Figured I'd share my initial experience with the DV and my specific cans.
Immediately swapped the stock tubes out. GE 6080 6AS7. Started with a new production Tung Sol 6SN7GTB but it had terrible hum on the left side. I hear that goes away with burn in, but I decided to swap in a Silvertone 6SN7. Smoooooooth. Great combo with the GE. I'll be comparing the DV (tube amp) versus an Emotiva A-100 (solid state amp).
My listening pleasures at the moment are Fostex TH-X00 Purpleheart, Grado Head-Fi HF2, Monoprice M1060 V2, Focal Elex. As expected, the M1060 were not ideal for the DV (harsh highs, dull lows, muffled mids) and fair better on the A-100. Not as expected, the Purplehearts were noticeably worse on the DV. So congested. The biggest difference for sure. I haven't noticed a huge difference on the Elex. They sound fantastic on both amps. No real preference there. The big and most welcome surprise was with the Grado set. I've tried five other amps and nothing has ever made them shine the way they do with the DV. Opened up a whole new world for those. I've been considering selling them for a while, but I will be holding on to them for the foreseeable future .
It'll be interesting to see if any other tube combinations or burn in change things much. I am happy with my purchase right out of the box, and hope to get some good mileage out of it.
Immediately swapped the stock tubes out. GE 6080 6AS7. Started with a new production Tung Sol 6SN7GTB but it had terrible hum on the left side. I hear that goes away with burn in, but I decided to swap in a Silvertone 6SN7. Smoooooooth. Great combo with the GE. I'll be comparing the DV (tube amp) versus an Emotiva A-100 (solid state amp).
My listening pleasures at the moment are Fostex TH-X00 Purpleheart, Grado Head-Fi HF2, Monoprice M1060 V2, Focal Elex. As expected, the M1060 were not ideal for the DV (harsh highs, dull lows, muffled mids) and fair better on the A-100. Not as expected, the Purplehearts were noticeably worse on the DV. So congested. The biggest difference for sure. I haven't noticed a huge difference on the Elex. They sound fantastic on both amps. No real preference there. The big and most welcome surprise was with the Grado set. I've tried five other amps and nothing has ever made them shine the way they do with the DV. Opened up a whole new world for those. I've been considering selling them for a while, but I will be holding on to them for the foreseeable future .
It'll be interesting to see if any other tube combinations or burn in change things much. I am happy with my purchase right out of the box, and hope to get some good mileage out of it.