zabzaf
500+ Head-Fier
- Joined
- Dec 30, 2013
- Posts
- 519
- Likes
- 121
2016 Southeastern Michigan FALL Head-Fi Meet: SATURDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2016--Royal Oak, MI
- Thread starter JEspina456
- Start date
- Status
TOPnut
New Head-Fier
- Joined
- Apr 23, 2005
- Posts
- 35
- Likes
- 14
HEY GUYS!! I need your help.
Before I explain, let me first thank Brian for making me not feel like the lone weird guy schlepping old technology like tubed amps and CD players to Head-Fi meets.
And yes, I am bringing my AMR CD-77 and about 50 CDs (not audiophile-approved CDs but the music I like) to the meet because I do not have a PC or computer-based source. I bought a decent server once and it was defective (dealer was gracious enough to take it back) and I haven't gotten off my butt to figure out what I want to replace it with yet.
I know many people at these meets like to audition our equipment with source material they know. So, I will also bring my Bricasti DAC (with USB input) to the meet.
I still use my AMR CDP because it is still my favorite source to use with my headphone gear (but I am really open to hearing and finding a computer or NAS/memory based source to use with my DAC along with or instead of my AMR).
So, if someone will bring their favorite decent USB cable (I will only have a Pangea I use with my computer and Burson), this will allow people to hear my headphone gear with their DAC or my Bricasti on music they know.
OR, if I can be so bold, I would LOVE IT if you could bring your favorite CDs to allow me to hear your music and you to hear why I like the AMR/Headphone amp synergy - but with music familiar to you.
I do not want to try to persuade anyone here about what is or is not good - because musical beauty is in the ear of the beholder and we each have our own tastes. What I will tell you though, is that my Eddie Current Studio with the Focal Utopias has me mesmerized. BUT, to me, it is not a sound that mesmerizes me by screaming out "HEY THERE !Listen to ME!" No, it is all about refined, honest, organic but non-colored MUSIC - pure and simple.
I will leave all of my Head-Fi buddies with the following analogy about the Studio/Utopia synergy and hope you enjoy them tomorrow as much as I do - if you have ever gone to the TV section of a big-box electronics store and seen the demos, you may have seen this scene (before the current super HD curved screen TVs came out).
The sales guys have the contrast, sharpness and the colors on the LCD TV cranked up to ensure that the colors and images JUMP out at you. It is great for that 15-second demo and to impress you when doing a quick comparison on the spot. However, if you take a slower extended look at that same TV, you realize for example that the grass or turf or the player's face color in that football game LOOK so vibrant and intense. However, you think about it and realize that REAL grass just does look that GREEN or that INTENSE. If you get the chance to then look at the Plasma TV where the colors have been purposely and professionally calibrated to be as close as possible to reality with no accentuated contrast or sharpness hype, you see and prefer that realistic looking grass or realistic skin tone or hair color etc. It just looks more real - period.
As a former professional musician (in a prior life), the most important quality to me in my listening is accurate or honest tonality and timbre. I want the tone and timbre of a trumpet to sound like a trumpet and cymbals to sound like cymbals. If it can't get the tone right, all the audiophile tricks in the world will not save it for me.
To me, that is what the Utopias and Studio do for me in spades. The music seems to light up from the inside out and simply sounds more alive while not calling attention to itself. I look forward to finding out if you hear what I hear!!
Have a great night guys and please bring your favorite old obsolete 5" poly-carbonate discs with you!!!!!
Frank (TOPNut) Tower Of Power Nut!!!
Before I explain, let me first thank Brian for making me not feel like the lone weird guy schlepping old technology like tubed amps and CD players to Head-Fi meets.
And yes, I am bringing my AMR CD-77 and about 50 CDs (not audiophile-approved CDs but the music I like) to the meet because I do not have a PC or computer-based source. I bought a decent server once and it was defective (dealer was gracious enough to take it back) and I haven't gotten off my butt to figure out what I want to replace it with yet.
I know many people at these meets like to audition our equipment with source material they know. So, I will also bring my Bricasti DAC (with USB input) to the meet.
I still use my AMR CDP because it is still my favorite source to use with my headphone gear (but I am really open to hearing and finding a computer or NAS/memory based source to use with my DAC along with or instead of my AMR).
So, if someone will bring their favorite decent USB cable (I will only have a Pangea I use with my computer and Burson), this will allow people to hear my headphone gear with their DAC or my Bricasti on music they know.
OR, if I can be so bold, I would LOVE IT if you could bring your favorite CDs to allow me to hear your music and you to hear why I like the AMR/Headphone amp synergy - but with music familiar to you.
I do not want to try to persuade anyone here about what is or is not good - because musical beauty is in the ear of the beholder and we each have our own tastes. What I will tell you though, is that my Eddie Current Studio with the Focal Utopias has me mesmerized. BUT, to me, it is not a sound that mesmerizes me by screaming out "HEY THERE !Listen to ME!" No, it is all about refined, honest, organic but non-colored MUSIC - pure and simple.
I will leave all of my Head-Fi buddies with the following analogy about the Studio/Utopia synergy and hope you enjoy them tomorrow as much as I do - if you have ever gone to the TV section of a big-box electronics store and seen the demos, you may have seen this scene (before the current super HD curved screen TVs came out).
The sales guys have the contrast, sharpness and the colors on the LCD TV cranked up to ensure that the colors and images JUMP out at you. It is great for that 15-second demo and to impress you when doing a quick comparison on the spot. However, if you take a slower extended look at that same TV, you realize for example that the grass or turf or the player's face color in that football game LOOK so vibrant and intense. However, you think about it and realize that REAL grass just does look that GREEN or that INTENSE. If you get the chance to then look at the Plasma TV where the colors have been purposely and professionally calibrated to be as close as possible to reality with no accentuated contrast or sharpness hype, you see and prefer that realistic looking grass or realistic skin tone or hair color etc. It just looks more real - period.
As a former professional musician (in a prior life), the most important quality to me in my listening is accurate or honest tonality and timbre. I want the tone and timbre of a trumpet to sound like a trumpet and cymbals to sound like cymbals. If it can't get the tone right, all the audiophile tricks in the world will not save it for me.
To me, that is what the Utopias and Studio do for me in spades. The music seems to light up from the inside out and simply sounds more alive while not calling attention to itself. I look forward to finding out if you hear what I hear!!
Have a great night guys and please bring your favorite old obsolete 5" poly-carbonate discs with you!!!!!
Frank (TOPNut) Tower Of Power Nut!!!
MrTie84
100+ Head-Fier
- Joined
- Mar 26, 2012
- Posts
- 268
- Likes
- 120
Everything packed up and staged. I feel like TOPnut must have last meet up.
In regards to the previous post I will be bring some CD's to try on your system and I have something you might enjoy Frank, a really great sounding reel copy of the MoFi Vinyl of Little Feat-Waiting for Columbus(feature the Tower of Power horn-section). Super excited to see you all in the morning
TOPnut
New Head-Fier
- Joined
- Apr 23, 2005
- Posts
- 35
- Likes
- 14
Join the club!!! Now I AM excited to hear that CD!!! See you soon!
MrTie84
100+ Head-Fier
- Joined
- Mar 26, 2012
- Posts
- 268
- Likes
- 120
Not a CD, actually a reel to reel tape, lol.
Turbo AL
Head-Fier
Turbo AL
Head-Fier
Sorry for the late reply, I didn't think that I would be able to get there until after 2pm but it looks like my plans for tomorrow have fell thru so you can add me to the list. I had originally volunteered to bring my Massdrop TH-X00 Purplehearts and I still will but later found out there was not going to be any WI-FI and I don't have a non streaming source so I will lend them to anyone that has a good setup that would like to demo them for the day. I also have a set of Audio Technica AD2000X if anyone is interested that I can bring. AL
zabzaf
500+ Head-Fier
- Joined
- Dec 30, 2013
- Posts
- 519
- Likes
- 121
I'll bring my MDR-Z7 for comparison to the MDR-Z1R (my guess is there's no comparison)!
hikaritenchi
New Head-Fier
I got a late start today but I'm on my way now. Can't wait to hear the MDR-Z1R!
canthearyou
Headphoneus Supremus
- Joined
- Jan 27, 2015
- Posts
- 1,711
- Likes
- 283
Euphonik
100+ Head-Fier
- Joined
- Dec 20, 2012
- Posts
- 223
- Likes
- 54
It was great meeting everyone- looking forward to doing it again this spring.
Now I need to get my hands on a pair of Fostex headphones (once I figure out which ones)...oh, and those Focal Utopias are something else.
Next time I'll show up earlier
Now I need to get my hands on a pair of Fostex headphones (once I figure out which ones)...oh, and those Focal Utopias are something else.
Next time I'll show up earlier
JEspina456
1000+ Head-Fier
It was a great meet, guys. Thank you to everyone who atttended.
I will be posting a follow-up impressions thread tonight along with the 100 pics that I took.
John
I will be posting a follow-up impressions thread tonight along with the 100 pics that I took.
John
zabzaf
500+ Head-Fier
- Joined
- Dec 30, 2013
- Posts
- 519
- Likes
- 121
JEspina456
1000+ Head-Fier
The Impressions thread is here:
http://www.head-fi.org/t/824283/impressions-thread-and-review-with-pics-2016-se-michigan-head-fi-org-fall-meet
Thanks. Post away!
John
http://www.head-fi.org/t/824283/impressions-thread-and-review-with-pics-2016-se-michigan-head-fi-org-fall-meet
Thanks. Post away!
John
canthearyou
Headphoneus Supremus
- Joined
- Jan 27, 2015
- Posts
- 1,711
- Likes
- 283
Another great meet! Good to see everyone and their gear.
- Status
Users who are viewing this thread
