currawong said:

I do think about the gear thing a lot -- we do tend to have an interest in what is new and impressive. What it has come down to for me is whether the big spend for that extra few percent of dynamics and detail is worth it. I've started pointing out when I make a video that the important thing is what makes you enjoy listening to the music you like. In my case, my stock car system is actually more enjoyable to listen with for a lot of music I like than my home system, which is far more resolving. A lot of stuff I stream at 128k in the car just sounds like crap when you can hear warts and all in the recording. A lot of stuff sounds even more fantastic though. 

What I like about the Liquid Carbon is how it makes music fun, more like how I enjoy my car system. No fancy stuff, just pure entertainment. I stopped thinking about the gear when listening with it and just enjoyed it. That is what I reckon the best gear does I reckon, whether it be cheap or expensive. That story Warren told about me wanting to finish listening to the track before coming down to dinner was true. Only a few rigs have ever had that effect on me. Am I contributing to the hype? Sure, guilty as charged, but I reckon this one is worth it.   

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That's probably one advantage I see Audio enthusiasts has over PC enthusiasts, subjectivity. PC it can get very objective since we focus so much on frames per second and image quality. Therefore, audio gear can have more priceerformance value over PC building. It's just unfortunate I'm in both side of the fence.

goldendarko said:

warrenpchi said:

 
I would concur.  And services like TIDAL and Qobuz make a computer (or tablet) even more compelling.

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Agreed, even with all of my hi-res music I'd say I still spend about 70% of my listening time on TIDAL. Always trying to find something new (unfortunately for my wallet that statement also applies to gear)

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Right. I spend 85% on Qobuz... But they announced high res streaming for soon (better than CD quality).

currawong said:

I do think about the gear thing a lot -- we do tend to have an interest in what is new and impressive. What it has come down to for me is whether the big spend for that extra few percent of dynamics and detail is worth it. I've started pointing out when I make a video that the important thing is what makes you enjoy listening to the music you like. In my case, my stock car system is actually more enjoyable to listen with for a lot of music I like than my home system, which is far more resolving. A lot of stuff I stream at 128k in the car just sounds like crap when you can hear warts and all in the recording. A lot of stuff sounds even more fantastic though. 

What I like about the Liquid Carbon is how it makes music fun, more like how I enjoy my car system. No fancy stuff, just pure entertainment. I stopped thinking about the gear when listening with it and just enjoyed it. That is what I reckon the best gear does I reckon, whether it be cheap or expensive. That story Warren told about me wanting to finish listening to the track before coming down to dinner was true. Only a few rigs have ever had that effect on me. Am I contributing to the hype? Sure, guilty as charged, but I reckon this one is worth it.   

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Agree with those various comments. I find more enjoyable to hear through headphones using a software managing VST/AU plugins to make the sound more 'speakers' like (soundstage reason) than running after absolute bitperfect-ion.

cladane said:

Agree with those various comments. I find more enjoyable to hear through headphones using a software managing VST/AU plugins to make the sound more 'speakers' like (soundstage reason) than running after absolute bitperfect-ion.

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That's not what he meant….

warrenpchi said:

I'm not.  

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AY! Shut it Warren, you're gorgeous and you know it!

currawong said:

I do think about the gear thing a lot -- we do tend to have an interest in what is new and impressive. What it has come down to for me is whether the big spend for that extra few percent of dynamics and detail is worth it. I've started pointing out when I make a video that the important thing is what makes you enjoy listening to the music you like. In my case, my stock car system is actually more enjoyable to listen with for a lot of music I like than my home system, which is far more resolving. A lot of stuff I stream at 128k in the car just sounds like crap when you can hear warts and all in the recording. A lot of stuff sounds even more fantastic though. 

What I like about the Liquid Carbon is how it makes music fun, more like how I enjoy my car system. No fancy stuff, just pure entertainment. I stopped thinking about the gear when listening with it and just enjoyed it. That is what I reckon the best gear does I reckon, whether it be cheap or expensive. That story Warren told about me wanting to finish listening to the track before coming down to dinner was true. Only a few rigs have ever had that effect on me. Am I contributing to the hype? Sure, guilty as charged, but I reckon this one is worth it.   

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That's the best thing I've heard anyone say about this amp so far. Makes music fun? If your equipment can't make music fun, it ain't worth chewed gum. Glad to hear you guys are getting into the music with this little dude, and it's certainly making me feel a lot better about my purchase. :3 Can't wait to start jamming out to Bobby McFerrin when the Carbon gets here!

estreeter said:

   
/* edit */
 
Beware the extremists in this hobby - they get a kick out of spending your money. 

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Well said!!! Reading the forums is but one type of information input. Going to meets is another. In the end, it is up to each individual to balance the feature sets and perceived sound quality differences to achieve best user experience and overall enjoyment.

gctd said:

   
It's really good price, how are the BurrBrown compared to SabreES9018?

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Sorry, I have not done a comparison with a Sabre DAC. The only basic comparison I've done is Cirrus Logic (AK240) and the BurrBrown (Teac) and I can't tell the difference. Most of my music is 44/16 lossless so I am limited to about 90 dB of dynamic range so I doubt there is much difference between high end DACs at this level. Getting to 96/24 or DSD 2.8 or higher may start getting into subtle differences, but I have not spent enough time with hi rez tracks to really offer an opinion.

elwappo99 said:

Jason has a few posts concerning DSD and why Schiit decided to not implement it in their products (aside from that one dedicated DSD unit). 

Almost all units that are "capable" of DSD in fact just convert the DSD stream to PCM and then process like normal, so there's not anything really gained by this (if there was any SQ difference with DSD). 

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Except for PS Audio DirectStream that converts all PCM To DSD

sathyam said:

Except for PS Audio DirectStream that converts all PCM To DSD

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The NAGRA HD also.

I wonder how the new Idac2 will sound and pair with the LC.

Since I have not yet received my LC and have not listened to the prototype, I think it's the perfect time for my review.
 
Appearance
 
I must say that the black paint makes the LC look a little too much 2-dimensional. It's more like a photograph. But since this is purely about sound, not a big deal.
 
Power
 
I am amazed how the LC can power my cans but draw so little power. I'm looking at my Kill-A-Watt meter right now and it literally says "0.00".
 
Sound
 
Of course this is what matters the most! Let me first start off by saying that the transparency is phenomenal! It's as if the LC isn't even here! Stunning I know. Just listening makes the music taste like a glass of fine red wine like the glass of cab I'm drinking right now. The sensation of this awesome amp is like a cool breeze on my skin from the pacific on a warm spring day. The fact that I happen to be sitting outside in 82 deg weather next to the ocean has absolutely no bearing on my review. I am a professional after all. Oh, the highs are like listening to birds flying in the sky making soft sweet tweets. .....one sec while I chase away the seagull that's trying to take my sandwich......
 
Now where was I? Oh yes, overall I must say this is one of the best purchases I've made in at least the past 20 maybe 24 hours. Dr. Cavalli has much to be proud of and I would say jump on this deal it's too good to pass up!

I think it's time for my review, too.

I have to say that I'm a little disappointed in the quality of waiting that this amp provides.

I bought it in the assumption that it would provide a delicious, organic quality of waiting that would pair well with my Alpha Primes and AK120II. Instead, I find the quality of waiting lacks some of the highs that I really expect in a nice piece of technofetishism. I find myself looking for faults in my current setup and wondering if the Carbon can rectify those.

All in all, NOT the experience I signed up for. I have to say, I'm a little disappointed in the Cavalli so far.

Ok time to call the guys in the white coats

LOLOL!     You guys should try your hands at some cable reviews on Amazon.