The lovely missus (who's name is actually spelled Dru, believe it or not), is going to be making a head-fi account and posting some pics today, but I figured having had a little time to recover and digest, I might just share a few of my thoughts beyond simply feeling ecstatic that everyone seemed to enjoy themselves (though again, I am mortified about Braswel's GPS being stolen...).
There were, past question, more headphone riches than any one man could possibly hope to soak up in a single sitting, but luckily for me there were only a few cans I'd never heard before, so I had some point of reference on a lot of the rigs. I have to agree with Jimmy's sentiment that the Edition 10s just didn't sound right. Frankly, I think all three of my mid-100 dollar closed shells (FA-003s, SRH-840s and ATH-m50s) are better phones for my tastes. I, too, am a big Ultrasone fan, and Coupe's Pro 2900s (which he has graciously let me borrow for a bit) are some of the single best phones I've ever heard. Just fantastic in every regard (if I had one complaint, it's that they're maybe a touch bright, a little harsh on the treble, but that's to be expected for a phone so detailed and clean). It seems odd to me that Ultrasone can make a model that's over $2000 cheaper that's simply better in every respect (again, in my opinion). But apart from that...
The HP-1s are fantastic. Genuinely beautiful phones; it was a real treat to hear them (not to mention Bozebutton's entire rig - that Krell is just stunningly good sounding). The signature on them is so unlike everything I've come to expect from the Grado house sound - so neutral, and delicate and effortless. Usually when I think Grado I think big and brash, very aggressive, fun phones. These were a completely different animal. Truth be told, I was not expecting anything close to what I heard out of them.
I also don't think I've ever heard the LCD-2s sound quite so good as they did out of Brasewel's rig. The combination of the Havana and and the RSA Apache just made them sing. Pound for pound that was probably my favorite rig at the meet. I'd probably never leave my house if I owned it - I'd just sit there and listen day in and day out. I know the LCD-2s are a relaxed, inviting phone, but in that setup they were open and clear and detailed as well. I've heard the LCD-2 sound a little muddy in poorer setups, but not here. There was simply nothing wrong with that setup, no caveat I could point to. I wouldn't master with that rig as it's a touch warm of neutral. That's about it - I can't imagine a more enjoyable personal listening rig. Based on my own personal preferences, I always think of myself as the kind of person who would prefer a phone like the HE-6, and I always end up preferring the LCD-2. Maybe I'm not such a neutrality freak as I thought...
I was also really quite impressed with Coupe's Bijou - there's work to go, no doubt, but there's a lot of potential there. What struck me was how tight and impactful the bass was out of that amp, which is not something I usually associate with tube amplifiers. Many a lesser tube amp I find to feel "slow" in that sense, imaging nicely and providing a very lush soundscape, but always seeming to gloss over the details and punch. The Bijou suffered from a little upper-mid breakup, but I think once that gets sorted, it's going to be something truly special. I'm kicking myself that I didn't get to hear the Darth Beyers - so many phones, so little time!
Speaking of tube amps, Ari's Silver Ghost was unbelievable! One of the fastest, most detailed tube amps I've had the pleasure of listening to - that's a major accomplishment. I still find the bass on the HD-800 to lack the definition that I tend to like in bass response, but that's another combination that I could listen to just endlessly. What really struck me about that amp was how quick the transient response was. Even very difficult passages always felt right on top of the ball. I've found it's easy for a mediocre tube amp to get bogged down and overwhelmed, and to start glossing over details in quick sections, but Ari's was just lighting fast. Silver Ghost is an apt name - it's almost ephemerally quick.
I'm also really glad that a number of you got a chance to hear the incredibly underrated Mackie Blackjack. It just doesn't get advertised for the HiFi crowd, as it's an interface, but they're really done a fantastic job with it, and for what it costs, I'm really not sure there's much competition honestly. At that range, for an all-in-one, it's certainly got my vote. When you figure, for $250 or so, you can put together a Blackjack plus SRH840 rig, and have truly excellent sound, I agree with Ari and Tom that it would make for a great little dorm setup. And I'm glad that people dug my little iPod project - took a solid 6 months to put it together, but I'm very pleased with how well it turned out. Dropped the AD 4075-2 chip in there, which doesn't put out a ton of power, but it's perfect for high sensitivity IEMs (which is what I always use on the go). Dead quiet and very accurate, which works well with the warmth of the Wolfson chips. It's just a nice portable combination.
Ah, and last but not least, the vintage speakers are actually the last set of Acoustech 8025s ever made. They are my vote for the single most perfect midfield monitors in history, and I'm kicking myself that I blew out one of the tweeters on them. Luckily, Ari clued me in to a way to source some NOS, so they should live again by the end of the week! Very exciting
And, last but not least, I'm incredibly pleased folk enjoyed the little live set. I realized I completely forgot to mention that the pile of CDs were free to take (and I know I owe a couple of you CDs), so just drop me a PM and I'll ship you one or send a link to the FLACs.
Thanks to everyone for coming! I really hope to do it again soon.