Headphone Heights

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Update: HifiMan EF2A from original post was defective; returned it, and got a good used one. :)

Posted by willkayakforfood on July 25, 2012 at 15:41:25:
The original EF2A I had did turn out to be defective, so I sent it back to Audio Advisor for a refund. In the meanwhile, I found a used one at the Head-Fi classified ads, and that replacement arrived today (got a nice discount from new price, and it's in mint condition).

When I purchased my first one, I had already read about the recommended tube upgrade (from stock Chinese 6J1 to NOS Raytheon 6AK5), so I ordered a matched pair of the Raytheon tubes (from Maverick Audio - same tubes as are in my TubeMagic A1). So, when the replacement EF2A arrived today, I put these Raytheon tubes in, and we're back in business! :) The tubes need some time to burn in, but it's already sounding fine, and there are no problems as there were with the previous unit.

Even with fresh, not yet burned in tubes, the difference between this DAC/amp and my other one, the Audioengine D1, is striking. First obvious impression is this: EF2A is "3D" compared to Audioengine's "2D". The overall sound quality of the Audioengine is nice, but the sound does become more congested as music becomes more complex. This can be a bit fatiguing -- and claustrophobic. The EF2A, on the other hand, doesn't seem to have this problem. Sound is "open/airy", and overall, simply more pleasant to my ears.

I will also mention this:

When I had the first EF2A, I was in the process of switching from Sennheiser HD555 to HD600 headphones. Even with that first EF2A, the improvement in sound going from the HD555 to the HD600 was pleasantly noticeable. I'm now listening only with the HD600, and I can again confirm, they're a fine match with this particular DAC/amp.