Orthodynamic Headphones & all things planar

[Brendon]

Ok haven't been here in ages. How did the Yamaha loaner program work out ?

Me, I have been enjoying the YH-100s and EHHA. I can't believe I was thinking of getting rid of the YH-100s since I didn't have a good amp to drive them earlier on. Now with the EHHA its pure bliss !

Would blindly recommend anyone to get the EHHA rather than trying any other cheaper route.

 

[gurubhai]

Welcome back, Brendon!

Good to know you are still enjoying your EHHA. Which tubes are you using these days?

The loaner never took off since no one sent me their address. I guess people finally wizened up to my plans of ortho world domination.

 

[Audiodoc]

@gurubhai.
Any idea about the price of a pair of telefunkens for the EHHA.

 

[esanthosh]

The loaner never took off since no one sent me their address. I guess people finally wizened up to my plans of ortho world domination.

Once I am done with my current IEM loaners (and likely sales), you will get my address.

I am dreaming of a day when the Stax distributor in India would finally reply to my query and shatter your plans of Ortho domination

 

[gurubhai]

@Audiodoc:

Anything between $60-$120 depending on your luck at ebay.
The ones with diamond-bottom would usually be at the upper end of that, may be even higher.

Even costlier from most reputed dealers!

 

[gurubhai]

Once I am done with my current IEM loaners (and likely sales), you will get my address.

Why don't you simply create a sale thread on HF & limit the sale to Indians. That should be easier for you.

I am dreaming of a day when the Stax dealer in India would finally reply to my query and shatter your plans of Ortho domination

I won't mind that at all. Have you noticed how I had cleverly added 'all things planar' to the thread title.

BTW, have you heard of the new stax IEM?

 

[esanthosh]

Why don't you simply create a sale thread on HF & limit the sale to Indians. That should be easier for you.

That's an idea I have not explored yet. But, some of the lower priced stuff has a better chance of being sold in TE.

I won't mind that at all. Have you noticed how I had cleverly added 'all things planar' to the thread title.

BTW, have you heard of the new stax IEM?

This? If only that amp was 'transportable' :indifferent14: But should be fun to try it someday and compare against dynamic and BA IEMs.

Is this the only possible way to drive the IEM? Only SR-207 seems to be compatible with SRM-252S. Can the IEM be driven out of another amp like BHSE / Cavalli LL as well? Still a Stax n00b here.

 

[gurubhai]

May be you could mention on TE that you are selling stuff on HF.

Not that one. That has been around for some time.
Currawong mentioned that a new stax IEM was introduced in one of the tokyo festivals.Its smaller than the SR-005(though probably still larger than most other IEMs),

Yes, those IEMs would work with any stax amp with pro bias.

 

[esanthosh]

Ah! This one?

As long as the pricing stays within my 'affordable' range, I should get that! That amp looks portable enough. If VSonic is actually making Focus007 Orthodynamic IEM, it would be nice to have both in the IEM collection.

 

[iaudio]

Gurubhai, I would gladly submit to Ortho/Planar regime! Just some uncertainties/ shifting location etc make me a bit doubtful!

 

[gurubhai]

No problem guys, we can work out something later.

 

[Brendon]

Welcome back, Brendon!

Good to know you are still enjoying your EHHA. Which tubes are you using these days?

The loaner never took off since no one sent me their address. I guess people finally wizened up to my plans of ortho world domination.

Ha ha, yeah I was so happy with my HD650s before you came along !

Now they get a mercy listen from time to time.

Anyways I am still on the 'stock' Bugle boys tubes. Tried the replacement tubes I got from you but slightly preferred the originals so they will remain the back up tubes.

 

[gurubhai]

You were lucky to buy the YH100 at the time you did, Brendon!
The prices of vintage yamaha orthos have gone crazy in the recent past. An HP-2 can cost anywhere between $150-250 & an HP-1 costs anything between $200-500 these days.

I won't call 'Bugle boys' as stock.I was lucky to find some of these at a decent price back then. These have turned out to be even rarer than Telefunkens.
I do prefer the Bugle Boys to the Newer mullards(slightly edgy & bright),older production Mullards are better.
I prefer the Telefunkens overall to all of them but I won't call it a huge upgrade from bugle boys.

 

[RambleOn]

Need help with some major decision making. On the whole I'm more of a portable audio person. Flirted a bit with a desktop headphone setup early last year but found myself using my portable rig even at home.

Need something for weekend listening and I'm looking at either the HE400 or the HD650. Haven't heard the HE400 but managed to audition the LCD2 Rev1 (note: through a portable amp).

Would be using the RSA SR71B that drives full size cans pretty well for something portable. Would I be better off with the HD650 or the entry level orthos? They're about the same price second hand.

Don't have the money for the LCD series since I'd also have to factor in the substantial investment in a new balanced cable. Already have one for the HD series and the HE400+cable should be within my budget too.

 

[gurubhai]

From the measurements I have I have seen, I would go with HE-400. It should have cleaner bass & a flatter frequency response.

I'd avoid a used HE-400 though, had heard of QC issues with early batches of HE-400.

 

[RambleOn]

Hmmmm so that's something else to consider then. QC issues with their lower end stuff was so common, went through 3 pairs of the Head-Direct RE-1s all of them had one driver fail one me.

A new one with shipping would work out to about 18000 inr less than a used LCD-2 Rev2 sans the cable. Confusing! Think I'll stick to the HE-400 though, don't have your EHHA anymore to do justice to the audezes

 

[grubyhalo]

Not heard the HE series cans but I do own a pair of HD650s for about5-6 years. The HDs are quite sensitive to cable changes and sound their best balanced, plus would hold their value good over time, if you need to sell them later. They have served me pretty well for pretty much all genres of music I listen to and I do not have any plans on replacing them. I do plan to get a CHT hybrid amp made for the cans in the future as they are supposed to have excellent synergy with the HDs. However, portable is not a term I'd associate with these cans...

 

[vivek.saikia]

After enjoying the ortho goodness of the Fostex T50RP, I want to move to the next level buy getting myself a HiFiMan HE-400s.
Can anyone give me what to expect from this upgrade? I haven't heard the HE-400 till now but already overwhelmed by the online reviews.

 

[gurubhai]

Hmmmm so that's something else to consider then. QC issues with their lower end stuff was so common, went through 3 pairs of the Head-Direct RE-1s all of them had one driver fail one me.

A new one with shipping would work out to about 18000 inr less than a used LCD-2 Rev2 sans the cable. Confusing! Think I'll stick to the HE-400 though, don't have your EHHA anymore to do justice to the audezes

I had heard that Hifiman managed to fix the issues with newer batches, you would have to check HF for the latest updates.

IIRC you sold your EHHA to some bloke in singapore, right ?

Here are the measurements for the HE-400 :

HiFiMAN HE-400 Frequency Response and CSD Waterfall Plot Measurements

This should help you get an idea about them, next best thing to a personal audition IMHO.

 

[RambleOn]

That's right sold them in SG, didn't want to bring the EHHA back to India at that stage. As things turned out I ended up working here.

Thanks for the link. So I could expect these to sound something like the HD650, not as dark however with none of the much talked of "veil" with the Sennhesiers?

Hope to see a pair at the Jaben roadshow next week. Will try getting a listen in...... after the Orpheus and the AKG 1000 that is!

@ grubyhalo - won't really be using them on the go. Just don't want two individual rigs. Too expensive and no time either. Will use the cans at home and customs on the go. Just need to make sure the SR71B will suffice power wise and sound alright with whatever I buy.