An introduction to my Headphones system.

[ianmedium]

Firstly, thanks so much for having me here. I have not posted much yet but spend a lot of time looking at various threads and such. A very friendly place!

Due to the nature of my life these past 14 years my system has been a portable one. Every year upgrading components until I feel this year I have a system that really engages me, is so musical and involving, detailed and yet warm and inviting.

I have various headphones the list includes Beyerdynamic T5P and DT1350. Final Audio Design Heaven S and Piano Forte IX horn loaded earphones. Etymotic ER4S Victor FX500 and last but not least Stax 001 Mk2.

Source is the HifiMan HM-801 playing either wav files ripped from CD or 24/96 files from HDTracks or my favourite HDTT.

Interconnect is different now from that shown in the picture, I have upgraded to Kimbers GQ Mini-CU from my old Cardas HPI.

The amp is something rather special, hand made by one man in Japan. His company is an odd name, Analog Squared Paper and my amp is the TU-05 which is a class A single ended tube amp using NOS radio tubes. Two 3S4's in the power stage and Two 1T4's in the voltage gain stage, one can also use 1U4 or 1T4T's in the voltage gain stage.

This is a wonderful amp, battery powered and though not that small it can be easily stowed in a courier bag and thus is what I would call transportable rather than portable.

The sound is sweet, detailed, airy and rich with an expansive soundstage both in width and depth. Such a musical amp.

I use with the amp either the Beyerdynamic T5P's or the FAD Piano Forte's the latter are an exceptional earphone, very unique and very mid-centric but still able to present bass and treble well. They do not seal at all and it is best to think of them as a home headphone as there are no tips with these headphones so they do not "plug" in like normal earphones or IEM's. The body is made of Stainless steel and inside is a custom made 16mm driver.

When you look at them you would never think they could be comfortable but they are, in fact once they warm up you just do not know they are in. Listening is more like a near field monitor experience than listening to headphones.

I love this set up now, I am thinking of getting the latest HiFiMan player, the 901 but am letting a little time pass so all the bugs are ironed out!

So that is my system, a wonderful system that plays music and just gets out of the way so the music can be enjoyed fully.

Thanks again for having me here and I will end with a picture of my system!

[Eisener Bart]

Welcome on AA!

I also dived into Headphone thread 1 year ago.

And I also have exclusive Head Amp, which exists only in 1 copy.

You may take a look here.

[ianmedium]

Thank you very much. That is quite a set up you have! Is the amp tube or solid state?

[djwhog]

nice rig, congrats thanks for sharing too!

[Eisener Bart]

Originally Posted by ianmedium

Thank you very much. That is quite a set up you have! Is the amp tube or solid state?

Solid, 50 Wts on 8 Ohms in Class A.
It should be enough even for HiFiMan HE-6.

[ianmedium]

I should say! Wow, it would power those with ease and having heard the HE-6 Class A is the way to go with them.. Exceptional headphones I feel. I had the LCD2's and the HE-6 was head and shoulders above them I felt in terms of speed and clarity.

[Eisener Bart]

Originally Posted by ianmedium

I should say! Wow, it would power those with ease and having heard the HE-6 Class A is the way to go with them.. Exceptional headphones I feel. I had the LCD2's and the HE-6 was head and shoulders above them I felt in terms of speed and clarity.

Only 1 problem - for trying of HE-6 I have to buy it.

I am looking now for AT W5000. Then I will try probably HD800 or HE-6.

[masterlogic]

Hi Ian,

Have you heard the TUR-06?
How does its sound differ from that of the TU-05?

[Black Tang]

Your amp is lovely.
One of the rarest.
Thank you for sharing.

[HiFiGuy528]

Eytomic ER4s and ER4pt remains to be one of my reference IEMs. They sound crazy good for so little money.