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Cavalli Audio's Liquid Carbon Owners Impressions
Feb 10, 2016 at 9:34 PM Post #1,516 of 2,966
audio addict said:
I was at the Chicago Head-Fi meet yesterday and Jude attended and brought the Chord Dave and Cavalli Audio had sent a Liquid Gold. While I throughly enjoyed the pairing, I am now sitting at home with the Liquid Carbon paired to my older Meridian 808.2i using a Vero Full-range cable paired with my HE-6 and I am not missing the Gold and the Dave.
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From what I've heard from others (and what I heard myself), the Liquid Carbon doesn't drive the HE-6 to its full potential.  It's capable but you're leaving performance on the table.  The LAu, drives it better and it sounds better because of it.  
 
Don't get me wrong... if you're not hearing an improvement from the $600 LC to the $4k LAu, then you're lucky in a way.  I had to send my Crimson back to Cavalli for a bit because I borked something (user error FTL).  When it was gone, I was perfectly content with the LC.  But getting it back, was a nice improvement.  
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  The LC is fantastic, but the better amps are better.  Whether they're worth the $$ to you is a more personal thing.  
 
Feb 10, 2016 at 10:12 PM Post #1,517 of 2,966
stillhart said:
From what I've heard from others (and what I heard myself), the Liquid Carbon doesn't drive the HE-6 to its full potential.  It's capable but you're leaving performance on the table.  The LAu, drives it better and it sounds better because of it.  

Don't get me wrong... if you're not hearing an improvement from the $600 LC to the $4k LAu, then you're lucky in a way.  I had to send my Crimson back to Cavalli for a bit because I borked something (user error FTL).  When it was gone, I was perfectly content with the LC.  But getting it back, was a nice improvement.  :basshead:   The LC is fantastic, but the better amps are better.  Whether they're worth the $$ to you is a more personal thing.  
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I have thought about a lot of different options but for now I am fine with the LC. Maybe some day but right now I still have to deal with all the LH Labs I got carried away with. Really appreciate Larry's designs but I won't discuss the rest.
 
Feb 10, 2016 at 10:23 PM Post #1,518 of 2,966
I like my Crimson and use it almost exclusively. That said, the carbon is outstanding, and every time I listen to it, it just has this little somethin' that I just don't hear anywhere else. Some kind of engagement or something. Yeah, completely subjective, unprovable, poorly described. Still…
 
Feb 10, 2016 at 11:06 PM Post #1,519 of 2,966
stillhart said:
audio addict said:
I was at the Chicago Head-Fi meet yesterday and Jude attended and brought the Chord Dave and Cavalli Audio had sent a Liquid Gold. While I throughly enjoyed the pairing, I am now sitting at home with the Liquid Carbon paired to my older Meridian 808.2i using a Vero Full-range cable paired with my HE-6 and I am not missing the Gold and the Dave. :)
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From what I've heard from others (and what I heard myself), the Liquid Carbon doesn't drive the HE-6 to its full potential.  It's capable but you're leaving performance on the table.  The LAu, drives it better and it sounds better because of it.  

Don't get me wrong... if you're not hearing an improvement from the $600 LC to the $4k LAu, then you're lucky in a way.  I had to send my Crimson back to Cavalli for a bit because I borked something (user error FTL).  When it was gone, I was perfectly content with the LC.  But getting it back, was a nice improvement.  :basshead:   The LC is fantastic, but the better amps are better.  Whether they're worth the $$ to you is a more personal thing.  
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Yeah, I was listening to the HE-6 on the LAu tonight, and that combo is really special. The LC performs admirably with the HE-6 (better than you would think!) but the Liquid Gold is in rarified air with that headphone.
 
Feb 11, 2016 at 4:00 AM Post #1,520 of 2,966
One week after I received LC back from repair:

I haven't used it much since I have to prepare moving to Melbourne, but now I have a good idea of how LC sounds.

Compared to Hugo alone: the bass hass more presence and mid is thicker, but it loses some airiness. Overall it sounds warmer and more intimate (which I like), but I understand if some folks don't like this change in sound. What I like the most is the bass - it's wonderfully tight and articulate, not muddy in any way.
 
Feb 11, 2016 at 7:11 AM Post #1,521 of 2,966
callizer said:
One week after I received LC back from repair:

I haven't used it much since I have to prepare moving to Melbourne, but now I have a good idea of how LC sounds.

Compared to Hugo alone: the bass hass more presence and mid is thicker, but it loses some airiness. Overall it sounds warmer and more intimate (which I like), but I understand if some folks don't like this change in sound. What I like the most is the bass - it's wonderfully tight and articulate, not muddy in any way.
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Just today I was switching a lot between the Hugo alone and the LC.
 
I basically agree with you. Hugo alone is airier, and clearer; with LC is better bass and macrodynamics. 
 
Which is preferable basically depends on mood and album. 
 
Feb 11, 2016 at 7:38 AM Post #1,522 of 2,966
Goodies finally came today...I ordered them during Thanksgiving season when I was in the US...shipment came a day late after I left going back to Philippines so it's a long wait for the box to be cleared by customs. 2 months after I finally have them.
 
listed to my generic RCA and Power cable from my printer one last time before trying out the MAP-1 and MA-3...definitely an improvement!
 
- Noise floor improved. No more audible noise even if the Hugo light is dark blue and LC is volume is 0
- better imaging and focus all around
- mids had more weight and presence
 
burn in is the hard part...400 hours recommended 
 



 
Feb 11, 2016 at 10:25 AM Post #1,523 of 2,966
nanoevil said:
  Goodies finally came today...I ordered them during Thanksgiving season when I was in the US...shipment came a day late after I left going back to Philippines so it's a long wait for the box to be cleared by customs. 2 months after I finally have them.
 
listed to my generic RCA and Power cable from my printer one last time before trying out the MAP-1 and MA-3...definitely an improvement!
 
- Noise floor improved. No more audible noise even if the Hugo light is dark blue and LC is volume is 0
- better imaging and focus all around
- mids had more weight and presence
 
burn in is the hard part...400 hours recommended 
 


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I'm using the same cabling, along with others, in my mojo chain (currently switched to MA-2P TRS and MAP-3). I'll be interested to read your impressions when you get to about 300 hrs.
 
 
MBP → SDragon → Mojo → MerrillAudio MA- 2P TRS → LC
 
Feb 12, 2016 at 4:47 PM Post #1,524 of 2,966
Damn, the LC sounds like a stinking good value at $600, much like the Mojo. I wish I needed a headphone amp, I think this would be my first choice.
 
Feb 13, 2016 at 10:43 AM Post #1,526 of 2,966
The new Cavalli website is up.
 
Feb 13, 2016 at 12:24 PM Post #1,528 of 2,966
I received my LC yesterday. Spent this entire night listening. Damn this thing has soul. If you don't have the urge to tap your toes when listening to it you probably need medical attention. My violectric v90 is good, but this amp is on another level. I matched it with my 650's, 560's, & lastly the t1's. The t1's were my favorite pairing so far. Really brought the low end out in them. Mainly listened to some Jack Johnson & Walter Trout. I drool thinking about how good that Crimson & glass must sound.
 
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