Some thoughts on the Liquid Gold:


I had already spent some time with the proto so it wasn't coming out of left field, but it did do some things differently than I had remembered which is where I'll start as most other things stayed the same.


With the kind of power this puts out, I kind of expected the production version (in balanced mode which has higher max output, I only heard SE with the proto) to have a lot of grunt, to punch like an underdog boxer after a montage.  This kind of amp is fun, especially at meets (think Dark Star) but usually I end up gravitating towards something that has a presentation I enjoy.  Luckily, the LAu was not like that at all - it was not at all one of those ripped guys who wear muscle shirts so that everyone can know it - its like a ripped guy in a suit who moves with obvious power and grace but doesn't exert himself unless the situation calls for it.


I've now confused myself with too many metaphors, so I'll be clearer- it has a very smooth presentation, yet scales with harder and harder to drive headphones and barely breaks a sweat (though it does run hot.)  I kind of think of it as a speaker amp with higher fidelity at lower levels.


I heard reports of some noise (hiss) with sensitive headphones.  I tested it down to the HP1000 single ended, and didn't hear anything that wasn't part of the recording.  I guess its performance is even better balanced, so I wouldn't worry about noise unless using IEMs which were the only thing I didn't love love with this amp.  Orthos, as expected, were really really good, and (somewhat unexpectedly) the HD800 also performed tremendously and the LAu did not seem like it was constraining its abilities.


Between the two gain switches there is a good amount of play with most headphones at normal source output levels. 


Build quality is very good.  Its a slightly different approach in a couple ways from first generation Cavalli products - I'd say this generation is more form following function.  Venting is as needed instead of arranged into a logo (which was a nice aesthetic touch with the first couple products), and whereas early products were cunningly free of visible external screws, the LAu top plate is studded with them.  This is for a reason though - the internal heat sinks on the boards are actually drilled straight into the chassis - this enables the entire chassis (front panel excluded) to act as a heat sink.  It also contributes to the LAu's compact nature - this amp is actually much smaller than I expected to be, and while its dense its not super heavy.


Nits - the pot is a little scratchy as it moves but this is easily remedied and obviously won't be present with the production units.  One odd thing I noticed was when listening to Pavarotti with the HD800's balanced - it was really faint and sounded like it was coming from very far away - turned out the switch on the back was set to the wrong balanced input.  Switched to the correct one and instantly blew out my eardrums.  I thought it odd that I was hearing something, however faint, when set to the other input.  I haven't made this mistake before so I have no idea how regular it is or if it will be present in production amps.


For those of you hesitant due to price - I just logged onto Cavalli's site and it looks like they are now eligible for billmelater.  The possibilities...


I had a very instructive week together with the GS-X V2 and DSHA-1 but that is a conversation for a different day.

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Don and I had another micro meet recently featuring the Liquid Gold.  Well, it was supposed to feature the Gold and the Lightning/009.  But RD's modded T50RP's (true, through the Gold) took center stage for me, partially because I had never heard them but mostly because they were awesome.  Bass articulation particularly stood out as being really good, and they were very easy to listen to for a long time with a variety of music - which is something a lot of "higher fidelity" headphones don't have.  I don't know if he ever plans on putting these out in one form or another, but if he does I'll be that guy who waits in line overnight for one in full costume (pantomime elephant with real fake excrement.)