Torpedo

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

You can split the "killer dynamic" category in two, so make it killer open dynamic HD800 (or eventually Qualia), and killer closed dynamic R10, and still be team minimal queen

Just installed it. Seems faster than FF3, but not that fast, for your comments I expected the astonishing speed of Chrome, which I don't use for other reasons. Good update anyway, thanks for the heads up.

Happy Bday

Yep, titanium would make an excellent material for Chekhonte's prosthesis A magnetic material would be very inconvenient having that big magnet on the fridge.

hahahaha, well, if he wore the phones while measuring them...

IMO using the dummy is a more accurate procedure, after all the amplifier will drive the cans while you're wearing them, that's the real impedance it'll have to drive.

I wonder what material was the ring made of. AFAIK silver, gold and other noble metals aren't magnetic, even stainless steel shouldn't be much attracted by the magnet. Definitely she needs to get better rings. I hope you don't need a prosthesis after such power exhibition

I'm not sure tube amps can handle properly the low PS-1's impedance. Of course they sound good, but there's a part of the bass control the cans ask for that I think is better attainable using SS, or at least a tube amp optimized to work with as a low output impedance as possible. The PS-1 are very revealing and will show upstream components flaws and character pretty well. I haven't tried your other SS amps, so I don't know how they handle the PS-1. Among my stash, the amp that gives the best (for me, of course) results with the PS-1 is the B22. The B22 is an excellent amp, but it's so overkill already on SE that I'm not sure at all that using a balanced one is really necessary or would offer any benefit. In any case I wouldn't rewire to balanced my PS-1, they're quite well as they are

I use it full time when listening to the Bidat, that's my best digital. However since the DA11 is pretty new and I'm giving it some burn-in before deciding if it will remain in the main rig, or will just have a role in the secondary PC rig to play HD files, I'm using the Sony. I've noticed the Lavry is quite immune to the transport or the link used between transport and DAC. Then I prefer wearing out the Sony than the CEC, which moreover is giving some aging signs and from time to time refuses to play some CDs. The Sony plays about everything, that's why it's sitting in the main rig, so the discs that won't play on the CEC, play on the Sony. I know that sooner or later the CEC will die, and I'll need a replacement, but new CECs are very expensive and other transports I've tried unfortunately don't sound as good with the Bidat. The only one coming close is an even older Theta Data II, which I keep just in case the CEC died, so I'd have decent sound while finding a suitable one that I can afford.

Another birthday? OMG Have a great one CJ

Elephas, what amps did you use with the PS-1? I ask this because IMO the PS-1 are quite resolving, and their bass is very sensitive to the amps used. It can vary from "massive" using the Rudistor, to very good but excessive on the Gilmore, or excellent but enhanced using the B22. Using the best matching amp to the L3000 and the PS-1, both are bassy cans, but for texture, slam and sheer quality, I'd say the PS-1's is better. The L3000 show some colorations which I guess are due to their closed nature. Other than that, it's overwhelming bass I think that the best bass overall (summing up texture, timbre, balance, slam, decay...) I've heard from cans is the Fostex T30's when fed tons of power with the B22 and properly damped. Second to that, probably the O2 mk1's. Picking apart limited bass features, then other cans qualify for the best. The DX-1000 have their own merits too hehehe. Going back on topic, I've repeated listening to the very same tracks that yesterday sounded sibilant and bright. These HD800 are changing for the better. The cymbals attacks that yesterday were undefined, etched and kind of "generic" are now more nuanced and less aggressive. Some sung consonants that were ear piercing sound now more natural, though still a bit etched. I don't think it's the frequency response changing, as much as the drivers now are closer to achieve their response speed over the whole frequency range. Looks like even bad recordings will be listenable. Yesterday I didn't think so at all. Encouraging evolution

Yes, the DA11 and the Bidat using phones have similar tonal balances when using the CDP-X707SE as a transport. When the Bidat is fed from the CEC, there are some more notable differences, but not in tonal balance, are more in coherence, flow and other areas. However I haven't tried the CEC-Bidat combo using the HD800 yet, though I don't expect great improvements, using the O2 things remain as stated. Hops, feel free to use as fine ale as needed to reset your perception, but don't make the listening tests during the process, which is commonly considered to make everything sounding gorgeous

I see... well, wash your brain and listen again to material which sounded bright in the beginning

I understand you made it to last 5 minutes

Time to listen and compare to your previous phones