red wine audio isabellina hpa - Page 2

Great Vinnie, may be what I am looking for. That is in black instead of the silver i170 I own. Plus the size of the Onkyo is a bit flatter and thus out of the way. Did I mention it has a door to prevent the dust from entering the dock area?

Did you guys get the Onkyo ? Any reports ?
thanks

Got it! I brought it to the NY headfi meet this past weekend, and had it powered by the internal battery of the Isabellina HPA (we just had to make a different cable for it, and add a 5V linear regulator in the HPA). Works great and sounds great!

I really hope the ND-S1 makes it to the North American market soon - it is a really good value. I'll be doing a detailed comparison of it vs. the Wadia iTransport soon - this is in another thread. See: http://www.head-fi.org/forums/f7/onk...ml#post6162643

More info soon...

Vinnie

Hope this helps:
http://www.head-fi.org/forums/6163646-post110.html

Forgot to mention:

During NY Headfi meet, I had the opportunity to listen to the prototype Audeze LCD-2's powered by the Isabellina HPA:

Audez'e | Introducing Audez’e LCD-2 headphones

This combo sounded FANTASTIC! Alex mentioned that they hope to be in production by the end of the year. For $650 - the LCD-2 is a STEAL. I am definitely getting a pair for myself.

I think they are finalizing the headband and will also make it with a detachable headphone cable (but the stock cable that they are using sure sounded good!).

I really loved this pairing and am looking forward to receiving my LCD-2s and will post more about them and some pics after I get to spend extended time with them teamed up with the Isabellina HPA + iTransport (or onkyo ND-S1) combo...

Best regards,

Vinnie

Its time to write review about this amazing item.

How could anyone do that without listening to music.
At the moment my cans vibrate Rammstein vibe, and I have goosebumps all over my body - it's so good. Yes, music its good, but Isabellina HPA gives the best experience.

I've read that HD650 has "veil" effect, well yes sometimes it does, but the sound out of Isabellina HPA just break through it. The sound of electronic music makes you dizzy (in a good way) and you want more and more.

In my honest opinion, I don't think that I will upgrade to any new amp/dac anytime soon (it has been almost a year that I have Isabellina HPA).

Hi Carm,

I apologize for missing your post and not responding sooner (I was in the middle of moving RWA to a new building around that time - excuses, excuses! ).

I really appreciate your feedback and glad you are enjoying your HPA!

Thank you,

Vinnie

Isabellina HPA: A musician’s perspective…

All,

I like to share feedback that I received via email from a musician who owns an Isabellina HPA.

NOTE: The following letter was unsolicited and is reprinted with permission. The author is a paying customer, and not an audio critic.

I want thank Chris for writing and allowing me to post his letter - It really made my day!

Cheers!

Vinnie

Nice comment by Chris and it matches my experience with the Isabellina HPA. BTW Vinnie, we need to talk.

Any indication which of those two headphones he was using while listening to the reviewed Ahmad Jamal album, or which he prefers/believes more closely "captures and mixes fabulously and reproduces faithfully" in general?

I'm always curious about the opinions, and gear ownership, of experienced musicians who area also audiophiles.

Hi Mrarroyo,

Thanks!

As you probably know, I moved Red Wine Audio last month - my new phone number is listed on the "contact" section of the Red Wine Audio website, and my email has stayed the same. Looking forward to catching-up with you soon!


Hi jpleg,

Good question! I emailed Chris and asked him your question. When I hear back, I'll post. BTW - I'm setting up a listening room in my new shop. Since you're local, you'll have to come up sometime to listen

Best regards,

Vinnie

Ok Vinnie, sent you an email. Look forward to discussing the Isabella upgrade with you. Thanks.

Congrats on the new locale, Vin. I will have to make time to come by to see/hear the listening room!

Hi Jpleg,

Vinnie asked permission to post the letter i sent him and I'm glad he did so on this forum, because this is where i discovered RWA equipment in the first place. To answer your question, the AkG's are what I was referring to in particular. I had the cable replaced by Moon audio and while the Edition 8's are great, they feel a little compressed to me on the lowend and i'm not sure why. The only way that i can explain that is that they sound like some of the nice compressors we use in the studio to fatten things up, which i find great for certain music that wants color (drums on funk tracks, hip hop lowend etc.) But my AKGs with the HPA - are wide open and transparent right across the spectrum. Do pickup the Ahmad Jamal album if you get a chance, its worth a listen and will definitely stretch your system's (and ears!) ability to resolve detail - especially with Manolo's ever so subtle percussion work.

Happy listening !


Chris Fátóyè Theberge
(omoanya)

Thanks, jpelg!

Hi Chris,

Thanks for your post here and letting us know your impressions of your headphones with the HPA, and I'm definitely going to check out that Ahmad Jamal ablum!

All the best,

Vinnie