leo
Been here a while!
Team wtf is it?
Posts: 3,638
|
Post by leo on Feb 19, 2007 19:01:00 GMT
Hi Guys, I really could do with some advice regarding buying a pair of headphones, theres so much available I'm a little lost I was looking at Grado SR-225 ,Alessandro MS1 or Sennheiser HD-600, I want decent SQ without paying silly money. Everyday use I listen to my main hi-fi but its not something I can use for late night listening. The headphone amp I currently have is a JLH Chiarra but will upgrade that after buying some new headphones, current phones are a crappy old pair of Sennheiser HD-540 reference Cheers, Leo
|
|
|
Post by PinkFloyd on Feb 19, 2007 21:23:37 GMT
Hi leo Welcome to the club, it seems all of us are lost and on a constant quest to find the best sounding headphones ;D You've got a chiarra, a very good amp and particularly good with the HD-600.... there was no aspect of the Chiarra / HD-600 that I ever had cause to complain about. Fellow member Nigel also run a chiarra / HD-600 for years so hopefully he will chip in. If to be used with the Chiarra then my choice would almost certainly be the HD-600 out of the 'phones you mention and seeing as you can pick them up for £139 brand new they won't break the bank. The SR-225 are great 'phones but will be a tad on the bright side with the Chiarra, I haven't tried the MS1 but their sonic signature won't be that far removed from the SR-225. HD-540 are far from crap but really do need a juicy amp to drive them best. IIRC they are 600ohm and like the HD-414 they require one beefy amp to really get them singing (especially in the bass) The Chiarra is not that amp I'm afraid and you'll find the HD-600 a lot easier to drive.
|
|
leo
Been here a while!
Team wtf is it?
Posts: 3,638
|
Post by leo on Feb 20, 2007 0:56:34 GMT
Thanks Pinky, advice always appreciated:)
New headphones would be the easiest route then, I'll check out the HD-600's, you've heard by far more headphones than I have
If you feel the HD-540's are not bad (I was given the HD-540's and they do look quite old ) I don't mind trying a different amp although I would prefer to go the diy route if possible tbh but don't mind buying a commercially built unit if theres nothing diy suitable;) any idea's whats better than the Chiarra? Chiarra currently uses LM4562 inut op-amp, usual upgraded components. I've got a good source so something revealing would be better
Cheers, Leo
|
|
Nigel
Been here a while!
Watching over Gotham City keeping us safe
Posts: 2,064
|
Post by Nigel on Feb 20, 2007 1:00:39 GMT
Yes, I still have the Chiarra. It sounds great with the HD600/650's & like Mike says HD600's are available for reasonable prices these days. I haven't heard the Grado's but the 32ohm impedance Senn PMX100 sound none too impressive out of the Chiarra. The HD600 are supremely comfortable & you can have plenty of user fun in the form of removing foam, potential cable upgrades etc. should you wish. Incidentally, which op amp are you using in the Chiarra & is it, I should imagine it is, coupled with the Andante power supply?
Best,
Nigel
|
|
Nigel
Been here a while!
Watching over Gotham City keeping us safe
Posts: 2,064
|
Post by Nigel on Feb 20, 2007 1:03:11 GMT
I just read your message, we must have been typing the same time. Well, the LM4562, yes, that's the best opamp I've heard.
|
|
Nigel
Been here a while!
Watching over Gotham City keeping us safe
Posts: 2,064
|
Post by Nigel on Feb 20, 2007 13:30:50 GMT
Hi Leo,
What source are you using?
Best,
Nigel
|
|
leo
Been here a while!
Team wtf is it?
Posts: 3,638
|
Post by leo on Mar 18, 2007 15:18:40 GMT
Hi Nigel. Sorry for the delayed reply My Chiarra is curently powered from a diy supply using modified ALW super regs with VBE multipliers. The LM4562 is still being used, it seems to be ok, feedback resistors are Caddock MK132, the 2.2uf caps are Auricaps. I've a few different sources, my main one is a diy Dac using TDA1541 double crown pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL1293/4634025/9699445/138046909.jpg I also have just built the Ezdac using PCM1794 Anybody built this amp headwize.com/projects/stokes_prj.htm wondering if it would be better than the Chiarra Cheers, Leo
|
|
Nigel
Been here a while!
Watching over Gotham City keeping us safe
Posts: 2,064
|
Post by Nigel on Mar 19, 2007 9:33:48 GMT
Hi Leo,
Thanks for your interesting reply. I bet your Chiarra sounds pretty damn good! I like the LM4562 best in the Chiarra as well, I prefer the OPA627's in the Heed but will probably change next week. Tell us more about that modified power supply with those ALW super regs. Do these really make a big difference? How are they incorporated into the power supply & are they difficult to build? Maybe something like this could benefit the Heed amp because that appears to have a pretty basic power supply, without doubt it sounds mighty fine though.
Best,
Nigel
|
|
leo
Been here a while!
Team wtf is it?
Posts: 3,638
|
Post by leo on Mar 20, 2007 0:15:40 GMT
Hi Nigel,
I maybe should have posted this in the diy section:)
Anyway I usually go a bit over the top with psu's, a good psu makes a world of difference to the sound quality. For the Chiarra I used a psu similar to what I use with most of my kit, its external so can be used with other things too. A nice transformer, discrete schottky diodes, a pair of 4-pole t-network capacitors, modified ALW super regs with the pre-reg replaced with a Darlington based VBE.
With the Chiarra I wasn't too happy with the decoupling so fitted extra 10uf ZA caps directly onto the LM4562 supply pins, its a bit awkward getting the grounds short because of the pcbs layout, I also bypassed the ZA's with a low value resistor and small value film cap in series. You also have to be careful with the super regs to avoid instabillity. The Chiarra sounds quite decent, I'd like to build something better though tbh:)
I can't comment on the Heed, I don't know its circuit, it does not seem to use any regulation from the piccys I've seen just run from a low volatge transformer, the PSR of the LM4562 is quite good so it may work well in it
|
|
Nigel
Been here a while!
Watching over Gotham City keeping us safe
Posts: 2,064
|
Post by Nigel on Mar 20, 2007 0:53:35 GMT
Cheers Leo, you certainly know your stuff. Did you ever get some new headphones?
Nigel
|
|
leo
Been here a while!
Team wtf is it?
Posts: 3,638
|
Post by leo on Mar 20, 2007 1:26:27 GMT
Thanks Nigel I didn't actually get the headphones yet, you guys seem to rate the HD600's so will probably just get a pair of those, I can think about the amp after Cheers, Leo
|
|
Nigel
Been here a while!
Watching over Gotham City keeping us safe
Posts: 2,064
|
Post by Nigel on Mar 21, 2007 16:23:28 GMT
Yes, the HD600/650's are the bestest of all.
|
|
leo
Been here a while!
Team wtf is it?
Posts: 3,638
|
Post by leo on Mar 30, 2007 16:30:00 GMT
Yes, the HD600/650's are the bestest of all. After the AKG K701 and Grado RS-1 or RS-2! Hmm, you've got me looking at those K701's now ;D these are not as expensive as I thought. Decisions Decisions so what sort of diy amp is needed to drive these beasties
|
|