I'm glad you wrote this post. I was about to order HD800 (and the Corda stack later next week) but now I think changed my mind, AGAIN. I'm gonna go with the T1 since there's so much positive feedback about them paired with the Corda stack here. Can't go wrong with this setup, I hope.
Hey Scarfin I think you will be very happy with that set up. I have the same.
I've had my set up just under a week, and I've used at least 6 hours everyday. I didn't have much experience with high end gear, so I didn't know what to expect. After extensive research online, it was pretty much a blind jump into the unknown.
I listen to most of my music through Spotify premium. Prior to my purchase, I had been listening to various versions of Beethoven's Symphony No.6 ("Pastoral") available there[Herbert von Karajan (Berlin Phil), Simon Rattle (Vienna Phil), Andre Cluytens (Berlin Phil), Claudio Abbado (Vienna Phil), Carlo Maria Giulini (LA Phil)]
First Impressions
The first time I listened to the music through the daccord, classic and T1, I could tell some difference from before, but there was definitely
NO WOW-effect. I'm not saying that I felt let down, because the difference in the sound quality from my previous set up was noticeable - I could hear the sound was clean (in that there was no 'fuzziness') and instruments well defined.
But I suppose I was expecting to be able to hear greater separation in the instruments as I had previously read that as one of the T1's characteristics.
Gradual Impressions
HOWEVER, around the 3rd day, I started noticing a change in what I was hearing. Before I suppose it was like hearing good quality sound in 2D, but gradually the various instrument sections in the orchestra gained their own prominence and detail.
Here I am writing this on the 5th day since using the gear, and the changes in the sound have continued, at least to my ears.
Prominence and detail
It seemed like something had 'loosened' and relaxed, and whereas before the equipment seemed to be merely projecting the music (allbeit in excellent sound quality), the difference now was that I could discern more clearly details such as the vibrato of the string section. Moreover, listen and you will hear the melodies of these less forward instruments such as the double bass. The conductor dictating the tempo as well as the volume of the musicians could also be more appreciated. The strings 'sing' to a more noticeable degree now. These textures means that the biggest difference I notice as time passes with meier gear and T1 is that I notice the musicians' input to the music to a greater degree.
The gradual change in the sound I perceive feels to me that the headphones seem to be 'playing' the instruments rather than merely projecting. I suppose this is what other reviewers/writers meant when they wrote of the musicality of the T1, as well as its match with the meier equipment.
For me this has made listening to the 6th symphony an even greater joy. Being able to appreciate the different interpretations and nuances given by the different orchestra musicians as well as the composers makes listening very intriguing. Not to mention glimpsing the genius of the composer through their composition. For me it's also wonderful to hear Beethoven put as much effort and affection into composing for every instrument section.
Burn-in time(?!!?!)
I'd read about 'burning-in' your headphones/equipment, whilst looking into headphones, and I am aware of the contentious debate surrounding it. What I can definitely say is that I am finding myself enjoying listening to the same piece of music to an ever greater degree since my first listen. Could it be just my ears adjusting to the new equipment? Perhaps, but I am certain that my listening enjoyment is so much better than my first 2-3 says.
So I am beginning to understand what people were saying about returning to the Meiers and T1, and also what Jan writes of the Wow-feelings coming after. The phrase that 'good things come to those who wait' is a lame cliche to end on, but is one which sums up my experience with the Cordas and T1
Substitute the 6th symphony with your own favourite music and I think you will find a lot of enjoyment from the music.
(Apologies in advance to the thread if I've gone too far off topic - I found it impossible to separate the effect of the Classic on its own since I've changed all my equipment together.)
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P.S. I suppose you will take advantage of the Meier sale that is on at the moment? I got my daccord and classic as well as the T1 from Meier with a good deal. It may be worth emailing Jan as he responds very promptly, and answered all my queries. Not to mention the I received my order to the UK faster than I was expecting!!
