Not easy to choose between so many good headphones.

James Lehman · « **Reply #20 on:** 16 Oct 2012, 09:01 pm »

Over the years I have had several different headphones from Audio Technica. I was fortunate enough to get a close out deal back in the early 80s of their electret phones. Unfortunately they got stolen. I have also had a few different AT recording studio dynamic phones. I like all of them. I personally feel like AT gets it right when it comes to flat non-resonant sound. Their stuff is typically not as pricey as others and I think some people equate that with inferiority.

James.

FullRangeMan · « **Reply #21 on:** 16 Oct 2012, 09:21 pm »

Quote from: SteveFord on 14 Oct 2012, 03:10 pm

I think that this would do nicely:

http://staxusa.com/System/STAX-SRS-3170.html

The amp from WooAudio would be my first choice but I'm not that into headphones to justify the expense:

http://www.wooaudio.com/products/wes.html

The Woo WA2 seems the perfect tube amp, it is OTL and Single Ended Triode...and it is not expensive

Also the 6AS7/6080 is a very good sound tube, as can be see on Atma-Sphere amps.

SteveFord · « **Reply #22 on:** 16 Oct 2012, 10:28 pm »

It wouldn't work for Stax, though.
For them it's WES, GES and the Woo Wee.
It's kind of hard not to like a product named the Woo Wee; if it's anything like the energizer unit that I use with my Sigmas, it will sound exactly as good (or as bad) as whatever it's hooked up to.

G Georgopoulos · « **Reply #23 on:** 17 Oct 2012, 12:21 am »

Guy, look at frequency response graph,I have tried expensive headphones and didnt like em,buy a good headphone amplifier first,then buy headphones,most people I see buy just expensive headphones and then try to amplify them with headphones amplifiers that are not suitable,remember that the amplifier is at the heart of every audio system,pay attention at the impendence of headphones and how is that is going to work with a headphones amplifier.

Guy 13 · « **Reply #24 on:** 17 Oct 2012, 07:34 am »

Quote from: James Lehman on 16 Oct 2012, 09:01 pm

Over the years I have had several different headphones from Audio Technica. I was fortunate enough to get a close out deal back in the early 80s of their electret phones. Unfortunately they got stolen. I have also had a few different AT recording studio dynamic phones. I like all of them. I personally feel like AT gets it right when it comes to flat non-resonant sound. Their stuff is typically not as pricey as others and I think some people equate that with inferiority.

James.

Hi James and all Audio Circle members.

At one time in my active search for better headphones than my
Sennheiser HD-570,
I was considering the Audio Technica ATH-50M,
but I could not find any were on the Internet
if the were over the ears headphones.

The reviews were good, the price was excellent.

I might reconsider the purchase of those,
if someone can tell me more about them,

especially in comparison to the Sennheiser HD-570
that I paid about 100USD ten years ago.

Guy 13

Guy 13 · « **Reply #25 on:** 17 Oct 2012, 07:41 am »

Quote from: FULLRANGEMAN on 16 Oct 2012, 09:21 pm

The Woo WA2 seems the perfect tube amp, it is OTL and Single Ended Triode...and it is not expensive
Also the 6AS7/6080 is a very good sound tube, as can be see on Atma-Sphere amps.

Hi FULLRANGEMAN and all Audio Circle members.

For no special reason I don't like the WOO lines of products.

It's like why you like more Ford then Chrysler.

In addition the WA2 is 1,090USD which is over my budget.

I know WOO also have the WA6 at 620USD
and the WA3 at 495USD, the later model is within my budget,
but like I said, I don't like their products.
Maybe it's what they look like ? ? ?

I think I will go with the Schiit Valhalla.
Price is good, review are good, it's OTL tube amplifier,
look good to my eyes (Low profile) american built.

Thanks for sharing with me your opinion.

Guy 13

Guy 13 · « **Reply #26 on:** 17 Oct 2012, 07:51 am »

Quote from: SteveFord on 16 Oct 2012, 10:28 pm

It wouldn't work for Stax, though.
For them it's WES, GES and the Woo Wee.
It's kind of hard not to like a product named the Woo Wee; if it's anything like the energizer unit that I use with my Sigmas, it will sound exactly as good (or as bad) as whatever it's hooked up to.

Hi Steve and all Audio Circle members.

I did some surfing on the WOO website and found these prices:

Stax SR007MK2 @ 2,600USD
Stax SR507 @ 1,050USD

WEE converter 620USD
GES amplifier 1,450USD
WES amplifier 4,990USD

If I take the Stax SR507 with the WEE converter
it comes up to 1,670USD.

If I take the Schiit Valhalla and the HD-650
I come up to 849USD which is half the price.

The Stax are superior to my chosen combo
but at double the price,
is it double the sound quality.

If WOO offers a no risk 30 days trial,
I might give them a try.
(But still over my budget)
I have a pair of Tekton Lore to buy (1,000USD)
and other expenses.

Thanks.

Guy 13

Freo-1 · « **Reply #27 on:** 17 Oct 2012, 11:37 pm »

I have been in and out of the headphone phase for years. Recently, decided to try it again. After trying several headphone amps, settled on a Torpedo Headphone amp from Mayflower Electronics. The unit is tubed based, dead quiet, and sports 6J6 tubes, which are cheap and plentiful. There are a lot of versions of the basic setup on the DIY sites.
http://www.diyforums.org/Torpedo/TORPEDOoverview.php

My current reference set of headphones are Denon AH-D5000. They are very nice souding headphones, and match up well with the Torpedo headphone amp.

James Lehman · « **Reply #28 on:** 18 Oct 2012, 12:05 am »

I guess I'm kinda' lucky. Audio Technica's North American headquarters is in Stow, Ohio, not far from me. I know a few people who work there and every now and then the have a big warehouse sale.

James.

FullRangeMan · « **Reply #29 on:** 18 Oct 2012, 12:14 am »

Guy,
The Valhala cost is low, but you get less too.
It is a generic PCB amp, no hand solder wiring, no pre-amp option.
I afraid to buy an equip named this unusual, unless the quality is very hi.
The 6N1P seems a good sound tube also.

I liked the Woo amps, they looks solid as a Hummer, sport alot of anodized aluminium(not painted) to heat dissipation, use solded wiring, the 6AS7 tube looks will last many hours etc

FullRangeMan · « **Reply #30 on:** 18 Oct 2012, 12:42 am »

In this Valhala image, seems to me the only thing keeping the potentiometer fixed on the PCB is the solder, a commom place build error, but it can be corrected with a belt etc, it will not look beautiful but works.

Guy 13 · « **Reply #31 on:** 18 Oct 2012, 07:35 am »

Quote from: FULLRANGEMAN on 18 Oct 2012, 12:14 am

Guy,
The Valhala cost is low, but you get less too.
It is a generic PCB amp, no hand solder wiring, no pre-amp option.
I afraid to buy an equip named this unusual, unless the quality is very hi.
The 6N1P seems a good sound tube also.

I liked the Woo amps, they looks solid as a Hummer, sport alot of anodized aluminium(not painted) to heat dissipation, use solded wiring, the 6AS7 tube looks will last many hours etc

Hi FULLRANGEMAN and all Audio Circle members.

I was blinded by the beauty and smallness of the outside of the Schiit Valhalla
and I completely forgot that it had inside a printed circuit board.

PCB is something I don't like.

Thank you for reminding me of that important matter, (To me anyway).

I will have a serious look at the Made in USA WOO line of products
and I have already set my eyes on the WA6.

I will keep looking for the ideal combo (Amplifier + headphone) that will keep me happy for years to come.

Guy 13

Guy 13 · « **Reply #32 on:** 18 Oct 2012, 07:42 am »

Hi all Audio Circle members.

I am also looking/considering the Beyer Dynamics DT-990
and the STAX entry level model.

It's clear in my mind that I want to go with over the ears
and open type headphones.

It is also clear in my mind that I want to go with tube headphone amplifier.

It's even clearer that I want an amplifier Made in USA.

For the headphones,
unless I am wrong,
the only headphones made in USA are the
Audeze and AKG ? ? ?

Correct me if I am wrong.

Guy 13

FullRangeMan · « **Reply #33 on:** 18 Oct 2012, 10:00 pm »

Guy,
As you know top Sennheiser sound better with tube amps.
Not know what kind of amp Audeze, Beyer or AKG will had a good synergy.
Anyway the phone/amp matching is very important and must be considered before the purchase.

milford3 · « **Reply #34 on:** 19 Oct 2012, 12:49 am »

Guy 13: My combo made in heaven. Best fun I've had in audio in years. The DT 990's shown have since had the ear pads changed out to the black color. I wore the gray pads out in less than one year.

SteveFord · « **Reply #35 on:** 19 Oct 2012, 01:07 am »

AKG is Austria or China
Beyerdynamics is German
HiFiMman is China
Stax is Japan which may have already gone to China

Grado and Audeze are US unless something has changed recently

FullRangeMan · « **Reply #36 on:** 19 Oct 2012, 06:21 am »

Quote from: milford3 on 19 Oct 2012, 12:49 am

Guy 13: My combo made in heaven. Best fun I've had in audio in years. The DT 990's shown have since had the ear pads changed out to the black color. I wore the gray pads out in less than one year.

Milford:
What are your impressions on these MP-301 amp??
It net weight impressive 10kg or 22lbs !

Guy 13 · « **Reply #37 on:** 19 Oct 2012, 10:07 am »

Quote from: SteveFord on 19 Oct 2012, 01:07 am

AKG is Austria or China
Beyerdynamics is German
HiFiMman is China
Stax is Japan which may have already gone to China

Grado and Audeze are US unless something has changed recently

Thanks Steve for the information.

Guy 13

Guy 13 · « **Reply #38 on:** 19 Oct 2012, 10:15 am »

Quote from: milford3 on 19 Oct 2012, 12:49 am

Guy 13: My combo made in heaven. Best fun I've had in audio in years. The DT 990's shown have since had the ear pads changed out to the black color. I wore the gray pads out in less than one year.

Hi milford3 and all Audio Circle members.

Thanks for the information,
I might put back on my wish list the DT-990.
(The DT-990 is much lower in price than the Senneiser HD-650)

Have you compared the DT-990 against the HD-650?

As for the Schiit Valhalla, it as four good points and one bad point.

Good: Made in USA + Nice slim look + Tubes + Low price
Bad: Printed circuit board.

Only time and research will help me to go on the right direction.

How much for replacement ear pads?

Guy 13

hibuckhobby · « **Reply #39 on:** 19 Oct 2012, 02:24 pm »

Certainly don't want to jack the thread, however, it would seem to me that
the difference between pcb and direct wired is far more an issue of how well
each format was executed than it is that one is inherently superior to the other.
There are some very good sounding examples of each out there...just as there
are those with discrete components and those that use op amps.
Hibuck...