HeadphoneAddict

We listened to 6 DAC's at the CO head-fi meet this weekend. The full Gamma 1 that wiatrob built can easily hang with $400-1000 desktop DAC's when used with coax S/PDIF input. And, he uses it with his modded HP-3 at work as a headphone amp as well. It's 1/8" output was about as good as the mini-DAC 1/8" line out which can drive headphones too, but we never got to try comparing the Apogee XLR out vs the Gamma 1. The Stello DA100 was slightly more spacious and detailed, as was the Electrocompaniet ECD-1 which sounded identical to the Stello. We really needed more time switching back and forth between the Gamma 1, Apogee and DACMagic so with the limited time we had left at the end of the meet we could only divide them into two groups with all 5 being very good, but with the Stello DA100 and ECD-1 being slightly above the other 3. We also threw the iBasso D10 into the mix with the big boys, via coax input and using the 1/8" line-out, and it was less spacious, less detailed and less dynamic (same problem with iBasso D3 line out). But the D10 output through the headphone amp section sounds much better than it's output via the line out (same issue with the D3), but I wasn't thinking about that when we were setting up the SPDIF distribution center and the preamp with all 6 DACs feeding into it. So, using it as an optical DAC preamp to feed the Woo GES earlier in our meet proved it to be on par with the Pico as a DAC/Preamp. Sherwood listened with me and agreed with that. Too bad it is 1.5" longer than the Pico, with worse RFI from the iPhone than the Pico. I think the fact that the Pico DAC will eliminate the unneeded amp circuitry, and wont need any power or batteries to run, and will have 1/8" out and RCA out will still make it an excellent choice for a high quality USB DAC (not everyone has optical, and the D10 USB is slightly below the Pico via USB, just like the D3).

Hey Dan, how would you like to trade a Lavry DA11 review sample for my mint condition Ultrasone Edition 9 #440 with 6-foot APS V3 cable with 1/8" plug and extra pair of chrome housings, with flight case and Ultrasone CD and 1/4 adapter? kinda serious here, although I don't expect you to do it but I just had to ask anyways, because one never knows what might happen. Then I can do a review of it before I set my Apogee mini-DAC off to the side as a spare. I've already posted that I liked the DA10 better than the Apogee, but I only spent one afternoon with it when plaidplatypus brought it over to play.

That's okay, I just traded the O2 Mk1 for your old K1000 from the guy who who got them from you. Now I will have to do the rest of Spritzer's mods and plug the O2 Mk2 bass port, but the O2 Mk2 sound nothing like any of the Lambdas I have heard (normal, pro and signature). I suppose I should try to hear a 404 someday. Then I suppose I should re-cable the Jade and I'll be all set.

Agree completely, and they are much better sounding than when I shipped the stock Gamma Pro to Smeggy. Smeggy, thank you soooo much! Signed, 'stat boy PS: I wonder if Smeggy would trade the K1000 for one of my O2?

The SE530 sound even better if you can find someone still in business who will put its drivers into a custom IEM shell with dual sound tubes. You can get something like a Livewires or HearYourself.com IEM and split it open and gut the insides, but that is NOT cost effective at all. Then there is the task of figuring out what size and length sound tubes from drivers to ear tip that work the best with them. I think Suyama in Japan can still do it.

I thought the SE530 mids were plasticky with the wrong tips, namely the unmodified triple flange. When I cut the triples into a biflange, and also cut the stalk about 2-3 mm shorter they sounded better (but yellow foam or black olive foam were better). Those same modded tips were too short for the Westone 3 and sounded funny with them, but so did the stock triple flange again - so I had to one cut only one end of the triple flange tips but not both, so the length was in between stock ones and ones and modded for the SE530. The custom Westone UM56 tips I had made for my SE530 also sound best on my Westone 3 as well.

But how does it sound? We have a guy in Denver with some ESP10 that might bring them to the Colorado meet at my house next weekend. I'm getting curious, but he took them apart to make them sound better and more comfortable.

I'm still dying to hear what my Gamma Pro sound like in a "Smegma Pro" woody cup with the SR-007 Mk1 pads that I sent Smeggy a while back. I bribed him with some free headphones and ear pads, but we've been keeping him real busy with orthodynamic builds as well, so I just have to wait my turn...

Two, if you count the one that does all the thinking. It doesn't want to pull out the DAC everytime I switch amps.

I appreciate the response, but it still doesn't solve the problem of using the same DAC for two amps - the balanced dynamic rig and SE electrostatic rig without using RCA loop out on the balanced amp. I can use the XLR out of my Apogee into the balanced amp, and the 1/8" line out with mini-RCA into the electrostatic rig at the same time.

I loved the SR-X MkIII but liked my SR-5NB gold edition a little more for the circumaural fit and soundstage (same drivers). Very good headphones that I feel can compete with my RS-1. The O2 Mk1 with Woo GES are a definite hit, as are my Jade. I hope to get you to hear these sometime soon. Sorry you can't be at the meet next Saturday, but I am available this sunday and the sunday after the meet too.

I was impressed with Plaidplatypus's DA10, so I'll have to keep my eyes on the DA11. The only thing I'd want different is the spot where the XLR-in is located to instead be a pair of RCA-out, so it has both SE and balanced output and can drive two amps (my balanced dynamic rig and my SE Woo GES). When we tried plaid's DA10 in my rig, we connected the XLR out into my Square Wave and used the RCA on the Sq Wave as loop out to feed the GES, but a direct connection to the DAC would be preferred.

By all means, have Justin send it here instead.

Why, there is nothing wrong with yours...

They seem to be going for up to $300 with transformer these days, according to what Sherwood, Blutarsky and ericj have paid recently. I bought mine with SRD-X from plaidplatypus for $230 11/07, and my son's from Fitz by itself last summer for $240. Oublie was asking about $300 for his when I bought his SRD-7 Mk2 SB a week ago.

Blutarsky's Zana Deux and Melos SHA Gold are both fantastic, with a tiny 1% edge going in favor of the Melos. Nevertheless, his Zana Deux is great with low impedance like HF-1, RS-1, HP-1000, PS-1, Denon D2000 and also with 300 ohm HD600 and HD650. His Zana Deux was the first amp I heard that made the HD650 sound like they were worth owning (before he got the Melos). The Melos however is stunning driving HD600 from the pseudo-balanced XLR preamp outs with a female XLR balanced APS v3 cable. The Melos does have very good/costly upgraded Telefunken tubes in it from Larryminator I think. I know I would be happy to own a Zana Deux, although I am already very happy with my Maxed WA6 with pseudo dual power supply and Sophia Princess 274b rectifier. I think they actually sound very similar.

Actually, I forgot about the KSC35 and mine are better than my KSC75 as stated above. I gave the KSC75 to my wife for her iPod Nano, but still use the 35 in the car.

Blutarsky says he is #40.

I recently traded my 325i and cash for some AD2000, and while both were nice out of the ones you are looking at for a spare set I'd stick with the Grado 325i or Alessandro MS2i - but even an MS-1 with a good burn-in can be a stand-in while your HP-1000 are worked on. Even better sounding would be if you could pick up a pair of HF-1 for $300-400. If you still have the Zana Deux an AKG K240M sounds great on one (Blutarsky's).

Having gone through a 3 year pediatric residency and knowing how bad a 6 year surgical residency can be (much worse than greys anatomy), you will be best off with a 16gb 4G Nano and some PX100 or KSC75. It's gotta fit in your surgical scrubs and not weigh it down, and you have to be able to hear your pager go off. If you leave the Pico in the on-call room at the hospital and it will be gone in an hour. I have some 600 ohm AKG K240M and the Pico can just drive them to mild or moderate volumes but it can't match the sound and power that a desktop tube amp will offer. The only portable that does them any justice is the warmer sounding TTVJ portable Millett Hybrid which is still too underpowered with 600 ohm headphones. The only other headphone the Pico has had a hard time driving is my heavily dampened SFI orthodynamic custom headphones, which demand a lot of power and could be driven by a speaker amp if needed.

I'd be willing to donate to the effort too.

Well, I mentioned previously to Spritzer after I got them that the APS modded ESP950 he sold me take 2-3 minutes to fully charge, and for the first 4-5 seconds the are silent. Both drivers charge equally slow, and after several minutes they are both loud and strong and normal volume. No imbalance, but none of my other stats take minutes to charge, and they've been like this for as long as I've had them. I'm afraid to send them to Koss because I worry they will undo the APS cable and dampening mods.

How long do/did your ESP950 drivers take to charge up to full volume with Stax and Koss amps?

I would recommend the Nuforce NE-7M in that price range ($49), and use the money you save to buy either some silicone tips for the Shure E2c for them, or some Complys T400 tips. The tips make a big difference in sound, and they fit better with the Shure or COmplys tip. I did a review on them on "the other forum" and a great number of people agree that in the price range they are hard to beat. Un-amped they beat my de-podded IM716, which when amped are very good. The NE-7M only need about 85-95 hours of burn-in, and compete well with IEM costing as much as $150 (the $159 Phonak do pass these up, but most of the others don't).

I would like to suggest the Phonak Audeo as a good universal IEM that is close to high-end, and probably closer to an Etymotic/Livewires monitor-like sound than the SE530/Triple.fi/W3 sound. They are clear and quick and detailed and have good extension, and don't suffer from troublesome bass or mid-bass peaks or other colorations. I would pick these over a stock SE530 (rolled off), Triple.fi (boxy sound), SA6 (dull or lifeless at times) or even Image X10 (which I also like more than SE530/Triple.fi but have colored upper bass lower mids). I still prefer my Livewires more than the Phonak as a neutral and accurate IEM, and my Westone 3 as a full and lush fun sounding IEM, but the Phonak are great universal IEM for people who don't want coloration to the sound but don't want it to be too analytical or dull at the other end of the spectrum. Nevertheless, I am getting impressions for Westone ES3X this week...