This comment hits the nail on the head. I compare a live concert experience to what I hear through headphones. I dislike colored headphones. I find the Expanse to be what I am looking for to reproduce the sounds of live symphonic and jazz music.

Off topic re ear pads. Month 7 with the Expanse. Seems that percussion instruments and bass violin are stronger, deeper, more defined than when I received the Expanse. Also, every instrument is more life-like and vocals richer/warmer. I would guess that these are now at a point of full...

I am having a difficult time giving credence to many reviews either pro or con on the Expense or any other HP mentioned. If reviewers listen to hip hop or euro techno pop the review is useless to me as I listen to symphonic, jazz, acoustic. I have found most HP lack the range to capture bass...

Sound stage breadth of 800 S is the benchmark I use. Expanse to my ear is nowhere close to 800 S. Not a good nor bad thing.

I use an iFi iCan Pro Signature and it works extremely well for the Expanse. Another member of this forum asked me to run the Expanse only using the iDSD Pro Signature through the 4.4 balanced outlet and I heard no issues driving the Expanse. Perhaps 4 watts is the desired minimum power for...

Signature is my choice and based on other's comments, increase in power transfer through the HDMI cable from the iCAN Pro Signature.

Amplifier Output Specs Output Power 14000mW/4800mW Output Impedance (Unbalanced) 16 ohms Output Impedance (Balanced) 16 ohms

I am surprised that the iCAN Pro Signature cannot supply sufficient power to the iESL. The Signature produces 14w of clean silent power. Is this a iFi design flaw with the HDMI power transfer cable? Any ideas?

Really agree with the comparison to live music/instruments. I always use music from a concert I have attended as my baseline. Secondly, a recording of that actual concert or a high quality recording of the piece as test. My HP evaluations are all subjective based on the the HP ability to...

My first music test of the Expanse is on page 74 if you care to read it.

HE1000V2 are deeper, richer, warmer. Not as crisp, intimate, clear or precise. I prefer them for big orchestral pieces. I think the HE also has a deeper bass response and presence (more meat on the bone), however, a snare drum or cymbal will not snap as it should. HE sound stage is about the...

Week 2+ with the Expanse. Today expanded the music selection from my previous test. Mahler Resurrection, Bernstein: Grand, precise, instruments pinpointed wide and deep. I heard this live by Cleveland Orchestra last month. Classical Koto, Izum-Kai: Exceptional clarity, tone decay on the...

What is that reck and where do I get one?

Another vote for iESL Signature in aluminum to match existing components.

I received the Expanse today. My test tracks reflect the music I listen to most often: --Cleveland Orchestra, Krenek, Static and Ecstatic: perfect tone and separation (I also heard this actual performance live). --Dave Brubeck, Take Five: Bass drum 3 dimensional, other instruments warm...

I was referring to balanced 3 pin XLR ports. Now I understand....the 4.4 port is not for a headphone, it is for an adapter cable 4.4 to twin XLR. Maybe it would be easier to not mess with an adapter.

Question...I am uneducated so "does the lack of L/R balanced outlets matter"?

Actually no. Attempt at humor as I thought this was a little overdone. MQA, I do not care for it nor do I care for Cheerios. I assume false marketing claims in every product. Purity is impossible so why the passion to convince others? The discussion becomes circular. Most germane comments...

Cannot believe there was no mention of the deleterious or enhancing effects of custom, expensive vs. inexpensive DAC/headphone cables for listening to MQA. Sorry, I am new and interested in every variable......even the inane....

Dear iFI, food for thought...without a new signature iESL why would a consumer buy the iCAN? The iDSD is a good stand alone product while the iCAN is the gateway to seamless electrostatic. Seems iFi is downsizing from selling an amp/DAC/electrostatic system into individual components that do...

Thanks. I am to the point that when I read "cable" I turn the page as cables seem to be sub cult of even more rabid people.

My wife did not want to see our living room turned into an audio studio with reference speakers and tube amplifiers so I have turned to headphones. I had a set of Bose Quiet Comfort primarily for air travel and Audio Technica ATH-MSR7B for use with my desk top Mac. Thought these were fine, but...