X Cans and Beyer DT 990 600 ohms

[normand]

Thanks Chris. Its a strange new world I seemed to have stumbled on here. Great sound can be had for entirely reasonable prices. Having been on the Naim upgrade ladder for a few years where prices (even going down ex dem / e bay routes) were, in comparison, high, it is good to discover a place where a different kind of listening - headphones rather than main speakers - is alive and thriving; enjoyable and affordable. Reading the V-Can thread was fascinating - a very decent little amp at a very decent little price. It's also interesting that some folk prefer models lower down the chain to others (601 over 701, HD 600 over 650) This alternative route of 'phones, X-cans and the different ways X-cans can be improved is a revelation.

The 990 250 ohm have still not arrived - had to chase them up - I think this is the company's way of telling me that if I am going to mess about with version of the same 'phone they will take their time sending the replacement.

One further development is that I ordered a pair of 601s this morning after extensive trawling of views. Mike's skimmed milk view did hold me back for a bit and some have said it can sound a bit boring but there were lots of positive comments and I did fancy something that would compliment the lighter stuff I listen to. The HD600 will probably follow in a couple of months.

Returning to the V-Can thread, is it still the view that this is an exceptional little amp - I see that a thread started 3 years ago and there was a lot of enthusiasm here at the time. Are the folk who were listening to it at the time still making good use of it or have you reverted to mainly X-Can use?

Next purchase will be the Little Pinky for the V1. I'm not a serial spendthrift - I'm just using some surplus funds I have from selling 3 Naim boxes and buying a valve integrated.

[Deleted]

I have the V-Can as well, Norman. However, stock, it's a little bit shrill and the volume is hyper active. Mine's been modded heavily so it has quite a different sound to the standard version. It also has a Little Pinkie attached.

Modded, it's a fat sounding amp to be sure.

You're right about the cost of headphones and sound ratio. It's not always the top model that headphone people go for. In the case of the K701, the K601 isn't quite a toppy. Some prefer it, others don't. It's the same with the Senn HD650/600.

If that company are messing you around with a replacement, you could easily cancel it and get it in a couple of days from Amazon.

Ian

[normand]

Both headphones have now arrived and have had 3 or 4 hours each on them, so early days. Obviously they are very different. The 601 initially sounded a bit 'weedy', lacking in any drive. Putting the right music with it, however, and it sounds, at this stage, just right; I played some of the new Steve Howe album, Time and the 601 plays it beautifully. Similarly with a couple of Midlake tracks and some of Sandy Denny's more acoustic songs. But with Yes' Fly from Here and tracks from some of the recent Floyd re-issues it does lack balls. The 990s, however makes everything I have tried so far sound great, certainly stuff with more drive. I do love the slightly airy feel of the 601 with acoustic and jazzy offerings and I am looking forward to seeing how they develop during break-in. I did a 990 vs HD650 earlier and I prefer the 990s - that little bit more realistic with the tunes I chose. I also like the fact that the 990s (and the 601s) don't clamp your head in the same way that the senns do. All interesting stuff. After a few more hours I'll turn my attention to making the V1 (and maybe the V8?) sound better with the suggested mods.

[Deleted]

Nov 11, 2011 22:26:50 GMT normand said:

I'm not a serial spendthrift - I'm just using some surplus funds I have from selling 3 Naim boxes and buying a valve integrated.

Wow Norman, talk about a change in sonic signature

I started off twenty or so years ago with basic class A/B transistor stuff but knew something wasn't right. I read about hash etc. and didn't know exactly what that meant or if I was hearing it in my modest system but knew it didn't sound as clear or as clean as I wanted. I heard Naim gear at a Hi-fi show and really didn't like it, I thought it sounded dark and dull.
Then I heard Class A (a Musical Fidelity A1) and had to have it. And did
Many Class A's later ( Sugden A21, Marantz Pm78 etc.), I started to wonder about valves, and once I heard my first valve amp (an old Croft I think) I knew I had 'come home'.

I've since met others who took this route - Class A/B to Class A to Valves, and it seems it's quite common amongst those who do change.

But to go from a Naim setup to valves in one go I take it you became dissatisfied with the Naim sound?

Still, good to see another soul escaped from the Dark side ;D

Jeff

[normand]

Hi Jeff

Yep, quite a switch. I owned a variety of solid state amps for many years (Amstrad, Pioneer something or other, Nad 3020, Naim Nait 2, Musical Fidelity A3 integrated, Musical Fidelity A3 pre / power, Naim 200, 202, then Naim 252, 250) and was only vaguely aware of tubes (the odd hi-fi mag, glowing units in hotel rooms at hi-fi shows). I, along with a couple of pals, decided that this year we would explore valve amps, possibly with the idea of buying a small modest unit as an alternative. My speakers are very efficient - 102 db - called Zu Druids and need very little driving.

Long story short, we each tried different amps and each of us was blown away by the results. The scale and openness was stark in comparison to the somewhat narrower presentation of Naim. There was a lovely midrange that I was not used to and a beautiful level of non-harsh detail. Even the relatively modest Icon Audio stereo 40 mk111 I bought sounder 'better' that the considerably more expensive Naim pre power. I'm not knocking Naim - I was a fan for years - but this new route was preferable. After a month or so of keeping both SS and valve amps I made the decision to sell the Naim gear. So, it wasn't really a case of becoming dissatisfied with the Naim sound, it was more a case of discovering something new which I liked better.

Reading your post I think I would have enjoyed a more gradual journey via class A/B and A; I guess that once you are on the Naim ladder with all its combinations and possibilities (clever marketing!), it's easy to miss what else is out there. I've never been a big reader of hi-fi mags. It's also the case, from a quick trawl earlier this year, that there aren't that many dealers of valve amps in the NW of England.

Now that I've escaped the dark side I can tube roll, switch between triode and ultralinear, etc... (or is this just another version of hi-fi captivity??)

best wishes,

Norman