This is so similar to a setup I started with about 10 years ago. HD650 and Schiit audio. Brilliant and great value. I've been through multi, multi K options since to get that final 1% (IME) SQ. Worth it? Certainly a learning journey. My only advice......once you're down the rabbit hole....beware multiple side-grades for only incremental SQ improvements. Set your sights on the ultimate setup, knowing at that level, it's really only about "flavours". Choose your flavour wisely as selling high grade HiFi is an exercise in misery. And......the only ears you can trust are your own!

Perth Setup finally.

 

Awesome setup. Big fan of the Aqua. Don't see too many Mass_Kobos in AUS. You using both LinQ and Lumin as streaming? Remind us again what cans you have thanks.

I am interested in Mass Kobo but do not know how to buy one like a medium model. He has a flagship Mass Kobo amp which is a lot of money. Wonder which headphone he was paring with?

Edited August 1, 2025Aug 1 by LoveKnight

2 hours ago, LoveKnight said:

I am interested in Mass Kobo but do not know how to buy one like a medium model. He has a flagship Mass Kobo amp which is a lot of money. Wonder which headphone he was paring with?

My understanding is that all of the Mass Kobo models are built to order. You may find the odd one in Japan second hand (120V), HK or Singapore. Zeppelin in Singapore lists them as orderable, not sure of wait times. I've long wanted to try one but will have to wait until this year's CanJam in California. 

By no means the cleanest set up, but currently running the schiit yggy/holo audio red into a ferrum Oor/hypsos stack, have been running the meze empyrean 2s for about a week now, previous headphones were the susvaras and while I loved them I found myself wanting something a bit more forgiving since a lot of what I listen to is guitar music that isn't that well recorded, the mezes are absolutely perfect for that, absolutely loving them! 

11 hours ago, Ehrmantraut said:

Awesome setup. Big fan of the Aqua. Don't see too many Mass_Kobos in AUS. You using both LinQ and Lumin as streaming? Remind us again what cans you have thanks.

 

The LUMIN is a NAS + switch where all my music files reside. For now, I have the Hifiman Susvara Unveiled as my only pair of headphones in Perth. 

7 hours ago, LoveKnight said:

I am interested in Mass Kobo but do not know how to buy one like a medium model. He has a flagship Mass Kobo amp which is a lot of money. Wonder which headphone he was paring with?

 

Not many dealers around but as mentioned by Ehrmantraut, Zeppelin in Singapore is a dealer. Bought both units from them. There is a lead time around 1-2 months (they quote 3 months as a safe wait time). 

These are my Denon D5000 headphones that I’ve owned for close to 15 years.

They have been modded to within an inch of their life:

• MARKL Dynamat mod (basically installing sound deadening material on the onside of the cups)
• LOHB wood cups
• Beyerdynamic DT880 headband leatherette strap
• AHG Sheepskin leather pads

Would love to one day do a removable cable mod and maybe get some wood cups with more texture, but really I don’t listen to these enough to warrant it.

 

Instead, they mostly sit on my shelf looking pretty.

 

Great fun to listen to, but they are huge and look silly on zoom calls, and the sheer size just makes them a little awkward overall.

An afternoon with "Apparition", my DIY HP White follower amp - 6H3N-EB tubes. 

I haven't post here for ages. This is my current setup. Tubes used are Siemens D3A, Tesla EL51, Telefunken AZ1. 

3 hours ago, Odyssey said:

I haven't post here for ages. This is my current setup. Tubes used are Siemens D3A, Tesla EL51, Telefunken AZ1. 

Never heard of any of those tubes. 

7 minutes ago, mwhouston said:

Never heard of any of those tubes. 

 

Never?

 

D3A is used as drivers in 300b amps. German post tubes, like C3G. 

https://www.jacmusic.com/techcorner/ARTICLES/English/Portraits/D3a/index-D3a.html

 

EL51 is an old pentode. Around the same age as EL50, 4654. These are predecessors of EL34. Beautiful robust sound, with a lot of punch. PA of 45 watts.

 

AZ1 is a 4 volt rectifier. Nice glow.

Fiio M17 DAP, Sony MDR-Z1R headphones and Fiio PL50 linear power supply. 

 

Currently running with an Auris Nirvana. I’m rotating between Sennheiser HD800S, Focal Nutopia, DCA Expanse or Final D8000.

Very nice array of quality gear. You've got all the bases covered in your HP stable.

2 hours ago, Ehrmantraut said:

Very nice array of quality gear. You've got all the bases covered in your HP stable.

Thanks. I’m itching to get the Susvara. Just waiting for the right deal to appear on SNA to add to the family.

Had Susvara for 3 years now and still like it very much but it's the Abyss 1266 TC that is killing me. I could not for the life of me think that I would prefer the TC over Susvara but both will remain. I am not one who sells off headphones quickly.

I had the Abyss 1266 CC. I enjoyed it soundwise but the way it’s sitting on someone’s head didn’t agree with me so I sold these. I might give this headphone another chance if a used pair of TC pops up on SNA (by a seller that understand that headphones are particularly subject to depreciation).

Very nice whisky by the way!

Edited December 28, 2025Dec 28 by Colonel Sanders

33 minutes ago, Colonel Sanders said:

I had the Abyss 1266 CC. I enjoyed it soundwise but the way it’s sitting on someone’s head didn’t agree with me so I sold these. I might give this headphone another chance if a used pair of TC pops up on SNA (by a seller that understand that headphones are particularly subject to depreciation).

Very nice whisky by the way!

I will be honest with you. I was highly sceptical about the TC fit and comfort before I got it but to my surprise it is very balanced on the head once you fit it in. Doesn't feel particularly heavy. Of course Susvara is more comfortable.

I've never heard the CC but everyone says the TC is much better.

Whisky was bought in Tokyo duty free 2010. I don't have the heart to open it even though I would be opening 15 years old or even Royal Salute 21. 😄

JDS Labs DAC out.

Burson Conductor 3 in.

Would love to add a streamer but very likely unable to connect to my employer’s LAN. So, source remains a laptop.

Still, very enjoyable system. Headphone upgrade is next. Will be closed phones.

Downgrading lol. To the good old CD format. Susvara not in the picture.

Yesterday I picked up a great purchase from a fellow SNA gent. It was an Astell&Kern Kann Ultra DAP.

I have been listening to it all morning, connected to my RME ADI-2 DAC fs. I'm using the Audeze LCD-X headphones. The RME has the EQ set for running the LCD-X as per the recommendations from Oratory 1990.

Damn it sounds amazing. 🤗 Previously I used the Fiio M23 DAP. The M23 is a great portable DAP but the Ultra is just so, so, so much more. Extremely refined sound. Amazing depth and clear SQ. There is a real weight to the music.

A&K are normally pretty expensive bits of kit when first released. Managing to get the Ultra 2nd hand here on SNA was a massive get IMHO.

As the old saying goes...........you mostly get what you pay for.

Happy listening

Regards Cazzesman

Edited March 5Mar 5 by cazzesman

11 minutes ago, cazzesman said:

Yesterday I picked up a great purchase from a fellow SNA gent. It was an Astell&Kern Kann Ultra DAP.

I have been listening to is all morning, connected to my RME ADI-2 DAC fs. I'm using the Audeze LCD-X headphones. The RME has the EQ set for running the LCD-X as per the recommendations from Oratory 1990.

Damn it sounds amazing. 🤗 Previously I used the Fiio M23 DAP. The M23 is a great portable DAP but the Ultra is just so, so, so much more. Extremely refined sound. Amazing depth and clear SQ. There is a real weight to the music.

A&K are normally pretty expensive bits of kit when first released. Managing to get the Ultra 2nd hand here on SNA was a massive get IMHO.

As the old saying goes...........you mostly get what you pay for.

Happy listening

Regards Cazzesman

That’s great to hear that you are enjoying your ‘new to you’ A&K KANN Ultra. Let the good times roll..

As a transport, the Kann Ultra is an impressive bit of kit that will tick the correct audiophile boxes for pure musical enjoyment, especially in a very capable system such as the one you have put together.

Enjoy 🔊🔊

Kind Regards,

Dom.

32 minutes ago, cazzesman said:

Yesterday I picked up a great purchase from a fellow SNA gent. It was an Astell&Kern Kann Ultra DAP.

I have been listening to it all morning, connected to my RME ADI-2 DAC fs. I'm using the Audeze LCD-X headphones. The RME has the EQ set for running the LCD-X as per the recommendations from Oratory 1990.

Damn it sounds amazing. 🤗 Previously I used the Fiio M23 DAP. The M23 is a great portable DAP but the Ultra is just so, so, so much more. Extremely refined sound. Amazing depth and clear SQ. There is a real weight to the music.

A&K are normally pretty expensive bits of kit when first released. Managing to get the Ultra 2nd hand here on SNA was a massive get IMHO.

As the old saying goes...........you mostly get what you pay for.

Happy listening

Regards Cazzesman

Welcome to the club! :)