Donald North Audio — Owners Thread

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

  1. sorrodje

    sorrodje Carla Bruni's other lover - Friend

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    The only time I preferred the IEC impedance Setting was with the Beyerdynamic T1.

    In any case I prefer lowest impedance outputs for the HD800.
     
  2. songmic

    songmic Gear cycler East Asia edition

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    I didn't want to admit it myself, but I too sometimes listen to the IEC out with my modded HD800. Guilty pleasure.
     
    Last edited: May 5, 2017
  3. Mystic

    Mystic Mystique's Spiritual Advisor

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    You guys think $1k is a good price on a Sonett 2 in perfect condition?
     
  4. songmic

    songmic Gear cycler East Asia edition

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    I think so, especially considering it's discontinued.
     
  5. bigfatpaulie

    bigfatpaulie Tried to screw other friends while playing victim

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    Yes.
     
  6. Mystic

    Mystic Mystique's Spiritual Advisor

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    Thanks guys, wasn't too sure, not much used selling history on the web on these rare beauties.
     
  7. Northwest

    Northwest Almost "Made"

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    I paid significantly more for mine although mine is slightly different. Most people seem to keep their DNA amps in good condition from what I've seen.
     
  8. Mystic

    Mystic Mystique's Spiritual Advisor

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    The one I'm looking at doesn't have any modifications (for better or worse) like yours has, hence the cheaper price I imagine.

    Anyways, I bought it. Looking forward to another block of blue coming my way! Will be putting my Sonett 1 up for sale in the near future.
     
  9. ogodei

    ogodei MOT: Austin AudioWorks

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    Stellaris has finally arrived and is settling in. I skipped the stock tubes entirely and put in some favorites. Sorry for the wasted effort Donald. Actually, I wonder if 'no tubes' should be an option at the Stellaris level? it might not be worth the hassle but some buyers may already own their preferred tubes for Stellaris,. Hrmm.

    Sounds great right off the bat on the SE output, will do more listening tonight from balanced. Can already hear the performance increase in the headphones I've tried so far.

    A few pics. Clearing out space on the rack

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    A few headphones waiting for their turn

    [​IMG]

    My headphone stand prefers in-ears

    [​IMG]
     
  10. Ash1412

    Ash1412 Friend

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    Looks like you got just about everything in there. Mind listing them?
     
  11. TwoEars

    TwoEars Friend

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    I can feel it coming in the air tonight.... and it's an epic dynamic vs electrostatic showdown.

    Just remember to SD-mod the HD800's if you haven't. And you should probably replace the stock cable with a thick pure copper balanced one.
     
  12. sorrodje

    sorrodje Carla Bruni's other lover - Friend

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    Recently Bought the EML 5U4G @songmic recently proposed for sale. I know @Donald North uses it on his own Stellaris so I pulled the trigger.

    Thus far I'm not impressed and it seems I prefer my Sylvania 5931 by a fair margin ( clearer , more open , cleaner through the whole range) . Did someone use this rectifier ? I'm a bit too lazy to browse the whole HF Stratus thread.
     
  13. IceUul

    IceUul Friend

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    @sorrodje
    This 5U4G was my tube before and it was best tube on DNA Stratus. I have Sylvania 5931 too. For me and @Priidik the results were completely opposite side, 5U4G was clearer, more resolving and open.
     
  14. sorrodje

    sorrodje Carla Bruni's other lover - Friend

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  15. bigfatpaulie

    bigfatpaulie Tried to screw other friends while playing victim

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    I had one with my Stratus and I really liked it. The EML was very 'tactile' tube. I felt it added some impact to the low end. The mids were rich the highest well articulated. I actually preferred it to my U52. Sorry to hear you aren't liking it. Perhaps personal preference comes into play here.
     
  16. sorrodje

    sorrodje Carla Bruni's other lover - Friend

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    Absolutely. Thus far, my impressons are "meh" and it's disappointing because I expected it to sound as good as it looks (and costs)

    I'm a bit surprised @IceUul impressions and mine are polar opposites though. I'll give more listening time to this EML although comparison are really hard to do ( safely swapping tubes takes too much time ).
     
  17. IceUul

    IceUul Friend

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    @sorrodje

    Get yourself some pair of gloves for this. I am using one to prevent heat and finger prints on tubes.

    Also, my 5931 might be not so good as yours, never know what quality you get.
     
  18. ogodei

    ogodei MOT: Austin AudioWorks

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    Top is all Stax: Airbow SC-1, Lambda Pro & L700, SR-007mk1 & 009
    Mid is Senn Hd650, ZMF Eikon, HE-6, AKG K1000, Denon D7000
    Lower is Senn HD600, HD-800s, TH-900mk2, HiFiMan HEKv2 & Utopia

    I have an older pair of HD-800s that for some reason doesnt have much of a treble peak to it, multiple listeners has sworn that it is modded somehow but its not. Also have a newer pair with the SD mods. I'm not that much bothered by the higher end on cans anyways and the Stellaris is going to tamp that down i'm sure.

    Spent s few hours with the amp last night, Utopia sounds even better with it than I expected so far. May even push HE-6 off its perch for me. Some of the imaging was a little floaty, could have been the tubes or me falling asleep while listening though ;)
     
    Last edited: May 10, 2017
  19. Daveheart

    Daveheart Friend

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    @sorrodje I used an EML 5U4G for a long time in one of my Decware amps and thought it was my best rectifier for that amp, but EML has never really left me the impression that they've got manufacturing consistency to rival the Telefunken and Siemens of old. Of course your problems with the tube could be marked down to personal preference, but it seems highly likely manufacturing tolerances worked out better for me than it did for you.
     
  20. sorrodje

    sorrodje Carla Bruni's other lover - Friend

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