[Anaxilus]

Quote:

Keep listening, without expectations.

 
Well it's obviously too late for that if it was ever even possible.  The fact is they don't match his expectations so I'd doubt expectation bias is working here.  I'd say 70%+ of my h-fi expectations relative to impressions have been largely disappointing.  One reason I tend to give more creedence to less than stellar impressions IME.

 

[poikkeus]

Quote:

I received my black dragon v2 today.  I'm not sure what to think of it.  It sounds different that is for sure.  It sounds airy to me.  I guess it's slightly darker, but it's hard to tell since the cable takes long enough to switch that it doesn't leave a lasting enough impression to really compare properly.  The airy highs aren't really tamed.  The best way I can describe it is that they are farther out there.  Airy.  
 
I'm sort of at a loss because my experience doesn't match a single description I've read about it.

I'm very interested in your detailed reactions, since I've been contemplating a cable swap.  

 

[Windsor]

Quote:

I received my black dragon v2 today.  I'm not sure what to think of it.  It sounds different that is for sure.  It sounds airy to me.  I guess it's slightly darker, but it's hard to tell since the cable takes long enough to switch that it doesn't leave a lasting enough impression to really compare properly.  The airy highs aren't really tamed.  The best way I can describe it is that they are farther out there.  Airy.  
 
I'm sort of at a loss because my experience doesn't match a single description I've read about it.

 
With the Black Dragon fitted, the biggest difference I notice is the increased bass impact over the stock cable. Do you hear any change in bass impact?

 

[TWIFOSP]

Not really.  I tested with quite a few different bass sounds from electronica, to bass guitar, to classical tuba sections and the bass sounded relatively identical to me.  Again a proper A/B here is difficult because the swapping of the cable takes time.  But in that 15 seconds, any changes to the bass aren't apparent enough to stick with me which means they are extremely close if not similar. 
 
The most change apparent to me, or at least the change I am most sensitive to, was the airy separation of the highs, which I am not particularly fond of at all.
 
I am going to stop a/bing it and just listen to it for a couple days straight and go back to the stock cable to see what I notice.
Quote:

 
With the Black Dragon fitted, the biggest difference I notice is the increased bass impact over the stock cable. Do you hear any change in bass impact?

 

[Windsor]

Not really.  I tested with quite a few different bass sounds from electronica, to bass guitar, to classical tuba sections and the bass sounded relatively identical to me.  Again a proper A/B here is difficult because the swapping of the cable takes time.  But in that 15 seconds, any changes to the bass aren't apparent enough to stick with me which means they are extremely close if not similar. 
 
The most change apparent to me, or at least the change I am most sensitive to, was the airy separation of the highs, which I am not particularly fond of at all.
 
I am going to stop a/bing it and just listen to it for a couple days straight and go back to the stock cable to see what I notice.

 
OK. Maybe the Black Dragon just needs some burn-in.

 

[janvaljan]

Hello,
 
 

[size=1.2em] Red Wine Audio Isabellina HPA LFP-V Edition[/size]

I would appriciate the recommendations RWA Isabellina for Sennheiser HD800,
 
Actually i am thinking of upgrading my system with a more compact system if possible,
i came accros to a sale for RWA Isabellina, i have read some on web and match of this
system with hifiman or lcd2 headphones seem fantastic. Do you recomend this one
especially for Sennheiser HD 800 ? Waiting for your recommendations? Thanks..

 

[Anaxilus]

Quote:
 
I personally don't like it.  I find it anything but transparent which is the whole point of the HD800.  I am not a fan at all.

 

[Radio_head]

x2 (I don't know if the version I heard was LFP though)

 

[Anaxilus]

Quote:

(I don't know if the version I heard was LFP though)

same

 

[Radio_head]

I know it's a different battery but I wasn't sure if there were other differences.  Guess not.  

 

[Anaxilus]

Quote:

I know it's a different battery but I wasn't sure if there were other differences.  Guess not.  

Lol, I meant I haven't heard that version either.  >.<

 

[Radio_head]

Wow I need to get more sleep... The other thing is how much value their products lose.  Tmoney had an Isabella for sale for ... a year? A couple thousand off or so with no takers.  I'm still not sure whether he sold it or not.

 

[MorbidToaster]

Why is this? I've noticed it as well and I don't understand why the loss is so huge on their stuff specifically. 
 
Quote:

Wow I need to get more sleep... The other thing is how much value their products lose.  Tmoney had an Isabella for sale for ... a year? A couple thousand off or so with no takers.  I'm still not sure whether he sold it or not.

 

[sphinxvc]

He did.  Agree with both of you on the Isabellina too.  
 
Also, it had a higher noise floor than my Zodiac by a good bit.  So much for batteries being the answer.

 

[Radio_head]

Replying to MT: I think one reason is the 30 day return policy - many users will try it and return it, making less demand in the used market (and I guess less supply as well because these same people don't end up selling, they just return.)
 
Another reason is the upgrades such as the LFP/smart battery/balanced headphone stage etc, which discourage those looking on the used market because they'll have to spend another thousand (or whatever the amount is) to have a unit comparable to the one currently on the market.
 
RWA products are also largely used among the speaker crowd (audiocircle, audiogon, etc) who tend to sell at steeper discounts than Head-Fi FS listings.  This eventually drives used prices down here as well.
 
Lastly, I just don't think demand is that high these days compared to some other (similarly priced) products