Έϊτς-Η-Σιξ: The Number of the Beast

Επιτέλους σωστό μπάσο από το Beatles Abbey Road Remastered 2009 (βινύλιο)!
Βέβαια το volume είναι αναγκαστικά στο τέρμα (ο συνδυασμός αναίσθητου HE-6 και χαμηλού gain / ισχύος του Firstwatt F5 βλέπετε).
Πολύ θετικά στοιχεία από τις πρώτες ακροάσεις.
Δεν θα μπω ακόμα σε λεπτομέρειες μιας και ο ενισχυτής είναι υπό αξιολόγηση για αγορά.
Αύριο θα δοκιμαστεί και με τα ηχεία. Αυτό θα καθορίσει και την καταλληλότητά του ως πλήρης "αντικαταστάτης" του McCormack.

(Τον έχω πίσω μου και μου ζεσταίνει τη πλάτη).
 
Μετά από αρκετές μέρες ακροάσεων και συμβίωσης, εγένετο... γάμος!

Ο F5, ιδιοκατασκευή του αγαπητού συμφορουμίτη Σάκη (Prooptiki), βρήκε μόνιμη στέγη δίπλα στα 6άρια αλλά και στα ... ηχεία μου (AP Step SLE). Ο ενισχυτής παραδόθηκε ρυθμισμένος (offset + bias) και λειτούργησε μέχρι τώρα άψογα.:worshippy:

Η ιδιοκατασκευή είναι μία υποδειγματική υλοποίηση του βασικού σχεδίου Firstwatt F5 του Nelson Pass (25 W, σε καθαρή τάξη Α), μονομπλόκ, με εξαίρετα υλικά, όπως τα γνωστά ποιοτικά Mosfets 2SK1530 / 2SJ201, αντιστάσεις Kiwame / Vishay / Dale / OHMITE AG5, αλλά και πολύ ποιοτικούς audio-grade μετασχηματιστές της toroidy (http://www.toroidy.pl/Audio,796.html). Η εξομάλυνση περιλαμβάνει συνολικά 264 mF.

Το κουτί στοιβαρότατο, με αλουμινένια πρόσοψη 10 mm και με πολύ ποιοτικές ανοδιωμένες ψύκτρες, ικανές να απάγουν την μεγάλη εκλυόμενη θερμότητα του ενισχυτή.

Δίπλα στον F5, ο McCormack δείχνει... μικροσκοπικός (δείτε φώτο)! Το μεγάλο μέγεθος είναι όντως πρόβλημα για ενισχυτή... ακουστικών. Μπροστά στα κάλλη όμως...!

Περιττό να πω ότι ο F5 οδηγεί ιδανικά τα Hifiman σε στάθμες και δύναμη που επ' ουδενί δεν υπολείπονται του McCormack (κάτι που φοβόμουνα λόγω της διαφοράς ισχύος, δηλαδή -6 dB). Ίσως ο τελευταίος να έχει ένα (πολύ) μικρό προβάδισμα στην αίσθηση του impact στις χαμηλές και σε κάποια κομμάτια. Στις υπόλοιπες ηχητικές παραμέτρους όμως - μεσαίες, χροιές, μουσικότητα, καθαρότητα (ΑΣΥΛΛΗΠΤΗ), βάθος εικόνας, λεπτομέρεια, non-fatigueness, υψηλές (ιδίως αυτές) - είναι πολύ πίσω. Πολύ σημαντικό επίσης, η συνέργεια με τον ενεργό προ μου (MTZ OPA627) ήταν υποδειγματική.:a0210:

Ο ενισχυτής συνδέθηκε επίσης με τα ηχεία μου όπου και ανέδειξε - στους περισσότερους τομείς - τι "έχανα" μέχρι τώρα με τον McCormack. Η εικόνα είναι τόσο πυκνή και ακλόνητη όσο ποτέ. Οι φωνές τόσο φυσικές που τρομάζουν! Βέβαια - για να σας προλάβω εδώ :flipout: - σε υψηλές στάθμες αλλά και σε κομμάτια δύσκολα ή με έντονο ρυθμικό μπάσο, ο McCormack σαφώς και υπερτερεί (θαύματα δεν γίνονται, ακόμα και από τον papa).

Με τα 2/3 του κόστους αγοράς των Audeze LCD-3, το ζεύγος Hifiman HE-6 / diy Firstwatt F5 αποτελεί κατ' εμέ μία εξαίρετη επιλογή για προσωπικές απολαύσεις επιπέδου αναφοράς. Ο ενισχυτής δε προσφέρεται και για απολαυστικότατες - υπό συνθήκες - ακροάσεις (ακόμα και με αναίσθητα) ηχεία; μ' ένα σμπάρο δύο τριγώνια δηλαδή.

Στο στόχαστρο τώρα και οι υπόλοιποι κρίκοι της αλυσίδας...
 

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Συγχαρητήρια, μεγειά και καλοάκουστος!!!!!!!! -bye-

ΥΓ. ήρθε η ώρα του ODAC... :flipout:
 
Ευχαριστώ Χρήστο και Σωκράτη!
Σ' αυτό το σημείο να τονίσω ότι για πρώτη φορά ακούω dc-coupled από άκρο σε άκρο!
Δεν υπάρχει σε σειρά πυκνωτής στο σήμα ούτε στο dac, ούτε στον προ αλλά ούτε και στον τελικό (ο McCormack είχε κάτι χειρότερο, κύκλωμα servo). Εμπειρία!
 
Συγκριτικό με τα γνωστά flagships (http://www.head-fi.org/t/684394/audeze-lcd-x/3525) - ενδιαφέρον συμπέρασμα θα έλεγα: :grinning-smiley-043

Lavry D11 and Dark Star

Dark Star
- Stepped attenuator is a bit annoying w/r/t finding the ideal sound.
- As with the Phonitor, DAC to amp connection is balanced using "Transparent" branded cables.
- Wow, volume matching is super important when doing critical headphone comparisons. Can really make or break a comparison. Harder to do here with the stepped attenuator.

Non-musical notes and impressions
HD800: Blue dragon balanced cable. Also some hiss on low gain, less than the X. Set itself is comfortable and feels physically airy on the head. Wight of cable more of a factor than the headphones themselves, almost.
HE-6: Balanced. High-gain. Very quiet. Headband on top feels less comfortable today.
LCD-X: Used balanced cable. When music isn't playing, there's noticeable hiss, even on low gain. After searching, it seems like lower-impedance headphones have a hard time. Unfortunate, but I'll continue with them. 3 clicks up from 0 was too loud.these headphones are probably not well suited to this amp. Will continue to include them, just as a data point.
LCD-3: Low gain. Barely audible hiss.
Both 3 and X: More aware of the clamping pressure of the headsets today. A little adjsustment in the earcup yaw addressed it.
PS1000: Balanced cable. Significant hiss, like the LCD-X. Construction feels cheap with "headphone foam" around the ears. Nitpick: The edges of the foam are flattened and firmed (probably by heating), but the flattening is uneven. Headband is thin and would be uncomfortable if the headset weighed much more.
T1: Unbalanced, quarter inch plug.

Summary impressions with the Lavry DA11 and Dark Star
HE-6: A noticeable step up with the Dark Star. Along with improvements across the board, the HE-6 became more enjoyable overall, and they encourage you to listen to the music, and keep listening. In more than a couple cases, I remarked that these sounded like the X on the Phonitor in a general way. With the Dark Star, it's an impressive jack of all trades headphone and I'm tempted to suggest it's the overall technical champ this round. Subjectively, however, and only when in prolonged A/B comparison with the Audeze phones, I think it lacks a bit of character or magic -- or perhaps I've not listened long enough to find it.
HD800: Like the X, these phones have a less problematic but still present hissing problem, making the Dark Star not an ideal choice. However the sonic character seems to be a very good match, and the results with classical in particular were outstanding. The sound stage mentioned by many is not an exaggeration -- it's fantastic and expansive. Vulnerable to sibilance more than any other headphone tested here, which is unfortunate.
PS1000: Disappointing. Bass was punchy and sometimes over-the-top with the Dark Star, treble was spiky, and mids felt thin (perhaps by comparison only, but it was impossible to tease them apart).
T1: Much, much better here, with the Dark Star's sonic character doing wonders. It seems to fall somewhere between the HD800 and the X in stage size and lifelike character. Full, precise-sounding, a really good pairing with electronic music. Big step up for these.
LCD-X: I found with the Phonitor that just as there's something magical about the 3's mids, the X has this layered character (which I think is a function of its instrument separation and speed) which creates a unique atmosphere and plant you in a location. But with the Dark Star, in addition to the noticeable background hiss, the Dark Star's sonic profile does not always seem like a terrific pairing for the X's ability to put you in a musical place, because it seems to accentuate the lows and dampen the highs -- just enough to also reduce the magic of these headphones from "I'm there, listening live" to "this is great music". But there are still times when the X's character shines through, and it's fantastic.
LCD-3: A bit of a chameleon here. At times it seemed more velvety and rich than anything else, other times it was a bit more sparkley than the X's. Overall, a more smooth, relaxed, creamy sound. Sometimes, it's seductive -- other times, it causes too much of the music's interesting bits to be tucked away. More of a wheelhouse headphone, just as it was with the Phonitor.

(Requested) HD800 vs LCD-X: Compared to the X, I found the HD800 less full and rich, but more expansive and uniformly delicate -- though the X's have that excellent treble treatment which really does something special when paired with the Audeze sound. The X feels like it takes a significant step toward HD800 territory, away from the LCD3 sound, especially in the treble. I think the X is a better all-arounder, though the HD800 is magnificent with large orchestral pieces.

---Detailed notes---

Natalie Merchant - Tigerlily - San Andreas Fault (96k, 24bit) for female vocals, acoustic instruments
LCD-X: Fuller than on the Phonitor, and now with recessed highs and more pronounced bass. Like a night club, very 3-like. Resounding bass. Instrument separation remains excellent. Bass is full and rich.
HE-6: Full-sounding, but also delicate -- really reminds me of the X on the Phonitor. Soundstage seemed just right. Improved instrument separation vs the Phonitor, about on par with the X.
HD800: Delicate++. Perhaps an additional stop of space vs. the HE-6 and X? Very occasional treble spikes? Layered presentation sense, like the X on the Phonitor, which I really like. The extreme details make this sound sortof like how an HDR photo looks.
LCD-3: Sounds very similar to how it did on the Phonitor, but its character is emphasized: a bit more velvet, especially in the lower registers. Vocals have an enjoyable rich texture. Guitars sound wonderful, despite the absence of delicate details.
T1: Wow... HD800-like. Clean, good separation, and approaching a sense of realism that we previously found with the X on the Phonitor. Still a touch sibilant. The most realistic-sounding of the bunch? (Still less realistic than the X on the Phonitor, by a touch.)
PS1000: Wow, the bass is huge -- full, very forward. Mids and highs are very nice, too. Vocals are nice.

Fahrenheit Project 6 - ASD by Scann-Tec (44k, 16bit FLAC) for electronic sound
HD800: Bass impressively controlled. Spacial sense excellent. Fast-sounding.
HE-6: Bass extends a fair bit lower than the HD800, or is more pronounced in subwoofer ranges. Spacial sense is pulled in vs the HD800. The presentation of the treble details is fantastic. The overall sound impression is just very well composed. Impressive.
LCD-3: Bass is between the HD800 than the HE-6. Controlled like the HD800, but the HE-6 digs a bit deeper. High treble squelches are there -- but felt more than heard, in some ways? Spacial sense is on par with the HE-6, for the most part.
PS1000: Highs are detailed, if a bit spiky by comparison to these other phones. Bass is quite punchy.
LCD-X: The Dark Star is felt here -- more bass, recessed highs. Instrument separation quite intact. Punchy baseline.
T1: Early percussion excellently detailed. Presentation is overall dramatic. Bass has this surprisingly controlled presence that's really enjoyable.

deadmau5 - the lack of a better name - Ghosts n Stuff (44k, 16bit FLAC) - bass-forward
PS1000: Overall sound, particularly the mids, feel somewhat thin. Bass is full, deep, punchy. Weirdly, some treble details seem just as forward. Is this what people mean when they say a headphone's response is U-shaped?
HD800: Sound field a whole lot more open than the PS1000, with huge instrument separation. Presentation is slightly top-heavy (less bass, more highs) relative to what takes your attention.
HE-6: Smaller sound field than HD800, as expected. Presentation feels a whole lot more balanced and even, bass, mids, highs. Each one is very good. Easy to listen to, super musical.
LCD-X: Vocals are amazing, and the "you are there" sense is back with this track. Treatment of bass, mids, and vocals together create an Audeze-y sense of drama that I previously felt more with the 3's.
LCD-3: First impression: similar to X! After some listening: lows are more emphasized and more sparkle detail than the X.
T1: Overall similar to HD800, but somewhat less space and a bit more bass presence. Very enjoyable.

David Gray - A Century Ends - Shine (mp3 VBR) - male vocals, acoustic guitar
HD800: Less full, more spacious, like a hall. Perhaps more space than you'd want in a song like this. Highs are acute and a bit distracting. Sibilance everywhere, but this track is challenging in this respect.
LCD-X: Beautiful, detailed, full. Atmosphere++.
HE-6: Very close to the X in many ways. Better overall balance on the Dark Star, and about 80% of the "being there" sense.X, only the slightest hint of sibilance in one spot -- otherwise, none.
LCD-3: As with the deadmau5 track, the vocals are less forward and this detracts from the presence of the sound in a song like this. Instead, the guitar has taken center stage.
PS1000: Bassy lows, but thin mids, and astringent highs, with sibilance on the vocals. Disappointing compared to these others.
T1: Very nice presentation - the T1 really works here. Vocals and acoustic instruments well-balanced and gorgeous. Quite involving. Not as full and eveloping than the X, but more composed instead. Both are beautiful.

Living Stereo, Bach Concerto in D Minor for Two Violins, BWV 1043 performed by Heifetz (44k, 16bit FLAC) - classical
PS1000: Violins thin-sounding. Overall presentation seems weak.
T1: Violins are nice. Orchestra is full. Enjoyable.
HD800: Wow; we're in a concert hall. Everything is bigger, fuller, expansive. The T1's orchestra is decomposed into an array of instruments in a deep sound field. Violins are majestic, and properly out in front -- not just louder, but out in front of the orchestra. Harpsichord is well-defined.
HE-6: Similar to the T1, broadly, but with less sparkle on the highs and more presence on the lower end. Quite smaller in expanse than the HD800.
LCD-3: Relaxed highs immediately present the piece as somewhat muted. If the HD800 was in a concert hall, the HE-6 moved us into a large practicing room. Got used to it after a couple minutes. Space felt crowded - so distracting that it was hard to focus on the sound quality.
LCD-X: Slightly less crowded space, on account of the better layering and verticality of the X's sound field. Both Audeze cans can't compare to the HD800. Seems like the LCD-X is about on par with the HE-6 with stage size here.
 
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