These meets are outstanding and I would like to thank Tuberoller for organizing it and everyone else for attending and bringing their equipment. These meets are like family reunions I have attended. You see the "usual suspects" that attend every one but there are always new people to meet. I really had a good time and spent a good part of my day mingling and listening to peoples impressions. We even snagged a few potential new members from the lobby as their curiosity got the better of them.
One woman asked me what was going on as I was getting a cup of coffee. Well I invited her in and let her do some listening. I hooked her up with a Grover Washington CD playing on a Meridian, Ray Samuels new Stealth tube amp and the HD-600's with a Cardas cable. She listened for a moment and the change in her facial expression was priceless. Her eyes lit up and this smile came across her face. Then for a time she was gone in her own world listening to the music. She commented later that she didn't know Cd's could sound this good, "you can actually hear the instruments".
A few of my impressions of things I tried to:
....or didn't listen too. Todd the Vinyl Junkie had the ER-20 attenuating earplugs and I got a pair. After trying them out they are perhaps the best thing you can for your enjoyment of music. These plugs are amazing they reduce the loudness with virtually no loss in sound quality. These beauties are going to be a constant companion from now on while driving with the windows down, sporting events or any other activity where it is important to hear but the noise level is possibly damaging. These are a must have item.
Todd also had the Grado flat pads and I got a pair of these as well. I put them on a pair of RS-1's, my skepticism running high as to whether they would really make a difference. Well they do make a difference, a large one at that. The bass becomes fuller and the highs and mid range take on a more natural sound. The brightness that I have always associated with the Grado headphones is gone. If you have Grado's this is another must have item IMO.
Moving around the room I listened to a few other setups.
When the Blockhead is at a meet I always gravitate to it. The Blockhead, Meridian or Wadia players, and the HD-600's is hands down my favorite setup and I tend to compare everything to it. Everything sounds right and not much more needs to be said.
I compared Ray Samuels XP-7 battery powered amp to HeadRoom's Maxed Out Home using an A/B switch after adjusting the volumes as closely as I could to each other. I was using my trusty HD-600's w/ Cardas which I have literally hundreds of hours on. I listened for a good half hour to music I really know. Listening and switching and listening again. In this period I could hear absolutely no difference between these two very fine amps.
Later in the day I had some time to compare the new PPA to the XP-7 as well. These two amps were very close as well, however it was possible to pick out a few subtle differences. Based on a short time listening I found the PPA on its own to be a very good sounding amp and I think it is going to work well for many people. When I compared it directly to the XR-7 I found it slightly drier sounding in the mid and high end and it did not have the same bass impact as the XR-7. These amps are very close but the edge here goes to the XR-7.
One of my favorites at every meet is the AKG-1000's and Tuberoller's Fisher receiver. People would walk by and comment on this setup. Many saying "My Dad had one of these when I was young". Well in this case old is good. This pairing is one of my favorites although a meet is not the ideal place to listen. You need a quiet room for these earspeakers to really shine. Now that my Fisher amp is up and running maybe a pair of AKG's are in my future.
My last impression is to be fair, not from the meet but rather from the night before. You will be reading about Ray Samuels new tube amp the Stealth from other attendees both here and at the Detroit meet that was held last month. I had an opportunity to listen to it in its other role, that of a Preamp. I know this is wandering off a little afield from headphones but it was too good to pass up. My time here too was too short having heard it for just one evening. As a Preamp it does a superb job. The sound was truly amazing smooth and beautifully transparent with no coloration that I could discern. I listened to CD after CD and just closed my eyes lost in the music. I think Stealth is going to be one of the great headphone amps out there, one that others are judged against, but remember it is also a great preamp as well.
Well I got home about 12 hours after I left having had a great dinner in the city. My wife was walking the dog as I drove up and she had that look on her face. She asked me how my day went and before I could answer (it was really a rhetorical question) she added "and by the way what did you buy today?". I replied, "nothing really", she just rolled her eyes said "ya right" in that tone only a wife can have and went inside.
I stayed up and watched the Blackhawks beat LA finally going to bed thinking that Christmas will soon be upon us, my list getting longer.
Damn, I can't wait to get my paws on that puppy!)
