[wisnon]

In my case, I'm retiring in a year and sold one of my home audio systems and am using
the money to get some high quality stuff that I am hoping  will last for a long time.
For me, the best bang for the buck amp I bought is a used Headroom home.  I spent
$200 and it was about four times that when it was new.

One of the fun things about this hobby is that there are so many different "flavors" out there.
If you get a chance to go to a "head-fi" get together, take it.  It will give you a chance to
listen to the high priced spread and evaluate if it's worth it. (to you)
Hibuck....

Have you guys seen this review of the Burson which is being sold in the for sale section for $750 used?
http://www.monoandstereo.com/2012/04/burson-ha-160d-review-test.html

"Conclusion


Burson HA-160D is a music machine for music lovers, audiophiles and headphone fans. This is a true standout, which will take you over boundaries of your expectations in the way of the sound and music being replayed. Burson HA-160D doesn’t compete in the race of the highest specs (thanks God) and for me this is a winning quest on their behalf. HA-160D is a machine that’s serves the music. In what regard? Being an analog fan, I could instantly click with the HA-160D mojo. It holds a remarkable analog like character, that always reminds me of the best qualities of natural music and vinyl reproduction. With Burson chosen topology, they manage to combine a fine analog like presentation of music being let through their proud silver audio baby.


This is the product that I can label as a new wave of audiophile grade components built great and priced right. Not to forget mentioning that it’s sounding great.


Burson HA-160D is not another jack-of-all-trades master of none. It will perform great as a stand-alone solution for your headphone listening nirvana and acting remarkable on duties of preamplifier and in heavy duty of converting you zeros and ones into music.

I'm looking for upcoming test of Burson power amp. This will reveal even further Burson Audio passion and depth of their passion and love for music.


Highly recommended! Period!

[eclein]

If I was able to I would snap that up myself....I have a nice TADAC, a pre-amp being modded and the Asgard from Schiit, I may just pickup another MP301 MK3 and try this new tube integrated. I change my mind hourly...LOL....

[adydula]

I was looking for more comfortable earpads for my Grados and yes they have these ones you pointed out. There are some others that are even larger and cost about $50 online...but many folks that have grados state they do change the sound to your ear. So I have avoided them so far....Seems grado actually uses the pads in the tuning process of getting the Grados to sound they way they do etc....

Seems like cans on ears especially the ones like Grados that really sensitive to the relationship of how the can rests on the ear and even the material the pads are made out of can affect the frequencies etc...absorbtion or attenuation etc...

That said I still like my Grados and listen with them for an hour or so before they really become tiring to me...and the akg's never this way.

Alex

[lcrim]

I picked up the AKG Q701's at the recommendation of Alex and others online with regard to comfort.  I'm hoping that the clamping force relaxes soon, as they became painful to wear after a few hours.
I read some of the head-fi reviews of these cans and they compare well to many higher end models. 
With all the bandwidth being devoted  to the JVC HAS400W, and the $27 price tag how could I pass them up.  It hasn't been delivered yet but I'll check in later w/ my impressions of both.
BTW, the AudioEngine D1 has been a very reliable and good sounding piece for me in both my systems and works as an asynchronous USB DAC w/ the Squeezebox Touch and and a USB hub.
Larry
PS: I did mention in an earlier post that I had already had the deeper ear cushions on the Grados and at the price point they are terrific sounding cans but hardly what you'd call comfortable, deeper cushions or not.

[brooklyn]

Has anyone used this unit? 
   
ALPHA DESIGN LABS - GT-40 USB DAC, HEADPHONE AMP, PHONO PREAMP

[adydula]

Larry, How long have you had the Q701's? from what i read in your post above your having issues with their clamping force?? This I find interesting....compared to the other cans these are really light and airy on my big fat head! lol...

Might I ask how they compare to you for fit, tension compared to other cans you have tried??

My LCD2's I need to wear a neck brace to use!!

On that amp/dac/phono gear there are several articles on it on the web and from what i see and read its nothing extraordinary...I did notice that some people indicate the volume had to be cranked up almost all the way to get loud enough with some power hungry cans??

It looks nice...

Alex

[lcrim]

Alex:
Had the Q701's only a few days and have actually been turning the gain down on the MF X-Can V2 because the inner detail improves at lower settings.   I've been letting them clamp themselves on my bedroom speakers, the Parker Audio 95 MkII towers (about 7 inches width) and running them off the AudioEngine D1 (at full volume)  to loosen them up.  The Grados and Senns were treated the same way and loosened up nicely.  I do think that weeks of break in are called for w/ the AKG's.  I read another thread here about the AKGs and Zepp wasn't that thrilled  w/ their initial fit either.  The Grado 325's are about another hundred bucks dearer than the AKG's so I'll check out the JVC giant killers instead.
Larry

[Cheerwino]

After a dozen or so amps and dacs and 6 sets of cans....

This little gem is the "heat":

http://www.jdslabs.com/item.php?fetchitem=O2Full

There is a dac as well called the ODAC:

http://www.jdslabs.com/storecat.php?fetchcat=5

Both can be bought individually or a amp/dac combo from JDS Labs.

The amp also is a DIY project if you like soldering and drilling holes in small enclosures!! LOL.

I have 2 amps and 2 of the dacs, one I built one I bought preassembled.

All the best
Alex

PS: This is the designers blog....60 pages of very interesting and "debate-able" reading....
http://nwavguy.blogspot.com/

Second to what Alex said. I just got an O2 Amp and ODAC and it's a keeper. Just an uncolored, clear sound that powers every phone I have from Senn HD 580s to Ultrasone 780 and cheap Monoprice cans. The DAC is especially good for the price. 

[ajzepp]

I'll check out the JVC giant killers instead.
Larry

Let us know what you think of them after you give them a listen...I'm still amazed that $27 can get us this kind of sound. I never thought I'd get this much use out of a cheap-o pair of phones.

And yeah, I ended up selling my Q701...I really wanted to love them, but they just weren't for me.

[Noseyears]

@wisnon, i assume you have it? i've been using the 160Ds with no preamp for some time. Never been disappointed.

[GregC]

Has anyone used this unit? 
   
ALPHA DESIGN LABS - GT-40 USB DAC, HEADPHONE AMP, PHONO PREAMP

I have the Esprit and it sounds excellent, especially for the price.

[brooklyn]

Thank you, that's good to know. I wanted to get the GT-40 for my apartment so I could listen to music from my Mac Mini. This will be a headphone based system because I listen to music late at night and don't want to disturb the neighbors. I also like the phono input idea so I can listen to some vinyl.

JP