Bell-like treble, these really tintinnabulate (man I love that word). :bell:

Gorgeous cable, @awesomenatorrad! What is the awg on that skollvar, looks like a sturdy but beautiful rope? Also, curious what that sleeve color is...looks like it might match my Meze Elite Tungsten to a tee! Thanks and enjoy!

Mullard EZ80, Mullard 6F6GT, Amperex Bugle Boy 12AU7-ECC82 & Sylvania 6Y6GA in UltimatE. Currently the Mullard 6F6GT in the drivers' seat, providing a bit more low end and midrange warmth to the sweet and sparkling highs Sylvanias are known for. A beautiful combination!

Listening to Mozart on piano through Elite as I type...wonderful!!!

I recently head a chance to listen to the Cayin RU7. Sounded excellent, nice R2R organic flavor! If your uncle wants over ear rather than IEM's to pair it with, just make sure they are relatively easy to drive and use a balanced cable to take advantage of RU7's 400 mW balanced output. Options to...

Beautiful, and your sleeving choices for the Silvergarde reflect excellent taste. Here is my sleeved Vykari for Focal Utopia 2022. Sleeving a thick guage cable is no small feat. Trevor always finds a way! :smile_phones:

Very nice, @VanHai, and great photos. There is also a Tesla EL34 with yellow print and factory code 33 (Roznov) rather than 37 (Zavod Trinec). I have both and the Roznov are a bit more refined, although both sound superb! It may be expectation bias as I bought the Roznov after reading this, and...

Per several posts above, WE 396A is TERRIFIC in UltimatE. Highly Recommended for a balanced, uncolored but still expressive and musical driver.

Adding a photo to my above post. I am sure my musical wanderlust seeking holy audiophile grails will recur, but for now I can't imagine sound superior to WE 396A driving the Visseaux 6M6G in Ultimate (Tesla EZ80 rectifier, Mundorf capacitor), out to Meze Elite with Angled Alcantara pads:

Thanks @Mr X! Can you ay a word or two about how Duo pads differ from AA? I am listening to Elite through a tube amp. as I type and struggling to imagine how they could sound any better! :notes: :dt880smile: :notes:

I'm still on my Visseaux 6M6G power tubes but rolled in Western Electric 396A drivers. WOW! It may be that I'm well-rested and happy to not be working after a long week but man everything is sounding wonderful. :notes: :k701smile:

Pair it with a Donald North Amp (DNA)! :ksc75smile:

In general if an IEM has a dynamic driver it needs a vent, whereas all BA sets often do not. I stay away from the latter.

Interesting, I was concerned that IEM's would worsen my tinnitus but have found that as long as they are vented and I keep volume reasonable, they do not. I do stay away from closed back over-ears though except for the Bathys wireless.

I am also interested in how the new Duo pads that shipped with Empyrean II will perform (comfort and sound) with Elite!