Yeah.  Re your comment on Berkeley vs Moth DAC, the more I experiment with gear, the more I'm realizing that headphones can only extract a limited amount of advantage that higher quality gear can provide.  The thing that's bugging me the most since using the Realiser is hearing significantly limited depth and extension from headphones.  I'm seeing now why speaker guys usually can't get that excited about headphones.  Some music sounds nice with headphones regardless, but a lot of other stuff (especially drums and bass) are sounding really artificially flattened, and it's been bugging me quite a bit.  Makes me want to try the BA again with the EML 300Bs, but the rig is a bit too rich for my blood at this time.

I was disappointed by the 2A3.  The EC table had a HD600 hooked up, and the S7 was much more impactful and articulate.  The 2A3 sounded comparatively fuzzy and unfocused.  From memory, the BA has the impact of the S7, but also provides better clarity.

Yup, I can still run the EMLs. Mini-meet before the big meet.

Heard both. Royal are too smooth sounding. Psvane was OK. Honestly I'd get a pair stock EH Plats for $300. The vintage PX25s I'm using have by far the most clarity.

Wow, the HE-6 is ROCKING with CEE TEE's S7.  This is really really nice.  Forward and impactful, bass extension is deep and resonant (in a good way), and the sound is immediate and involving.  Vocals are clear and have that really nice 'right in front of you' sensation stats have.  Very difficult ambient tracks (with bass extending below 20hz) is giving that eerie, uneasy feeling that insufficient monitors just can't replicate.  There's also nice separation between everything without sounding nearly as artificial as the HD800s.  The HD800s are a difficult headphone for me, as I find them technically impressive but not engaging.  There's good depth to the images, and a good balance between separation vs. everything being so far apart (or weirdly placed) that it's distracting.  No particular element excels, but the composite is very compelling.

I need to spend a lot more time with this, and I haven't even put the Berkeley in yet (using gamma2).  This is the best I've ever heard the HE-6 with a headamp.  Fwiw, haven't heard the Dark Star yet.  This combination is a lot of fun.  Best of all, no muddiness or congestion

This is the most fun I've had with a dynamic setup in a long time.  I can't believe there wasn't a HE with the S7 at the Bay Area meet.  I'll follow-up with more after swapping DACs and spending more time, but I have a feeling CEE TEE won't give me a week with his amp anymore once he hears this

Haha, well, I'm just putting the S7 through its paces after some conversations with CEE TEE   I did inquire about the S7 you bought, though I'll be going a different route for my dynamic rig, but if I was looking at headamps, the S7 would now immediately enter my shortlist for driving the HE-6s.  CEE TEE is dropping by tomorrow to put it through its paces, and I think it could be even better with tube rolling.

I haven't had a chance to do a true A/B between the HE-500 and HE-6, but based on memory, when properly driven the HE-6 has better detail extraction, more resolving bass, and a clearer presentation.  Improperly amped, the HE-500 sounds better than the HE-6, but with the right amp, the HE-6 kicks sand in the LCD-3's face.  If you like the SR007 presentation, you'll probably like the HE-6.

I think CEE TEE mentioned you're in the area.  Would be happy to demo the HE-6, or loan them out once I'm done setting up the dynamic rig.

The S7+HD800 was nice but too polite for me.  The S7+HE-6 has that really nice forward and impactful presentation from a Woo with good tube rolling, but with better clarity and definition.  Swapping from the HD800 to the HE-6, it's like the S7 just rolled up its sleeves, swapped the khakis for jeans, and is ready to slam a few beers.