ChiUniFi 6 Meet Impressions Thread

[Skylab]

Let me start by saying how much I really appreciate Steve/AudioAddict's incredible dedication and hard work making this happen. It was a really great meet!

As usual, I spent more time talking to folks than listening to music. Lots of folks I have seen at many meets for many years...not going to name names, but really enjoyed seeing you guys again. And I had some great chats with some folks I had never met in person before...really enjoyed that as well. Got some great new music ideas too!

I really enjoyed the Eddie Current Balancing Act. Had never heard one before - mighty impressive.

The equally as impressive TTVJ Millet 307A

Finally heard the production version of the EF-6, driving the HE-6 of course. Sounded very good, and certainly drove the HE-6 with great authority and seriously deep and powerful bass:

I brought the Decware Mini-Torii and the AT W3000ANV - will look forward to other people's comments, but of course I think it sounded great

DBel's prototype Liquid Glass was VERY impressive sounding, I thought...one of the things I enjoyed the most at the show, actually.

The ever popular Liquid Fire, which has sounded good at all the meets I have heard it at.

Analog and digital sources from Burmester were beautiful looking and sounded great with the Apex Peak/Volcano used for the headphone amp. I'm very familiar with the P/V, and I think highly of them. I first listened to the Burmester / Apex combo on the Sennheiser HD-700, and heard some good things but thought the sound was kind of bright/aggressive. I then plugged in my 3000ANV's, and was much more impressed by the Burmester stuff. The HD-700 don't sound like my cup of tea.

The Alnic HP-5000 was also very impressive sounding...I want to learn more about and hear more about this amp.

The massive Beta 24 driving the HE-6 from its speaker taps was also awesome:

I also liked what I heard from the Fostex TH-900, but not enough to fork over for a pair, for now. Will need to hear more first.

My son RJ, who has been coming to meets with me since he was 8, is now taller than Ray Samuels (sorry Ray!)

Again, a wonderful meet, sorry I didn't take more pics. But it was all about listening to, and talking about, some awesome headphone gear!

 

[Joedotcom]

This was my first head fi meet, and I was very impressed. Thanks to Rob and Keith for showing me the ropes here.

I only took one photo...

Thanks to everyone who brought fun gear, and worked to organize.

I am looking forward to seeing photos from you other folks and reading your impressions.

-joe

 

[Hibuckhobby]

+1 on sincere thanks to Steve. Nice to put faces with names and good to see you again Rob.
Iloved the Allnic as well as the Apex and Burmeister gear. I preferred the Darkstar to the Liquid Fire...but that's me. I'm already looking at the Eddie Current stuff online. I'm on my ipad, so I'll just say great meet and thanks to all who shared their gear.
Hibuck...

 

[james93]

Def a big thanks to Steve for once again putting together a great time with great items that were raffled off.  This year was a packed house and it was fun to talk with people from past events and meet some new people.  Also to listen to a lot of great gear, like always, and meet Jude.
 
Can't wait til Nov.
 
James
 
I have a question, who was the other person that won the HiFiMan IEM's?

 

[bhd812]

Just got home...wow! WHat a perfectly perfect event! SOOOO Many amazing people I knew before and I just met. For people who book the meet rooms and stuff like that I am telling you you just can't get any easier than how Northbrook Sherton deals with you, So easy and laid back. Steve and I finally got the raffle down to a T, like it was a perfect line of prizes going out without any issues. He took the place of announcing this year and I just handed the gear to him. Steve you just made that event for me totally! thank you all for coming and supporting this little thing. Can't believe it is still going, I would of never of thought it 6 years ago on the night of the brain storming coffee driven craze I was in..So Thankful for everyone...seriously.
 
There was lots of talk about the next event and we all pretty much agreed to do one in November without such a focus on the raffle but instead just to have another meet in the area (Chicago seems to lack lots of meets). funny part is this upcoming one will be 6 years to the very day the first Chi-Uni-Fi was held. And like my thoughts back then I still  wouldnt want to spend my birthday doing anything else or with anyone else...you people are that amazing to me. 
 
 
more later....

 

[driver 8]

Placeholder Post
 
Impressed with:
 
SR009's on Ray's rig
Sony MDR R10's
Liquid Fire
EAR HP4 !!!
Eddie Current Balancing Act; more so than the Liquid Fire. I think I need this amp someday.
TTVJ Millet 307A
 
Okay:
 
HE-6's, I think I might actually like the 500's more.
 
Underwhelmed by:
 
Grado PS1000's
AKG K1000's
HD700's
 
I didn't listen to much that I felt like I wouldn't be interested in.
 
I forgot to try the PS500's and the Jade's. 
 
Things I learned:
 
- Interconnects can actually make a difference
- I would rather have an Eddie Current than a Liquid Fire, which is a relief.
- Nothing's truly mind blowing compared to what I own now, which is also a relief, but I could do quite a bit better.
- My WA22 isn't that great :/

 

[liamstrain]

Thanks everyone for a great meet! This was my first, but I'll be back for more. 
 
Like Driver 8, with the exception of some way out of reach summit-fi gear, I was very pleased with how my gear held up. Makes me double appreciative of this great community for helping me make good decisions. 
 
I'll post some photos later. Two wow's for me: Stax Omega O2 (edit - they were 009-s, that explains it) on Ray's A-10 thunderbolt (and honorable mention to his pristine Sony R10 - I've never had a chance to hear those before), and I was also quite pleased to hear how well the Hifiman Orthos performed on a wide variety of amplifiers. That might be my next (last? right...) move. 
 
I was sad I couldn't stay longer. The massive table of tube gear (Balancing Act, 307A, Ear H4) will have to wait for another time. It was impressive to see that all in one place though. 
 
Thanks Steve, Billy, Jude, and everyone who made this a great experience for me. Good to meet you all. 

 

[dBel84]

Quote:

DBel's prototype Liquid Lightning was VERY impressive sounding, I thought...one of the things I enjoyed the most at the show, actually.

 
One quick correction - That was the "Liquid Glass" to be released in the Fall ( in suitable commercial attire ) , the Liquid Lightning is the stat amp which is getting great reviews too. 
 
Really great to meet the MidWest crowd at last. Clearly a group who have met over the years and formed good friendships. Ray says he is cooking for everyone and holding the meet in his home ( hope you don't mind the poetic latitude Ray ) This was my sons first meet and he brought his friend along. They had a blast and were very excited by all the gear they got to see and try. Pity we had to leave early as they had been eyeing up the raffle table. 
 
My highlight was finally getting to spend time chatting to a few folk I have interacted with over the years. Jude in particular, very good to share the experience with you. Rob, thanks for bringing those Brimars and good to finally meet you too. This could go on forever, so many cool folk in the midwest. 
 
I finally got to hear the HD800 do their magic, prior experience has been a little underwhelming. Fang's new player is really very sweet, it felt good in your hands and the music it put out was equally enjoyable. 
 
I have a few pics I will put up later. 
 
..dB

 

[purrin]

Looks like you guys had a great meet. I would have liked to hear the Mini-Torii with the W3000ANVs. I've heard them separately, and I imagine that would have been an interesting combination.

 

[dallan]

I want your sons shirt Rob.

 
Edit-found it on ebay.

 

[Dubstep Girl]

wow looks like an awesome meet, really wish i could have gone 

 

[bhd812]

wow looks like an awesome meet, really wish i could have gone 

Come to the November 17th event!

 

[Skylab]

One quick correction - That was the "Liquid Glass" to be released in the Fall ( in suitable commercial attire ) , the Liquid Lightning is the stat amp which is getting great reviews too. 

Really great to meet the MidWest crowd at last. Clearly a group who have met over the years and formed good friendships. Ray says he is cooking for everyone and holding the meet in his home ( hope you don't mind the poetic latitude Ray ) This was my sons first meet and he brought his friend along. They had a blast and were very excited by all the gear they got to see and try. Pity we had to leave early as they had been eyeing up the raffle table. 

My highlight was finally getting to spend time chatting to a few folk I have interacted with over the years. Jude in particular, very good to share the experience with you. Rob, thanks for bringing those Brimars and good to finally meet you too. This could go on forever, so many cool folk in the midwest. 

I finally got to hear the HD800 do their magic, prior experience has been a little underwhelming. Fang's new player is really very sweet, it felt good in your hands and the music it put out was equally enjoyable. 

I have a few pics I will put up later. 

..dB

Donald was great meeting you as well! Sorry about the Liquid Confusion

 

[Roscoeiii]

A great meet. Got held up picking up new speakers, so could only make the last couple hours. So sadly didn't get to listen to as much as I would have liked. Eh, it happens, and there will always be November.
 
Anyway, SkyLab (great to finally meet you BTW) didn't comment on his Torii Mini, so I will. It was fantastic sounding. Very impressive amp. Also nice that it was paired with closed cans so you could hear it with an absence of background noise (a downside to open cans at these meets. Hmmm, maybe something like a quiet hour (or 1/2 hr) could be arranged at a future meet?). But wow, the Torii Mini was fantastic and could do double duty as a speaker amp for sensitive enough speakers. A very appealing proposition.
 
I also really liked meeting Fang again, and the amp and new portable he brought both sounded excellent. Love a good Class A amp.
 
I was also glad to have a chance to listen to Jude's Dragonfly DAC (great meeting you too, Jude BTW). Very nice sound in the listening I did late in the day. Jude I look forward to your write-up and hope that other folks who may have A/Bed it with other DACs at the show can post their impressions. A very cool DAC, that seems a great combo of features with quality sound.
 

 

[Audio Addict]

Let me first thank everyone for coming out to this sixth annual ChiUniFi event.  I haven't been to all but I think this one of the largest events we've held.  Maybe it is the June date vs. November but whatever the reason, thank all of you for coming out.
 
Secondly, let me thank the supporters of ChiUniFi which included:
 
 
Head-Fi (without you, this would have never been possible), Anne Bisson, Aurisonics, Black Cat Cable, Dev Avidon and Daves Cable, Halie Loren, Hammertone Audio, Head Direct / HiFiMan, HeadRoom, Highend Electronics, JH Audio, On Song Audio Distribution, Ray Samuels Audio, Spider Cables, Sound Earphones, Todd the Vinyl Junkie, TR Audio, Tweak Studio and WyWires
 
Have to admit that I only spent limited time listening to all the great gear as I seemed to spend most of the time having interesting discussions with various attendees.
 
I did have a chance to take a few pictures that I have uploaded to our ChiUniFi facebook page.  I think you should be able access them without being a facebook member.  I will try and work on getting them in the thread.  
 
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=oa.404248752958642&type=1