padam

I think it is indeed a revolutionary product, there are a lot of legacy glass out there crying not to collect dust and fungus in the basement but to be used on something like this. I've already started collecting a few of them before the prices go even higher, the body can wait for a while I think. Only tried the Zuiko 100/2 so far which is not particularly small or cheap, but even on the 5N the colour, contrast and sharpness is superior to the Sony lens I've tried it is just difficult to use at 150mm and I don't have the EVF either (there is just not much point in buying it now). Wide angles are much easier to use those DOF markings are going to make sense now. Canon bodies are very good with many legacy glass as well (like this particular Zuiko) but with the more flexible mount and full-time live-view focusing this is just better suited to this. Sigma and Rokinon can still jump in as a 3rd party AF lens manufacturers and I think it will happen, just not now. And there will be Sony lens as well but probably the same so-so quality like it is now. DSLR is still going to be the weapon of choice for many things and yes there are endless choice of lenses but I like the FF mirrorless idea.

If someone buys one directly from him it is possible (but of course no warranty). It is easier to do on the 727.

I agree the implementation is somewhat weird at the moment (probably due to licensing issues) but who knows what comes up next from their stable. The basic concept definitely works. I would say it is not really a speaker experience more like something in between, not too easy to describe. It really depends on what you would like to improve upon. Anyway, amp-wise I can also suggest the modified SRM727. It runs fairly cool, takes up little space and works very well both with SR007Mk1 and SR009. Of course I am sure it is no BHSE or KGSSHV but it is still pretty good and most importantly it is readily available (I guess HeadAmp can do the mod if requested as it is not nearly as fiddly as the SRM007t). Rumor has it that Stax will release a new flagship amp to go with their flagship phone but so far nothing more has emerged.

Maybe you could try out the Realiser A8 if you can as depending on the setup it can make the SR009 full-bodied while keeping its qualities. But since it is still an EQ for some people it just does not work as well as others, but it is definitely the best with the Stax headphones. Expensive and somewhat quirky to set up and use, but it can really do great things.

Or drive it at double the bias.

I think the originals are way too thick for you (and quite pricey) so these might be better for experimenting (there is another Chinese variant on ebay as well which is not symmetric)

http://www.ebay.com/itm/HD250-series-Sennheiser-ear-pad-pr-for-HD-250-headphone-/230969067516?pt=US_Replacement_Parts_Tools&hash=item35c6d447fc I can measure the diameter if needed (about the same as the Denon I think), the original pads are solid but thick, these "replacements" look to be thinner and reported to sound bad on HD250s but they might work on the KingSound

Raytheon is pretty much the same thing.

Definitely interested in this one.

Got a 600ohm HD250Mk1 driver today to fix my pair that was collecting dust for several years. I got lucky since drivers were perfectly matched (there are more than 1 versions). They seem to be even better than the Mk2s and more worthy of the "Linear" writing on the sides (smoother, better balanced, so more detail and even bigger soundstage) So might be the best closed phone I've ever heard (and that's mainly because they do not not sound like a closed headphone...at all) but I will need to do some comparisons first. I haven't considered getting a separate amp for dynamic headphones, but now I definitely do As the Lavry hp out is really not doing them too much justice (they are 'ok' Mytek 192 hp out just seems much better, not nearly as veiled). So, what should be the best for 600 ohm load? I can easily go balanced as well. I tried a GLite DPS with Mk2s and it was not a very good match.

Well, I think he did sell a HE-90 for a realistic price...once

RIP, a great Hungarian musician.

From Sennheiser HD250 Linear I and IIs are still the best for me, as comfy as HD600s (maybe pleather a bit sweaty when it's really hot) but with real isolation and very big soundstage, I've heard the Shures and Denons and these are far better. Although the sound is a bit V-shaped and the bass is a little boomy but it is possible to adjust. Open headphones are better for me now (especially if they are electrostatic) but I still take them out sometimes, recently tried with the Mytek 192 DSD and I've never heard them sounding this good (Lavry hp out seems to be weak for them) Plus: they are very durable, more so than any other headphone I've tried (interchangeable cable, headband fits nicely from the HD202 etc.)

I got to borrow a 192 DSD DAC as well for a few days. I am using USB2 as I have no FW input. I am finding it to be quite different to the Lavry DA11 it will take a while until I get used to it. It is quite a bit more resolving and open (with the O2 I heard things I hadn't noticed before) and as Antonio wrote it has a much "tighter" type of presentation. Overall I would say it is probably nice with darker headphones but it is probably just too much with SR009 or most Lambdas. I am actually enjoying it most with the modified 727 and Sigma Pro, that seems to have the best synergy I'm wondering what would be a great source for the SR009 as it needs to be hyper resolving but at least slightly warm at the same time.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=Qa0_r9Nawf8

Happy Birthday!

Thanks everyone, enjoyed it

I carry the DA11 occasionally, it is not that big or heavy so I would probably try one of these Benchmark DAC2, Lavry DA11, Mytek 192 DSD Or there used to be a HeadAmp 24/96 DAC/amp prototype (like a successor of the Pico if I am not mistaken), a balanced version of that would be interesting and stylish A laptop usually has an SD slot anyway.

Happy Birthday Colin!

The new Stig is probably quicker but in many cases it is a different person (e.g. a factory test driver) Pity I did not find anything more on Prost's lap, maybe it was a flying lap?

But the Zonda R weighs 280 kgs less.

That is a neat build, well done.

Ok I misunderstood at first I thought it is the outer grilles on the sides not the earpad cloth. No unfortunately I did not have a chance to compare side by side. But I have the Lavry and 717 for quite a while now so that hasn't changed and I heard two with that but not at one time. And yet the few I tried/owned definitely sounded different and I think the pads were not broken, the sealing was good in either pair (but with one pair I was able to achieve a good fit much easier than with the other pair as the headband had more tension but after some trial I managed to make it similar). The best I owned (and now regret selling) was an early 70xxx one (with the less foam insert in the box) and the worst was an SZ1 one. Akwok wrote a few years ago that he owned two SR007 Mk1s at the same time, both with brand new pads and they sounded different as well.

And how did they sound before that? Interesting theory. If it is true the problem is that these older grilles are not available. And I still think it is the drivers (manufacturing tolerances, etc) that cause the difference.