Rabbit
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Post by Rabbit on Mar 30, 2015 5:23:11 GMT
Thanks Frans.
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jkb89
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Post by jkb89 on Mar 30, 2015 7:59:38 GMT
Thank you all for the info. Just had a quick skim over the wordpress blog - I think it's a bit above my head!
I'll be trying to keep to a very strict budget (he says trying...) during this, as I can't really afford to splurge massive amounts on kit; just bought my first house.
Seems like an excellent place, pity I didn't find it sooner! Looks like I've got a lot of reading up to do.
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Post by hifidez on Mar 30, 2015 9:02:51 GMT
HI Joe, and welcome. I'm in Shropshire too, not far from Oswestry, so 'hello neighbour'. I have Grado's SR60 & SR80, Superlux HD681, Sennheiser's HD480, 219 & 218 plus assorted earbuds as well as some elderly Audio Technica ATH-0.2 (all un-modded, what's wrong with me?). My headphone amps: Musical Fidelity's V-CAN II, a portable Topping NX-1 and (laptop/home office use via USB) a DacMagic XS. Hope you enjoy your membership here Regards, Derek
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jkb89
contributing
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Post by jkb89 on Mar 30, 2015 11:16:00 GMT
Hi Derek, not very far away at all - I'm near Market Drayton.
Just looking at tube amps; intrigued by them (they glow!)... Whats the lowest sort of price you can buy a decent tube amp for? Running before I can walk, I know...
The project Ember looks good, but would prefer an 'enclosed' system if that makes sense! I can feel my wallet emptying already.... heh
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Post by hifidez on Mar 30, 2015 11:43:03 GMT
I know nothing of tube amps I'm afraid. I used to have a Musical Fidleity X-CANv3; that was a valve/transistor hybrid. But sold it because I didn't want to still own it if/when it failed. Those Embers do look good :-)
Derek
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Post by ronzo56 on Mar 30, 2015 12:26:47 GMT
Well, the other place has a smudge of Europeans!! Yes, and it's all the better for it.
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Rabbit
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Post by Rabbit on Mar 30, 2015 12:31:30 GMT
Hi Derek, not very far away at all - I'm near Market Drayton. Just looking at tube amps; intrigued by them (they glow!)... Whats the lowest sort of price you can buy a decent tube amp for? Running before I can walk, I know... The project Ember looks good, but would prefer an 'enclosed' system if that makes sense! I can feel my wallet emptying already.... heh Be careful with real cheapos. They tend to run hot and burn out prematurely in many cases. I once had a Little Dot which did a firework display for me. The Chinese cheapos come to mind here. Save your money and get a decent design. Tubes can be noisy but better designs are much less so. Ember is superb. Runs cool, powerful, really full sounding. To clean it, I use a big puffer brush!!
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Post by ronzo56 on Mar 30, 2015 13:02:14 GMT
Joe, I have a used X-Can V2 which I used for a number of years and still pull it out from time to time. Not sure what they go for now, might be cheaper over there. It's also an enclosed hybrid. It's easy to swap out the tubes as well. I have had solid state amps as well. I have a personal preference for some type of tube in the circuit, but you may prefer a different sound. If you want to use your computer or laptop as a source, I have this dongle type and it's nice with lower impedance phones. schiit.com/products it's around £55 I think. Best if you can hear before you buy obviously. A really inexpensive starter phone might be the Koss KSC 75. About £15. No isolation at all and won't go loud, but the sound is good and they can even be modded. Fran's has a very good article about them on DIY site. Lots of choices. Looking is half the fun.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Mar 30, 2015 21:49:34 GMT
Even just a pair of £30 superlux's have made such an improvement to my listening experience, think the bug has bitten. What headphones would you recommend for rock/blues music? Over ear fitment is my preference. Best, Joe. Hi Joe, and welcome to the forum. If you have a look at my avatar and forum user name, you'll see we both like the same kind of music. If you think the Superluxes are good - wait till you hear the 990's. In fact they are similar in many ways as they both have a smiley-shaped FR, are very comfy, and are great for rock/blues, but the 990 is better and more refined in every way I would unreservedly recommend a pair of DT 990's. (Ian's if you can get them). They are not the best headphone in the world, and they are 100 miles away from 'accurate' - but boy, do they make rock and blues come alive! They are relatively tough, are easy to work on, the manufacturer still supports them for parts, they are super-comfy, and just so much FUN. You would absolutely not be disappointed with these as your first serious headphones. And if you take up Ian's offer - £60 delivered - you are getting a massive bargain. Jeff
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Mar 30, 2015 21:53:23 GMT
Well, the other place has a smudge of Europeans!! Yes, and it's all the better for it. If the yanks are a 'tinge' and the europeans are a 'smudge', what does that make us Brits??
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Post by Deleted on Mar 30, 2015 21:58:48 GMT
Collective noun for a bunch of Brits? A 'Great' of Brits? A 'Kingdom' of Brits? A 'Cool' of Brits? A 'Two-world-wars-and-a-world-cup' of Brits?
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Post by ronzo56 on Mar 30, 2015 22:13:00 GMT
. Nicely done Jeff. Good recommendation on the DT 990's. I had a pair for awhile loved them except for one thing. My ears are a bit weird when it comes to treble. Seem to have a sensitivity somewhere between 4 to 5 kHz I think. Mind that I was solid state guy at the time, now I'm a tube man. Doesn't happen with very many phones, not even my HD800's or the DT-1350's which I enjoy. Probably related to a mild tinnitus from hunting in my youth. Shouldn't be a problem for you, and if they are Ian's I am sure they don't have any issues. And being a rock/blues/jazz kinda guy, they do them all well. And no they aren't going to please folks that prefer more accuracy. They have the "Beyer" sound, the U-shaped FR but fun is a good word to describe them.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 31, 2015 0:38:32 GMT
Collective noun for a bunch of Brits? A 'Great' of Brits? A 'Kingdom' of Brits? A 'Cool' of Brits? A 'Two-world-wars-and-a-world-cup' of Brits? A curmudgeon? I have other words for Brits, all unprintable.
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Post by ronzo56 on Mar 31, 2015 1:54:11 GMT
OK Gordon, then send this Yank a PM. Sort of a cultural exchange program. We need it, we have little culture. Other than probiotics!
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Rabbit
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Post by Rabbit on Mar 31, 2015 6:33:33 GMT
A dollop of Brits.
A twinge of Scots.
A whiff of Welsh.
A dollop of Dutch.
A sign of Spanish.
A fragrance of French.
They're all here..........
The Beyers are 'u' shaped but one of the 'nice' headphones imo. Built like tanks too. I like that.
Put it on a Kameleon though and the 'u' shape flattens out and you have one amazing headphone. In fact, if the 990 doesn't sell, then I may keep it with my hd650 in readiness for a Kameleon. Certainly the Senns. The best sound you can get at that price, but the Beyer isn't that far removed either tbh.
A really good upgrade actually.
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