Is there a tool that “re-circleizes” an XLR plug? I picked up my LCD-5 and the end of the XLR cable hit the ground, it must have slightly deformed it since it won’t go into the XLR socket on my MJ3 anymore, but I can’t see any obvious deformity. I had the spare original cable that came with...

I bought a Final A4000 from them off of a tour they sponsored a while ago. That IEM (along with almost all of my others) was sadly lost in a flood a couple years ago but they seem like a class act.

I heard the original HE1000se years ago on one of the Mytek integrated DAC/Amps and disliked it immensely, just completely devoid of bass and way too thin sounding, lacking any body. I had a chance to hear the new HE1000 Stealth on a couple of setups recently, one was using the Headamp GSX Mini...

I wonder if that price drop also has something to do with the recent HE1000 Stealth release. I know some have been predicting a possible official price drop for the Susvara with the upcoming successor release, so it’s possible they’ll drop it to where the HE1000se used to sit, or maybe...

The RCA Red Base 5692 will fit in the preamp slots with adapters As shown here For a less-spendy option I can heartily recommend the Western Electric WE396A tubes as having a great tubey sound while still maintaining clarity and great frequency response. I’ve been curious about the new...

@Barnstormer13 Have you tried tube rolling at all with your FV? I’ve found different tubes can all make it sound quite different. The stock 6N1P and 6N6P are solid but mine always has a humming sound with them. I bought my amp used and it had a full set of Philips Heerlen E180CC tubes...

The LCD-X sounding better on the Folkvangr is certainly a surprise with it being so low impedance, but maybe it’s because it’s also so efficient. I know my LCD-5 just sounds bad on the FV but works great on the MJ3. Did you use the impedance multiplier on either it or the Aeon closed?

Thank you! That’s very helpful. I have 2” space between my sockets center to center, so it looks like center to center two CV181 would be 1.85”. That might be a little close in terms of giving them enough heat dissipation for my amp, so probably best if I stick with the 12??7 series if I win.

Ooh, I have a pair of those in my closet I haven’t thought about in a long while. I think mine is one of the earlier models where you can switch the outer grills to make them open or closed. They’re interesting headphones, certainly have a homemade feel but sounded solid from what I...

Ah, thank you, looks like they won’t fit, I’ve updated my suggestions.

Ooh that’s a good point. @PSVANE do you have the physical dimensions of your CV181 tubes available?

Schiit Folkvangr I can use pretty much any dual triodes with the right adapters (I’ll be happy to supply the adapters if I win the tubes! Thank you for the giveaway). Some examples: 12AU7-AT x 10 12AT7-AT x 2 + 12AU7-AT x 8 12AU7-AT x2 + 12BH7-AT x8 12BH7-AT x 10 12AT7-AT x 2 + 12BH7-AT x 8...

Zach has measurements for all of the pads on the website, so if you have a ruler you can confirm, but: Universe pads should be the thickest and flattest. Be2 will be the thinnest pair and angled. Auteur will be the middle-thickness pair angled.

Some DACs have higher quality output from their XLR out than their RCA, and XLR outs usually operate at higher voltage than RCA from the same DAC so if nothing else using the XLR output from the DAC would make things sound louder at the same volume level on the amp.

Does anyone else notice a difference between the aluminum chassis and the magnesium chassis in how well the rods stay seated? My Auteur is aluminum chassis and the rods stay seated in the position I set extremely well. My VC is magnesium chassis and even though I keep tightening the set screw...

Looking forward to hearing your impressions. They sound similar on some headphones, remarkably different on others, and of course depending on which tubes you’re running the difference can become greater. I find the FV and MJ3 are both great with the VCs, but the Auteur performs much...

I did try them off of my MJ3 last night and they still sounded dead to me from it. Switched back to the Folkvangr and my foot started tapping, the magic was back. I may try removing the mesh this weekend, mine still have the old-school solid mesh, so that might be depressing the top end too...

I’m good with pad rolling when it’s something the manufacturer supports and makes official options for, so absolutely ZMF, a few Beyerdynsmic models, the Meze planars, and I’m sure some others. When it’s not an official thing it’s been more hit and miss for me. The best results I’ve had were...

I have a Fostex TH909 that has that bass monster energy, but being able to combine that with the sweet ZMF sound seems appealing, especially since the TH909 can be a bit energetic for long listening sessions, it’s more of a short-dose fun flavor type of headphone for me.

I’m going to leave it up to fate and see if it’s still there in a day or two haha. There’s a Red Mallee Atrium Closed on US Audiomart that would be a nice contrast to my green stabilized VC, but I also really love the Cocobolo LTD that ZMF has up right now, or I could wait till he does a...

Oh wow, now that’s a tough choice in front of me. Do I jump on that or save the money towards an Atrium Closed….

Wow, you’ve had a lot of gear come through. I have to be careful about my acquisitions because I’m not good at catch-and-release. I’m good with the catch part but it’s the resell/release I never get around to.

Was it keyboards at the start? I know they make a big deal about them now but I’ve never paid much attention to that side, I’m happy buying an inexpensive wireless Logitech bundle every few years when the old one breaks. I have bought a lot of stuff from them over the years, a couple HD6XX...

That’s the big downside with Drop. The orders happen way way way before the product actually ships.

Ooh, I haven’t tried the CMA400i but I did do an in-home demo on the CMA Fifteen and I remember it being a great amp. I think it was before I picked up my Auteur but it made my HD650 sing more than any amp I’d tried before. IIRC it didn’t have an option for analog input which was just too...