Donald North Audio — Owners Thread

Discussion in 'Headphone Amplifiers and Combo (DAC/Amp) Units' started by Huxleigh, Aug 12, 2016.

  1. TwoEars

    TwoEars Friend

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    You could have used a stick with a rubber thingy on the end but you just had to go and summon the demons didn't you? Maybe we should call it the Stellaris TAE? True American Edition? :D

    Looking forward to build pics if you have any.
     
  2. Donald North

    Donald North Friend

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    Freaky! Totally out of Paranormal Activity
     
  3. m17xr2b

    m17xr2b Friend

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    Last edited: Aug 24, 2019
  4. abraxas666

    abraxas666 Friend

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    Got lucky and bought a Stratus from @k4rstar , I had succesfully avoided worrying about tubes for a whole year with my Schiit Ragnarok.
    Now I'm on a quest to start looking for tubes, which gives me enough time to understand the sound of the amp. And so far I'm not exactly a big fan of the stock tubes with my unmodded hd 800. I guess its due to listening to a solid state amp for so long, that some music seems detailed but "gentle" sounding to me.
    The "coherence" between channels is phenomenal, and extremely natural.
    Of course these are early impressions, got a lot of reading\tweaking\listening to do.
     
  5. m17xr2b

    m17xr2b Friend

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    I know it's silly but I miss my Stratus.
     
  6. alucart

    alucart Facebook Friend

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    One of the EML 2a3 mesh plate tubes sparked, causing a channel imbalance, and both tubes are now on their way back to Germany under warranty to be assessed and repaired.

    The flipside is that I managed to snag a pair of 2a3 RCA black plate tubes from a local for a good price - ever since @purr1n recommended these NOS tubes for the AF, I'd been keeping an eye open.

    I wasn't expected much - the RCAs were stocky and short compared to the EML tubes, similar to the stock Shuguang tubes.

    But wow, they do bring a different sound to the Stratus:

    - transients are better defined = guitar riffs pop a bit more,
    - the bass is slightly looser and less extended than the EML,
    - the sound layering is much better, with palpable better depth, even on the claustrophobic Utopia soundstage,
    - the mids are less recessed, more full but not less resolved,
    - the highs are still reasonably well extended,

    @purr1n put it well with the Stellaris as "tube wetness without loss of technicalities - the RCA tubes really fit that description compared to the more solid state sounding EML mesh.

    Now I'm not mourning the loss of the EML tubes as much...thanks again for the recommendation!
     
  7. m17xr2b

    m17xr2b Friend

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    Could be EML is just not a good match for the Stratus. I had the solids for a long time and they were among my least favourite for the same reason you describe the mesh but without extended highs. Even on the Stellaris they fell behind NOS tubes.
     
  8. m17xr2b

    m17xr2b Friend

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    Stellaris really showed its value tonight, how many TOTL amps can run three headphones at the same time?
    [​IMG]

    With HD650,HD580 and Verite on sort of similar SPL comparing headphones is easier and harder at the same time. My brain gets used to one sound signature and switching immediately it feels like it's still applying the previous DSP. Sounds all wonky but goes away after I switch songs or wait a bit.
     
  9. m17xr2b

    m17xr2b Friend

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    Please note the location of the Apex Volcano power supply and the original location in the quoted post.
    https://www.superbestaudiofriends.org/index.php?posts/238749/

    For a while I've been having intermittent hum issues with the Stellaris on valves that where fine previously.
    One day two or three of them hummed and I tried to find why, expecting a ground hum.
    Removed input cables, no change(shouldn't be an issue with input transformers for balanced)
    Turned off everything else in house, no change.
    Turned off amp, no change.
    Removed valves and any other cables except headphones, no change.
    Turned off Peak, hum reduced.
    Turned off Volcano PSU, hum gone.

    I've read about other people having hum issues, usually on dual chassis(no issue myself with GSX-MK2). The distance between them is considerable but clearly not enough. Still with the Stellaris off and nothing connected I wouldn't have expected this. Moved the Volcano on top of the harbeth, it's all fine.
    I usually start listening casually to the Peak and at some point turn on the Stellaris but not necessarily turning off the peak so that explains the intermittence.*peak is like an appetiser to a main course.
     
    Last edited: Aug 24, 2019
  10. Donald North

    Donald North Friend

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    Output transformers act like sponges to stray fields. In this case, the Stellaris’ output transformers were picking up the field from the Apex supply directly above them. Glad to hear you solved this mystery.
     
  11. m17xr2b

    m17xr2b Friend

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    The king is dead, long live the king.

    My beloved HD650 have taken a back seat these past couple of weeks in favour of the HD580.
    The synergy of these cans with the Stellaris and a new input tube I'm trying is without exaggerating truly off the scale.

    - as neutral as they come, not even a hint of warmth without sounding dry
    - bass extends well into the subbass region with punch, impact and presence to satisfy the self proclaimed basshead. A/B ing the HD650 I had a feeling I've been fooling myself into liking the warm rolled off mid focused bass. Dubstep/trance sounds as it should.
    - layering is exceptional, very few headphones can differentiate low notes at the same time without blending frequencies
    - objectively I haven't heard better mids, subjectively I'll always have a soft spot for the slight warm HD650 mids.
    - detail and sparkle outmatches my hardwired HD800, every bit of plankton is revealed with just the right amount of bite and I've heard new subtle cues on familiar tracks I haven't heard before. A super quiet and far away cymbal or extra voice I never noticed before.
    - soundstage is...well I'd call it cheating. Stage is larger than HD800 while still being completely natural and without exaggerated space between instruments. Height and depth are symmetric and enormous. The only headphones that matches it is the K1K. IMO it goes beyond headstage but not at the level of speakers. Instruments sound big similar how the Abyss sounds but without being in your face forward.
    - perfect integration of frequencies, I can't say anything is emphasised over something else.
    - extremely musical and inviting, never fatiguing or boring. I've had 12+hours of headtime.
    - 1dB of digital attenuation softness up the sound, can be easily heard.
    - haven't found a genre that doesn't work
    - balanced sound better than single ended and -6db has a noticeable softness where before I couldn't hear differences between them.

    I really can't find any weakness in this setup. I almost want to say a slight bump in the upper mids/lower treble but that might be my hearing or an aftereffect of tinnitus.

    Using the same input tube and rectifier on the Teton with a GEC 6AS7G the HD580 has similarities to the Stellaris but a few notches behind a key areas such as stage, tone and focus. Still a hugely impressive but listening side by side the technical superiority of the Stellaris with AVVT is easily obvious. I'll double blind it anytime.

    On the same setup the HD650 doesn't have nearly the same stage, focus or high end detail and its dark character really shows.
    HD800 sound tonally slightly off and thin even if I haven't heard it better sounding.

    At this point the Stellaris has reached legendary status for me and the best headphone sound I've heard regardless of price.

    P.S. changing anything in the chain such as tubes,transport,IC or HP cable takes away more than I'd expect. Feels like it's greater than the sum of its parts.
     
    Last edited: Aug 24, 2019
  12. RiddleyWalker

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    [​IMG]

    Light blue squad checking in
     
  13. Jinxy245

    Jinxy245 Vegan Puss

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    I'm in... Sonnet 2 in house. Damn it's fine, just got it today, but I am loving what I'm hearing.
    Thank you SBAF!
     

    Attached Files:

  14. RiddleyWalker

    RiddleyWalker Friend

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    Enjoy! It’s the best amp I’ve ever heard with 580/58X/650.
     
  15. atomicbob

    atomicbob dScope Yoda

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    Where’s the picture? You are not really in until we see a picture.:D
     
  16. Jinxy245

    Jinxy245 Vegan Puss

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    It's there...attached file. You want me to make it bigger lol??
     
  17. ogodei

    ogodei MOT: Austin AudioWorks

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    Ok, this I have to try. HD580 is now on the way in.

    Two questions:

    - What's the new input tube you are using with the 580? Heck, what's the whole line up? I think I see WE422A and AVVT 2A3 Mesh, but not to assume.

    - Do you think its just placebo effect from the motorised volume? ;)
     
  18. atomicbob

    atomicbob dScope Yoda

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    Aw, getting old sucks. I missed that. Perhaps I do need spectacles. Looking good for many hours of happy listening.
     
  19. Jinxy245

    Jinxy245 Vegan Puss

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    Thank you!
    Yes getting old does indeed suck. I need my reading glasses half the time, especially on mobile. However getting old seems much more preferable than the alternative.
     
  20. msommers

    msommers High on Epipens

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    I have a MCTH as well and before you sell it, would be great to have a compare/contrast @Jinxy245
     

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