K1000 Mega Meet In San Francisco -- 5/26/07 - Head-Fi: Covering Headphones, Earphones and Portable Audio

Voltron · 05-27-2007, 01:40 AM

We are just wrapping up the meet and I will be posting impressions and pics tonight. We had an epic collection of amps, cables, and K1000s and a great deal of fun. Watch this space for impressions of the Woo Audio WA-5, Moth Audio 300B Paradigm, Red Wine Audio Signature 30, Pass Labs Aleph 30, and two Dussun integrated amps from China via AAA Audio. Plus, we had two Equinox hardwired K1Ks, a Moon Audio Silver Dragon hardwire K1K and many Moon Audio tails in play. Lots of thoughts to follow.

tyrion · 05-27-2007, 01:53 AM

Originally Posted by Voltron

We are just wrapping up the meet and I will be posting impressions and pics tonight. We had an epic collection of amps, cables, and K1000s and a great deal of fun. Watch this space for impressions of the Woo Audio WA-5, Moth Audio 300B Paradigm, Red Wine Audio Signature 30, Pass Labs Aleph 30, and two Dussun integrated amps from China via AAA Audio. Plus, we had two Equinox hardwired K1Ks, a Moon Audio Silver Dragon hardwire K1K and many Moon Audio tails in play. Lots of thoughts to follow.

Very interested in hearing what you guys have to say. Now get to the post office.

blessingx · 05-27-2007, 02:41 AM

Thanks for hosting Al. I now know a new pizza crust!

Between the Moth and the Woo (with upgraded tubes) it would really depend on the music on which I'd choose. Body was there with the Moth, but clarity was won by the Woo. The Red Wine, which I had a slightly lower opinion of than its rep, when first heard elsewhere, really held its own especially when... the big surprise of the meet, Ori's X-2 ICs ... were added. I've never heard an IC have such an impact on the sound, and I mean that in the best possible way. Great to hear three such strong amps. I didn't spend much time with the others so can't comment there.

lmilhan · 05-27-2007, 04:19 AM

Very interesting. I am looking forward to impressions. It's a real shame that none of the budget K-1000 amps made an appearance (Trends TA-10.1, Big Joe, etc). I think you would have been thorouhgly impressed with what those mini-wonders are capable of.

Did Neailpert go mobile again and hit on some muffin tops while sporting the K-1000s? If so, we demand pictures!

Alwayswantmore · 05-27-2007, 04:42 AM

Originally Posted by blessingx

Thanks for hosting Al. I now know a new pizza crust!

BetwOri's X-2 ICs ....

What is the brand and price on the X2?

Icarium · 05-27-2007, 05:43 AM

The X-2 is priced at about 600 for a meter? I think. Made by Ori of Oritek of Oritek modded Zhaolu fame. There is also a cheaper x-1 that is supposedly quite competitive for its price.

All the amps were pretty excellent. As I don't personally own K1000s I couldn't really reach any opinions on particular components. I can just reinforce my initial impression that K1000s with a good amp are quite resolving/detailed/with great soundstage/tonality and most of all, the most textured sounding. While Qualias slightly win out on detail and resolution.... yeah. K1k definitely top tier.

I think, and take this with a large grain of salt, but I liked the Silver Dragon Hardwired a lot but the Equinox slightly more but given the potential heard with Black Dragon tail, hardwired Black Dragon would take the top spot. Of course I heard this all through different amps (Same source/interconnects) so... yeah. The Silver Dragon'd K1000s definitely don't sound overly bright like you'd think since K1000s are a somewhat bright headphone, but instead good and very detailed. Equinox just had a slightly better balance over all.

Voltron · 05-27-2007, 08:08 AM

The Attendees:

Voltron
Ori
bobcn
blessingx
Icarium
Icarium's buddy
NeilPeart
neilvg
Grahame

The amps:

Woo Audio WA-5

Moth Audio 300B Paradigm

Red Wine Audio Signature 30

Pass Labs Aleph 30

Dussun V6i, 150 W/Ch Integrated Amp

Dussun DS99, 100 W/Ch Integrated Amp

Ori's 3-ch switchbox and X-2 cables that made comparisons clean

The K1000s:

Alwayswantsmore's new Moon Audio Silver Dragon v.2 Hardwire

utep10's and Voltron's Stefan Audio Art Equinox Hardwire (not pictured)

Plus Moon Audio Silver Dragon, Silver Dragon Special Edition, and Black Dragon Tails

The Source:

EMM Labs CDSD SE (Transport) and DCC2 SE (DAC/Pre)

The Interloper Setup:

The next room had a little non-K1000 diversion made up of an Onix CD-1 feeding through the Lavry DA-10 or Ori-modded Zhalou DAC and then into the Eddie Current EC/SS for HD600 and HD650

Ori also brought his vintage Harmon-Kardon tuner with amplifier built right into the box. With this in the setup the K1000s were back in the mix and the interlopers were displaced.

The Candids:

Most of the gear

The line-up

4 K1000s playing the same track from 4 different amps + 1 Poser.
L to R: Voltron, Ori, NeilPeart, Grahame, neilvg

Mega Max Beckman gets into the act

NeilPeart can't stop drumming.

The sad moment Bob realized that he had to replace his ICs with Oritek X-2s

The meet was on Miles Davis' birthday (would have been 81) and I kept saying we had to play some Miles music, such as the amazing Cellar Door Session pictured. Didn't happen to my knowledge.

And here's the moment when Bob realized that the Equinox was still the hardwire of choice for him even with the cost, the wait, and the hassle of finding someone to hardwire it.

Icarium thinking that this K1000 setup seems so Qualia-like.

Tubes. Just because.

Icarium · 05-27-2007, 08:21 AM

Btw Al thanks for hosting it! Definitely some planning went into setting it up and the setting was great! I owe you money for pizza ;p

It's ironic but on the way back my buddy got a ticket for doing 80 laf :/ Silly stealth all black police cars.

Voltron · 05-27-2007, 09:22 AM

Oh well, impressions will have to wait for tomorrow. Where is everybody else? Post your thoughts fellas!

Alwayswantmore · 05-27-2007, 01:35 PM

This is a unique tread for K1000 owners, in that you had so much great gear collected in one controlled environment. Thanks for doing this.

I have not yet seen or heard my new SDv2 hardwire, but from initial comments, the SAA appears to have a good start out of the gate ... could attendees please expand on what they heard when comparing the two hardwires -- how is the treble / bass balance?? How about resolution and soundstage?

Also, from best I can tell from the pictures, the SDv2 sure looks pretty. So if I told you my SDv2 “promotes world peace, and won the swim suit contest,” would the SDv2 be crowned the winner?

Did the Sig 30 – when matched with the same cables – hold it’s own against the pricier glass-powered competition? Again, any additional details on where the sound differed would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks, Kent