The ultimate headphone amp and cans
F1nut
Posts: 50,578
The Sennheiser Orpheus HEV90 & HE90's, http://cgi.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cl.pl?ampstube&1276398473&item
I love the look of the amp....pure art!
I love the look of the amp....pure art!
Political Correctness'.........defined
"A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."
President of Club Polk
"A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."
President of Club Polk
Post edited by F1nut on
Comments
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Damn that's drop dead sexy.
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Wow,, James has been on the clock eh?JC approves....he told me so. (F-1 nut)
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Pretty, yes. But the Headamp Blue Hawaii sounds better. Most people Running
stats go this route.
http://www.headamp.com/electrostat_amps/bhse/images/bhse_gray_high.jpg
I've never heard the He-90. But I've spent some time with the He-60.
The last run of He-90's sold out in 4 hours about 5 years ago. That production
run was for the cans only.
The world of headphones has several out of production high end models
that are commanding big bucks. Right now Stax O2 is top dog in
current production headphones."The legitimate powers of government extend to such acts only as are injurious to others. But it does me no injury for my neighbour to say there are twenty gods, or no god. It neither picks my pocket nor breaks my leg." --Thomas Jefferson -
I like the layout, but those cages over each tube are fugly.Check your lips at the door woman. Shake your hips like battleships. Yeah, all the white girls trip when I sing at Sunday service.
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Captain..those look like dilethium crystals there! Do ya think they can achieve Warp speed?
cnhCurrently orbiting Bowie's Blackstar.!
Polk Lsi-7s, Def Tech 8" sub, HK 3490, HK HD 990 (CDP/DAC), AKG Q701s
[sig. changed on a monthly basis as I rotate in and out of my stash] -
I like the layout, but those cages over each tube are fugly.
Open uncovered tubes are a no-no in much of Europe.
I'm surprised no one in the US has created any laws to protect us against
burning our pinkies on those hot surfaces. I'm sure some lawyer is working
on that as we speak."The legitimate powers of government extend to such acts only as are injurious to others. But it does me no injury for my neighbour to say there are twenty gods, or no god. It neither picks my pocket nor breaks my leg." --Thomas Jefferson -
"The legitimate powers of government extend to such acts only as are injurious to others. But it does me no injury for my neighbour to say there are twenty gods, or no god. It neither picks my pocket nor breaks my leg." --Thomas Jefferson
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Here it is much cheaper.
That's not a fair comparision. The one on Audiogon is basically unused and includes two cans, also basically unused.Political Correctness'.........defined
"A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."
President of Club Polk -
True. But no one's going to pony up 32k anytime soon.
The other one ain't pocket change, but there's a couple guys that
are circling and it will sell. The Stax set up with O2's and the Blue Hawaii
will cost about $7500 new and perform just as welll.
The he-90's are better, but the amp isn't up to par.
And I can order that set up any day of the week. Of course it would take
Justin at Headamp about 6 months to build you a new BHII and get it
shipped to your door."The legitimate powers of government extend to such acts only as are injurious to others. But it does me no injury for my neighbour to say there are twenty gods, or no god. It neither picks my pocket nor breaks my leg." --Thomas Jefferson -
Just what I want to do, sit a foot away from a room heater."He who fights with monsters should look to it that he himself does not become a monster. And when you gaze long into an abyss the abyss also gazes into you." Friedrich Nietzsche
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Nice starter system.Vinyl, the final frontier...
Avantgarde horns, 300b tubes, thats the kinda crap I want... -
HT Rig
Receiver- Onkyo TX-SR806
Mains- Polk Audio Monitor 70
Center- Polk Audio CS2
Surrounds- Polk Audio TSi 500's
Sub- Polk Audio PSW125
Retired- Polk Audio Monitor 40's
T.V.- 60" Sony SXRD KDS-60A2000 LCoS
Blu-Ray- 80 GB PS3
2 CH rig (in progress)
Polk Audio Monitor 10A's :cool:
It's not that I'm insensitive, I just don't care.. -
wutadumsn23 wrote: »LOL, that thing is more expensive than my car.
-Jeff
Double true... -
Why would anyone in there right mind buy them ?
You could buy a way better audio system for that money ........... ridiculous !!!!!!! -
wow beautiful and once I get my 500K a year job maybe haha
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polkfarmboy wrote: »Why would anyone in there right mind buy them ?
You could buy a way better audio system for that money ........... ridiculous !!!!!!!
So, you've listened to the Orpheus set up? Yeah, I didn't think so.Political Correctness'.........defined
"A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."
President of Club Polk -
polkfarmboy wrote: »Why would anyone in there right mind buy them ?
You could buy a way better audio system for that money ........... ridiculous !!!!!!!
You have no idea what your talking about. This isn't an ipod with apple ear buds.Living Room Rig:D
Rotel RSP-1069/Rotel RMB-1095/Rotel-1072/Polk lsI15's W/modded xoverW/DBsubs/Polk LsiC/lsI7's/Klipsch sub-12"the weak link"/DLP Mitsubishi 65"
Xbox360/PS3/WII
M.Br. setup:)
Emotiva MMC-1/Rotel RMB-1075/Polk BlackStone TL350's/Velodyne SPL1000/Samsung 51" Plasma
Computer Rig:
Rotel RB1050/Tannoy DC4's/Klipsch RW-10d/ImodIpod/HK AVR230 for now....
Headphones-Ultrasone-HFI780's w/LittleDot MK Vamp Portables Panasonic HJE-900's -
That's some sexy gear.
$32,500 though? I'll never own one. Even if I could hypothetically afford it someday...I don't think I'd be willing to pony up that kind of cash for a headphone rig.polkfarmboy wrote: »Why would anyone in there right mind buy them ?
You could buy a way better audio system for that money ........... ridiculous !!!!!!!
Have you ever even listened to a good headphone setup? In most respects, a good headphone setup is going to sound better, and much more accurate than an actual stereo.
This isn't an ipod with some earbuds that cost $18.99 at Walmart. Good headphone setups sound absolutely incredible. I suggest you get your ears on one before calling it ridiculous. Headphones won't get your whole house shaking with huge bass output, but a good pair of headphones is usually going to have deeper bass extension than a good pair of floorstanding speakers.The nirvana inducer-
APC H10 Power Conditioner
Marantz UD5005 universal player
Parasound Halo P5 preamp
Parasound HCA-1200II power amp
PolkAudio LSi9's/PolkAudio SDA 2A's/PolkAudio Monitor 7A's
Audioquest Speaker Cables and IC's -
That's a lot of trips to the PLaSMa CeNTeR, LoCurtico. :rolleyes:
Funny but TRUE!
cnhCurrently orbiting Bowie's Blackstar.!
Polk Lsi-7s, Def Tech 8" sub, HK 3490, HK HD 990 (CDP/DAC), AKG Q701s
[sig. changed on a monthly basis as I rotate in and out of my stash] -
LOL, I gave blood today and all I got was a crappy T-Shirt. Well, that and a sore arm, lol.
-JeffHT Rig
Receiver- Onkyo TX-SR806
Mains- Polk Audio Monitor 70
Center- Polk Audio CS2
Surrounds- Polk Audio TSi 500's
Sub- Polk Audio PSW125
Retired- Polk Audio Monitor 40's
T.V.- 60" Sony SXRD KDS-60A2000 LCoS
Blu-Ray- 80 GB PS3
2 CH rig (in progress)
Polk Audio Monitor 10A's :cool:
It's not that I'm insensitive, I just don't care.. -
Earphones damage your ears so I would not want to own any pair period !!!!!!
My martin logans are the closest thing you can get to having earphone sound without damage
I dont know why my comment seems out there for thinking they cost too much money ??
How many of you guys have heard them to say that they are worth the money? -
polkfarmboy wrote: »Earphones damage your ears so I would not want to own any pair period !!!!!!
My martin logans are the closest thing you can get to having earphone sound without damage
I dont know why my comment seems out there for thinking they cost too much money ??
How many of you guys have heard them to say that they are worth the money?
Headphones don't damage your ears unless you play them too loud, same with speakers. You think these cost too much? Houses cost at least 4 times more and that is for a small one.Vinyl, the final frontier...
Avantgarde horns, 300b tubes, thats the kinda crap I want... -
Martin Logans sound like headphones?"He who fights with monsters should look to it that he himself does not become a monster. And when you gaze long into an abyss the abyss also gazes into you." Friedrich Nietzsche
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Two cheese graders? Check. One old toaster cage? Check. Lazy-Susan with aluminum top? Check. Install tubes, and boom!! You got Hi-Fi!
Those do look so much like cheese graters.. -
On ebay now; no reserve. Price is over $20k now!
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=140406718441&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT
AUCTION DETAILS:
This unit is in 100% mint condition. It is being sold from a collection of equipment that was not used. This unit is AS NEW.
We have tested the amplifier for about 8 hours, and both pairs of headphone for approximately 4 hours each.
The amplifier, and headphones are in immaculate condition, with no scratches, nicks, or scuffs.
Each pair of headphones come in its original silk lined box. If you have any questions, feel free to contact me for more information, or photos.
From the information I have been able to dig up, there were only 300 HEV-90s amplifiers produced.
Here is some information on the Orpheus:
The Holy Grail for every audiophile is the absolutely original reproduction of the music as it was played in the studio, which means that such things as treble or bass controls are frowned upon. An essential role is played by the microphones, as these are the first link in the recording chain and are therefore decisive for the quality of the sound reproduction. Headphones also have to meet very special demands in the audiophile world. With headphones, the sound acts directly on the auditory canal and not, as in the case of natural listening, on the whole head. What is more, as the ear lobes are “deactivated”, the natural spatial listening effect can only be achieved by highly sophisticated technical means. It was with the ambitious aim of producing no less than the best headphones in the world that Sennheiser’s experts began the development of their “Orpheus”. They finally presented their electrostatic headphones with a tube pre-amplifier in 1991 – and surpassed all expectations.
Specifications for the Sennheiser Orpheus HEV-90 Amplifier
Frequency response 10 - 20,000 Hz (- 0.25 dB) THD (1 kHz) Unweighted S/N ratio ≥ 80 dB Sensitivity/impedance 10 kΩ Technical Data Amplifier Talk-over muting (1 kHz) ≥ 80 dB Output voltage 400 Veff Line inputs (switchable) optical, digital (Toslink)co-axial, digital(RCA phono)(automatic recognitionof incoming sampling frequency)co-axial, analogue(RCA phono) Outputs for 2 HE 90 headphones Weight approx. 13 kg Dimensions 53 x 34 x 15.5 cm
Specifications for the Sennheiser Orpheus HE-90 Headphones
Frequency response7-100,000 Hz (-10 dB)14-85,000 Hz (- 6 dB)25-75,000 Hz (- 3 dB) Frequency range diffuse field equalised Transducer principle electrostatic Ear coupling circumaural Contact pressure 4.6 N THD at SPL of 110 dB (94 dB) Nominal sensitivity (V = 100 V) ≥ 98 dB/1 kHz Polarisation voltage 500 V Weight (without cable) 365 g Connector 5-pin HV plug Connection cable 3 m, 6-coreOFC copper cable, gold-plated contacts Dimensions 19 x 10 x 21.5 cmTNRabbit
NO Polk Audio Equipment :eek:
Sunfire TG-IV
Ashly 1001 Active Crossover
Rane PEQ-15 Parametric Equalizers x 2
Sunfire Cinema Grand Signature Seven
Carver AL-III Speakers
Klipsch RT-12d Subwoofer -
You could buy a porcha boxter instead of those cans
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Yet when they last sold He90's by themselves(no amp)
the whole run sold out in four hours. And they weren't cheap.
Any of the out of production high end headphones are pricey.
I've listened to the he60(one model down). And I have listened to
or owned many Stax headphones. The electrostatic cans like
their speaker counterparts sound very different than dynamics.
I'll never own a Boxster, either, but there are many out there with
the $$$ to buy what they want. Good headphones are very different
than listening to speakers. You'll find many of the owners of these cans
also have very nice speaker set ups. Like any other luxury product,
most of us won't be buying, trying or even able to touch a finger
to them. Just because I can't see buying a $5k bicycle doesn't
mean there isn't a market for it. Or a $500 fishing reel."The legitimate powers of government extend to such acts only as are injurious to others. But it does me no injury for my neighbour to say there are twenty gods, or no god. It neither picks my pocket nor breaks my leg." --Thomas Jefferson -
sucks2beme wrote: »Yet when they last sold He90's by themselves(no amp)
the whole run sold out in four hours. And they weren't cheap.
Any of the out of production high end headphones are pricey.
I've listened to the he60(one model down). And I have listened to
or owned many Stax headphones. The electrostatic cans like
their speaker counterparts sound very different than dynamics.
I'll never own a Boxster, either, but there are many out there with
the $$$ to buy what they want. Good headphones are very different
than listening to speakers. You'll find many of the owners of these cans
also have very nice speaker set ups. Like any other luxury product,
most of us won't be buying, trying or even able to touch a finger
to them. Just because I can't see buying a $5k bicycle doesn't
mean there isn't a market for it. Or a $500 fishing reel.
I'll never be able to afford any of those other things, but I do own a few $500 fishing reels! Thank guide programs for that otherwise I'd keep on dreaming about those also like everything else I can't afford! -
$21,600.00!!!
Wow; that's got to be a record for a pair of cans w/amp.TNRabbit
NO Polk Audio Equipment :eek:
Sunfire TG-IV
Ashly 1001 Active Crossover
Rane PEQ-15 Parametric Equalizers x 2
Sunfire Cinema Grand Signature Seven
Carver AL-III Speakers
Klipsch RT-12d Subwoofer -
sucks2beme wrote: »Yet when they last sold He90's by themselves(no amp)
the whole run sold out in four hours. And they weren't cheap.
Any of the out of production high end headphones are pricey.
I've listened to the he60(one model down). And I have listened to
or owned many Stax headphones. The electrostatic cans like
their speaker counterparts sound very different than dynamics.
I'll never own a Boxster, either, but there are many out there with
the $$$ to buy what they want. Good headphones are very different
than listening to speakers. You'll find many of the owners of these cans
also have very nice speaker set ups. Like any other luxury product,
most of us won't be buying, trying or even able to touch a finger
to them. Just because I can't see buying a $5k bicycle doesn't
mean there isn't a market for it. Or a $500 fishing reel.
nothing wrong with a 5K bike, or spending even more. When I was just into flatland BMX riding my bike was at about 1-1.5K in parts alone, mountain bikes cost even more often depending on the type of riding your doing. Its just like this hobby, you have some starting points and it goes up from there. To one person 5K on a bike is nothing but to the same person spending 5K on a pair of speakers is crazy talk.