[Luckyleo]

Roon > BF264 > Vali 2++ > GS3000x

 

[bagwell359]

. William Shatner - original LP in mono. Apropos of nothing.... "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds" is sooo bad, then you realize its a creepy look into a guy with some strange "personality". Not to be missed is the Kevin Pollack TV act in 1991 "Stop With the Kicking", any true ST 1/Shatner fan will be very pleased with that performance.

On my HFM (MD) 4XX - because I wanted to hear if they still work (they do).

 

[ColSaulTigh]

. William Shatner - original LP in mono. Apropos of nothing.... "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds" is sooo bad, then you realize its a creepy look into a guy with some strange "personality". Not to be missed is the Kevin Pollack TV act in 1991 "Stop With the Kicking", any true ST 1/Shatner fan will be very pleased with that performance.

On my HFM (MD) 4XX - because I wanted to hear if they still work (they do).

Shatner has a history of doing some strange stuff. For example:

 

[pataburd]

@pataburd I see you are listening with MM-500. Can you elaborate a bit about how they sound especially with this kind of albums please? A line about difference between Focal Clears would be nice too Thanks in advance.

IMHO, the MM-500 do early/period music well, offering a judicious balance of exemplary technicalities (e.g. excellent detail, transparency, resolution, imaging/separation), while simultaneously delivering a credible and engaging musicality.

With the advent of the LYR 3, I have favored the Audeze with a tube complement. Am currently revisiting this fine album [The Musicke Companye: O Bone Jesu] with the Philips JAN 6SN7WGTA imparting a lovely tonality to everything else that the MM-500 do so well. The "Ricercare for Solo Cello No. 3" sounds complete, nothing lacking. Ditto for Paul Esswood's fine counter-tenor rendering of "O quam tu pulchra es".

In short: faithful-to-the-recording and musical.

Will be swapping in the Focal Clear OG and addressing your request concerning MM-500/Clear differences in a bit . . .

. . . Later that afternoon . . .

UPDATE:
The Clear, aside from their more full-bodied tonality and a slightly more rounded and liquid presentation, lag behind the MM-500 in just about every other department. The superior transparency, imaging and dimensionality of the Audeze become additive to the overall listening enjoyment, revealing detail, intimating nuance, that help form an even more natural and musical aggregate--at least to my ears.

That translates over to solid state listening with the S.M.S.L SP400, too. I am running a pair of Neotech single-ended cables with the TriPhazer 2.0, using the Gustard X18 XLR out and the SP400 XLR in with (XLR-to-RCA) adapters at either end. Will reintroduce balanced cables later and compare (i.e. without the TriPhazer).

That said, the MM-500, with Neotech UPOCC 4x 22AWG solid silver cable and amped by the SP400, sound just about perfect.
[NOTE: After a few hours with the Clear OG back on, however, I am in no particular hurry to take them off. ]

. . . Even later that evening . . .

UPDATE (balanced cables):
In my ears, the SP400 pulls ahead of the LYR 3|LISST in more categories as a solid-state amplifier due, chiefly, to the availability of balanced inputs on the former and corresponding use of (superior) XLR cables on hand. The S.M.S.L. (MSRP $649) is more transparent, detailed and 3-dimensional than the Schiit (MSRP $499) plus LISST (MSRP $50). The Schiit|LISST, to its well-earned credit, has a fuller, denser tonality and more (macro) dynamic slam. The Schiit's tube hybrid/SS versatility is another BIG plus (essentially "two" amplifiers for the price of one--plus $50 for the LISST).

 

[Luis Mad]

I didn’t really like Bruckner until I heard Karajan’s versions.
Now listening to the 6th Symphony, really grandiose

Bruckner Symphonies 4-9 Karajan Berliner

Flac 24/192 -Astell & Kern SR25 - Topping L30 II - Denon AH-D7200

 

[pataburd]

Focal Clear OG<--Schiit LYR 3<--Gustard X18:

 

[Shane D]

Today is new headphone day. And these are the Bee's from Nectar Sound. A very bassy planar from a one man operation down in Georgia.

That means using multiple amps and many types of music. Test list followed by best of from the 2000's and the 2010's. Liked the iFi a lot, but the Violectric V220 is doing some magic with a lot of the music.
Anyway...

 

[jsk ksj]

LCD X<mojo2<fiio m11

Listening to jimi Hendrix album, Electric Ladyland. Not posting album cover because I don't know this sites policy on nudity & I dislike the other version of the cover.

Anyhow, first time I have properly listened to this in 20 years & it is truly magnificent. Should be asleep but tempted to start back at track 1. Edit: probably track 2, track 1 kinda sucks.

 

[pataburd]

(See signature.)

 

[audiocroissant]

"Papa was a rolling stone" - Marcus Miller, on Final D8000

wow

 

[guitargonaut]

My Fleetwood Mac collection on shuffle.
UAPP/FLAC > Teac UD-501 > Woo WA-6 > Denon AH-D5000

 

[VanHai]

Rotel CD player> Gustard R26> DNA Sonett 2> Grado GS 1000i. Great CD.

 

[Luckyleo]

Roon > BF264 > Vali2++ > GS3000x
Joe was mentioned in another thread. Wanted to give him a try, so chose this album. Really enjoying it a lot....

 

[jonathan c]

Roon > BF264 > Vali2++ > GS3000x
Joe was mentioned in another thread. Wanted to give him a try, so chose this album. Really enjoying it a lot....

That is a ‘helluva’ chain! Bifrost 2/64, Vali (w/ WE 396A!), GS3000x……all toweringly good!

 

[Luckyleo]

That is a ‘helluva’ chain! Bifrost 2/64, Vali (w/ WE 396A!), GS3000x……all toweringly good!

Thanks! Enjoying the total experience tremendously. Sometimes mood, technology, music, all come together....

Leo