Thanks buddy!! Hahah
@virion don’t sweat it, we all have our own preferences and may hear things a little differently especially with the ability to roll different tubes what tubes are you rolling in your Pendant now that you have found the best synergy for your listening preferences and what tubes did you find to be overly warm? I saw you mentioned the mullards and the brimar tubes as @bpcarb pointed out.
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Lovely people, looking for a bit of help. I’ve been focused on building a headphone setup, and very happy with what I have, but I’ve awakened an interest that I don’t want to come to regret so I’m going to tread lightly: I’m interested in adding a vinyl/analog setup to what I currently have. Right now, I have the RME-ADI-2->ZMF Pendant->ZMF VO’s, all fed through my Mac laptop & Roon.
I want to stay “headphone focused”, so no 2 channel or speakers needed, but besides a turntable, any other “pieces” necessary based on what I currently have that I should be thinking about?
I know this is a newbie level question that I wouldn’t dare ask on any other forum, but one of the reasons I come to headphones.com is you don’t get mauled for posting something like this. …Mostly.
Hoping to get some general feedback and maybe a link or two on exactly where I should go for (respected) direction and advice. I should add, I’m not looking at adding an entry level analog setup, even though I do respect that makes sense in such cases like this. I tend to research and then buy if not TOTL, at least at a level that I shouldn’t have to buy/trade if I go down the rabbit hole. Risky I know, and probably goes against good common sense to start modestly and scale up over time if interest stays strong, but it’s mostly worked for me. I’m currently just perusing VPI and Rega websites, if that gives some sense of where I’m at (but not married to any brand, at this point, just lurking). Thanks in advance!
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The pieces you need are having the output from the turntable ready for your amp and a way to switch between dac and turntable inputs.
Typically a pre-amp with phono input is used for both purposes. You already have a volume control on the Pendant so you’ll have to decide how you feel about 2 volume controls in the path.
There are also phono pre-amps with no volume control which you could use with a separate switch for source selection.
I’m not current with products and solutions so the vinyl folks here can give you more specific info.
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Any other HD800S Users here?
I’ve had this headphone a couple times and could never get into them. Always seemed too thin and lacking bass.
Maybe they were never broken in, maybe it’s this new RCA Clear Top 12Au7, but they are really starting to impress me. I am hearing details like never before and faithful reproductions of instruments.
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Why do you wish to go vinyl? I thought about it myself and dropped it as the logistics really didn’t make sense for me.
I know that it can seem like an obvious audiophile next step but I heeded the advice of a respected audiophile who was in to vinyl to stay away from it unless you had easy access to the media or a nostalgia for the sound. After considering the idea I abandoned it as not really making sense for me.
Not saying not to go vinyl just wondering about the perspective.
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There’s a saying - It’s either a labor of love or just plain labor.
Vinyl wound up being just plain labor for me.
Not wanting to debate vinyl vs digital sound quality, just one person’s reason for staying with digital.
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Geez, I could write a vision quest, deep thought dissertation trying to answer this one, and it’d get mucked down with vague reasoning about half-way through!
It would be the easiest thing to not even go down the path for sure, but I’m a bit attracted to the tangible & collectible aspects possible through building a very minor record collection of my favs, as a compliment to my digital and primary setup. Also, just providing something sound wise that’s simply different than what I already have raises interest and curiosity, if not outright appeal (BTW, I have no fealty to any medium delivery method, feel it’s all just personal choice in the end, and generally hate the damn-near religious arguments that crop up about this from time to time).
While spending any money when I don’t necessarily “need to” gives me some pause, financially it wouldn’t be a hindrance, as long as I don’t go crazy. I’m also a bit attracted to the aesthetic side of the hobby, possible with the various subscription record clubs available.
Believe me, your question stays top of mind for me as I dabble in researching and learning more, and is the primary reason I say whatever I do around vinyl/analogue listening, I’ll be treading lightly and slowly.
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You’re ahead of many people in that you understand yourself and your goals, and are making deliberate decisions.
Worst case is you have an enjoyable journey but decide that ultimately vinyl isn’t for you.
Best case is a whole new world to keep exploring.
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My turntable rig setup sounds great through my non rectified pendant!
I find some vinyl mastering through headphones sounds just amazing and natural and this amp really helps bring that out!
Of course with everything there are pros and cons. I like records that are all analog for the musicality and with all analog new pressing the audiophile analytical approach to the medium.
Old records from the 50’s and 60’s are fun too but a lot of them were mastered for different gear than modern stuff and they eq’d down the highs and lows and some love that. I personally love modern AAA pressings. I have found its hit or miss whether digital or analog is better. I prefer both!!
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Yeah, I think this is exactly where I’m going to end up, eventually. Happy about investing in an audio setup that provides options in whichever form of media I want to enjoy at the time, and embracing that there’s very good reasons to want to have and enjoy both digital and analog.
Benchmark DAC3 with Kenzie. Good match.
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I have HD800 and HD800S. They are not bass heavy. That’s for sure.
OK, my quest for right-angled cables is now over. Cullen Cable custom made this power cable with a right-angled adapter on the end.
I’m making no claims for higher fidelity, as my aim was to hide the cable at the back of the Pendant. Almost a shame because it looks quite pretty.
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If you guys are around today for a live stream Saturday at 1 pm PST!
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Thanks to @ProfFalkin I am going to start rolling some tubes today starting off with the EL84 Tungsram’s to see how they change the sound! Rolling with the new LTD Edition Vérité Open in Desert Ironwood beautiful looking and sounding!
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With the tubes ive used so far the brimar yellow T (12AT7) is by far the warmest. Using at this time a valvo longplate 12au7 which has the most detail. For a middle of the road approach I use my amperex G73R black coat. Loved the sweetness of raytheon 5751windmill getter, but again I had to sacrifice details. Yeah, the input tubes gives me the most change in sound with the pendant.
The power tubes changes the sound (for me) a lot less then the input tubes. Changes I hear are more subtle. I do notice changes in how large the soundstage is. Thats why I use a NOS mullard set. Gives me the largest soundstage (with a bit of extra bass). Havent heard the tungsram that several people are mentioning.
Rectifiers gives me almost no change in sound. I think I hear the blackest background with my mullard one but that may be placebo effect
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Great interview by the way with zach. I like that use of different dacs (incl. chord) gets discussed and the fact that some people (like me I guess) find the ZMF headphones with gooy/warm tubes too much.
With my tube rolling experience (input tube) with the pendant ive found the below picture to adequately represent the sound with the different tubes.
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I’d need to dig up the details, but preference/perception differences are associated with the accent and tone of specific languages. IIRC, UK loudspeaker tuning differs from USA tuning per the accents (e.g., British English is more nasal than US English).
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I think I’v settled on an RCA Clear top tube for the 12Au7. Sounds pretty awesome if you are looking for something neutral.
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