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Cavalli Audio Liquid Gold with Abyss AB-1266 - Head-Fi TV
Jan 23, 2014 at 1:52 PM Thread Starter Post #1 of 102
jude

jude

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NOTE:  If you can't see the embedded video above, please CLICK HERE to see the video.​
 
 
In this episode, we take a look at the Cavalli Audio Liquid Gold headphone amplifier and a headphone that works extremely well with it: the Abyss Headphones AB-1266. We also talk about other planar magnetic headphones that pair well with the Liquid Gold, too.
 
 
Products mentioned in the video:

  1. Stax SR-009 electrostatic headphone
  2. Cavalli Audio Liquid Gold headphone amplifier
  3. Abyss Headphones AB-1266 planar-dynamic headphone
  4. HiFiMAN EF-6 headphone amplifier
  5. Schiit Audio Mjolnir headphone amplifier
  6. HiFiMAN HE-5 planar-dynamic headphone
  7. Audeze LCD-2 planar-dynamic headphone
  8. Audeze LCD-X planar-dynamic headphone
  9. Audeze LCD-XC closed, planar-dynamic headphone
  10. HiFiMAN EF-6 headphone amplifier
  11. HeadAmp Blue Hawaii SE headphone amplifier
  12. Eddie Current Electra headphone amplifier
  13. Ray Samuels Audio A-10 Thunderbolt headphone amplifier
  14. Woo Audio WES headphone amplifier
  15. Cavalli Audio Liquid Lightning MK II headphone amplifier
 

 

Cavalli Audio Liquid Gold - Head-Fi TV produced by Joseph Cwik and Jude Mansilla
 
 

We will occasionally post Q&A episodes of Head-Fi TV.  If you want to submit any questions (or comments), you can do so via email to tv@head-fi.org.

 
 
Jan 23, 2014 at 2:14 PM Post #2 of 102
biggrin.gif

 
Jan 23, 2014 at 11:34 PM Post #4 of 102
Awesome system Jude and great review! I know you're gonna really miss the Liquid Gold. You own so many headphone systems. I'll be lucky if am able to just afford 1 high end system. Jude will you please review the Chord Hugo soon?
 
Jan 24, 2014 at 4:52 AM Post #5 of 102
Review the HE500 and the Emotiva and comment about it's pairing with it vs any other amp :p (of course considering price too).
 
Jan 24, 2014 at 7:03 AM Post #7 of 102
It would have been funny if you'd said "MY PRECIOUS" while stroking it. 
jecklinsmile.gif

 
Jan 24, 2014 at 8:33 AM Post #8 of 102
Awesome video!! You're trying so hard to contain your excitement and enthusiasm...absolutely hilarious!
 
Jan 24, 2014 at 2:00 PM Post #9 of 102
I wonder why he chose the Abyss Ab 12+Lau over SR009 + BHSE/A10/WES. The stroking part makes me think he's gonna buy it in which case it would be more than the e stat rig.
 
Jan 24, 2014 at 3:57 PM Post #10 of 102
I think he addressed that in his video with his emphasis on physicality.  This is one area where many stats are plagued with (or blessed with depending on perspective,) with the 009 suffering from it in particular - a sort of ethereal nature to the sound that is in stark contrast to the bombastitude of the Abyss.  Some will prefer one presentation over the other, and some can just appreciate both for what they are.
 
It would be more than the electrostatic rig whether he was going to buy it or not.
 
Jan 24, 2014 at 4:00 PM Post #11 of 102
Jude, when you were feeding this how many volts was it getting?  When I fed it the standard 2V I didn't get any noise at all with my most sensitive headphones (HP1000) though I did with my CIEMs.  An adapter with resistors would enable even CIEM use in any case, though some might say that should not be a prerequisite in a kilobuck amp.
 
Jan 25, 2014 at 1:38 AM Post #12 of 102
I really enjoyed this, Jude, well done! Aesthetically, that combo is too Men in Black for my tastes, but I think I'd agree that sonic texture and solidity should be an expectation at this price range. Informative and entertaining video, and I say take the plunge on the Liquid Gold. Why pay all that money for a world class headphone, then spend even a moment thinking about what you're missing? 
o2smile.gif

 
Jan 25, 2014 at 3:21 AM Post #13 of 102
If this headphone will cost only $ 1000 and this amplifier only $ 1000, would you say the same thing with the same enthusiasm? 
Would it still seen as a world class headphone system (like for example the electrostatic headphone Stax-009 with the BHSE amp (at 10 K$) or the system Sennheiser Orpheus (at 16 K$ )?
Finally, the price (justified or not) would it not largely responsible for the prestige of the system?
 
Jan 25, 2014 at 10:42 AM Post #14 of 102
Thank Jude for this presentation.
 
It's funny, because unlike video with Jude and the Stax Sr-009 (http://www.head-fi.org/t/560425/stax-sr-009-best-headphone-ever-made-head-fi-tv-episode-008), in this video of the presentation of the Abyss, nobody dares to wear this headphone it on the head, or even manipulate with both hands. This headphone remains mostly planted right as an I on his pedestal.
Is not, ultimately, a post-industrial art object for rich collector?
 
Jan 25, 2014 at 11:18 AM Post #15 of 102
eric65 said:
  Thank Jude for this presentation.
 
It's funny, because unlike video with Jude and the Stax Sr-009 (http://www.head-fi.org/t/560425/stax-sr-009-best-headphone-ever-made-head-fi-tv-episode-008), in this video of the presentation of the Abyss, nobody dares to wear this headphone it on the head, or even manipulate with both hands. This headphone remains mostly planted right as an I on his pedestal.
Is not, ultimately, a post-industrial art object for rich collector?
Click to expand...

That's a fair assertion, given the inherent status afforded to any top dollar example of a niche market (boutique headphone audio), but I think that Jude addresses this by making a direct comparison in sound quality to the Stax rig, and also by stating that the Abyss is not exactly a looker. Personally, I would be interested in this combination only on SQ, as even the primo Stax earspeakers work better as headphone money clips, given their universal pedigree in this hobby, imho. You're right, though, in that it's often hard to separate perceived value based on a price tag from the reality, given the often incremental differences between headphone rigs at the upper level. 
 
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