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Post by julesd68 on Jan 22, 2019 18:32:40 GMT
Are they the best headphones you have had Jerry?
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Post by MartinT on Jan 22, 2019 18:34:12 GMT
If they even approach Stax transparency they're doing very well. I remember the SR-X and SR-3 well. Stunning.
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Post by jandl100 on Jan 23, 2019 8:18:56 GMT
If they even approach Stax transparency they're doing very well. I remember the SR-X and SR-3 well. Stunning. Very true, Martin! It was definitely a mistake to directly follow the Stax with the Grados, no matter how costly the latter may be. Listening to the Grados afresh this morning they are outstandingly good. No, they don't have the amazing transparency of the Stax but they are not far off and they are a much better all round transducer. Bass, dynamics, tonal neutrality - all better than the Stax. Very early days yet, waiting on the new ear cups and I have plans for a dedicated headphone amp that could be beneficial. But yes, very impressed so far. So, yes, Jules, they could well be the best yet.
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Post by jandl100 on Jan 24, 2019 16:25:48 GMT
These problems sound like the sort I have Jerry. And I thought I was unique After a week, this response from Tidal ... Hello, Thank you for that information. Unfortunately, Windows XP is not supported. While you may be able to update your desktop application or web player, the updates are geared towards Windows 7 and newer. Here is more information on our system requirements: support.tidal.com/hc/en-us/articles/115005872445-System-Requirements. Let me know if you have any other questions. Have a great day. Best Regards, Ashely TIDAL Member Support ================================= Basically, tough luck and piss off. Have a great day yourself. Have cancelled my sub, will likely revert to Qobuz although I have to admit that Spotify is sounding very good.
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Post by jandl100 on Jan 24, 2019 16:28:14 GMT
I've been taking headphone listening more seriously recently and have gathered together an interesting variety, so I thought it was about time that I investigated a serious headphone amp. Accordingly a Lehmann Audio Linear Headphone Amplifier should be posted to me today. Looking forward to hearing what it brings to the party. Innards (stock image) ...
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Post by MikeMusic on Jan 24, 2019 17:14:29 GMT
These problems sound like the sort I have Jerry. And I thought I was unique After a week, this response from Tidal ... Hello, Thank you for that information. Unfortunately, Windows XP is not supported. While you may be able to update your desktop application or web player, the updates are geared towards Windows 7 and newer. Here is more information on our system requirements: support.tidal.com/hc/en-us/articles/115005872445-System-Requirements. Let me know if you have any other questions. Have a great day. Best Regards, Ashely TIDAL Member Support ================================= Basically, tough luck and piss off. Have a great day yourself. Have cancelled my sub, will likely revert to Qobuz although I have to admit that Spotify is sounding very good. Even I moved on from XP !
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Post by jandl100 on Jan 24, 2019 18:30:55 GMT
Yeah, I know. Had it since I bought this PC 5 (?) years ago - if it ain't broke, don't fix it is my motto. Not had any problems until now. Just trying to avoid Windows 10 !!
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Post by MartinT on Jan 24, 2019 20:46:42 GMT
Strangely enough,you'd have better luck with Windows 10 than with either 7 or 8. Not saying you could definitely upgrade, but if you could still get RAM for it there's a good chance. I've had success with good 10 year old laptops.
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Post by mikeyb on Jan 24, 2019 22:50:47 GMT
Yeah, I know. Had it since I bought this PC 5 (?) years ago - if it ain't broke, don't fix it is my motto. Not had any problems until now. Just trying to avoid Windows 10 !! I’ve had no issues with Win 10 whatsoever, and it’s the best operating system I’ve ever used on my pc. Win XP isn’t supported by Microsoft anymore, they gave that up April 2014, so it’s perhaps no surprise that Tidal has issues with it. Apple products are even worse they make you bin your iPad as they become unusable with many of the latest apps as they want to use iOS 11 or higher. Constant upgrades is the way of the world these days I’m afraid 😉 🙄
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Post by julesd68 on Jan 30, 2019 18:03:30 GMT
Have you got the new headphone amp yet Jerry?
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Post by jandl100 on Jan 30, 2019 18:38:07 GMT
Yes.
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Post by julesd68 on Jan 30, 2019 19:59:15 GMT
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Post by jandl100 on Jan 30, 2019 20:19:20 GMT
The Lehmann Linear HPA - Very satisfactory. Dives deep into the detail, very open, spacious yet focused, well controlled. Can't see myself wanting more from a headphone amp. Shame the Lehmann can't power the Stax SR3, need a small pukka power amp for that, I use a Topping VX1. But excellent indeed with the Grado PS1000.
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Post by jandl100 on Feb 1, 2019 6:55:56 GMT
This has been an itch I've wanted to scratch since the middle of last year when I home-demmed a Chord Hugo2 DAC and absolutely hated it for its total lack of musicality. The Hugo2 did so much right in terms of technical presentation but totally failed to convince me musically. After the event, I was pointed to one review of the Hugo2 that matched my own opinions. But reading somewhat between the lines of some of the ecstatic reviews I kind of had a feeling that the Mk1 Hugo might just do it for me. And so it has turned out. It retains the vast majority of the excellent resolution, control and dynamics of the Hugo2 but it has added tonal richness and microdynamic nuance that allows it to actually sound like music! Result. Very pleased after 2 days of listening. Luckily, the unit I've bought is the later one that has enlarged stereo output phono socket openings that just allow my interconnect cables of choice to fit! No such luck with the digital co-ax input, for some reason known only to the folks at Chord, they chose not to enlarge that socket when modding the outputs. But a small adaptor allows it to work. No such luck with the TOSLINK connection from my DVD player / CDT, I'm having to use the extra skinny cable that Chord supply.
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Post by jandl100 on Feb 1, 2019 7:07:41 GMT
Are they the best headphones you have had Jerry? Yes. I have now received the pukka-Grado earcups and that has taken the sound the expected couple of notches in the right direction. The proper cups are actually a different shape to the cheap Chinese copies and simply sound better and are more comfortable! £6 compared to £60, though! - but well worth it given the cost of the headphones themselves. With the Grado earcups the sound is more open and perceived detail and transparency has improved. Not at all far off a match for the Stax in that regard, and way better than them in terms of overall tonal neutrality especially bass heft, and also dynamics. And they also now sit completely clear of the ears which makes them much more comfortable. But for small scale chamber works I still have to hand it to the Stax. I'll defo be keeping both the Grados and the Stax. And also my Fostex TH600 which are closed back - there are definitely times when the Grado are not usable due to their very high levels of sound leakage!
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Post by John on Feb 1, 2019 8:45:09 GMT
I had an Lehmann headphone amp many years ago it really was very good
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Post by MartinT on Feb 1, 2019 9:13:30 GMT
Interesting observations about the Hugo versus Hugo2.
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Post by MikeMusic on Feb 1, 2019 12:00:46 GMT
Yeah, I know. Had it since I bought this PC 5 (?) years ago - if it ain't broke, don't fix it is my motto. Not had any problems until now. Just trying to avoid Windows 10 !! For me : If it ain't broke it soon will be !
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Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Feb 2, 2019 5:49:30 GMT
Yeah, I know. Had it since I bought this PC 5 (?) years ago - if it ain't broke, don't fix it is my motto. Not had any problems until now. Just trying to avoid Windows 10 !! For me : If it ain't broke it soon will be ! IDK if you realised how true that is Mike; Windows 10 is a service, rather than a product, which is great for the latest software, but can break legacy stuff - as it did with my dac drivers (amanero).
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Post by jandl100 on Feb 12, 2019 14:50:19 GMT
I seem to have re-settled with Spotify. Response speed issues that were plaguing me are sorted if I reboot the PC every day or so, that seems to keep whatever caches that Spot fills up sufficiently clear. Sound quality is good. Gapless playback is great. Many classical albums have continuous tracks so this is a high priority for me. Has anyone found other streaming services that have true gapless playback? I haven't. I have been re-tuning my system to suit the rather less bright presentation of Spotify compared to Qobuz and, even more, Tidal. Cables with more transparency help - have recently installed a pair of Black Rhodium Opera DCT++ interconnects and they have opened up things nicely. Arrived today a pair of Morrow Audio MA2 interconnects that seem to have a good rep - will see what they can do sometime soon.
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