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Post by ronzo56 on Jan 25, 2015 11:16:32 GMT
Could not agree more Ian. My experience has been similar. Spend $400 on a different pair of headphones, not a NOS tube. I am of the opinion that many of the new tubes (not all) are excellent as well. And much cheaper.
Also agree Mike at RG has a nose for tubes.
I had a tragedy this week and it involved a tube I obtained from Mike. A 1966 "special reserve" Russian NOS 6N23P; matched sections almost exactly. Best tube for the Sunrise II, IMHO. Have had it for a couple of years. Only used it for special listening sessions. . It happened when it flew out of my hands as I was trying to roll it into the EMBER. It hit the edge of the aluminum case on a CDP. I screamed out "NO!!!!!!! Not the 6N23P!!!!" I am still in going though the stages of grief. Hope he still has another one.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jan 25, 2015 11:34:48 GMT
Thanks for the input guys. I hear what you're all saying as regards valve options and you make a lot of sense. It's not like I can really fault the sound I'm hearing as is anyway. It's gorgeous. I won't be buying more headphones though as there's no competition for the HD 650 at my kind of budget. Perhaps not at all. I love their character.
On that subject I'm going to try out my Q701 with the Ember today and see if it can be improved. I'm guessing it will sound a lot better because it definitely needs power, despite having a relatively low impedance.
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Rabbit
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Post by Rabbit on Jan 25, 2015 11:53:36 GMT
For the Q701, set the output impedance to 120 ohms. (High) you'll discover a richness that the Q701 didn't have before!!!
It seems to like high output impedance.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jan 25, 2015 12:06:36 GMT
I read in another place someone saying that one effect of the variable resistance is that the low setting allows the character of the valve to have more effect. Is there any truth to that?
I'm using it on low with the 650 because there's more air to the sound. High R seems to thicken the sound too much for me. The 650 is already relatively dark (which is why I like it) but it seems you can have too much of a good thing.
I'll test the Q this afternoon Ian, thanks for the advice.
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solderdude
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Post by solderdude on Jan 25, 2015 12:15:06 GMT
Was wondering about tube section tolerances. How sensitive is the Ember to these variations within sections? VERY sensitive due to the non feedback way in which the tubes are used. One section is used for L and the other for R I have measured up to 2dB differences between L and R with some old tubes. Most tubes remain well within 1dB difference though. Chances are the drivers of any headphone may have even bigger efficiency differences between L and R drivers to make it more relative to real audio. I read in another place someone saying that one effect of the variable resistance is that the low setting allows the character of the valve to have more effect. Is there any truth to that? The higher resistance setting will have more valve effect in low impedance headphones. With tubes the amount of harmonics and amplitude rises with the output voltage. To make a low impedance headphone sound equally loud via a 120 Ohm resistor you will need a higher output voltage BEFORE the output R. So you will have more 'tube sound' with a higher output R setting. The HD650 will sound best on low R setting, the K/Q7xx series will sound better on high R setting unless you prefer less bass and more treble.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jan 25, 2015 14:02:09 GMT
Thanks for the clarification Frans.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 25, 2015 17:28:45 GMT
The high R setting makes quite a difference to the Q701 right enough. I can almost listen to a whole song. That damn spike at 2k is still there though. Actually they're pretty good for orchestral music and probably better than the 650's if I'm honest. They have a soundstage that sounds fake on most of my music but with an orchestra it does start to make sense.
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Rabbit
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Post by Rabbit on Jan 25, 2015 18:08:31 GMT
The spike doesn't get touched at all but the bass gets a little lift which makes them an awful lot more pleasant overall. I can listen to them fine like that. Makes them a useable headphone.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jan 25, 2015 19:46:46 GMT
Yeah, agreed. My Q's are already bass-modded but it's quite well balanced now. I still can't get on with the Q's because of their lack of comfort but at least they now sound good. The only time I use them is when I'm in Logic Pro as they're much better in that role than my other headphones.
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Rabbit
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Post by Rabbit on Jan 25, 2015 19:55:32 GMT
I find the AKG K550s good with software as well Very sensitive so easily driven straight from the computer. They also give a good sense of spec around the sound. I have a modded pair that work well for monitoring since they are nice and flat, thanks to Frans.
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oldson
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Post by oldson on Jan 25, 2015 20:10:21 GMT
I think you're all mad My issues yesterday weren't down to the cables. Hands up who said it could be the DAC. edit - When I say "tranny" I mean transistor radio. Obviously. Yay. Do I get a prize? ( I know the sound you mean.) it's one of the problems of an open frame I'm afraid. I had serious noise with an early Sunrise that changed in amounts when I moved it. It turned out to be a combination of airborn noise and a dirty mains. I got it in the end though. Don't go mad over valves. We had one guy on here who had spent as much as the amp on valves. He kind of got obsessed. Biggest differences will come from a change of headphone. Basically, make sure there is minimal hiss and maybe one that rings less. Even better if you get one that resists external interference like you got with your DAC. my Ember sits on top of my Stagedac with no issues at all.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jan 26, 2015 1:15:29 GMT
Yay. Do I get a prize? ( I know the sound you mean.) it's one of the problems of an open frame I'm afraid. I had serious noise with an early Sunrise that changed in amounts when I moved it. It turned out to be a combination of airborn noise and a dirty mains. I got it in the end though. Don't go mad over valves. We had one guy on here who had spent as much as the amp on valves. He kind of got obsessed. Biggest differences will come from a change of headphone. Basically, make sure there is minimal hiss and maybe one that rings less. Even better if you get one that resists external interference like you got with your DAC. my Ember sits on top of my Stagedac with no issues at all. Thanks for chipping in. I've really got no idea any more what caused it. Today I've changed everything around in this room. I've taken my UPS out of the loop in case that was a problem but I now can't recreate it, no matter where I put the amp or DAC. I really am beginning to think I imagined the whole thing.
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Post by jhelms on Jan 26, 2015 2:02:13 GMT
6SN7 Adapters have started to ship First batches are going to individual orders / next batches this week will go out with chassis. They turned out VERY nice Will get pics with better lighting soon.
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dicky
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Post by dicky on Jan 26, 2015 8:04:57 GMT
Very nice!
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Post by ronzo56 on Jan 26, 2015 8:49:28 GMT
Can't wait. Already picking out a couple of tubes to try.
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