Thanks to the absence of my NDS on repair I have been enjoying portable audio via my Astell + Kern Kann and I also have an Arcam rHead on my main system. All with a pair of Grado 325e headphones.
With a rare opportunity to visit a dealer I decided to demo some pricier headphones to see if I could push things a bit further. I hope this is interesting to some.
So thanks to Analogue Seduction for setting up the following. It is worth noting that my old Grado are really not so bad, but although clean sounding and enjoyable these I tested were a class above. All tested via a Quad PA-One headphone amp as well as direct from the Kann.
Grado GS2000e. Comfortable and exotic looking these surprised me by being quite different in character to my 325e. They had a slightly rich sound that felt a little 'bouncy' with a rather slow bass. Engaging with faster music but female voices seemed to lose a bit of sweetness and seemed slightly thick. Soundstage good, not amazing. A bit tiring and a bit warm sounding to me. Disappointing.
Audeze LCD-X. I struggled to really listen to these for long because the overriding impression was they are too heavy. They weigh an absolute ton and I cannot imagine getting used to that. As for the sound they seem very balanced and clean. Nothing dominates. Lots of detail, voices very natural but the overall impression I had was that they were a bit too restrained and a touch dull. I found myself unengaged especially at lower volume. Not worth the weight!
Sennhesier HD800S. Big step up. Very comfy and a sensible weight. Very detailed, very open, very natural. Easy to listen at low and high volumes. Amazing space in the presentation and the headphones almost disappear. Voices excellent. Bass quite marked but detailed. Criticisms? If anything they sounded a bit technical, a bit polite with something gritty and complex. Fantastic 'phones for choral or classical I would imagine. I certainly found myself hearing new things in tracks I knew well. Maybe the detail is a bit distracting-but I am sure you get used to it.
Quad ERA-1. Another planar design but although a bit heavier than the Sennheiser nowhere near the Audeze bulk. First impressions very good, and they were brand new from the box (I think they have only been available a few weeks as I've seen no reviews). Lots of detail but well-balanced, bass bit short of the Sennheiser's but with plenty of quality. Voices natural. Sound stage a bit enclosed compared to the Sennheiser but they come with a choice of pads and the thicker one is worth trying as this definitely improves things. Most important of all they are fun. Compared to the Sennheiser they had a bit more edge, perhaps a bit less sophistication but, dare I say it, maybe more PRaT? Listening back to back there was no doubt; the Sennhesier HD800S are very impressive, and more technically accomplished but when I swapped to the Quads I was probably enjoying the music at least as much.
Two things sealed it; firstly when used direct from the Kann rather than through the amp I felt the Sennheiser lost some of their margin compared to the Quads. Finally the Quads are just £600 vs £1399 for the HD800; not that they are poor value at that but their style just did not grab me fully.
Job done, the cheapest pair wins! Now to run in one fresh pair of Quad headphones. I hope others get a chance to hear them as they get into dealers.
Have fun
Cheers
Bruce
Posted on: 02 January 2019 by Mike Sullivan
Another update. I recently landed a pre-loved Uniti2 that now resides in my media room (the UC2 has gone to the games room next door with some old AR speakers). I grabbed the Uniti2 as I was looking for more power to my Totsm Hawks and it did the job.
As luck would have it, the Uniti2 has a line-out connection for a headphone amp. So now, I’m thinking of using that to drive the HD800’s. Unfrotanetly, I can only trial the Rega Ear at my dealers, and the reviews are a bit mixed. Otherwise it’s a rHead or Headline. The rHead has great reviews for the price point and avoids the power supply the Headline needs, so a saving there. My first amp was the Arcam A60, so I’m happy with the brand, but wonder whether keeping the Naim sonic signature is a better option for the HD800? The Headline is only made to order from the UK it seems, whereas the rHeas is readily available too.
Probally edeging towards the rHead at this stage. Thoughts?
Posted on: 03 January 2019 by Bruce Woodhouse
Mike
I use it in my main system so full and high res files NAS > NDS > 252/SCapDR.
I cannot say I have compared it to any other headphone amps, although I have used the Quad 'phones in my Qute output and also on my Astell + Kern portable both playing the same quality NAS files. It is clearly better sounding than these two sources although the difference is not night and day-I suspect because the Quads 'phones are not that hard to drive.
It has a lovely, clean and engaging sound where I don't think any single characteristic dominates.
Note I don't leave it plugged in and it does take maybe half an hour to really come on song if you do a demo.
Bruce
Posted on: 06 January 2019 by Mike Sullivan
I've tried something a bit left-field. I pulled out my old A60 and found I had a RCA to 5-pin interconnect, so tried using it as a headphone amp of the Uniti2 using the line out. What would you know, gosh, it's great. Certainly more grip and a wider sound stage with the HD800. I'm going to stick with this for a bit as a triall before looking at a new headphone amp. It's a cost free upgrade and I get to play with my old A60 again, and that can't be a bad thing.
Posted on: 06 January 2019 by Peder
???? MIKE SULLIVAN,...
???? Burson Audio Conductor Virtouso ????
This headphone-amplifier fits incredibly well to the HD800,see the 6Moon-review.
It also gets many,many other great reviews,well worth watching.
Yes,..I have this,but with other headphones.
/Peder ????
Posted on: 06 January 2019 by Peder
???? MIKE SULLIVAN,...
???? Burson Audio Conductor Virtouso ????
This headphone-amplifier fits incredibly well to the HD800,see the 6Moon-review.
It also gets many,many other great reviews,well worth watching.
Yes,..I have this,but with other headphones.
/Peder ????
That's a very nice looking headphone amp!
???? MIKE SULLIVAN,....I agree with you,and it is incredibly well built.As well as running in "Class A",and have the markets highest outeffect.
So the "Burson Audio Conductor Virtouso" drives all headphones without problems.
Below some excerpt from different test..????????
◾ ”showed me why the Burson Audio Conductor Virtuoso deserves to be recognized as one of the leading solid-state headphone amplifiers around”.
◾ ”I haven’t found quite another gear that does PRaT as well as the Burson”.
◾ ”nothing can match the PRaT factor that the Burson gives”.
◾ ”Fast transients makes for a superb articulation”.
◾ ”Awesome bass section. Very good articulation over the bass. Powerful punch with very good control. Excellent PRaT. Combined with the amplifier section, it’s No.1 recommendation”.
/Peder????
