Lobby > The Meeting Place
Chicago 2015-06-27 Meet Impressions
maverickronin:
Some highlights an lowlights
BMC Pure DAC > MicroZOTL > HEK
Low Zout or not, this amp doesn't get along with low Z, low efficiencyz planar magnetics. I'm not really a tube guy, but it sounds like it's pushing those 6SN7s too hard and it's pretty audible. Even at medium volumes swapping in my O2 resulted in better clarity and detail. At Anax approved listening levels the MicroZOTL turned cymbal crashes into bursts of static.
On the plus size it took a bit of the edge and splash off the HEK's treble. That's basically the audio equivalent of napalming you lawn to get rid of dandelions though.
Should have tried my HD650s with it to see how it handled high Z loads but I didn't think of it at the time.
Modi 2U > Magni 2U > DT880 Pro 250
Why does Beyer sell the T1 again? Let me rephrase that. How does Beyer sell the T1 at all. I guess it has better forward projection to its soundstage. That's about the only thing I remember being better.
Peachtree USB/SPDIF converter > Enagmatic Audio Design DAC > Violectric V281 > Balanced ZMF Omni w/ cowhide pads
Favorite T50RP mod that I've heard. Better than any of mine, Claritas's Paradox, or the Alpha Primes. Even FR, deep bass, and fantastic control of the T50RP's upper mid/lower treble dip.
Fidelio X2 from my Clip ZIP and UHA-4
Smooth and a bit dark. Laid back. Bass seemed pretty deep for being (mostly?) open. Not for detail whoring, but getting lost in the music.
Keithpgdrb's Airbow SC-1 on my Scarlett 2i2 > SRM-T1S
This is an allegedly cryo-treated SR-404 Lambda Signature. I have no clue if that's even true or what the cryo treatment is supposed to encompass, the cable, the driver, or both. Cryo treating the cable would be useless but may just possibly do something to the driver. There weren't any 404 Signatures around to compare it to but I did have my modded Lambda normal bias, modded SR-202, and stock SR-207.
The Airbow better than both my modern Lambdas and just a hair behind my normal bias. The Airbow had much smoother treble than the modern Lambdas with almost none of the Stax 'etch'. It sounded a tiny bit plasticy compared to my normal bias, most likely because of it's pleather pads as compared to the Ultrasuede ones I made for my normal bias. I think the Airbow would have pulled ahead after pad rolling.
I've got no clue if the cryo treatment of the drivers helped, normal 404s just sound that way, if they just have cherry picked drivers, or if something else is modded, but they are a very nice pair of Lambdas.
FraGGleR's Kenwood KH-1000 w/ Alpha Dog pads on my Clip Zip > UHA-4
Out of production Japanese market closed headphone. Very comfy. A bit closed in and hollow sounding, but not too bad. A little bit dark, high treble shelved a bit. Descent size soundstage for a closed can. A small sharp ringing in the treble that's only really noticeable on high hats, chimes, and bells. Decent clarity and resolution. Over all a very pleasant surprise and nice for a closed can. Too bad they're no longer produced.
Questyle CAS192 DAC > DNA Stratus > Balanced HD800
Pleasantly surprised. I don't usually like tubes any more unless they're the output stage on a 'stat amp. Good clarity and separation. Takes a bit of the HD800's edge off, but not enough for my to like it better than the HD650. Switching the HD800 to a single ended cable and running it from my 2i2 > O2 provided better clarity, especially in the treble, but the lower Z out brought out the HD800's treble sharpness even further.
LH Verb
Won this in the raffle. Claritas told me that there's been some big kerfuffle about these that I seemed to have missed while I was away from the forums and that I should listen to them without looking up any of that first. So far I haven't had time to do anything with them but decide on a pair of tips.
Sorrodje:
--- Quote from: maverickronin on June 28, 2015, 10:55:32 PM ---Keithpgdrb's Airbow SC-1 on my Scarlett 2i2 > SRM-T1S
This is an allegedly cryo-treated SR-404 Lambda Signature. I have no clue if that's even true or what the cryo treatment is supposed to encompass, the cable, the driver, or both. Cryo treating the cable would be useless but may just possibly do something to the driver. There weren't any 404 Signatures around to compare it to but I did have my modded Lambda normal bias, modded SR-202, and stock SR-207.
The Airbow better than both my modern Lambdas and just a hair behind my normal bias. The Airbow had much smoother treble than the modern Lambdas with almost none of the Stax 'etch'. It sounded a tiny bit plasticy compared to my normal bias, most likely because of it's pleather pads as compared to the Ultrasuede ones I made for my normal bias. I think the Airbow would have pulled ahead after pad rolling.
I've got no clue if the cryo treatment of the drivers helped, normal 404s just sound that way, if they just have cherry picked drivers, or if something else is modded, but they are a very nice pair of Lambdas.
--- End quote ---
Thks Sir.
I'm in love with my Lambda NB as well and I owned the SR404 that's significantly inferior in my opinion. You feelings about the Airbon are even more interesting for me.
maverickronin:
--- Quote from: Sorrodje on June 29, 2015, 12:09:21 PM ---Thks Sir.
I'm in love with my Lambda NB as well and I owned the SR404 that's significantly inferior in my opinion. You feelings about the Airbon are even more interesting for me.
--- End quote ---
The Airbow SC-1 was a pleasant surprise. I'd heard that the 404 had a bad case of the Stax etch and I'm skeptical, to say the least, about semi-magical tweaks such as cryo-treatments but they sounded quite good.
Sorrodje:
IMO the 404 etch is not so bothersome ( less that a SR307 I compared directly for example) . What was more problematic for me with the 404 was the midrange shout.
maverickronin:
--- Quote from: Sorrodje on June 29, 2015, 02:10:13 PM ---IMO the 404 etch is not so bothersome ( less that a SR307 I compared directly for example) . What was more problematic for me with the 404 was the midrange shout.
--- End quote ---
Hmm...Didn't notice that but I wasn't really listening for it since it's not something that usually bothers me.
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