New top of the line headphone amp

Hi Sam, yes, I think they are in the same league.  That doesn't mean they're the same -- to my ears and at this early stage, the hd-800s have the better soundstage, but the "alphadogs" are said to improve significantly in this area as they break-in.  I also think the "dogs" have a somewhat warmer, but still very detailed presentation, and better bass -- very tactile bass, which seems to be one of the hallmarks of orthos.  They are also closed back and isolate you from a good deal of outside noise, and likewise don't disturb others near you -- really the reason I decided to try them so I could have some closed back headphones for listening in bed.  I also find them extremely comfortable and hold their adjustement well.  They are a bit of a skull clamp at first, but even wearing them for the last 3 days they have already loosened up some.  They are $300, not $200.  Balanced version are $350 pre-order, and $400 once they begin to ship.  They don't sound very good with the Crack, but the s.e.x. should be a great match.  The unblanced version also comes with 2 cables -- one 1/4" and one 3.5mm -- no adaptors, two separate cables.

Bought mine from stereodesk.com -- an authorized dealer, who deals directly with the manufacturer.

This is probably a bit off topic here, so if you want to talk more about them, start a thread in the headphones forum.

I'm really taken by these, even as new as they are, which is odd for a guy who never really liked planars/orthodynamics and closed back cans.  I've heard the stock and other modified verions of these and they are not at all like these.  These are serious cans despite their relatively low cost.

-- Jim
 
Doc B. said:
Yeah, but reference to what?

mainlining-cocaine_l.jpg

LOL,priceless
 
Dollar for Dollar,they are probably the best closed headphone on the market
When I had the mjolnir/gungnir combo...I l;listened to them for 6-8 at a clip..

Sorry,they do not sound that great with the crack/speedball, ,,,though
 
mikek200 said:
Dollar for Dollar,they are probably the best closed headphone on the market
When I had the mjolnir/gungnir combo...I l;listened to them for 6-8 at a clip..

Sorry,they do not sound that great with the crack/speedball, ,,,though
Why is it they don't work so well with the Crack?

Besides being closed-baffle, what else would distinguish them from the HD600s (which I have)?
 
Not 100% sure.

Maybe its because the alphadogs are an ortho headphone,and,the Hd600 is a dynamic headphone???
Not sure the crack can drive the ortho headphones,but??correct me if I'm wrong.
 
The alphadogs are only about 50 ohms or so impedance -- the Senns are 300 and the Crack was designed for high impedance headphones.

-- Jim
 
Sooo, I went to stereodesk and looked at the those wonderful headphones and dam there is the balanced version that I would like. Now the question is, how do I go about powering them with BH products? Yah, maybe I'm not so much a headphone guy, BUT when I do choose to listen, I want the best that I can get.
 
denti alligator said:
mikek200 said:
Dollar for Dollar,they are probably the best closed headphone on the market
When I had the mjolnir/gungnir combo...I l;listened to them for 6-8 at a clip..

Sorry,they do not sound that great with the crack/speedball, ,,,though
Why is it they don't work so well with the Crack?

Besides being closed-baffle, what else would distinguish them from the HD600s (which I have)?
I also am really enjoying the Mr. Speaker Mad Dogs with the alpha pads.  They are quite smooth and very easy to listen to for long sessions, both via comfort and sound.  For me, however, they a sort of a special purpose headphone.  I use them specifically when I want/need a closed set of cans - ie. - when there is minor noise in the house I want to block out, late at night, and when I'm at my home desk.  When I want to do more serious listening I go back to my HD600s.

The Mad Dogs suffer with an OTL amp.  My desktop Schiit Valhalla couldn't drive them well at all, not surprisingly.  Being orthos they really need some oomph from the amp.  My new Schiit Lyr with NOS tubes makes them sing.  But again, for serious listening I always go back to my Crack/HD600 combo.

The HD600s are (to me) the better headphone - more soundstage & detail, faster and better bass - but I heartily agree with the above - the MDs are without a doubt a great headphone for under $300.
 
Listened to LCD-2s with the Mainline at the Seattle Head Fi meet today. Works great.
 
4krow said:
Sooo, I went to stereodesk and looked at the those wonderful headphones and dam there is the balanced version that I would like. Now the question is, how do I go about powering them with BH products? Yah, maybe I'm not so much a headphone guy, BUT when I do choose to listen, I want the best that I can get.

You could use the SEX amp, the Mainline, or Paramounts...
 
So excited for this amp.  Can't wait for its release.  Just sold my W3000ANV's and my LCD-2's so plenty of fun money ready for it.

 
4krow said:
Sooo, I went to stereodesk and looked at the those wonderful headphones and dam there is the balanced version that I would like. Now the question is, how do I go about powering them with BH products? Yah, maybe I'm not so much a headphone guy, BUT when I do choose to listen, I want the best that I can get.

Might be time for an amp upgrade..??
Sex Kit..???

I went through this when I bought the HE-6's..ended up buying an emotiva mini 100 amp ,just for those cans...

Good luck.
 
I'm pretty sure this amp will drive at least the fostex maddogs and the he-400s no problem, and probably the he500s ass well.  Others I'm much less confident about, but if doc said they did fine with the lcd 2s, then I wouldn't worry about anything but maybe he-6s.

Dan,

How closely matched will the 6c45pis have to be?  The Russian firecracker is a ggreat tube, but they measure all over the place and it can take some work to get a nicely matched pair.

This is sounding a lot like your old primo headphone amp!

-- Jim
 
Heck, Jim, that's kinda like asking how closely matched a woman's breasts need to be. If it's a pair that gives you pleasure, then I think it's a good match. I used to think this forum was kind of like a car forum, i.e., what mod will give me the fastest 1/4 mile. But I have come to realize it's kind of like a wine forum, or maybe a wristwatch forum. So many of the choices are a taste thing.

So I'm sitting in the listening room this afternoon, spinning a nice minty mono pressing of Jimmy Smith's Organ Grinder Swing. From the sweet spot the image is dead center. From the rear seat it seems to pull right. PB comes up to the room and I ask him to sit in the rear seat and tell me where the image is. He finds it dead center. Who's right!?!?! Like fingerprints, everyone's ears are a little different, and things like tube matching are pretty tough to generalize. FWIW part of the reason we use a C4S is that it helps to make tube tube try to hit the maximum mu specified in the  manual.

Hopefully folks who want to tweak the amp to the last degree will find the price of 6c45pis reasonable. I haven't owned more than a few pair myself, but they never failed to impress.
 
Actually one of my favorite albums, period. The opening phrases of Organ Grinder Swing is my ring tone. I've been diving headfirst into soul jazz lately. Actually I have loved it since I was a kid, but now I have the reason and means to dig deep. Aside from all the B3 gods like JOS and Groove Holmes and Dr Lonnie Smith and Jimmy McGriff and Jack MacDuff and Papa and Joey D, one obscure jewel of a B3 player I have discovered is a guy named Bobby Floyd out of Columbus, OH.  Last couple of tracks on Notes to and from My Friends are smokin'.

And there are some major B3 talents who have been around for years but maybe not too well known in the US. One who knocks me out is Rhoda Scott.

And another obscure track I love is Paul B. Allen, Omaha Nebraska from Buddy Miles' Them Changes. Andre Watts was the B3 player on that, and it really grooves. Killer soul jazz right in the middle of a classic 70's R&B album.
 
Thanks Dan, I've been wanting to explore B3 artists further. I have to agree with you, it's one of my all time favorites also and Kenny Burrell on guitar doesn't hurt :) My favorite track is "Oh No Babe", man oh man can he make that organ sing!  I had hoped you would pick this recording instead of "Sermon" for the TP release. Glad to know there are a few other B3 fans around :)
 
johnsonad said:
Thanks Dan, I've been wanting to explore B3 artists further. I have to agree with you, it's one of my all time favorites also and Kenny Burrell on guitar doesn't hurt :) My favorite track is "Oh No Babe", man oh man can he make that organ sing!  I had hoped you would pick this recording instead of "Sermon" for the TP release. Glad to know there are a few other B3 fans around :)

If we could get it I would campaign for it. It's a Verve (as is a lot of great JOS stuff), a label we simply haven't yet had the opportunity to work with. Whereas The Sermon is from Concord's vault, who have been exceptionally supportive of the Tape Project from the start. And yeah, getting Kenny Burell on an album is obviously something we like too. And Jimmy and Wes would be awesome too. OGD, baby, anyway you spin it that's a serious way to do some blues.

Don't overlook all the other great B3 players. Lonnie Smith comps like nobody else, and Groove Holmes didn't get the nickname Groove just because he liked to listen to vinyl. There's a whole universe of great organ jazz out there if it's yo' thang. And yeah, I think I can guarantee it will all sound good on a Mainline.

And you know I have Hammond in the music room at home, yes?

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=40mHviJFEyw&feature=plcp
 
Just stumbled over the cuatro de mayo thread on head-fi and was thrilled learn about the mainline - as well as to read all the positive feedback on the bh dac prototype! 

Sounds like I'm going to have start saving my pennies (and buttering up the wife)  ;)
 
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