Crane Song Hedd vs MH ULN2 vs Forssell Mada-2

[priko]

I'm following Isedlacek and Thermos, the Forssell MADA2 is much better than Hedd. The Hedd almost sounds harsh in comparision to the velvety and details MADA2. When you have listened the Forssell, it is not possible anymore to process through another converter like Hedd. I will resell my Hedd soon, just keeping it for the emulations for the moment.

[Yiannis]

Allthought its a personal taste I don't find HEDD as harsh sounding.

In this test
******//www.gearslutz.com/board/maste...nd-test-6.html

HEDD and Forssell are the favorites so far.

[666666]

The HEDD isn't harsh sounding at all, generally speaking. It sounds GREAT, excellent fidelity and very musical. I'm surprised at the "negative" HEDD comments here, seems a little bit like a band wagon lynch mob thing going on, without any substance. If the HEDD ever sounds "harsh", that can only mean that the program going through it is harsh sounding.

The HEDD is an awesome unit in its own right. How it compares to a Forssell is another story and I personally cannot answer that since I have not heard the Forssell yet in person. But the HEDD, alone, is an excellent unit.

Also... the HEDD has been around for what, almost ten years or so, right? I believe there have been assorted changes and upgrades to the unit over the years. The latest version hardware / firmware seems superior to the older stuff. So, if you are comparing a very old version of the HEDD, this is not a "fair" thing to do.

And, while I love to check out comparison test files that people post, I think we all need to remember to take everything on the web with a grain of salt. I'm not accusing anyone of doing anything dishonest, but I have witnessed tests done "inaccurately", in such a manner to yield inaccurate results (sometimes just due to sloppiness), even to the point where the sound files were improperly labeled (you're hearing unit A even though the file says unit B, etc), so you can see how "dangerous" this can be. I'm never satisfied until I run my own tests, in my own facility, using my own program etc, and I suggest everyone else do the same before coming to any solid conclusions. A lot of my own tests in the past have revealed a good degree of inaccuracy with tests I've heard on the web. I suppose if there were 5 different tests done by 5 different sources, with the same products, and the results were ALL 100% consistent, I might buy into that, but otherwise it is to be taken very lightly.

[Hal]

What about the Forssell ADC to print my mixes with?

[thermos]

Originally Posted by 666666

The HEDD isn't harsh sounding at all, generally speaking. It sounds GREAT, excellent fidelity and very musical. I'm surprised at the "negative" HEDD comments here, seems a little bit like a band wagon lynch mob thing going on, without any substance. If the HEDD ever sounds "harsh", that can only mean that the program going through it is harsh sounding.

The HEDD is an awesome unit in its own right. How it compares to a Forssell is another story and I personally cannot answer that since I have not heard the Forssell yet in person. But the HEDD, alone, is an excellent unit.

I'm soon going to run my own shootout with a HEDD, Lavry Blue, perhaps a Forssell once I am able to get my hands on one, and maybe a few others, etc, and will post back. I suspect I will determine that they're all excellent units, just slightly different "flavors". But we'll see.

Also, regarding the HEDD... the HEDD has been around for what, almost ten years or so, right? I believe there have been changes and upgrades to the unit over the years. I suppose it's possible that the latest version hardware / firmware is "better" than the older stuff. So, if you are comparing a very old version of the HEDD, this may not be a "fair" thing to do.

My HEDD is from 2002 actually, pretty old (and it still sounds great), but I plan on sending it to Crane Song soon for a full upgrade just in case, I'll then run my comparison test with the upgrade in place. I don't expect to be disappointed. And I do also hope that the Forssell is as good as everyone says it is, because I could use another AD anyway... as long as the price remains at a reasonable level.

And, while I love to check out comparison test files that people post, I think we all need to remember to take everything on the web with a grain of salt. I'm not accusing anyone of doing anything dishonest, but I have witnessed tests done "inaccurately", in such a manner to yield inaccurate results (sometimes just due to sloppiness), even to the point where the sound files were improperly labeled (you're hearing unit A even though the file says unit B, etc), so you can see how "dangerous" this can be. I'm never satisfied until I run my own tests, in my own facility, using my own program etc, and I suggest everyone else do the same before coming to any solid conclusions. A lot of my own tests in the past have revealed a good degree of inaccuracy with tests I've heard on the web. I suppose if there were 5 different tests done by 5 different sources, with the same products, and the results were ALL 100% consistent, I might buy into that, but otherwise it is to be taken very lightly.

The Hedd is great, however can be harsher when run closer to (or over) full scale. The mids get weird and it breaks up fairly fast, hence the mastering guy's complaints. The Forssell never sounds harsh ever, if it sounds harsh its because the source material sounds harsh plain and simple. The Forssell also does a great job when running the ADC hot and/or into clipping.
But yeah, the Hedd is a great piece of gear. But for me, I owned both and the Forssell is the clear winner.

[666666]

Originally Posted by thermos

The Hedd is great, however can be harsher when run closer to (or over) full scale.....

Ok, maybe that is so. I never clip converters or run them excessively hot so I never noticed.... and thus it would never be a problem for me.

I'll never understand intentional converter clipping... ... different strokes as they say...

[Skriabin]

Originally Posted by Adebar

I have - and sell - both. The ULN-8, as the Sonic Studio Model 305, can sound close to the Forssell. Together with the linear power supply from Michael Zähl und Christian Zimmerli for the Model 305 / ULN-8 even a little closer.

But I still prefer the Forssell for its realism in the mids and the overall character which keeps the music flowing. I guess the ULN-8 is - together with the Zähl power supply - the best sounding FireWire Interface you can get. And its summing bus of the Console mixer may be the best digital summing available.

Did you also compare the ULN-8/LIO-8 with the Prismsound Orpheus?
I have to make a choice between these two interfaces and just want the best converters.

[Adebar]

No comparison with Orpheus. Regarding conectivity it is less attractive than the ULN-8 which also has the very versatile Console software.

Now that ProTools 9 accepts Core Audio interfaces the ULN-8 is even more attractive. Imagine with 2 ULN-8 you can record 32 channels into ProTools HD9 with just a MacBook Pro on location and mix and adit it later on the real PT HD in the studio.

[Continental]

i have the crane song avocet
i think same converter like HEDD
the crane song is never harsh, have a great sound,

and hello ? no consumer will notice the difference
@ the end all songs f....... mp3s.

[burns46824]

Anyone compared the Forsell with the JCF stuff?

[priko]

The notion of harshness is relative
Hedd is not harsh but sounds a little bit harsh when you switch from Forssell to Hedd. I never found Hedd harsh sounding before I got the beloved MADA...

[DAZZER]

Originally Posted by ISedlacek

Maybe Mr.Thermos and Prikosnovenie who also had these two side by side (as far as I know) can comment ?

I know Mr. Thermos but who is Prikosnovenie?