gandhisfist
Member of the Trade: Aurorus Audio
- Joined
- Apr 21, 2014
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Creating a new thread since our old impressions thread got long in the tooth. Post impressions here!
Sorry I couldn't make it. While my elbows are moving better today than at any time since March 26, I still would have a hard time raising the headphones onto my head and only if they're 3 lbs. or less!
@Sheldaze: Ayre Codex vs. GMB? I know it has nothing on Yiggy
I think I've mentioned that my wife is the bassist in a local DC band called Ménage À Garage. If you're so inclined, would you mind casting your vote here? Takes about five seconds:
http://washington.thedelimagazine.com/poll/poll.php?category=13
Thanks! Happy Mother's Day!
Will do the vote!
I prefer the GMB, but that is more for the signature - the voicing. As far as details, the Codex definitely competes more at the level of Yggdrasil. So that's the comparison you're talking about. And that's probably what I'll do - plug the Codex into my stereo speaker system, and let it burn in for a few weeks (literally unplug the Toslink from the Yggdrasil and plug into Codex instead). Then I'll think about comparing the two after I am sure the Codex is fully burned in. I bought it used, so do not know how many of the recommended 300 hours it has already been through.
An aside, one annoyance and the reason I asked Bill to run the Deckard from his Mac - I've not figured out how to run either the Meridian or Audeze products from something I would consider portable - a tablet or a phone. If I could figure this magic trick, I'll definitely be more inclined to bring these to future meets and let you all hear the Meridian through its internal DAC.
Wel you know it's not just about details but overall presentation. How does the Codex compare to Schiit house sound? Looking forward to more comparisons.
[*] One of my primary focus points was the Woo Audio WA7. First, I was glad @TimeLord
was able to hear for himself the original solid state linear tube power supply. At the meet prior, I sat and listened to his WA7 and WA7tp (tube power supply). I did not need to listen long because I immediately enjoyed what I heard, and felt confident about the amplifier heading to me. But then I heard my own WA7 and solid state power supply - ouch! Worse than just having the treble-emphasizing solid state power supply, I also used the more detailed upgraded tubes in the amplifier portion. I immediately bought the WA7tp and some "upgraded" tube options, but something still wasn't quite write. The mystery was solved at the meet. The tubes in his WA7tp are not the ones being sold today with the WA7tp. He had Electro-Harmonix, while the ones being sold today are RCA. Listening to my RCA tubes in his setup with HD800, I thought to myself, how long can I keep these headphones on before I get too tired to listen. Switching over to his Electro-Harmonix, the treble issues immediately departed. Now my RCA are not burned in, but this was no question the missing piece of the puzzle for me. Once hearing the tube power supply with the Electro-Harmonix tubes, the basis for the sound signature was well established. Everything else was simply gravy. And replacing the original tubes in the amplifier portion with the upgraded tubes, also from Electro-Harmonix, just made sense.
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My replacement Electro-Harmonix tubes for the WA7tp are on order. So I'll be posting back impressions of this setup, in this thread later. By the point in the meet when we had this setup, my ears were just a little tired. It sounded good, but I wasn't listening as closely. So I'll definitely be giving this a thorough listening at home on my setup.
Yep, really a killer unit. I won't call it my endgame, because i'm sure there's something better out there, but this really does suit my preferences and doesn't do anything wrong, so I'm not actively searching for anything new. I'm actually also pretty content with my headphone situation. I only just about everything I'm interested in, the only things I don't own, i'm hoping to re-evaluate on this amp to see if it does anything special for them.