BIG changes this week..Out is the underpowered,unbalanced Burson front end & Sundara headphones..
In is the Audio GD "R28",a fully balanced Resistor to Resistor ladder DAC/Head amp/PreAmp with a MASSIVE 9.5 WATTS to drive the also MASSIVELY inefficient HiFiMan HE6SEv2 headphones!
I am now totally in end game with only 1 more pair of cans on the horizon,probably the Sennheiser HD800S but the R28 has enough power for even the Hedd or Rall so I’ll be doing a TON of research before that last pair gets bought..
Current headphone system is:
Audio GD "R28" >>> iBasso "SR-1" or HiFiMan "HE6SEv2".... |
@freediver if you are in the Los Angeles area, CanJam on 3rd week of Sept will have a booth for demoing the new and old RAAL's along with their 3 headphone amps. |
^^^ I would love to demo those RaaL's or the Hedd..I wonder how much different they are from the Planar Magnetics in SQ? |
RAAL SR1a + KRELL K-300i integrated + Benchmark DAC3B + Sonore OpticalRendu. The KRELL also has a built-in streamer and DAC that I use occasionally. |
I just got a set of Hifiman 800 silver IEM which were on sale for $299 So I love them and am using:
Auralic G1
Schiit Yiggy
Benchmark LA4
The sound is not over my head, it is in my head. With uncanny detail, I am able to hear much more stuff on the recordings. Yes I thought the same thing when I look at my giant speakers, amps and subs. |
Still have the HiFiMan Sundara,which IMO is an absolute benchmark for neutrality under $1000.00 & an unmitigated bargain at the $350.00 asking price..
I recently added the magical iBasso SR-1 Limited Editions(500 pieces)with Bio-Cellulose drivers..If there was ever a headphone made that took the voice of a 300B Single Ended tube amp & turned it into a headphone these are them!!!
Running from the pure Class A Burson headphone amp with perfectly implemented SABRE Pro Dual DAC,these cans are absolutely sublime,dripping honey but not at the expense of low level resolution or treble extension...
Next week it will only get better as a gently used McIntosh MHA-100 will arrive & take it's place as master of my system... |
My head-fi journey started since Jan 2019.
Headphones:
Sennheiser Game One (it was how it started...T_T)
Massdrop Hd6xx
Hifiman He6se
DAC:
Aune X1S
SMSL D1
TEAC NT-505
Amp:
Luxjie P20
Massdrop THX 789
Krell Kav-250a |
David, sound is very similar, a bit clearer across the board maybe, a slight bit more definition. I believe most of the changes were to features. I was hoping for a bit more on the audible side. The feature changes have no value for me, but might be the draw for many buyers. |
I'm using a hi res Sony Walkman...just got Grado GR10E earbuds for it. The sound is absolutely exquisite. My "big" system cost about 70 or 80 thousand dollars.....why oh why did I do that.....
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The Massdrop x Sennheiser HD 6XX are also great headphones at $220. I have much more expensive headphones, but those are the ones that I end up using most often. |
^^^You shouldn't.There are cans like the HiFIMan HE400i,for $200.00 that with a good little $150.00 Hybrid amplifier will get you seriously good tunes for sure! |
I woke up not feeling great. Now I feel even worse. Thanks guys.
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Raal Sr1a driven by either Rogue Cronus Magnum II fitted with Telefuken 12ax7 and Amperex 12au7 or Schitt Jot R.
Stax 009s driven by Kgsshv Carbon amp.
HD 800s driven by Nobsound 008e fitted with Nos Sylvania tube.
Schitt Freya free fitted with Kenrad vt231 at gain stage and Sylvania vt231 at buffer stage is connected to Dave and HMS through 20 ft Purist audio design balanced cable.
Schitt Freya feed amplifiers for sr1a, 009s, hd800s.
I also have Empire ears Zeus IEM.
Thus I have a good selection of ES, Ribbon and dynamic headphones.
I may add Abyss 1266 TC as top planar headphone next year.
Thomas
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Not commercially no. I have a friend though |
@speedbump6 You have the Sony WH M4's? Thought they weren't commercially released yet? |
Amps
Woo Audio WA33
Woo Audio WA11
DAC /Amp/DAP/ source
AK SP2000
IBasso 220MAX
ifio dap
Benchmark DAC 3 HGC
Focal Arche
PS Audio Direct stream
Auralic G 2.1
Naim ND5XS2
Marantz SA14
Heqdphones
Focal Utopia
Focal Stella
Abyss 1266 Phi TC
Audeze LCD4Z
Meze Empyrean
Sony MDR Z1R
HEDD
Hifiman Susvara
Final D8000 Pro
Swansong
M&D MW 65
Sony WH1000XM4
Plus other assorted models and iems
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