Justin S
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Apr 18, 2025 at 9:00 PM
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Location:
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Occupation:
Filmmaker

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Justin S

Friend, Male, from Toronto

Pyrate Contributor

As kids, we discovered we could use our dad's OG 1970s HD400s as microphones for various shenanigans. Apr 12, 2025

Justin S was last seen:
Apr 18, 2025 at 9:00 PM
    1. Justin S
      Justin S
      As kids, we discovered we could use our dad's OG 1970s HD400s as microphones for various shenanigans.
      1. zottel, Qildail and Lyander like this.
    2. Justin S
      Justin S
      Update. A couple days with ZMF Lambskin pads on my HD800S. Really good. Realistic, actual subbass, great clarity. TA66 w Thompson 8060.
      1. View previous comments...
      2. Thad E Ginathom
        Thad E Ginathom
        Sennheiser stock pads are difficult to install. At least, on HD800.

        They seem have clicked in place, but just bounce off. I have it to do and this is my second time. ISTR something needed to be stretched. I'll let my existing pads fall to bits a little more yet, but I have the new ones ready.
        Apr 12, 2025
        Justin S likes this.
      3. Justin S
        Justin S
        So far , unsurprisingly, the Shuguang is the right tube in the TA66. The Thompson is very very nice in the mids but gets a touch grating, the sovtek is a slamming party machine, but I can take an hour of it max. The Shuguang it perhaps a touch less detailed, but it is fun, spactious and very balanced.
        Apr 12, 2025
      4. Justin S
        Justin S
        I'll be curtious to try the Melz with an adapter in the pre section when it arrives.
        Apr 12, 2025
    3. Justin S
      Justin S
      ZMF HD800 lambskin pads on the 800Ss: Bit more crisp, cleans up the bass, seems more of it too. Space is different - we'll see how it wears.
      1. Qildail, rlow, joch and 1 other person like this.
      2. Justin S
        Justin S
        First day in, I like them. The bass is really something: detailed and thusty. The treble is also more detail without being itchy or annoying.
        Apr 9, 2025
    4. Justin S
      Justin S
      Ordered a pair of the ZMF lambskin HD800 pads. They're here along with a 25% "import" charge. I hope that they figure this out quickly.
      1. View previous comments...
      2. jnak00
        jnak00
        Speakers and sound amplifiers are in there too.
        Apr 8, 2025
      3. joch
        joch
        They’re technically just cushions as they don’t make sounds on their own?
        Apr 8, 2025
        Lyander likes this.
      4. Justin S
        Justin S
        @joch yes, but they're from a headphone company and labeled as headphone earpads. The process is likely quite zealous at the Canadian border.
        Apr 9, 2025
    5. Justin S
      Justin S
      HD800S can has that sproing. Who knew.
      1. Riotvan likes this.
      2. View previous comments...
      3. Justin S
        Justin S
        @joch What 6SL7s are you using. My vendor has some of the Melz metal base 6N9Ss which are 6SL7 equivalent, as I understand it.
        Apr 8, 2025
      4. joch
        joch
        I am using the non metal Melz. I read that the metal ones are better. I recently got a cheaper end Psvane which I find very not bad.
        Apr 8, 2025
        Justin S likes this.
      5. Justin S
        Justin S
        Thanks @joch. I ordered one from the same guy I got some refelctor 6n2ps.
        Apr 9, 2025
        joch likes this.
    6. Justin S
      Justin S
      Rebought 800Ss to try with a TA66. Before: nice but a bit wierd and itchy. TA66: full, natural, senn mids and 800 clarity. It's love.
      1. zottel, Jinxy245, Sqveak and 6 others like this.
      2. View previous comments...
      3. joch
        joch
        Yeah I hear you @Sqveak I just thought he had an opportunity to get an OG earlier
        Mar 31, 2025
        Justin S and Sqveak like this.
      4. Justin S
        Justin S
        @joch I tried on a couple pairs of the 800 non Ss but I blinked and they were gone. I found a pair of Ss in mint condition for a song. They're really very good with the TA66. As I found it with the 600s, the TA66 really brings the best out of the 800Ss. I prefer them to the ZMF AutCs on this amp.
        Mar 31, 2025
        joch likes this.
      5. Justin S
        Justin S
        New toy caveat: Yes it's a coloured amp and coloured headphones, but the TA66 + 800Ss are like the fabled super 600s for me. I grew up on 400s and can't quit Senns as much as I try. After much stuff, I would say that the TA66 + a used pair of 800Ss is a high value combo. I'm running Pi2AES>J2 4499 with the sparkos opamps>TA66 w Thompson 6080. @atomicbob noise nukes on fiber LAN box, Pi2AES and J2.
        Mar 31, 2025
        atomicbob, Michael Kelly and joch like this.
    7. Justin S
      Justin S
      After 5+ years, I can't get any traction with the 6XXs: kiss modded, a ton of amps/DACs. Are the 650s different? Am i just Mr. 600?
      1. zottel, roshambo123, Lyander and 2 others like this.
      2. View previous comments...
      3. roshambo123
        roshambo123
        No memory required (mine is not that good) I just read your gear list in your profile which still shows LIM
        Mar 10, 2025
        Justin S likes this.
      4. Patrickhat
        Patrickhat
        Changes over time with gear and taste. I spent 10 years liking 600 and 650 equally. Then another five preferring 650. Now it’s back to finding them equal again.
        Mar 10, 2025
        Justin S likes this.
      5. Justin S
        Justin S
        Mar 11, 2025
    8. Justin S
      Justin S
      ZMF AutCs/600s on the TA-66. The 600s are ahead with separation and tonality. The AutCs feel crowded to me. 800s must rock on this amp.
      1. joch likes this.
      2. joch
        joch
        Try it ;)
        Mar 7, 2025
        Justin S likes this.
    9. Justin S
      Justin S
      With the TA-66 in the house, I am interested inthe HD800s again. I've had the 800Ss, which I liked. I have a line on the OG 800s. What do?
      1. Jinxy245 likes this.
      2. View previous comments...
      3. Riotvan
        Riotvan
        If it's considerably cheaper and it has or you can do the SDR mod go for the OG IMO. But also consider pad replacement in the price though.
        Mar 1, 2025
        Justin S, RestoredSparda and joch like this.
      4. Justin S
        Justin S
        Thanks for the input. I've reached out to the seller. I think I am going to go for them. I have an SDR kit here somewhere that I bought years ago. I really liked the ZMF 800 pads the 800Ss. I'll likely do the same thing again.
        Mar 2, 2025
        joch and Riotvan like this.
      5. joch
        joch
        Looks like you've got this lined up already :P ...I'll probably need to scratch that itch one day even though the 800S has been really good
        Mar 2, 2025
        Justin S likes this.
    10. Justin S
      Justin S
      Picked up a demo Drawmer CMC2 monitor controller for a song. What a difference compared to using various passive boxes: clarity, imaging.
      1. Sqveak and Thad E Ginathom like this.
      2. Justin S
        Justin S
        Whoh. The headamp on this thing is no slouch when using 600s. Not just a pretty face.
        Feb 28, 2025
        yotacowboy and Thad E Ginathom like this.
    11. Justin S
      Justin S
      Sparkos opamps in the Geshelli J2 4499 for the win. Fat stack SS2590 for SE and a couple of the dual SS3602s for bal. Very very nice.
      1. Justin S
        Justin S
        Using the J2 for pleasure listening at work. My Motu Ultralite interface is nice, but less fun. I am using SE to the Lyr+ or TA-66 and Bal to my monitors. Very clean and detailed with a friendly tone to it. Fantastic imaging and staging.
        Feb 22, 2025
      2. ilikebananafudge_
        ilikebananafudge_
        I have a J3 with three SS2590s and I agree that it's quite nice sounding.
        Feb 23, 2025
        Justin S likes this.
    12. Justin S
      Justin S
      Changed from Genelec 8020s+sub at work to 8030s. The bass is not as low but it is waaay more punchy, detailed and integrated. Bang for $.
      1. View previous comments...
      2. Priidik
        Priidik
        Sub and satellite can sound like one big speaker.
        It is about latency and phase. Surprisingly not at all easy task to get phase right and not have the period lagging.
        Feb 16, 2025
        Justin S likes this.
      3. Justin S
        Justin S
        I used to run Harbeth P3Esrs at home with a rel. The combination was excellent and the rel contributed to staging and realism. Perhaps my work setup with the 7040 was not as tuned or my room is just a poor room for a sub. It's well treated but small and the sub was under my desk.
        Feb 16, 2025
      4. Justin S
        Justin S
        I did tune things with REW and a mic at my listening position at work, but I never loved it.
        Feb 16, 2025
    13. Justin S
      Justin S
      TA-66 just arrived. Listening with the 600s. This thing is next level for me. More later. Thanks for the recommend SBAF!
      1. zottel, Pocomo, Soups and 13 others like this.
      2. View previous comments...
      3. atomicbob
        atomicbob
        @rlow TA-66 is a basic, simple design with resistors, capacitors, tubes and a transformer and rectifier. There are 4 electrolytic capacitors visible in the photos. They are probably the only potential issues if not designed with sufficient margin or random bad capacitor syndrom.
        Feb 11, 2025
        Jinxy245, Justin S and rlow like this.
      4. atomicbob
        atomicbob
        I have been enjoying mine with various tubes, but I keep coming back to the stock Shuguang 6n5pj.
        Feb 11, 2025
        Justin S and joch like this.
      5. joch
        joch
        The Shuguangs are probably collector’s items now LOL. I understand that their factory had a fire, and they haven’t got back on their feet. The new “SG” stuff like the 300B-98 is issued by Linlai.
        Feb 12, 2025
    14. Justin S
      Justin S
      Working working - stuff sounding very different. Taking it in and just realized I put the 600s on not ZMFs. Less bass, closer mids. Nice.
      1. joch, ilikebananafudge_ and Lyander like this.
    15. Justin S
      Justin S
      Brought the Yggdrasil LIM from the family room to the work suite. I forgot how much this thing can shake your skull with headphones. Hilarious.
      1. Merrick, ilikebananafudge_ and Sqveak like this.
      2. Justin S
        Justin S
        I was thinking about a switch to the Gungnir2 for space...buuuuut the bass. The last two tracks on the new Billy Eilish record are full-on epic with the LIM.
        Jan 17, 2025
    16. Justin S
      Justin S
      The basement belongs to the teens now. I think I am selling the nice stereo. It's just used for TV and gaming now. More headphones, please.
      1. View previous comments...
      2. Armaegis
        Armaegis
        JBL 4305P or 4329P are also good and should be robust enough to survive teenagers. Or save some money on a Kanto Ren + sub. Just throwing out random suggestions for ya.
        Jan 5, 2025
        Justin S likes this.
      3. Inoculator
        Inoculator
        @Justin S I just had to make the same calculation with my downstairs, which was always envisioned as a home theater type listening setup with occasional music. Kids need it to be a safer playroom space though so said goodbye to my Zu DW6 and integrated. Swapped in some wall mounted Buchardt A10, which while not cheap, have been pretty incredible so far.
        Jan 6, 2025
        Justin S likes this.
      4. Justin S
        Justin S
        I went decidedly lower budget. I found a pair of mint Revel M16s which I quite like, moved my old Geshelli J2 4490 DAC with the nice opamps down, kept the Heed amp and the REL for now. It's actually very good for tv and movies and alright for music. I think the changes will serve their purpose well.
        Jan 17, 2025
    17. Justin S
      Justin S
      Happy New Year to all you rogue bastards and pyrates. I hope it is a good one for all of you.
    18. Justin S
      Justin S
      Sitting down with a few tubes and the LYR+ and amazed at the differences. KenRad, magic; 50s tung sol, beauty; bog Syl, nice; Jan Syl - faak
      1. Justin S
        Justin S
        really, though, it's the Ken Rad to rule them all.
        Dec 30, 2024
        RestoredSparda, joch and Slade01 like this.
    19. Justin S
      Justin S
      When work is busy, I don't listen much. I get to thinking "I'm out...sell it all" Then I have a listen and become very much not out.
    20. Justin S
      Justin S
      Been away working like a maniac. In a tiny pause, that Songs: Ohia Black Album is a beauty piece. Carry on, friends.
      1. atomicbob, edd, DigMe and 3 others like this.
      2. DigMe
        DigMe
        Love the earlier stuff. I think Protection Spells is still my fave. Darkness That Strong was the first song I ever heard from him and it floored me. @philipmorgan is also a Songs: Ohia fan.
        Oct 26, 2024
        philipmorgan, Justin S and edd like this.
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  • About

    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Toronto
    Occupation:
    Filmmaker
    Gear List:
    USB | S/PDIF (PI2AES Lite) ->MOTU Ultralite MK5/Geshelli J2S W Sparkos OPamps -> Monitors: Genelec 8030s Headphones: TA-66, ZMF AUTEUR CLASSIC, HD 6xxM (sbaf kissmod), HD600, HD800S

    Previous equipment. Harbeth P3ESR Standards and XDs, Harbeth C7ES3s, Neumann KH120As. Soekris 2541, RME ADI-2 DACfs, Bifrost 2, Holo Spring1 LV2, BF2, BF2/64, Gungnir Multibit Multibit A2, Heed Dactillus, Denafrips Ares, Auralic Aries, Rega R-DAC, OG Schiit Freya, Schiit Magni 3, OG Burson Soloist, MassDrop LCX, Burson Fun, ZDT Jr., Rebel Amp, BHA-1, Lynx Hilo, Schiit Yggdrasil LIM,

    Previous Headphones: ZMF Aeolus, HD800S, LCD-X 2021, Focal Clear, Focal Elex, OG Sennheiser 650, Sennheiser 58x Jubilee, OG AKG Sextetts, Nhoord Red custom build, Symphones Magnum V8 custom build, Elleven Acoustica G1 custom build, Elleven Acoustica R1 custom build, Hifiman He400i, AKG K702.
    I am a filmmaker. I have also owned and operated a couple animation/video-post studios and have been buying and trading gear since the 90s. I am relatively new to hifi.

    Signature

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