I'm Sailing Away

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I built myself a remote controlled XLR switch box* with 1 input and 5 outputs, , so I could use DAVE with multiple amplifiers.

The Woo is connected via single-ended RCA, as the DAVE is a natively single-ended DAC and the Woo is a natively single-ended amplifier, and the cable runs there are under 2 feet. Everything else goes balanced via the XLR switch box.

It’s a big over-built/over-engineered thing, using 36 latching SPDT relays. That’s one relay per XLR pin, per channel, per input/output. So there’s no crosstalk. The coils are only energized to flip relay state (not to maintain it) so there are no other sources of potential signal pollution. The battery-driven PSU is in its own walled off sub-enclosure, as is the microcontroller.

Nothing in the chain when listening but the relay contacts, connectors and high quality, shielded, star-quad. And it measures the same as loopback on the APx555.

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HSA-1b versus the RAAL tube amp has got my attention. I plan to run both side by side for a good while then decide what to do about Jot R, probably re-assign it to my home theater / Oppo 105D. With the RAAL amps I might keep both as I have upstairs/downstairs HP rigs.

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I’ll likely do the same when the tube amp ships.

I’m also interested to see if they make the amp/ribbon interface available with both speaker-passthrough switching AND the ability to turn the step-baffle compensation on/off for when their circumaural headphone ships.

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Hats off, that is a smart solution and to top it off, the switch box is remotely controlled. Awesome indeed!!

PS: a picture of the biffed up switch box wouldn’t hurt! :star_struck:

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“AND the ability to turn the step-baffle compensation on/off for when their circumaural headphone ships.”

I’d be surprised if it didn’t have that ability to play both phone designs.

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Me too … but I’ve learned not to count chickens before they hatch …

It’d be entirely possible for them to simply have a different interface box for each headphone and have you daisy-chain them. That would reduce cost for someone using just the circumaural version, as it wouldn’t need the extra stuff to do the compensation (or any switching). People that wanted both could buy the dual-function box. Hopefully it just works out to be simpler and more cost effective to have one box that can drive both.

I’m hopeful, as they’ve done it on the amplifiers since the first iteration of the HSA-1a.

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The more I compare my Susvara and 1266Phi to the SR1a the more obvious it becomes to me that this ribbon (or possibly an electrostatic design-but I haven’t owned Stax since the 80’s) gives me a better balance of the majority of sonic factors I value most in reproduced sound, especially with a little EQ on the bottom for those recordings that need it. With my chosen classical / opera-(a little) / jazz genres it just sound more “right” to me, more often.

I’m not sure much else can be done with planar magnetic or dynamic drivers to make a “significant” leap forward in performance - at least within my lifetime. But I can understand how the more recent popular genres might be better served with the other design types.

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@generic Brilliant! Where I can download the software for such elegant design making?

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We will have the tube amp on display at CanJam Socal. Looking forward to checking it out!

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Holy cow. Is there a “headphones roulette” mode where it randomly selects a headphone of the day/session to listen to - dims all the lights in the listening room and a bright spotlight shines on the selected one? :wink:

Or dispatches a Boston Dynamics robot to pick up the selected one and brings/hands it over to you?

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Funny!

No, nothing like that; the only headphone connected to anything is the one I am actively listening to at the time. So no switches etc. there. There is another, similar, switch handling how the output from the Étude/Ultima 5 is directed. Same basic implementation, but only 3 outputs, and using much beefier relays/wiring.

We do have a fair amount of automation implemented in the house, however.

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I’ll have more to say, especially around specifics, when I get around to writing up my all-up recent electrostatic experiences … but I’ll share some high-level thoughts as they stand.

For a start, driven off a suitably powerful and high-quality amplifier, the iFi Pro iESL sounds very good indeed. Certainly a more than worthy jumping-off point. And the iESL’s flexibility makes it a nice unit for exploring pretty much all of the available electrostatic headphones, new and old.

It does live-or-die based on how it is fed, and will let the character of the driving amplifier be heard quite readily.

I like it and will be keeping it in my setup.

At the same time, unfortunately, I cannot say it is in the same technical league as the two dedicated electrostatic amplifiers I now have, and have had some time to listen with. And that’s when being driven off an solid-sate amplifier that costs about the same as a BHSE and Carbon combined.

Which is not to say that some people won’t prefer the Pro iESL, but I’ll come back to that.

Those specific amplifiers can be an outwardly somewhat daunting prospect. For one, they’re not cheap, for another there are either lead-times or International shipping to deal with to get one, and they both put out a fair bit of heat.

While I can’t take the sting out of their respective price tags, other than by lauding their performance, my experiences in buying both were very pleasant and smoother/faster than I expected.

For the Headamp Blue Hawaii SE they quote 2-4 weeks lead time, possibly more, depending on color choice and whether you want the standard DACT-24 attenuator or the Alps RK50. I pinged Justin to ask what he thought my specific configuration (satin grey/RK50) would take; he said 2-3 weeks. From placing the order to my receiving the unit was exactly 2.5 weeks (17 days). Can’t argue with that!

For the Mjolnir Audio Carbon, from the time of order to delivery (from Iceland) was 10 days.

The performance of both of these amplifiers is clearly ahead of the Pro iESL. The most immediately noticeable differences are that they are more incisive, more detailed, exhibit faster transients and more control. The next thing that becomes apparent is that they both have more low-end impact, if not necessarily any additional low-end extension.

In contrast, the Pro iESL adds a little richness to the overall delivery at the cost of some resolution (both detail and to a lesser extent micro-dynamics) and impact. Some people may find that trade-off preferable to them, as the pairings are still competitively resolving vs. almost every other conventional headphone I can think of.

More details will be forthcoming (I’ve only had the Carbon since late Monday).

For me it raises questions as to where things like the KGSS/KGST or KGSSHV sit in relation both to the Carbon/BHSE and the iESL, as well as to how the Mjolnir-Audio builds might differ from the variety of other builders that sell those models. Additionally, it makes me wonder how the lower and mid-priced STAX amplifiers would perform in comparison.

Those questions will probably be ones I don’t actually explore myself, absent someone loaning me those other units.

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Do you think pairing the Pro iESL with the Pro iCAN would help to improve some of those areas through the use of the analog correction systems? Obviously, not get it to the same level as the other amps but make up some ground?

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The CRBN has interested me but knowing my preferences and how my current chain sounds I’d have to invest in one of those “better” amps as I’d be wanting performance similar to what I have now.

Its a bit frustrating to perhaps not have access to a can I might really like due to the amp requirements being expensive. It is what it is and its not like I dont have a pleasant sounding rig right now so my complaints should fall on deaf ears. With planar and dynamics perhaps hittting there apex estats and ribbons may be the ultimate future - so perhaps an eventual investment in one of those techs is warranted down the line.

Be real curious to see how you feel the Raal and your estats compare once you have everything in place, if you feel like posting about it at some point.

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Nope.

While iFi recommend the Pro iCAN to drive the Pro iESL, when I tried that it was wholly underwhelming - to the point I just wouldn’t bother.

Now, if you were talking Pro iCAN acting as a pre-amp to a suitable speaker amplifier, and then having that drive the Pro iESL it might help some. Though it won’t help with resolution.

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@Torq, since you’ve been talking eStats, have you had a chance to listen to the Nectarsound Hive? It’s boutique enough that discussions and comparisons are scarce, and while I don’t expect it to rank with the very TOTL models, it would be nice to hear from someone with extensive experience with the STAX line and other eStats. Right now, it’s my favorite headphone in my admittedly self-limited budget class (I am reserving multi-thousand dollar purchases for speakers, not headphones).

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There are a couple of ways to look at it I think - namely, “What’s required to make, say, the CRBN beat what you have” vs. “What’s required to realize ALL the capability of the CRBN?”

If you can do the former suitably easily/inexpensively, then the latter position becomes subsequent/future upgrade potential.

Of course, if it’s an additional setup you’d be adding, rather than replacing what you have, obviously it’s a much bigger deal than simply adding another headphone that’ll work with your current gear.

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I haven’t.

I read up on them, to the extent that I could, while I was waiting on my Pro iESL and SR-007MK2, and was tempted to get a set, as well as a pair of the Kaldas RR1, since they both seem very well priced (based on the almost entirely positive feedback I have seen about both of them) and potentially offer a different take on things.

But so far I haven’t done that and at this point probably won’t.

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I realize that you will be contributing further thoughts on the Carbon and BHSE but would really like any input from you regarding either amp. I am going to pull the trigger on one of them next week and they are 2K apart purchase price. I also have to consider the proximity of Headamp should a repair have to be called for.

TIA

Victor B.

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I’ve not done any direct comparisons between them yet; all I’ve done so far is run the BHSE for about 80 hours the first week I had it, then the Carbon arrived and I’ve put about the same on that.

That’s entirely sequential listening - no A/B.

Other than saying both are absolutely excellent with both SR-007MK2 and SR-009S, have pitch-black backgrounds (no noise, hiss nor hum from either of them), have more than ample power, and a very high-level perception that the Carbon may have a little more impact and presence down low, and the BHSE may be a little more lucid/liquid in the mids, I can’t really share more about their “sound” at this point.

Lots could change in A/B comparisons, and with more run time, especially on the tubes.

And I’ve only used the stock tubes on the BHSE so far.

Beyond that …

The are both very solidly built, with excellent fit/finish (though the BHSE would win here, especially in terms of visual appeal), their respective switchgear is positive and tactile, and both volume pots feel awesome (though the RK50 is more reminiscent of the perfect tension, smoothness and “weight” one would get turning the focus ring on a Leica Noctilux).

They have AMPLE power … coming off a Chord DAVE, in DAC mode and via XLR, even with quiet tracks about a quarter-turn of the volume dial is as much as I want on either of them.

And both run hot and put out a lot of heat. They need ample space around and above them. Given the current weather, even with 12 tons of A/C capacity, I am not excited about the idea of running both of them at the same time …

Can’t imagine you’d be disappointed with either. I’d certainly be happy with either of them so far (and I imagine I will be keeping both). They’ve been completely captivating listens … to the degree that I have literally just lost myself in the music every time I’ve fired them up … with no thought given to taking notes or anything else.

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