Headphone upgrade virus

[gerzom]

Originally Posted by G8YU

A quick update on my Fosgate Signature headphone amp problem.

I sent the Fosgate back and they tested it with IEMs and didn't hear any hiss.
Now I'm stumped, I tried the Fosgate in different outlets and didn't even need a source to hear the hiss. I could just turn it on, plug in low impedance headphones and there was the curtain of hiss regardless of volume setting. The dealer figures another Fosgate would behave just the same for me.

I don't think I can live with a $1,500 headphone amp that would only work with one of my headphones (though it did sound really good with them). I mentioned the Icon Audio HP8 MKII, but my dealer thinks it would have hiss too (with my headphones).

I don't know whether to look at the Woo Audio headphone amps now or just forget about tubes altogether. I was interested in what tubes would bring to my listening experience; but maybe I and my headphones are too sensitive to the common issues they have. I'm unsure as to whether an expensive solid state headphone amp is going to be much of an upgrade over my Asgard II and have the musicality and increased micro and macro dynamics of the Fosgate. Now that I've heard that, my Asgard II seems flat and a bit analytical.

Well, the virus continues to wear me down.

Sorry to hear the Fosgate (or maybe any tube amp) is not working for you. If you would have some balanced cables you could order a Mjolnir and test it for 15 days before sending it back if it's not working for you.

[gerzom]

The way my "virus" looks at the moment :

[G8YU]

It seems I've gone from headphone upgrade virus to love/hate relationship.
I was looking to expand my headphone collection and ended up buying an Audio Technica W5000. At first listen there was a roughness to the sound and vocals sounded like they were coming across a telephone. The sound signature or tonal quality varied greatly with small adjustments in earcup position; so I kept fidgeting with them trying to find the sweet spot. After about 45 minutes I had rather severe pain in the antitragus of my left ear pinna.

I gave up on them for a couple days as my left ear remained sensitive for quite a while and I figured the drivers needed to break in anyway. After the W5000 had played music constantly for about 50 hours I tried them again. The roughness was gone and they mostly sounded quite good; but it was still difficult to find the earcup position that sounded right. Within an hour I had that same ear pain again.

I stuffed some cotton around the inside of the earpad to push it out and make more room for my ears. This still didn't completely stop the pain, depending on the earcup position; and it (of course) altered the sound quality. Now the W5000 had an airier and more open sound quality sort of like my Beyerdynamic DT880. They also had less bass than before; but that was okay because I thought they were borderline bass heavy before.

Hoping for improvement from break in, I would let the W5000 play music constantly at various volumes (never higher than I would listen though). At about 70 hours I decided the high frequencies weren't extended enough. I switched to my WireWorld Platinum interconnects and the problem was solved. Actually the Platinums are a perfect match for the W5000 as the things that I didn't like about the Platinums don't seem to be noticeable with the W5000.

At about 100 hours I noticed it seemed much easier to find the sweet spot and there wasn't as much sonic variation in different earcup positions. They also weren't causing any pain anymore (with the cotton still installed) and were quickly becoming my favorite headphone. I haven't noticed much improvement past 150 hours. Any improvements now were in whatever area that involves "musical involvement". Whatever music I was playing sounded so good that it was impossible to ignore and would draw me in. Though, strangely, if I am feeling tired and listen to music with the W5000, they can put me to sleep quickly. I think it has something to do with their smooth, natural and detailed sound. I'm not accustomed to hearing such good detail without it being analytical, I don't know how they manage it.

The other day during a song with a very low note on a pipe organ I heard distortion or a flutter in the left driver. What, now the drivers are failing, I never turned them up that loud. The next day I tried them with the same song the flutter was gone. A few days later it was back. After an internet search I found that this is a common problem and requires one to disassemble the earcups insert some bits of foam in some places and adjust the wire routing. I hope they don't need fixed or replaced under warranty. I just now have them broken in and adjusted so they fit well.

[gerzom]

Wow, after reading this I do feel lucky my Audeze's seem much more easy to wear and luckily I never had any issues with them.
I hope the flutter can be fixed on your current set, so you don't have to go through all the "pain" of adjusting and break-in again.

What's the status on the headphone-amp front right now? Still living with the Fosgate or did you move to Woo Audio?

[G8YU]

Originally Posted by gerzom

Wow, after reading this I do feel lucky my Audeze's seem much more easy to wear and luckily I never had any issues with them.
I hope the flutter can be fixed on your current set, so you don't have to go through all the "pain" of adjusting and break-in again.

What's the status on the headphone-amp front right now? Still living with the Fosgate or did you move to Woo Audio?

I think of all the reviews I read, no one had problems with the shallow pads and angled drivers causing pain. It's just my weird ears I guess. Many of those reviews rated the W5000 sound quality as poor; but I've really grown to love the sound of my W5000 now that they're broken in and not causing pain. I do have that cotton in there though which is altering the sound signature. I'm quite sure I'll be able to fix the flutter noise. Since it comes and goes it has to be something loose inside, a damaged driver would be constantly making the noise.

The Fosgate went back and wasn't exchanged (details in post #30 in this thread). I'm thinking about trying a Schiit Valhalla 2 or Lyr 2. I would get a Mjolnir if I only had one set of headphones to convert to balanced. I have four sets though, each to suit different moods and types of music. I'm still satisfied with my Asgard 2 until I plug in my Beyerdynamics. Then I long for how great those sounded with the Fosgate. If I get the Valhalla 2 or Lyr 2 and it hisses with everything but my Beyers, but sounds great; then I'll keep it anyway considering the much lower price (than the Fosgate).

One of these days I'll post a pic of my headphone rig.

[John49]

G8YU... Schiit do a 15 day trial option on all their products, if a local dealer cannot do something similar.

[mulveling]

Originally Posted by G8YU

I think of all the reviews I read, no one had problems with the shallow pads and angled drivers causing pain. It's just my weird ears I guess. Many of those reviews rated the W5000 sound quality as poor; but I've really grown to love the sound of my W5000 now that they're broken in and not causing pain. I do have that cotton in there though which is altering the sound signature. I'm quite sure I'll be able to fix the flutter noise. Since it comes and goes it has to be something loose inside, a damaged driver would be constantly making the noise.

The Fosgate went back and wasn't exchanged (details in post #30 in this thread). I'm thinking about trying a Schiit Valhalla 2 or Lyr 2. I would get a Mjolnir if I only had one set of headphones to convert to balanced. I have four sets though, each to suit different moods and types of music. I'm still satisfied with my Asgard 2 until I plug in my Beyerdynamics. Then I long for how great those sounded with the Fosgate. If I get the Valhalla 2 or Lyr 2 and it hisses with everything but my Beyers, but sounds great; then I'll keep it anyway considering the much lower price (than the Fosgate).

One of these days I'll post a pic of my headphone rig.

Why not consider the matching Audio-Technica amp HA-W5000? They also made one for the W2002, which looks basically the same. I had the W2002 + HA-2002 combo, and it made the most of those headphones (like the W5000, they are not neutral). Unfortunately it was stolen. I later got the W5000 (this was many years ago), but never took a shine to them. I think the AT-L3000 "Leatherhead" is one of the best headphones ever, so to go from W2002 to L3000 and then to get the W5000 as AT's first major headphone after the L3000 (I was hoping for a production series of the L3000 sound) was highly disappointing. I did have significant issues with the W5000 fit, but as it related to sound quality rather than comfort.

Those AT amps are fully discrete, have super build quality, and are pretty much guaranteed to make the most of the matching AT headphones. They can also sound great with other headphones. And I'd be willing to bet they'll outclass the Fosgate/Woo/Shiit in build & parts for the money.

[gerzom]

I'm going to listen to the M2Tech Marley next week.



Really curious to hear what this amp sounds like with my LCD 2's.
It can be used both single ended and balanced, meaning I could bring my Hifiman HE-400 home from work every now and then to listen to them in my home-set

I'll keep you posted on my findings.

[G8YU]

John49... Noted. Thanks!

mulveling... I did look for a used HA-W5000; but, considering the prices they were fetching used, I stopped looking for them as I was satisfied with how well my Schiit Asgard 2 drove the W5000. Though I'm sure the purpose built HA-W5000 could take the ATH-W5000 to another level, I wasn't sure if it would be any good with my other headphones. That's what already happened with the Fosgate, a one headphone amp in my case (even though it took that headphone to the next level). I am keeping the HA-W5000 on my list of amps to watch for in case there's a good deal on one somewhere.

Originally Posted by gerzom

I'm going to listen to the M2Tech Marley next week.



Really curious to hear what this amp sounds like with my LCD 2's.
It can be used both single ended and balanced, meaning I could bring my Hifiman HE-400 home from work every now and then to listen to them in my home-set

I'll keep you posted on my findings.

That is a nice looking amp. You might try to audition it with and without the upgrade power supply if possible.

[gerzom]

Originally Posted by G8YU

That is a nice looking amp. You might try to audition it with and without the upgrade power supply if possible.

The PSU upgrade is not yet available as I understood.