Icy_Vegetable1933 t1_itr21zu wrote on October 25, 2022 at 5:57 PM

Reply to comment by PutPineappleOnPizza in Sennheiser HD6XX and tubes, a near perfect pairing. by cronus999

Yep, tube rolled on a TA-26 with 6XX. Could honestly not hear a difference between tubes, or between the A90 and TA-26. Just a waste of money IMO. I'm happy that people enjoy tubes and keep them around, but I really wish the difference between solid state and tube wasn't so overexaggerated in audio circles.

suredont t1_itr2vu5 wrote on October 25, 2022 at 6:03 PM

Yeah, I think it builds expectations waaaaaay too highly.

Icy_Vegetable1933 t1_itrhoor wrote on October 25, 2022 at 7:37 PM

Yep. I think it hurts the hobby more than it helps generate mystique

PutPineappleOnPizza t1_itr372j wrote on October 25, 2022 at 6:05 PM

Overexaggeration is the audiophiles biggest strength. I will maybe try a higher end tube amp in some hi-fi store one day, but not without bringing my Xduoo for some A and B testing because I really don't feel like getting baited by snake oil.

Icy_Vegetable1933 t1_itrhtej wrote on October 25, 2022 at 7:38 PM

2nd biggest strength - more money than sense! I'm no exception. Trying to get better

headphonesex2 t1_itt09nn wrote on October 26, 2022 at 2:07 AM

i agree, went from a50s to ta26 and wasnt as blown away as the communty expectations set me...

dOnt get me wrong i feel like there is longer decay and more reverb, but its so flipping minor you wouldnt be able to tell if u werent looking for it.

Icy_Vegetable1933 t1_ituy9h6 wrote on October 26, 2022 at 2:31 PM

>but its so flipping minor you wouldnt be able to tell if u werent looking for it.

Guarantee if you did a blind volume matched A/B you wouldn't be able to tell

headphonesex2 t1_itv6dx8 wrote on October 26, 2022 at 3:26 PM

id be hard pressed to deny that...

Icy_Vegetable1933 t1_itvm82m wrote on October 26, 2022 at 5:09 PM

I thought I had good ears and could tell a difference when I "upgraded"...

I had a class A amp and a denafrips ares II, volume matched them and had my wife switch between that stack and a topping A90/D90 while I was turned around. Unfortunately couldn't tell a difference at all.. then threw the TA-26 in the mix. same story.

Ended up selling everything but the topping gear, can't beat features and power at this point.. I just think we're at a point where the chip DACs and chip amps are just too good.