Garage sale score - AKG 240

[thefragger]

Thanks for replies. I will try to hook the up to Pioneer to see if there is a difference in sound. Replacing cable shouldn't be that hard so that may come next.

Be careful--I killed one of my Sextett drivers trying to recable, and I've pretty very versed in the ways of a soldering iron; the tinsel leads are in a dumb spot. :tears:

And I agree with Permanent Waves' point re. the amps--I've currently got a three-channel (active ground) beta22 amp on my bench almost built. Should be good :thmbsp:

 

[thedelihaus]

...first the AV123 X-Head, then the Head Direct EF-1 and now the Matrix M-Stage...

Would you mind listing pros/cons of these different headphone amps, and what they cost?:thmbsp:

 

[Artie]

I would nominate this for "deal-of-the-month". :thmbsp:

Now . . . what the heck is "geocaching"? :scratch2:

 

[drabina]

Now . . . what the heck is "geocaching"? :scratch2:

Lookup http://www.geocaching.com. It is fun game which my kid calls "treasure hunt".

 

[Permanent Waves]

And I agree with Permanent Waves' point re. the amps--I've currently got a three-channel (active ground) beta22 amp on my bench almost built. Should be good :thmbsp:

If only I was a DIY'er too! The Matrix amp I just got I could of saved about $100 on if I bought the material and put it together myself.

Would you mind listing pros/cons of these different headphone amps, and what they cost?:thmbsp:

Ugh. Well I need to compare/contrast them, and I just got the M-Stage today.

But briefly the X-Head is $199 but I got it for $110 b-stock (a few tiny marks on it). It was my first external headphone amplifier and I was pretty impressed but I always knew it was only decent. Even around $100 there are probably better options. But it was still a pretty big step up from any headphone out I ever heard.

So I went up to the EF-1 which sold for $400 new (it is the EF-5 now for $400 too) and I bought for half that used. It's a good amp, especially after I got a Tung Sol Black Glass NOS tube for it. But it still never seemed to have the power for my AKG 702's (I bought it when I only had the Grado 225i's which it does sound great with).

Now I have the M-Stage which I got new for $250 because I wanted to be able to power my 702's properly and to get away from tubes (even if the EF-1 is a hybrid). First impressions is that it sounds even better than the EF-1--for instance the upper mid and treble "tube veil" seems to be gone resulting in more airy, clear, and extended treble and upper mids, yet the M-Stage is not at all harsh, it's actually less fatiguing than the EF-1 and the bass seems even more articulate--and is certainly more powerful so the 702's are really shining from their ability to be properly driven (with more impact and energy).

I will start a thread and post more about the M-Stage (and compare it to my other amps) later when I have had more time with it and A/B'd them all. :thmbsp:

Enough thread hijacking.