Capella or new headphones?

[aob9]

I can't help but wonder if the new Capella is a worthwhile investment in preference to a new set of headphones. My "best" headphones are Sennheiser Momentums but I'm seriously considering investing in some HD600's or (at a push) HD650's. I've already decided that I prefer the overall Sennheiser signature. However with the array of tweaks available on the Capella it may provide me with the improvements I need for a reasonable sum of money.

I own a Bushmaster MKII which is hooked up to the Coax on my Fiio X3 and sounds amazing through my amplifier and speakers. However, I don't at all like the sound of the Momentums when hooked up to the Bushmaster. They sound far too harsh despite the fact they sound nice and warm connected directly to the X3.


The bottom line is I want improved sound when on the couch at home and wonder if it's possible the adjustments on the Capella can make a good headphone even better.

[mikmas]

I got a pair of Momentums for Xmas and despite being a huge Sennheiser fanboy for many years was quite disappointed... personally I don't think they can be improved by any combination of amp and were made specifically to appeal to MP3 players users on the hoof where the light weight, bright sound and thudding bass works (which was the main reason I got them)

I would first go for the HD600 (or 650) and then try out some amps to get the most out of them ... the Capella gets a very good press but there are plenty other options at all price points. I use a very cheap Cmoy option ... and love it!!

[wee tee cee]

Anthony,
I am also a senn house sound fan. I ran 650s with a BM2 for a couple of years and thought it was a match made in heaven. Stan supplied me with a battery optimised chip that upped things again.

I have tried a few Fiio amps in the past and you are right they do sound pretty warm/soft. I dont know how it fares as a source.

I have found the Capella lets you get the best out of any cans you plug into it by setting the various parameters to suit the cans needs.

I was so impressed when I got it I moved to 700s (kept the 650s)- oh and a Caiman 2.....haven't looked back!!!!

[DreamKing]

From what I gather from most customer experiences here and elsewhere, the Caiman II sounds better with neutral or brighter headphones and the Bushmaster II is better with warm/darker headphones. From my personal experience, straight out of the BMk2, my custom in-ear monitors (which are bright) would sound excessively harsh, let alone the fact that the sensitivity of the iem would result in a loud hum at anything over low volume. My AKG K550 headphones, which are bright, were also more bright than usual and would get harsh depending on the song.
Well, the Capella fixed this as the options provided allow you to tune the HR to minimise the harshness as well as the awesome fully rotary gain knob which make my IEM's dead silent at normal listening volumes. It's an an amazing amp and my first great buy for 2015.

In the near future I plan on getting the Caiman 2 to have an analog sounding source to pair with my Capella which is analog sounding too as I realize I mostly gravitate towards neutral headphones with relative brightness.

Anyway, I recommend either getting the Capella for use with your Momentums or a wide range of other headphones, irrespective of sound signature or trying darker/warm headphones with your Bushmaster 2 because I do recall reading that the Bmk2 was created with the HD650 in mind, so I imagine you can't go wrong with either the HD650 or the HD600.

[jon1]

From what I gather from most customer experiences here and elsewhere, the Caiman II sounds better with neutral or brighter headphones and the Bushmaster II is better with warm/darker headphones. From my personal experience, straight out of the BMk2, my custom in-ear monitors (which are bright) would sound excessively harsh, let alone the fact that the sensitivity of the iem would result in a loud hum at anything over low volume. My AKG K550 headphones, which are bright, were also more bright than usual and would get harsh depending on the song.
Well, the Capella fixed this as the options provided allow you to tune the HR to minimise the harshness as well as the awesome fully rotary gain knob which make my IEM's dead silent at normal listening volumes. It's an an amazing amp and my first great buy for 2015.

In the near future I plan on getting the Caiman 2 to have an analog sounding source to pair with my Capella which is analog sounding too as I realize I mostly gravitate towards neutral headphones with relative brightness.

Anyway, I recommend either getting the Capella for use with your Momentums or a wide range of other headphones, irrespective of sound signature or trying darker/warm headphones with your Bushmaster 2 because I do recall reading that the Bmk2 was created with the HD650 in mind, so I imagine you can't go wrong with either the HD650 or the HD600.

+1 jean..Caiman 2 next...jean how dose your lcd.2 sound with the capella?..great preamp in the capella



jon

[alan47]

Just get some Grado RS1's and an AP10 and enter the land of the living,you won't ever look back.
Just my tupence worth...Works for me.....:sofa:

[StanleyB]

Just get some Grado RS1's and an AP10 and enter the land of the living,you won't ever look back.
Just my tupence worth...Works for me.....:sofa:
What's an AP10?

[aob9]

What's an AP10?


Maybe This
http://hometheaterreview.com/nva-ap10-integrated-amp-review/

I reckon I could go either way. In hindsight the Momentums were probably an impulse buy. At the end of the day they were a lot of money for what are essentially a "plaything". I probably will invest in the Capella but whether or not I get a decent set of cans first is still up for decision.

OH! to have loads of money.

As for Grado, I find them too harsh. I'm definitely sensitive to forward midrange, I find it tiring. As for the RS1 price tag...........OUCH!

[StanleyB]

NVA? :lol:.. boom, boom!
Come on guys, this is a serious topic about quality value for money products made by me. Just compare the absolute best headphone amp from NVA against my far more advanced, modern, and stylish Capella. Granted, some are satisfied with just a metal box, a headphone socket, and a volume control. But things like that can be knocked up in the shed at the bottom of the garden for very little money and effort. Higher quality and performance like that offered by the Capella requires a professional approach.

By the way, one of our members on AoS borrowed a Capella over Christmas to try out with his RS1. He has not stopped grinning yet.

[Yomanze]

NVA? :lol:.. boom, boom!
Come on guys, this is a serious topic about quality value for money products made by me. Just compare the absolute best headphone amp from NVA against my far more advanced, modern, and stylish Capella. Granted, some are satisfied with just a metal box, a headphone socket, and a volume control. But things like that can be knocked up in the shed at the bottom of the garden for very little money and effort. Higher quality and performance like that offered by the Capella requires a professional approach.

By the way, one of our members on AoS borrowed a Capella over Christmas to try out with his RS1. He has not stopped grinning yet.

Hi Stan, with all due respect, there is a market for people who want a hand-adjustable headphone amp that can be optimised for many, or a market for people who want the amp optimised for their headphones & without extra bits in the signal path.

The NVA AP10H is by all accounts a "professional" product, just like yours... it has a natural synergy with Grado headphones, giving up very little in terms of detail retrieval compared to my STAX electrostatic headphones, but not all will like the presentation of course.

[StanleyB]

Hi Neil, I have no issues with the AP10 or any piece of equipment from Richard Dunn, but this is a thread about advice on the Capella. If anyone wishes to sing the praises of the NVA stuff, then start a thread on it. Don't hijack my thread with the promotion of the stuff from a dealer who does not appear in the list of financially contributing members that support the upkeep of AoS. It is common business courtesy. If I had tried the same on the RD forum in a thread about an NVA product, I bet you we would all hear about the response from Richard across the internet. Actually, as a matter of fact, that is exactly what has happened on more than one occasion.

[struth]

Hi Neil, I have no issues with the AP10 or any piece of equipment from Richard Dunn, but this is a thread about advice on the Capella. If anyone wishes to sing the praises of the NVA stuff, then start a thread on it. Don't hijack my thread with the promotion of the stuff from a dealer who does not appear in the list of financially contributing members that support the upkeep of AoS. It is common business courtesy. If I had tried the same on the RD forum in a thread about an NVA product, I bet you we would all hear about the response from Richard across the internet. Actually, as a matter of fact, that is exactly what has happened on more than one occasion.

Quite!

[Marco]

Guys,

Please keep Richard Dunn and his forum out of discussions, as there is a ban here on the mentioning of both, unless the former is being referred to in a hi-fi context, which admittedly is the case here. No problem discussing NVA, though! :)

Any further mention of RD’s forum, however, or any attempted derailment of the thread into an argument not conducive to being constructive or relevant to the thread topic will be removed without further warning.

Marco.

[DreamKing]

+1 jean..Caiman 2 next...jean how dose your lcd.2 sound with the capella?..great preamp in the capella



jon


I don't have lcd2's jon lol. I am planning to buy the HE-560 though, as my first planar soon.

[Jankoff]

"Capella or new headphones?"

Answer: both! See my post on the issue here:

http://theartofsound.net/forum/showthread.php?35284-The-Beresford-Capella-Headphone-Amplifier&p=625280#post625280

[jon1]

I don't have lcd2's jon lol. I am planning to buy the HE-560 though, as my first planar soon.

Hurry up then jean..waiting with bated breath:eyebrows:





jon