"Ears deep" in Schiit

[PHC1]

Originally Posted by 1KW

Serge try downloading some DSD128 or DSD256 files and playing them via USB to your DAC; you will be amazed at the difference compared to standard redbook or even MQA .

David, I've looked into it before. I've downloaded some samples in the past but the selection is very slim for me. I don't feel like paying for them if I don't enjoy them either.

[PHC1]

Originally Posted by Puma Cat

If you're presently running an HD650, I'd recommend the Schiit Valhalla 2 Output Transformer-less (OTL); it was specifically designed for the Senn HD600/650 series since there are so many of them in use. The Vali 2 would be another good choice.

The HD800 can be a challenge. It has a pretty unusual frequency response and it can be challenging to find an amp that works well with it. Lots of guys have come up with lots of mods for the HD800 to try to tame it's quirky behaviors. The best amp I've heard it with is the Sennheiser head amp but it's pretty pricey. Dan owns a pair of HD800s and uses the Sennheiser amp and loves them, which I fully understand, 'cause they sound great with that amp. My recommendation for a Schiit amp under $1K for the HD800s would be the Mjolnir 2, especially if you run the cans with a balanced cable.

The Cavalli Liquid Crimson and the Donald North Audio Stellaris may be good choices as well.

If you're going to go upmarket from HD650s, personally I'd consider other cans e.g. Audeze or Oppo or the Focal Elear.

I'm definitely adding a Valhalla 2 Triode OTL to my collection for my HD600. I've spent 6 years listening to the HD600 and back in the day as my ONLY system when the kids were really young and playing music in the house in the evenings was out of the question.

In all honesty, the HD600 driven by BROCKSIEPER EARMAX with Telefunken tubes are still the warmest memories from the 30 years of being involved in high end audio. Those late night listening sessions were just magic. Pure musical nirvana.

The HD600 are like an old friend to me, I could never part with them for that reason. They deserve a Triode OTL of their own.

[Puma Cat]

Originally Posted by PHC1

I'm definitely adding a Valhalla 2 Triode OTL to my collection for my HD600. I've spent 6 years listening to the HD600 and back in the day as my ONLY system when the kids were really young and playing music in the house in the evenings was out of the question.

In all honesty, the HD600 driven by BROCKSIEPER EARMAX with Telefunken tubes are still the warmest memories from the 30 years of being involved in high end audio. Those late night listening sessions were just magic. Pure musical nirvana.

The HD600 are like an old friend to me, I could never part with them for that reason. They deserve a Triode OTL of their own.

I'm very fond of my HD600s as well; they are an almost-reference quality headphone for very reasonable price. Very natural-sounding.

[PHC1]

Originally Posted by Puma Cat

I'm very fond of my HD600s as well; they are an almost-reference quality headphone for very reasonable price. Very natural-sounding.

Stephen, I find the HD600 very euphonic and romantic sounding. They are far from NEUTRAL but are very ORGANIC. They do no wrong and that is the best part. Very forgiving of BAD recordings. It's the type of a headphone that one can easily enjoy WHATEVER music genre you are in the mood for. They are 300 ohms and somewhere in the 95dB/mW efficiency range, so as forgiving as they are, one does not know their TRUE qualities unless the partnering amp can drive them properly. Like I mentioned, a TRIODE OTL to my ears with HD600 is sonic heaven. Love them. For $286 on Amazon, these days, they are a true bargain.

[Puma Cat]

Originally Posted by PHC1

Stephen, I find the HD600 very euphonic and romantic sounding. They are far from NEUTRAL but are very ORGANIC. They do no wrong and that is the best part. Very forgiving of BAD recordings. It's the type of a headphone that one can easily enjoy WHATEVER music genre you are in the mood for. They are 300 ohms and somewhere in the 95dB/mW efficiency range, so as forgiving as they are, one does not know their TRUE qualities unless the partnering amp can drive them properly. Like I mentioned, a TRIODE OTL to my ears with HD600 is sonic heaven. Love them. For $286 on Amazon, these days, they are a true bargain.

That's a very accurate description, Serge. And you're right that the HDs really need a good amp that can drive them properly to get them to come fully alive given their 300 ohm impedance. Schiit designed the Valhalla 2 specifically for these headphones as they were a "reference standard" for so long for so many folks in the online headphone communities.

In a way, the HD600s remind me of the orginal Large Advent loudspeaker. Not the most transparent, not the most resolving or best imaging speaker, but they sure made music!

[PHC1]

Originally Posted by Puma Cat

In a way, the HD600s remind me of the orginal Large Advent loudspeaker. Not the most transparent, not the most resolving or best imaging speaker, but they sure made music!

Bingo!