Synergistic Research tweaks. I run against the grain here (opposed to burns, OJ, and Anax's earlier experience, but then again the comparison here was two stacks: one stock and the other with the full SR treatment), but I prefer the STOCK setup. The stock setup sounded more resolving and open to me. Luis smiled when I told him that.



I even tried the SR plug thing by itself. Hard to say. Placebo or nocebo effect possible since go close. But I felt stock without the SR plug sounded better a tiny bit, or maybe different. The SR plug seemed to increase blackground, but at expense of fine detail.

So apparently what you and Luis heard isn't the same thing myself, OJ and burns heard. Per Tyll, what you heard is a different unit or it could just be a cosmetic reshell. Perhaps he added 'Cardas' cables to his HT Carbon rig to give it an audiophile disadvantage. 

Either way, it doesn't sound like a simple pass through adapter. That much is evident. So much for a spectrograph telling us what something sounds like.

Not to get too off topic from the show impressions, but I've heard the original HOT at RMAF last year and in home. I heard a larger sense of space and maybe a slightly blacker background. I did measure it with a meter and remember one channel being 2.5 ohms and the other 3 ohms as compared to a 1/8" Grado adapter that measured .5 in both channels. Don't know if the difference in channels cause a slight imbalance that gives a sense of space and I admit I could be fully talking out of my arse with that. Interested to see what the Carbon one goes for price wise and what Tyll thinks of it.

We heard exactly the same as you with myself and OJ totally expecting some sort of mushy rolled off resistor based gizmo. Like I said, it was like going from TRS to XLR which was totally surprising as I bitch about TRS jacks quite a bit. Seems the Carbon didn't perform purr1n and LFF.

Welp, was only able to make it towards the very end of T.H.E. Show, but got to check some things out.

HE400s

IMO has good bass definition. Perhaps a bit on the analytic side of things. The aesthetics shows consistency with the new HiFiMan product line up look, with the exception of the Rolls Royce like T-1000.

A&K 380 (I think)

Not bad at all. Wish they had something other cans to show case their stuffs, but overall seemed to do a decent job. The GUI is pretty decent. Did not monkey around nuff to say if it was stable and glitch free. It's one of those players that I would really hate if it slipped my hands and hit the floor.

Tineo J Horn Speakers

These look awesome. However, they sounded a bit boxy to me. Perhaps it was the stuffs they were playing.



Rockport Avior

These are big and black enough to compensate for most insecurities and feelings of inadequacy. However, I felt they were on the uber-bassy side of things. Perhaps the room was not helping them sound their bestest.



Anat III Studio Signature

Not very impressed. Felt it was a bit of a $107,000/pair bright mess. Possible it was the stuff they were playing. Discussion and measurements can be found here: http://www.stereophile.com/content/yg-acoustics-sonja-13-loudspeaker



G1giya

This speaker goes to show that smurfs are accomplished speaker designers themselves. While not bright, for some reason I felt these had some edginess to it. Just $65,000/pair. And what do you know! a pro review here: http://www.stereophile.com/floorloudspeakers/vivid_audio_g1giya_loudspeaker/index.html



Sony SS-AR1

The Super Sonies - Amaizeballs Reference 1ses made their way to T.H.A. Sho. Again. And again they sounded good. The room was a bit on the too big side of things and these may have sounded better in a smaller conference room. A rare problem, since most other stuff in T.H.E. Joint would have benefited from larger rooms.



MBL 101

I felt these over-grown omni-electrostatic-dynamic-hybrid blenders have the 1960's "The Time Machine" appeal to them. Sound-wise I though they were all over the place. Pretty bright. My best guess is that the show room was not making these any favors.



Harbeth Super HL5 Plus

Ollie Shait! These were bright! Mie unrefined ears did not like.



Sonus Faber Extrema

Not bad. Not bad at all. Perhaps a little on the warm side of things.



Kubotek HSP1C06

This is a single driver full range Japanese speaker cube. Not bad with the material they were using (mostly avoiding bass and treble with old classic stuffs). I think the president of the company (Mr. Kubo?) was there in the room as well. Some scarce info in Japanese here: http://www.stereosound.co.jp/news/article/2012/09/10/12957.html



Riva Stuff

While most folks at T.H.Y. Sheow did their earnest to exhibit the weirdest, most unconventional, gynomic speakers, there in a small room comes to light the tiny Riva. Was very pleased with what I heard. It does not go down to the lowest, deepest, bass notes evar, but it goes fairly deep given it's Chihuahua size. Add to it bluetooth connectivity, integrated rechargeable battery, and more than decent sound and we got a practical distinguished product.



JBL S4700

Wanted to hear the JBL M2, but these were the ones hooked up in their placed. Could not determine how they sound. Rep dude went bananas and started to play earthquake with them.



Revel Salon 2

These were a surprise. I've been wanting to hear this for some time. They rep guys were cool and let me select what to play. First thing that came to mind was Daft Punk. My best guess is that the small room was not making these any favors. LOL! A little too much bass and treble. I dunno.



Quad 57s + Enigma-acoustics sopranino Tweeter

Color me surprised! I liked the sound of this portable gas heater. Perhaps not a ton of low-bass, but bass was there. A little on the warm side of things and apparently no dynamic drivers were used. These are not gynormic either (err... relatively speaking)



And now we move to the cars (my favorite being the Ford GT and Batman's Lambo)

Possible the source was not doing any favors to the 400s. Did hear them out of what they had there at the booth.

Yes. That Quad setup was on the warm side of things. I was expecting anything but that, so it surprised me. Didn't stay there too long to check resolution. I barely made it there. Had to do Mr Mom duties earlier.

Did anyone get a chance to try a > 64 gig card in the AK Jr.? I meant to do that on Sunday, but I got there late and got side-tracked.