[PokerFaze]

   
No problem, happy to help! I must reiterate that the Athena I have is the ADEL version. @PokerFaze's impressions will be of the non-ADEL version. I think the non-ADEL version will be more competitive with the Aether in terms of what you're looking for.

 
 

  YES, I did read pretty much review about difference between ADEL version and Non-A ver. Some people love ADEL but others not. Their points are reasonable but consider my budget, that looks like out of my business LOL

  I'll wait for his coming impressions.

 
I only have the ADEL version though - the non-ADEL unit has been returned to EE. However, I do have the carrot modules and in my testing, gets very, very close to the non-ADEL unit; you'd have to be in a quiet environment to notice them.
 
I'll use the carrots to compare them and get back to you!

 

[Hangyu Xu]

 

   
No problem, happy to help! I must reiterate that the Athena I have is the ADEL version. @PokerFaze's impressions will be of the non-ADEL version. I think the non-ADEL version will be more competitive with the Aether in terms of what you're looking for.

 
 

  YES, I did read pretty much review about difference between ADEL version and Non-A ver. Some people love ADEL but others not. Their points are reasonable but consider my budget, that looks like out of my business LOL

  I'll wait for his coming impressions.

 
I only have the ADEL version though - the non-ADEL unit has been returned to EE. However, I do have the carrot modules and in my testing, gets very, very close to the non-ADEL unit; you'd have to be in a quiet environment to notice them.
 
I'll use the carrots to compare them and get back to you!

 

[Deezel177]

   
 
 
I only have the ADEL version though - the non-ADEL unit has been returned to EE. However, I do have the carrot modules and in my testing, gets very, very close to the non-ADEL unit; you'd have to be in a quiet environment to notice them.
 
I'll use the carrots to compare them and get back to you!

 
I was assuming you'd compare the Aether and Athena non-ADEL universals at MS 

 My mistake, have fun!

 

[PokerFaze]

   
I was assuming you'd compare the Aether and Athena non-ADEL universals at MS 

 My mistake, have fun!

 
From what I understand, they don't have the Athena demo anymore so I will have to use my own unit 

 

[Deezel177]

   
From what I understand, they don't have the Athena demo anymore so I will have to use my own unit 

 
Ahh, maybe they've sold it since my last visit. Alright then, I look forward to your impressions in any case!

 

[NaiveSound]

I still haven't heard the XR from a Balanced set up. I wonder if it's a major difference?

 

[seamon]

I still haven't heard the XR from a Balanced set up. I wonder if it's a major difference?

Good SE>>Okayish Balanced

 

[Hangyu Xu]

 

  Bravo impressions!
I'm not a hip-hop guy but bass slam is also helping pop music to be more energy and touching. Plus there is a switch on Aether which looks cool. you said it still sounds similar even switch it off, but this design got my heart a bit for sure. SO Aether +1 at bass for me.
In the mids, key word ''air'' is just my flavor. That is also why I love tube amp. Lively sound is what I'm looking for. Actually I think sometimes too'' live'' makes signature loose the attraction to most people who listening music in the whole world except kind of group people who loves monitoring sound. I'm kind of guy between it but more forward to ''live''. Too close singer sound makes me feel inanition. Proper distance of signer sound and much background but clear and recognizable instruments sound pleasure me a lot. ''Air'' smell makes picture bigger to help soundstage felling. But wider and more left and right extension sound advantage of Athena-A, YES, I love it. THEN, this part, Aether +1, Athena +.5 to me.
Treble, they're similar, but Aether is more ris, it +1 again.
Thanks again for @Deezel177
Your impressions helps a lot. I got a first step of what I'm after for now. Let's wait for @PokerFaze
's impressions later to strengthen my understanding. 

 
No problem, happy to help! I must reiterate that the Athena I have is the ADEL version. @PokerFaze's impressions will be of the non-ADEL version. I think the non-ADEL version will be more competitive with the Aether in terms of what you're looking for.

Morning! May I ask one more thing which is Aether very sensitive to audio source or cable? Any easily noticeable z noise? 

 

[Deezel177]

  Morning! May I ask one more thing which is Aether very sensitive to audio source or cable? Any easily noticeable z noise? 

 
The Aether is not sensitive at all in terms of hiss. It has been silent with everything I've plugged it into.

 

[Hangyu Xu]

 

  Morning! May I ask one more thing which is Aether very sensitive to audio source or cable? Any easily noticeable z noise? 

 
The Aether is not sensitive at all in terms of hiss. It has been silent with everything I've plugged it into.

Nice! That sounds really my boy!

 

[bvng3540]

Nice! That sounds really my boy!

Aether sound more like a girl then boy

 

[Hangyu Xu]

Nice! That sounds really my boy!

Aether sound more like a girl then boy

Good to know

 

[MikeRight]

Hi!

Regarding the O1, is there a aignificative difference in isolotation if we compare them with B1 and G1?
I would like to use the custom Zeus ADEL in my travels by train and plane and I would like to know if O1 is a must or not.

Thanks!

 

[Dellwolf]

Hi!

Regarding the O1, is there a aignificative difference in isolotation if we compare them with B1 and G1?
I would like to use the custom Zeus ADEL in my travels by train and plane and I would like to know if O1 is a must or not.

Thanks!

Yes, huge. The Carrots(O1) are literally just a milled piece of aluminum with O-rings.

 

[seamon]

If you are planning to listen for a long time(5+ hours) in your travels, I'll suggest you use B1 or G1 instead of O1 to protect your ears from fatigue.