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First listening impressions/reviews of Q1 2009 Purity Audio Kicas and Caliente Group buy

post #1 of 131
3/17/09 at 3:44am
Thread Starter 
I'd like to dedicate this thread to first impressions/reviews of the 2009 (first quarter) Purity Audio Kicas and Caliente Group buy; this group consists of:
  • Got Milk? - Caliente
  • oinkbanana - Caliente
  • iGig - Caliente
  • tescosamoa - Caliente
  • JGP08 - Caliente
  • greymoor - Caliente
  • tune_in - Caliente
  • Mecc - Caliente
  • rantamplann - Caliente
  • Mik - Caliente
  • Lamenthe - Caliente
  • Ripley - K.I.C.A.S.
  • hoodlum - Caliente
  • circuit8 - Caliente
  • bobpensik - Caliente
  • taikero - K.I.C.A.S.
  • warrior05 - Caliente
  • Powerslave - Caliente
  • ROBBOR - K.I.C.A.S.
  • Teh Flajj - Caliente
  • schoenberg - Caliente
  • BushGuy - Caliente
  • meusikfrek - Caliente
  • jsedgewick - Caliente
  • Xan7hos - Caliente

So go ahead and feel free to input your feedback, and happy listening.
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post #2 of 131
3/18/09 at 1:23pm
Thread Starter 

all of my own impressions will go in this thread slot



For reference: Describing Sound - A Glossary
Critical Listening Setup
CDs/FLACs --> Foobar2000 --> ASIO --> NI G-Rig 3 K-Board --> KICAS Caliente --> Senns HD650
HD650/Caliente Pre Burn-in Base Evaluation

Preface

This base evaluation of the KICAS caliente amp/HD650 combo, serves not only in documenting my preliminary listening impressions, but also to log my transition from the world of mere mortals -- and their inferior sound making machines – to that of a far-reaching, shimmering, ethereal landscape; a dimension were night and day exist together; were its encounter is perceived like that of a dream within a dream; a world in which people wear hats on their feet and hamburgers eat people; a…

Anyways, this is my first piece of Hi-Fi gear, along with my HD650 headphones, and I’d like to jot down my observations -- strictly in relation to music listening -- of what it’s like to go from things like ipods, cheap plastic ear buds, crappy pc sound cards, run of the mill CD players, and general purpose home theater receivers. I may include here a synopsis of my last regular, mundane, headphone listening experience through some of these aforementioned items I have lying around my place. Please stand by. ~3/18/09

Base Evaluation

So I spent a few minutes A/B'ing the caliente with my A/V receiver's headphone out, and -- without any burn in what so ever --note an already marked improvement over the A/V unit. There isn't much more to say presently, other than that of a dedicated headphone amp being better than a generic headphone output, specially for the HD650s -- duh. Both headphone and amp are burning in now, so the only question remaining is, "what improvement will be revealed after a good 100 hours?" ~3/23/09
HD650/Caliente Post 100 hour Burn-in Impressions

...
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post #3 of 131
3/18/09 at 4:11pm
damn teaser, now deliver please
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post #4 of 131
3/18/09 at 5:10pm
...and the impressions are?
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post #5 of 131
3/18/09 at 9:04pm
Thread Starter 
hehe, I have not received the amp yet, it's en route; I should have it by Friday or Saturday I'm guessing.

I started my post above just to get my thoughts in order, thus, it is pending. I'll have my base eval. most likely by next week, just to see how much things change after burn-in. Both headphone and amp will be basically fresh, although I have listened to the Hd650 though my HT receiver and X-fi sound card, but that doesn't really count in my opinion.
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post #6 of 131
3/18/09 at 10:06pm
can we have jackets?!


I'll be away from my place for a while, so I imagine I won't be able to get a hold of it until Tuesday of next Week, but rest assured, Spring Break is amongst us and I'll have plenty of burn in/listening time to contribute.

On a side note, anyone have suggestions for music to test out on this? I listen mostly to alternative/rock. I'll take any suggestions/genres

Very excited!
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post #7 of 131
3/18/09 at 10:57pm
Thread Starter 
^Personally, I have a wide selection ranging from classical, rock, metal, classic rock, 80's, jazz, blues, electronic, ambient, and that sound effect from the dramatic chipmunk.
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post #8 of 131
3/19/09 at 12:44am
I picked it up at lunch today and have been listening for an hour now. It sound very good but that is as far as I willing to go until it has had 100+ hours of burn-in.

I will be providing an indepth review once I have had a chance to thoroughly compare it with my PH100 and VHP2. Listening will be done with my K601/K701 headphones. I also have an SPL meter that I used to test my home system and a frequency sweep test CD from my car stereo competition days (almost 20 years ago ). Hope to be able to provide both subjective and objective comments.

You'll need to be patient.
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post #9 of 131
3/19/09 at 1:06am
Im eager to hear your impressions against the VHP-2 Hoodlum Do you run the VAC-1 with your VHP-2..??
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post #10 of 131
3/19/09 at 12:39pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Townyj View Post
Im eager to hear your impressions against the VHP-2 Hoodlum Do you run the VAC-1 with your VHP-2..??
No I don't.
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post #11 of 131
3/19/09 at 1:57pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by CompressionalFlagellation View Post
hehe, I have not received the amp yet, it's en route; I should have it by Friday or Saturday I'm guessing.
Ahaaa! Just a bit early with impressions thread... No problem.
...as long as you keep us updated.
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post #12 of 131
3/19/09 at 6:17pm
I am dying to see comparisons to the Heed Canamp. Particularly about the soundstaging or presentation or what you would call it
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post #13 of 131
3/20/09 at 3:39pm
PICS!!
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post #14 of 131
3/20/09 at 4:10pm
I just got mine in the mail!! toronto to montreal in 2.5 days..... you might be getting yours today as well.
will post pics and review later.
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post #15 of 131
3/21/09 at 4:42pm
first first impressions are that it isn't loud enough.
i'll try different sources and see if that improves

got things set up and i'm 'burning in' ... kind of awkward that i'm using open back headphones for that.
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Head-Fi.org › Forums › Equipment Forums › Headphone Amps (full-size) › First listening impressions/reviews of Q1 2009 Purity Audio Kicas and Caliente Group buy