Here’s my pimped out TOTL Koss PortaPro:
- Mini XLR for use with Hart cables
- Yaxi pads in “Hornet” black and yellow colors
Jealous?
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Huh, how did I not realize that you can just mix and match different colored Yaxi pads!
The bee colors are great, that portrapro should be perfect with the bee iPod.
Now with the Iris DDC and WA22 as the balanced preamp it feels like all the pieces of the puzzle finally arrived.
Fluance RT85 and ifi Zen Phono are on their way but this digital chain is amazing to my ears already.
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Nice, I was actually preparing to mod my Porta Pros do get onto my Hart cables system. Looks like Min XLR is the way to go and not mmcx?
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I cut off the 3.5mm jack and soldered on a mini XLR connector. I kept the factory wires in place. First, I didn’t think the probable quality gains would be worth installing new wires (mmcx at the cups). Second, the XLR connector met my goal of allowing cable extensions and use with any amp regardless of connector type.
The combo of Yaxi pads, the right amp, and a warmer DAC helps keep the PortaPro’s whining treble under control. But, even after the mods they are still outclassed in every way by the HD-58X.
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Well, the HD-58x is about 3 to 4 times the price before the mods. And itself can stand a pad roll. In comparison to a Porta-Pro, the HD-58x will weigh down your head and make your ears sweat.
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Yep. I converted the PortaPro to Hart XLR in part because its audio quirks are similar to the HD-600’s quirks, and the 600 responds well to balanced amps. I can now test that theory, and I may pull the THX AAA 789 out of its box for additional testing. The PortaPro is amazing as a $35 product with drivers that cannot cost more than $5 or $10…yet we discuss it in the same breath as things that sell for 3x to 10x the price.
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Those little tables stacked look great!
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Really enjoying this chain. HD650 and HD580 make appearances as well and still sound great.
Eventually I’ll add a solid state (maybe) and some type of streamer.
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Wow!!
That is some set-up; my dream is to get exactly that, but the Woo33 is just so damned expensive. Is it the standard version and tubes or did you upgrade?
Is it a Serene at the bottom?
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It’s been a journey to get here.
It’s the standard, I really can’t justify that jump 
The tubes are stock other than the rectifier (Tak 274b). It’s a really good rectifier for me/my chain.
Below is the holo may and it’s power supply. I’ll stack them together if I ever need additional room on the shelves.
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Ofc it is the May, I just didn’t make that thought when the PS is seperated.
Very cool set-up for sure 
Re streamer, then I use the Innuos Zen mini with the PS upgrade. It is great as it can rip Cd’s and the quality is next level. (There are 3 more levels above this…) And there is an OS for playback, that is the best I have tried so far. I can highly rec it.
https://innuos.com/zen_mini_mk3/
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Awesome, good info. I’ve looked at those and some from antipodes, but they get really pricey.
Many like them and say they’re awesome but man they cost a lot. Probably leaning more towards the innuos for price reasons.
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Nice!!!
I’m in the same boat as @Gordon_Freeman … exactly the setup I have in mind. But that Woo $$ !!! 
Pretty set on that being where I’m headed though … well at the moment at least. I’ve changed my focus a number of times.
Two things I’m wavering on is perhaps Spring3 KTE instead. Do I really need to go May?? It would make getting the Woo a bit easier. Knowing me I’ll always wonder and probably end up there anyway. So might as well just do it right off.
The other is 23-r instead of the Woo and add tubes later. Maybe as a pre.?? Would end up being about the same investment in the end though….
Really stuck on making my next move. It’s hard making that plunge to the next level. I think I just need to go ahead and get the Susvara with my current setup . That would probably force me down the upgrade path to get the most out of it. Perhaps the same path where my wife stops speaking to me 
Pretty sure I’ve whined about my indecision to you before apologies
Anyway, awesome setup. What other amps have you tried with the Susvara?
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In that area I am ahead of you. I also considered the May, but if Golden Sound is right in how close the Spring 3 KTE and May KTE are to each-other, then I would get the Spring and save the $ for the Woo. Which is what I already have done, as the Spring 3 KTE arrived 2 days ago 
Well we all ned the WAF in order to move ahead, but I believe in you. You can do it!!
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Thanks!
I feel ya on the dac options. I still have the tt2 but I’ll most likely sell it and stay with the may. Thought about totaldac d1 single-mk2, but that’s really high! We’re pushing 8k with that (too much for me). I’m pretty happy with this dac and amp synergy. I’m sure the spring 3 will be a solid option too! I think it’s all nitpicking and preference as we go higher up. I’m sure theres other solid/better options but at what cost 
? I picked up the may to see what the hype was about and to compare to the tt2. It’s working so I’ll keep it. But I’ve definitely thought about more affordable options for a dac too.
The tt2 amp is solid and having the amp with it is nice. But I never use it. So it’s not really a benefit to me. I use the wa33 with the sus and senns.
I’ve only used the susvara off the wa33 and tt2. Heard good things about ferrum and 23r/Bakoon tho. Yes the wa33 is stupid money imo, but I really like what it does for the Susvara. Plus I got a good deal and before the price hike. I’ve thought about a 23r down the road for a solid state option. That’ll be way down the road. Or maybe something else? We’ll see.
The other solid route is DNA amps, and I would have gone this direction of it wasn’t for needing more power for the Susvara. The stratus was really good. But the Susvara is an amazing headphone imo and I wanted something that could power it and still use my senns off it as well.
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Great, Congrats!!
What dac is it replacing? Would be interested to hear your opinion/comparisons of it.
Thanks for the encouragement…I’m getting close.
Start by embracing the crazy….
Then….
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