Quote:
Originally Posted by n_maher /img/forum/go_quote.gif
Ohhh, I get it now. See here's the thing "nmalher" doesn't exist, nmaher other the other hand does.
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Ooooops. Sorry, Nate. At least the dac exists. I knew I was right not to post more last night.
Okay, stray thoughts at this point:
Did anyone get a pic of flecom's DIY rig? That wins as the most fun rig, simply because it looks like such a mess (PS3>Berhinger with zap filter>Dynamight, all open and ugly and a computer monitor sitting on top), until you listen to it. Really nice. I still prefer the K1000s from my F1, but I wish I'd spent more time with it with other cans.
Ray's Meridian/B52/Balanced R10s: Nice. Agile_one noticed the new tubes, but I don't remember what they were. I wanted to hear the balanced R10s, and was hoping for a noticeable jump in performance over my single-ended rig (Exemplar Denon 2900/Extreme Platinum/R10). I didn't get one, but within 15 seconds, I forgot to listen critically, and was just enjoying the music. Hopefully, at a future meet, I'd make the choice to listen and compared balanced vs. single ended early on and with intent.
The Apache: Hadn't heard this amp before. It didn't do much for me, but I also didn't listen for more than a couple minutes.
HE90s/Aristeaus: Sad to say that I didn't listen at all. What a shame as I both know and really like this setup. I was trying to get around to all that was new, and before I knew it, the meet was over.
Notable disappointments:
Edition 9s: If you like bass, these headphones may interest you. Enough said.
TakeT H2: So much to almost like. Again, if you want bass, here you go. The sound was thick and heavy to me, but with surprisingly wonderful detail and nice highs. The mids were off tonally for me. I listened with Gene's Accuphase rig to two CDs I know well, and one of which was of from an artist I knew personally. His voice does not sound as it did. I also listened with my Exemplar Denon and F1. Though some prefered one or the other setup, I couldn't hear a difference, but I didn't spend too much time either. If some folks work out the amp/transformer needs of these, as some are trying to do, I'd be really interested in checking these out again. They are definitely worth a second chance.
DT880 (balanced): I keep trying to like these, but damn those highs are brutal. Ouch.
The Xin line: as noted earlier. These are good, but I'd take the AE2 (as far as available at all or available without drama amps go) over any. SQ alone, the PRII, the Diablo, the SR-71, and AE2 are simply better amps if you're looking for more accurate tone, neutrality (though the Diablo is a bit bright), and refinement. With the advent of the amp/dacs, I'd choose the Pico over any Xin and have that flexibility of a dac added in with better sound all around. The Xins seem to be really high quality mini power pushers, but I walked away from this meet not understanding the ravs after doing comparisons. Oh well.
My fav moment of the meet gear-wise was realizing that I was super happy with my own stuff, and having everything all set-up together (I don't have most set up at home), I got a chance to play with it all. I kept thinking as I was switching things around, listening to this and that, that if I didn't own this stuff already, I'd sure as hell be buying it. I want to tweak things a little (recable K1000s, reterminate K340s, get the new mods to the Exemplar, etc), and start exploring computer as transport/dac options, but for now, that's it. Listening to everyone else's gear was wonderful, but I've already chosen what pleases me best. Now, if I bump into a stray $20,000 or so, I'll be singing a slightly different tune
Fav headphones are still R10s. K1000s close second. It had to be said.
