How about a symbol and "The Thread Formerly Known as Massdrop “x” ?
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We should “Drop” the title?
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I just noticed the edit and question at the bottom.
I only had the factory tube in the MCTH (now DCTH or Drop CTH or Droop CTH?). My perception was that the fzzz sound was the unevenness of the noise floor, not a tube or power supply issue. It was faint but always and consistently there.
At that time my desktop amps included the MCTH, Loxjie P20, and THX AAA 789. Testing was conducted back to back to back with several sets of headphones and a wide variety of sources. The MCTH and P20 had the same bass presence and clarity but the P20 absolutely blew away the MCTH for high end openness and clarity (all with factory tubes). The 789 was in a different class for resolution, but with tighter bass.
The transparency of the P20 improved with the later GE triple mica 5670 tube swap, and reduced the bass presence relative to the factory tubes.
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The tube would be responsible for the bulk of the noise floor given the design of the CTH. The P20 definitely has a lower noise floor … for various reasons (including not using a single dual-triode to service both channels). Still, turning the CTH up to max volume with nothing playing, there are no noises audible with anything but very sensitive, low impedance, cans.
As long as you like what you have, though, that’s all that matters.
For me, from a critical-listening perspective, hybrid amps generally wind up being the worst of both worlds rather than the best. The only exception that comes to mind is the iFi Pro iCAN … and for the price of that you can buy both an excellent solid-state amp and a very solid pure tube amp (either transformer coupled or OTL).
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I reserve hybrid tube amps for problematic recordings where critical listening isn’t the goal: Too bright, cheap equipment, or less-than-great recording decisions. I kept the P20 because I was never choosing the MCTH.
EC ZDT Jr. is back on Drop.com with next-day shipping. No idea how long that’ll last.
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That one you recommend? I have been looking for a true tube amp but not very actively. I already have GE 5654W JAN tubes and a couple others from a previous hybrid to play around with.
Looks like you upgraded off of it, still good or is there something else around this price you would recommend more?
$400
I like it.
I have one in my office rig sitting atop a THX AAA 789 and an RDAC.
What makes you think I “upgraded from it”?
I got it to do pairings, reviews and comparisons with other Massdrop x items, and stuff pitched at a similar level, and because I thought it’d be a fun listen. It turns out its so enjoyable that I put it in a semi-permanent rig at “work”.
I tend to completely switch around my office rig fairly often and don’t think about it in terms of upgrades or downgrades - I really only apply those in a permanent system. About a year ago my office rig had an Yggdrasil Analog 2 feeding a loaded WA-5LE driving Utopias and LCD-4s in it. At the start of this year, it was a fun little Schiit stack (8 pieces). Right now it’s the above. A few months from now it’ll probably be an M-Scaler → Hugo TT 2 → TToby → SR1a setup. Who knows after that.
To get a better tube amp than the EC ZDT Jr. without spending rather more, you’d either be looking at DIY/kits or at least a Woo WA6 (or you’d be stuck with tube-hybrid designs).
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Ahh, gotcha. In a past post you listed it as part of your office setup but in your profile you had a different tube amp in there, I read too much into it not knowing you change around your setup a lot!
I went ahead and got it. The stack on my desk is going to look exactly like that, I think, since I am thinking I prefer the R-2R over the SMSL SU-8.
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Oh, I should update my profile I suppose … it’s WAY out of date.
Half the gear in it I’ve sold, and what’s where is very different now. It’s also undergoing a major shift in various areas and ways …
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The never ending cycle! Keep us updated, your reviews are great.
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Well I’ll add it, even though I’m fixing the one I have lol…
A question for those of you that have (or have tried) the (Mass)drop Portapros…
I tried these briefly the other day (from the M2X and also my PC) and found them to be quite dark and veiled, admittedly I had been using the ZS10 Pro for days before I tried them.
This morning I decided to give them another shot and plugged them in to the P20. I hadn’t been listening to any other headphones yet so I didn’t notice it as much as when I tried them the other day but I still find them rather dark and veiled.
I remember reading somewhere (maybe on Reddit?) that the Yaxi earpads work wonders on these and make the sound clearer.
Now, I know that pads can make a huge difference but I am wondering if the 20€ pads on the 30€ Portapros will really make the sound that much clearer?
Has anyone tried them or have any opinions?
Don’t get me wrong, I am not complaining that these are bad for 30€, just that it is not my preferred signature. If the signature will change dramatically then I will order the Yaxi’s but if not, I will just keep them at work for Skype calls etc.
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I have normal PortaPros but I did end up buying a pair of Yaxi pads for mine. It does change the signature. The pads are thicker and a bit denser but very comfortable.
The drivers are farther away from your ears which helps soundstage and what not, bass is still thumpy, highs are less harsh on some songs, and while they are still a bit dark it balances them out pretty nicely. I just swapped the pads back just to compare and if given the choice I would choose the Yaxi pads hands down. I can’t really think of any downsides.
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I love the painted dot on the volume pot! I’'ll probably do the same when I order This stack (R-2R, CTH). I’ve heard so many positive things regarding these Drop components, with the exception of the volume pot lacking markings (paint). Very cool.
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Pretty sure I used a fine tip silver permanent marker to add the color in the dimple.
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I was thinking white, maybe a fluorescent green.
@TylersEclectic, Do you think the R-2R + CTH would pair well with the HD 800 S?
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I did a quick impression on these. They do improve the PortaPros quite a bit.
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Yeah, they will work fine. R2R will pair well I think, and the tube sound of the CTH will just layer on top, should be a very enjoyable listen.
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