ZMF PENDANT. My very first experience, with a tube amplifier.

[@soulfulfool]

Best thing I have heard with tube amplifier is AT ADX5000, they have perfect treble region, sharper image with lot more clarity of details compared to VC, soundstage is very well done more like 3D not super wide, more natural. Bass is also tighter and more energetic compared to VC's more lush and laid back nature. Audio technica open air design and big 58mm driver deliver bass that feel like powered by lightning, you can feel air vibrating and building preasure of incoming bass impact. It's unexpected headphone in my collection, bought it because I have so much trust in my tubes. I had that feeling after hearing VC with my tubes, when I read that ADX5000 is 420 ohm super detailed brighter sounding headphone I knew my tubes will add enough warmth to make it perfect. It's extremely engaging and musical on tubes, it grabs me with that clarity and energy not letting to stop listen. It's not an advertisement just example how useful can be tube amp with pair of headphones made for it. Never heard before sound so clean that my brain constantly thought that im in a room with real person. Chesky recording of Melissa Menago vocals was so real sounding, priceless experience.

[@theron8227]

You are by far my favorite audio enthusiast channel. Cheers mate.

[@ConvinceMeAudio]

Thank you, I’m glad you enjoy the videos, and welcome to the fam 🐅

[@zzezzobike]

Great, thank you. Was a great pleasure listening your words which people like myself, grew on tube amps like Conrad Johnson, Audio research, VTL-Manley, Cary audio etc, can absolutely understand and appreciate. Today, being a headphone user even DarkVoice makes unrivaled space presentation and those vocals being real as they can be. Again, great presentation

[@carbon_wavelight]

Justin's amps are top notch. Great review as always. Would you review the Ampsandsound Agartha 300B next?

[@ConvinceMeAudio]

Hi mate thank you so much I appreciate it Ha6A it’s going to be shot next for the review then the kayin ha300 mk ii Ampsound naut with a bit of luck after that, but we’re still trying to work out the logistics of that one I had to turn one down due to the voltage

[@goldwerger]

Watching your video with the Susvara over my ears connected to the Auris Nirvana... if you're hunting for great amps, I love it with both the Susvara and the VC... check it out :) The only tube amp I heard that I liked better is the Ampandsound Red October (which is much better than the Nautilus imho). That one floored me with the VC, just incredible. Careful, if you try that one, you'll never be able to take it out of your mind. I haven't...

[@ConvinceMeAudio]

I’ve actually heard about this one, I hope I get the opportunity to, I need to hunt for a few at canjam 🐅

[@pennfootball71]

now you know why i like a Lampizator ... It's like all of this but without the hum

[@dasninjastix]

I haven't been brave enough to go full tube just yet. I recently acquired a Lyr 3 and have some vintage GE and RCA tubes for it (only requires 1). I think my first foray would likely be a Bottlehead product. Hard to deny the appeal of tubes but the upkeep and the tube hunting.. I do like the middle ground that is a hybrid but would also love to hear a top shelf tube amp one day. Appreciate the thoughtful and colorful review, glad you finally got a taste of tewbs!

[@ConvinceMeAudio]

Valid concerns, and I hope you get to sit down with some of these tube amplifiers, it’s quite an experience, it was so out of left field I’ve been in this hobby for a very long time and did not even consider it LOL, but I’m telling you, I’m glad I did

[@brooksphillips2234]

You should check out something like the wa22. It has a preamp. I can listen to my wa22 preamp out to my Soloist GT and get the best of both worlds. However i enjoy just the wa22 better. I took the dive into the tube world about 2 months ago without ever hearing tubes and i am so glad I did. From my experience it isn't as much of a headache as he explained in this video. It could vary depending on the Amp. Since buying the wa22 I barely listen to my Soloist GT. It didn't take me long to realize tubes were my preferred way of listening.

[@joshuafalken3312]

I've got a modded bottlehead crack, a pair of HD650's and an ares 2 R2R dac. Fantastic combo. It gets alarmingly hot, and the bottlehead forum are like, as long as the voltages are in spec, the temp is normal. Would love to hear a WA33 someday.

[@olimphus26]

I’d love a review of the Ampsandsound Kenzie OG Rev 2.

[@matthiasbroek8055]

Possible Tube rolling urges is what kept me away from tube amps so far.

[@moonspiderstudio2269]

Love your channel! Little question for you did you try this tube amp with the meze liric? If yes, was it a good match?

[@ConvinceMeAudio]

I’m pretty sure I did, and that experience was great because nothing bad has stuck in my memory, but it’s Vc that really shines

[@latle111]

A homerun review. I had my first taste of tubes only 2 years ago and everything you have described was exactly my experience as well. Even the downside such as heat, 1 hour start up time. the electricity cost, and the costs of hunting down the actual tubes themselves. But dear lord the sounds make all of that worth it. May I recommend you to try out the Cayin Ha-300 Tube amplifier. It is expensive at 4 grand but it can drive any headphones to perfection except for 1 or two Focal headphones.

[@ConvinceMeAudio]

First and foremost thank you, glad you enjoyed the review, I plan to audition as many as I can add canned jam Before settling on one for the channel myself 🐅 I old will bear this in mind to look out for

[@latle111]

@@ConvinceMeAudio We would love to see videos of your experience even if there's no product in front of you.

[@ConvinceMeAudio]

@@latle111 I will most definitely document for the channel

[@benjamincraig7198]

Great video! I got a Valhalla II, stock tubes, so I'm in only several hundred in tubes. I got it for it's high gain to pair with my HD800S as I heard so many people say you have to try it on tubes. Yeah, it's certainly a nice change in pace from a SS amp on those. But I have to be on high gain. My LCD-X (Not closed) sound luxurious on tubes, low gain. I get what you mean about the holography. It's more the instrument separation, and it seems to present this space in such an effortlessly organic way. It's incredibly hard to define. It is a bit annoying how finicky it is and it does take like an hour to hit peak performance. But it is an experience for sure. My favorite setup is still the HD800S on SS with a tone controller. It's where the headphone disappear totally off my head and I'm inside the music. The LCD-X + tubes is immersive and beautiful, but they never quite disappear.

[@ConvinceMeAudio]

I do need to bring those headphones back in for assessment, I owned it and sold it, before the channel But is tubes game is so seductive

[@benjamincraig7198]

@@ConvinceMeAudio Yes they are spectacular! But I'm sure the LCD-XC experience is similar to what I'm experiencing with the open backs. And i can't even imagine the high impedance VCs on tubes, oh my, that's bucket list for me, but I'll be saving for a while and selling something to get a VC I was honestly a bit disappointed with HD800S pairing also being high impedance. I'm not saying it didn't benefit from the tubes, but I guess that tube warmth isn't what I'm looking for with them. I like the clean SS with some EQ (bass shelf + taming the 6K peak that still plagues an otherwise amazing headphone. I like your comment about an evening routine. Tubes are like vinyl in that way. It's more ritualistic and intimate way to experience music. And I just feel the Audezes compliment that aesthetic and mood. They are just lush and fun and makes me defn want to pour a glass of scotch and just unwind. Sorry for the long response. Keep up the quality reviews! You have some of the best, almost poetic reviews!

[@ConvinceMeAudio]

@@benjamincraig7198 yeah I agree, the LCD XC performs really well on tubes, and don’t apologise it’s great that you have such a passion for music it’s why we’re all here🐅

[@michaelp.3485]

Remember me? The guy you said my setup would sound like crap? Yeah my LCD-5 paired with my ZMF Pendant and Chord Qutest sound amazing. I hope you are mad that you were wrong and I have reached my endgame setup.

[@ConvinceMeAudio]

I am not here to reaffirm your biases, Those individual pieces are all good in their own rights, and if you find the synergy to your tastes, seen as audio is very largely subjective then it will work for you. No, I am not mad, no, I haven’t got a clue who you are, you do realise I answer 1000 comments a day right? If you’re happy with the set up, call it a job well done and stop looking for other peoples opinion to reaffirm something that you like, take advice from videos but only as advice and make up your own judgement at the end of the day. Take care bro

[@AKL764]

For her to walk through the door... Smile.. and take off her bra 🤣👏

[@looyoo0-u6i]

can i pre from this into my bliss for my ab1266?

[@3-y86]

hi, When will be th909 review? :D

[@ConvinceMeAudio]

it’s already shot, third review inline maybe

[@3-y86]

@@ConvinceMeAudio awesome 😎 And i have one more question. What you think about drivers ? What is for you best driver? I tried many planars and i just cant listen to it because it for me doesn’t sounds neutral, then focal driver is just the same as planar it sounds so metal so in the end im with biodynamical driver.

[@ConvinceMeAudio]

@@3-y86 there comes a point when you pass beyond a certain category, driver technologies mean nothing to the brilliance of the headphones or speakers We talk about planar bass, or dynamics versatility or estat resolution But these are utterly meaningless when you’re entering the flagship and summit tier flagship headphones Susvara sounds like a dynamic headphone with more organic performance than a dynamics and it’s a planar, A focal utopia is dynamic, and it has the slam and punch of a planar So, to summarise, beyond a certain point, it’s utterly meaningless it’s all about implementation

[@3-y86]

@@ConvinceMeAudio hmm But headphones what are you talking about are all end game basically, but to category 2000$ i think there is nothing better than biodynamics. What i seen everyone ended on Denon, Fostex with mods, ZMF.. 🙂

[@ConvinceMeAudio]

@@3-y86 in the category of utopia, LCD5 Susvara Diana stellia Verite No, I disagree, biodynamics are good headphones, but they are firmly especially these days in the midfy category their performance is below $1000 And by quite a bit, the detail is okay et cetera

[@mustafaqasim4651]

You make video about what?

[@kurdgamer1222]

To kurde