Afghan Vet
100+ Head-Fier
- Joined
- Dec 17, 2012
- Posts
- 274
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- 139
Ok - ready for some comments / impressions. Again - thanks Johnathan (Army-Firedawg) for arranging this - setting up the meet thread, organizing and maintaining the meet thread so effectively, communicating changes and updates effectively, arranging for the vendor participation, and organizing the venue. From my perspective, it was flawless execution. As it turns out, the number of folks and the amount of gear ended up fitting the space perfectly. If the 6 or so others that may have come but couldn't had made it, things may have been a bit tight.
Really great group of folks (can't just say 'guys' because there were ladies there that were very engaged in the listening and conversation). Some new folks just checking out 'the scene', and some old crusties wanting to get a taste of some of the other set ups / presentations of the music.
Once again, after the event, I'm wondering how 6 hours could go so quickly. I didn't listen to many of the set-ups at my loss. I really should have elbowed my way into the Schiit area for a listen to the two systems side-by-side. I should have listened to the Focals out of the Head-amp GS-X mk2 amp / Holo Audio Spring combo. I also should have listened to the Focals out of Alex's set up - either from the Yamaha amplifier or the Woo - that would have been a lot of fun as well. I love the K1000's, but they are difficult to get everything out of them in a noisy environment. They were very good out of the EC ZDS in my opinion (from what I could hear despite the environment), but I had to put the volume knob at about the 3 o'clock position
Well, those are the things I missed, but what I did hear was extraordinary - and of course, that experience is primarily centered around the Stax. I would have liked to have spent more time with Patrick's KGBH, but what I heard was fantastic - that Chris Jones album Roadhouses & Automobiles was extremely well presented through that set up. I was asked by a friend to specifically listen to the BHSE amplifier that Justin brought - I hadn't listened to it in the past when Justin was present, but this time I made a point of bothering him for a demo. I was able to connect my FiiO X5iii to the Holo Audio Spring DAC so I could use my music to listen. I have been enthralled with the aesthetics of this amplifier for a while, and now I'm enthralled with the sound through the Stax SR009. Fortunately/Unfortunately I'll have another opportunity to listen to this combo again in the near future because my friend made a purchase.....it is one of those combos that I really should stay blissfully ignorant. Anyway, the Stax 009 out of the BHSE is to my ears, absolute pinnacle level - may not be to everyone, but it is to me.
I enjoyed the Audeze LCD-4's out of the GS-X amp - I felt it was an excellent combination. I wish I had taken the Focals over to do a little side-by-side out of the GS-X. I did that out of the EC ZDS, and as I predicted, the Focals (to my ears) were better out of that pairing, but probably everyone reading this will say, 'Dah! Totally predictable'. Anyway, that was a fun comparison, and I appreciate Justin's patience with switching out the balanced / single ended cable for the LCD-4's, and for allowing me to connect through coax input to his DAC.
I'm glad I was able to get the AURALiC Aries working during this meet so I could have folks select tracks through the iPad interface. I was able to play some high resolution material through the system, and I think a few enjoyed their time with the Focals. I love this hobby when I'm listening while working, when I'm listening critically, but especially sharing the enjoyment of the hobby with other folks during a meet up (either a larger one like this one or a mini-meet with a few folks in a home). Now - a few of the pics I took (heavily biased towards Justin's table ).
Really great group of folks (can't just say 'guys' because there were ladies there that were very engaged in the listening and conversation). Some new folks just checking out 'the scene', and some old crusties wanting to get a taste of some of the other set ups / presentations of the music.
Once again, after the event, I'm wondering how 6 hours could go so quickly. I didn't listen to many of the set-ups at my loss. I really should have elbowed my way into the Schiit area for a listen to the two systems side-by-side. I should have listened to the Focals out of the Head-amp GS-X mk2 amp / Holo Audio Spring combo. I also should have listened to the Focals out of Alex's set up - either from the Yamaha amplifier or the Woo - that would have been a lot of fun as well. I love the K1000's, but they are difficult to get everything out of them in a noisy environment. They were very good out of the EC ZDS in my opinion (from what I could hear despite the environment), but I had to put the volume knob at about the 3 o'clock position
Well, those are the things I missed, but what I did hear was extraordinary - and of course, that experience is primarily centered around the Stax. I would have liked to have spent more time with Patrick's KGBH, but what I heard was fantastic - that Chris Jones album Roadhouses & Automobiles was extremely well presented through that set up. I was asked by a friend to specifically listen to the BHSE amplifier that Justin brought - I hadn't listened to it in the past when Justin was present, but this time I made a point of bothering him for a demo. I was able to connect my FiiO X5iii to the Holo Audio Spring DAC so I could use my music to listen. I have been enthralled with the aesthetics of this amplifier for a while, and now I'm enthralled with the sound through the Stax SR009. Fortunately/Unfortunately I'll have another opportunity to listen to this combo again in the near future because my friend made a purchase.....it is one of those combos that I really should stay blissfully ignorant. Anyway, the Stax 009 out of the BHSE is to my ears, absolute pinnacle level - may not be to everyone, but it is to me.
I enjoyed the Audeze LCD-4's out of the GS-X amp - I felt it was an excellent combination. I wish I had taken the Focals over to do a little side-by-side out of the GS-X. I did that out of the EC ZDS, and as I predicted, the Focals (to my ears) were better out of that pairing, but probably everyone reading this will say, 'Dah! Totally predictable'. Anyway, that was a fun comparison, and I appreciate Justin's patience with switching out the balanced / single ended cable for the LCD-4's, and for allowing me to connect through coax input to his DAC.
I'm glad I was able to get the AURALiC Aries working during this meet so I could have folks select tracks through the iPad interface. I was able to play some high resolution material through the system, and I think a few enjoyed their time with the Focals. I love this hobby when I'm listening while working, when I'm listening critically, but especially sharing the enjoyment of the hobby with other folks during a meet up (either a larger one like this one or a mini-meet with a few folks in a home). Now - a few of the pics I took (heavily biased towards Justin's table
).
