Mike Lavigne
Member
did you ever try the MSB/new Stax headphones direct to the MSB Select and hear what that does? and how that compares to the Abyss/Woo?
or still just using a preamp in between? or was it using the Woo as the pre?
Headphone Evaluation
- Thread starter Cincy2
- Start date
did you ever try the MSB/new Stax headphones direct to the MSB Select and hear what that does? and how that compares to the Abyss/Woo?
or still just using a preamp in between? or was it using the Woo as the pre?
- Thread Author
- #122
Haven't done this yet. The MSB amp died and is back at the manufacturer for repair. No idea yet what happened.
Eric
Randy Myers
Well-known member
Dang, that sucks. Hopefully nothing major. Nice that you have the choice of the second amp now for sure.
- Thread Author
- #124
My MSB headphone amp is back. Blown fuse in the audio section. Couldn't be replaced without opening the unit. Probably caused by one of the many Florida power drops we have here. Anyway, I set up the MSB amp direct to the Select II with Transparent Audio Opus XLR's. Plugged in the new Stax SR X9000's and listened for about an hour. There are some distinct differences between the MSB and Woo / Abyss sound. First, the MSB/Stax has more "air" in all directions. This is a characteristic of two channel speaker audio I dearly love. The detail revealed by the Stax phones was also revelatory. The Stax are VERY power hungry. I ran the Select II up to 98 and found this was borderline adequate to see deep into the music. The Woo has a normal/high gain switch and easily handled all the headphones I threw at it. The lack of gain on the MSB just confirmed my decision to add a preamp (Block Audio) to the signal chain. That amp should arrive in the next four weeks.
I have to say that the Woo Amp and Abyss phones gave me more saturated, dense sound on some recordings. I really like this but it comes at the expense of soundstage breadth and depth. I'm fortunate that I don't have to choose one or the other. The Block preamp has two XLR outs each of which can be configured as a pass through so I'll have freedom to enjoy both amps with and without any preamp augmentation. More after the Block Pre shows up.
A few words about the new Stax SR X9000. Bombproof build quality and without exception the most comfortable headphones I've put on my noggin.
Eric
Randy Myers
Well-known member
Awesome and very glad it was not anything major.
I actually use the volume control on my pre-amp. I pretty much set the Woo at about 1 o'clock on the dial and use the remote from the Hattor. The Woo is about ten feet from my chair, which is not huge but I prefer to have use of the remote
.
I actually use the volume control on my pre-amp. I pretty much set the Woo at about 1 o'clock on the dial and use the remote from the Hattor. The Woo is about ten feet from my chair, which is not huge but I prefer to have use of the remote
.- Thread Author
- #126
The Block Audio preamp is in the system. Out of the box, I was not impressed. I had new cables, new headphones also so I presumed it was a need for some burn in. I was right.We have a winner! A few days of burn in brought out the true capabilities of the Block PA. Im not sure whether it was the PA, the headphones or the new Transparent balanced cable that needed the time but whatever it was, it is now good to go. The soundstage with Trax SR X9K or the Audeze CRBN is massive and detailed. It was hard to gain match the MSB headphone amp with direct DAC output to the setup with the PA in the loop. I can say with certainty that the Block does no harm and even at this early stage of operation gives me more air. This is important to me. The Trax and the Audeze headphones are crazy power hungry. I am playing the Block at volume level 43/50 and keeping it fixed. I control the volume with the Select II. It ranges between 86 and 90 depending on the file. I have to say I expected more gain out of both the Block and the MSB amp but the current setup is no problem. I am loving the output on either set of phones. The CRBN seems to have more body to the sound and greater dynamic range. The Stax, more delicate, faster attack. Either one is pleasureable. Because of the price difference, I would have to say the CRBN is the better bargain. The STAX phones are more comfortable to me because the clamping force is lighter than the CRBN’s. The CRBN fabric cable also wins over the standard STAX flat ribbon.
I am getting better sound that I thought was possible from a headphone set up. Life is good. Happy New Year everyone and a shout out to Mike for helping me make this happen. This completes the evaluation. Summary:
In the planar magnetic world, I feel the best of the best are HiFiman Susvara and the Abyss 1266 TC. When matched with the Woo Audio WA33 Elite, you get substance, air, soundstage, detail AND bass. For electrostatic, I love both the Audeze CRBN and Stax SR X9000 when combined with the MSB headphone amp and Block Audio's battery pre amp.
Eric
I am getting better sound that I thought was possible from a headphone set up. Life is good. Happy New Year everyone and a shout out to Mike for helping me make this happen. This completes the evaluation. Summary:
In the planar magnetic world, I feel the best of the best are HiFiman Susvara and the Abyss 1266 TC. When matched with the Woo Audio WA33 Elite, you get substance, air, soundstage, detail AND bass. For electrostatic, I love both the Audeze CRBN and Stax SR X9000 when combined with the MSB headphone amp and Block Audio's battery pre amp.
Eric
JohnJ
Member
Eric-
Well Done! Thank you for taking the time to see this project through and sharing your experiences with us in such detail.
Happy New Year to you too!
John
Well Done! Thank you for taking the time to see this project through and sharing your experiences with us in such detail.
Happy New Year to you too!
John
Mike Lavigne
Member
Eric,
many thanks for all this effort to lay out a clear perspective on what it takes to reach the headphone heights. it is a very helpful reference going forward.
i hope your listening is rewarded by it, as i'm sure it will.
many thanks for all this effort to lay out a clear perspective on what it takes to reach the headphone heights. it is a very helpful reference going forward.
i hope your listening is rewarded by it, as i'm sure it will.
Randy Myers
Well-known member
Thank you Eric. I have enjoyed your journal of your journey. Very insightful and very helpful!
Eric,
I agree with others. I really enjoyed your documentation of the process. I'm having trouble finding much info on the last Block Audio preamp you tried, however. All the reviews I found are for the preamp and amps, which combined are priced in the CH and Dartzheel range. Where can I find pricing on the preamp by itself?
Evan
I agree with others. I really enjoyed your documentation of the process. I'm having trouble finding much info on the last Block Audio preamp you tried, however. All the reviews I found are for the preamp and amps, which combined are priced in the CH and Dartzheel range. Where can I find pricing on the preamp by itself?
Evan
CPP
Active member
Awesome job Eric. A question doesn' that Block pre require 3 power cords ? or am I looking at the wrong device on the Block site.
Evan, here in the U.S., the Block Audio Preamp (SE version) is $45,000.
Chris, the Block Audio preamp is a dual-mono battery powered design. So, you have a power cord to charge the left bank, a power cord to charge the right bank and a power cord for powering the preamp off the mains when the batteries are charging. Fully charged batteries usually gives about 6-8 hours of listening in my experience.
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Pro
Thanks for a very informative thread Eric.
I was wondering if you have changed anything in your headphone setup since your last post?
With my Stax setup I use DAC>Pre>Electrostatic Amp>Headphones
After many years of tinkering, I now use the electrostatic amp on full volume and control the listening volume with the pre. I found I needed a pre that can output over 10V+ for best results, like you I strive for "air"!
Clif
I was wondering if you have changed anything in your headphone setup since your last post?
With my Stax setup I use DAC>Pre>Electrostatic Amp>Headphones
After many years of tinkering, I now use the electrostatic amp on full volume and control the listening volume with the pre. I found I needed a pre that can output over 10V+ for best results, like you I strive for "air"!
Clif
- Thread Author
- #136
Clif,
Yes. I'm a few weeks away from completing a major revamp of my system. My basic premise in this exploration was that if you took the funds out of your speakers and amplifier and put them into server, DAC and headphone / amp, you could produce an immensely satisfying audiophile experience. I have taken this to the next step by replacing my existing server, DAC and pre-amp. Not because they were inferior. Quite the opposite. The MSB Select II, the W20SE server and Block Audio preamp were top of the mountain good. But as anyone with the audio disease knows, you are always curious to see new technology and experience how different vendors interpret the state of the art.
Towards that end, I have in house a Wadax Reference Server and DAC. I am awaiting a CH Precision L10 pre-amp which is due in a few weeks. I have replaced my MSB electrostatic headphone amp with a Viva Egoista STX that is still in Italy but will show up someday. For planer magnetic phones I still have the Woo Audio WA33 elite. I have added pairs of Dan Clark Expanse and the new Focal Utopia headphones. Once I am up and running, I'll post my impressions.
Regards
Eric
Yes. I'm a few weeks away from completing a major revamp of my system. My basic premise in this exploration was that if you took the funds out of your speakers and amplifier and put them into server, DAC and headphone / amp, you could produce an immensely satisfying audiophile experience. I have taken this to the next step by replacing my existing server, DAC and pre-amp. Not because they were inferior. Quite the opposite. The MSB Select II, the W20SE server and Block Audio preamp were top of the mountain good. But as anyone with the audio disease knows, you are always curious to see new technology and experience how different vendors interpret the state of the art.
Towards that end, I have in house a Wadax Reference Server and DAC. I am awaiting a CH Precision L10 pre-amp which is due in a few weeks. I have replaced my MSB electrostatic headphone amp with a Viva Egoista STX that is still in Italy but will show up someday. For planer magnetic phones I still have the Woo Audio WA33 elite. I have added pairs of Dan Clark Expanse and the new Focal Utopia headphones. Once I am up and running, I'll post my impressions.
Regards
Eric
- Thread Author
- #137
I'm picking up this thread again to document new equipment. As you can see from the pictures, I've replaced the MSB DAC and headphone amp with Wadax Server, Wadax DAC and a CH Precision L10 Pre amp. Missing but on the way is a Viva Egoista STX electrostatic amp I purchased from Mike at Suncoast. My days with the MSB set up were just marvelous as documented in previous posts. I made the changes to satisfy my technical curiosity about the Wadax and CH Precision gear. It is all hooked up today and burning in. Will get to some critical listening later this week.
New headphones include the latest Focal Utopia model and the Dan Clark Audio Expanse open back planar magnetic phones. Soon to arrive is the new dCS headphone amp. You know that the headphone market is heating up when companies like dCS get into the game. Just what I was hoping for.
Eric
New headphones include the latest Focal Utopia model and the Dan Clark Audio Expanse open back planar magnetic phones. Soon to arrive is the new dCS headphone amp. You know that the headphone market is heating up when companies like dCS get into the game. Just what I was hoping for.
Eric
Attachments
u-sound
Active member
absolutely wow !!
Amazing. We should see the STX in another month or so. It’s a beauty.
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