use only) 2 Ground 4 Right channel "in" (I suppose it means +) (just used in stereo) 1 Left channel "in" / Mono My wild guess is that the 4 pins connection in stereo just skips the ground pole. I didn't found information about it. I suppose that Quad sticks to the normal DIN configuration. Maybe contacting them to confirm the point is your best bet. Good luck.

These are the first current production John Grado design (PS1 and HP2 won't qualify) that I really like with bowls since the first minute. Haven't tried them with flats yet, but for how the sound changes by applying pressure on the cups, I think I'll like them better with bowls. Flats would keep the tonal rightness, but would make the bass too much for me. I'll see later. I like their timbre, they sound nothing like the 225 (even the aluminum cups version Picaudio made) or RS1. For my ears the sound of acoustic instruments is more natural and believable than in any other current JG headphone. Maybe the vintage RS1 are different, and I haven't tried the SR325. Though they keep that fun factor and immediate presence of the family sound, while being refined and smooth in the treble. I wish they hadn't used those plastic yokes of the SR series, it's a shame

I think you'll love the HD800 with the B22, it has the "brutally revealing" character of the O2. I could live just with that. What amp are you using with the O2 now? It will be very interesting for me knowing how fares the KGSS against it and other amps you may have tried.

Yes, you can choose the pad orientation and cable input position to suit you best.

FF 3 used to crash when closing for the Spanish spellchecker. No such problem with 3.5, it works very well here.

A while ago: Pat Martino - Live at Yoshi's Then: Stan Kenton - Conducts the jazz compositions of Dee Barton And now waiting: Corinne Bailey Rae - Corinne Bailey Rae These HD800 are starting to sound damn good, really good instruments separation and spot on timbre on the big band recording

Blackwoods 40% or 60%? Never tried any of them, nor the Hendricks. I rarely drink gin, always with tonic, but I can appreciate the good ones having a taste more refined than mostly alcohol.

I'd never guessed that I'd say this, but listening to symphonic music with large dynamic swings, I'd say the the O2 fed by the 717 have an edge over the HD800/B22 portraying the "brute" impact of the orchestra when going full throttle. Overall the O2 seem more refined and subtle, but the HD800 are still on low burn-in status, even for non believers less than 30 hours isn't enough to loose mechanically the drivers suspensions. Or not, who knows

Oh come on, don't say that

Thanks mate! welcome to the Case

I happen to have both in my place right now, the O2 fed by a SRM717 and the HD800 mostly with a Beta 22, using the same sources. Forced to choose, I'd keep the O2. While the HD800 are excellent phones, probably the best open dynamics in current production, the O2 are more natural and "sounding like music" to my ears. However the HD800 have almost no burn-in, I got them 15 days ago and I've been away for 6 days, so they've been in use for less than 25 hours. Maybe the sound won't change very much, but my opinion might evolve eventually. I think it's very important that you spend quality time with both, being sure you're using good sources and proper amps. Regarding overall cost, both would be about the same, good amps for the HD800 don't sell for peanuts and you could try getting a SRD-7 (pro or mk2) for the O2, which is a good way to drive them if you own a speakers power amp already.

Hahaha, well, some champagne then

Postman just delivered my pair, which shipped last week. For a few numbers I got the flawed lettering ones instead of the first batch having it right. No problem, I don't think that's important. BTW these things sound quite good out from the PC soundcard. More balanced than I expected, clear, nuanced... I think they will qualify for the "killer portable fun cans" category. I'll have to get a case for them.

Whoa, I missed this one too I hope you had a great one Birgir. Much Brennivin that day?

I was away on a vacation trip. Very belated but very happy birthday Mike. I hope you had a great one

Hahahaha, she looks like being a bit so. I'm studying how to make the categories fit and being still minimal: Killer closed dynamic for chamber and voices: R10 bass-light Killer closed dynamic all-purpose: R10 bass heavy Killer closed dynamic for rock and sheer fun: L3000 Killer open circumaural dynamic all-purpose: HD800 Killer open supraaural dynamic for rock: PS-1 Killer open supraaural all-purpose dynamic: HP-2 Killer orthodynamic: T30 Killer electrostatic: O2 mk1 Killer closed portable: ESW10jpn Killer open portable: HF-2 My first excellent phones: HD600 I need to find a category for the DX-1000, otherwise I'll have to sell them with the D5000 and a few others