Meier OPERA Owners - Page 8

I have a pair of SR125's but went for the 650's when upgrading instead of some higher end Grados because I wanted something a little more allround. Right now I'm using a Harmony Design Ear 9 with them and I think it works fairly well for rock. If someone could give me a small comparison of the sound character of Opera vs. Ear 9 that would be awsome, but since the Ear 9 is quite unusual outside of Sweden (and nearby countries) I guess that's not bound to happen any time soon.

Has anyone compared the Operas DAC to the ones in HeadRooms amps? Is it better or worse than the Desktop version?

The Opera can rock. Oh yes, my friend, IT CAN ROCK!!! I think the comments above that the Opera is above all a neutral amp are spot on. But is also a powerful amp with all kinds of dynamic swing so serves uptempo and heavy music very well. I'm using it with Denon D5000s and an IMOD and this combo can sound downright threatening with the right tracks. Neutral, yes. Soulless, no.

best,

o

Can anyone post or point to the picture of Opera internals?

Thanks

Hi,

My library is quite eclectic, for instance, Neil Youngs "Year of the horse" or Deep Purple "Made in Japan" are presented in their full glory only dependent upon the recording in these cases, the Opera doesn't add anything to these and is far more clear, agile, dynamicaly detailed and neutral, than the Heed or Mapletree which I owned.

Only aside pieces of its price class and above could it be then considered to the "slight" side of smooth and relatively then perhaps warmer. I must say, moving from the Mapletree to it, was a sonic awakening in terms of the "warmth factor" lost, only similar in my experience of going from the HD-650s to the K-701s or similar also, from the 701s to the Beyers 990s.... I would say it is better described to be neutral unless one were to be doing sided by side A/Bs to an amp of its own class, only then could an ever slight nod be given to it being then warmer, which then, that too would then be dependent upon the source feeding the amps...

However, IMO on those recordings I list, this slight hint to warmth and fogiveness characteristic, and all else the Opera does makes those recordings a better detailed listen than I've ever heard...

What is more important is the quality of the specific recordings at this level of DAC/Amp IMO than hints of the particular tending toward either side of neutral; But as a package the Opera has brought pleasurable listenability to my more difficult recordings.... And lets not even begin to speak of the Mapleshade label

Double post

Thanks. BTW granodemostasa review is quite interesting too.

Why did you sell yours, going balanced?

I doubt i would be overtly impressed either if i were the owner of a $1800 amp (GSX) or Zana Deux and a $2000 source, (or is he using a stello DA100?)... In any event, I would expect easily detectable sonic advantages to be afforded in those cases which one would become use to. And even then, I question the degree of those differences to be quantifiable in the debated terms he so chose as examples. I know Classical music in general has simply come alive for me with the opera, whereas before it sounded, well as he describes comparing the Opera vs GSX in fact!

Although, I fully accept valid critisims can and will be made of this Opera, and Headwise should be read for critisims of gear over there for sure . Being a critic is a part of the hobby apparently and they do it well reflecting a great amount of experience culminating in the gathering of some top notch rigs after a long upgrade path no doubt.

However too, I'm sure I could so prefer another DAC and amp, however I am not prepared to go to the top shelf in terms cost, for greatly deminishing returns. (At this point)

Does the "Z" high output impedence jack result in more bass in a headphone? Maybe i'm reading into this wrong, but i've heard that you can increase the bass in a headphone when you increase the impedence.