Just to get some of the technical stuff out of the way. The DIY T2 went through three processes: CNC milling, chrome plating, and (I might have forgotten this one) sand blasting or polishing? Similar on the Aeras, but the Aeras is semi-gloss finish instead of chrome plating.
I removed the foam padding under the amplifier, Kerry reach out to me that might block airflow. I thought it would reduced vibration anyhow, future owners don't make this same mistake.
One of the surprise was that the tube socket is actually black unlike most tube amplifiers using teflon color socket, which is a plus for me. I didn't noticed the tube socket until Kerry was removing the tubes for packaging. The tube socket is quite robust as well.
The chassis is beautifully machine, with the aluminum chassis making it quite light.
Temperature of the amp is running after 75 minutes
My room temperature is 78F, 48C is roughly 118F at the hottest spot of the chassis, just like Kerry said is about 36-40F delta above the room temperature.
Kerry's Setup:
Roon --> Denaftrips Ares (I believed corrected me Kerry if I am wrong) --> DIY T2 running Mullard EL34 power tubes (
not fully burn-in) --> Stax X-9000/009S/007 MK1 early production
Roon --> Denaftrips Ares --> Aeras (
fully burn-in) --> Stax X-9000/009S/007 MK 1early production
Music: Hotel California by Eagles 2018 remastered
Hello - Adele
When we were young - Adele
The Indiana Jones: Raiders Of the Lost Ark "Raiders March" (Mainly to test on the X-9000 since I don't listen to classical or orchestral music much)
I spend most of the roughly 40 minutes on the T2 and about 25 minutes on the Aeras. I will keep this to about the energizers mostly, the headphones comparison I will post on the X-9000 thread will do just a short rating here. Volume position is around 10 o'clock.
DIY T2 with Stax X-9000, I got a similar impression to CanJam woo's audio setup. Laid back presentation, great soundstage, bass is fast and impactful. I should also mentioned that this T2 is not the one at CanJam, this is for Kerry's customer not sure how much time he had it running probably a few weeks?
DIY T2 with Stax 007MK I, right away the vocal tonality is more lush or warm which is my preference sound signature. The bass with this combo is the best of the three, I wish I get the a chance to hear the original Omega which I heard is even better in this regard. In term of stage positioning is between the 009S and the X-9000, closer to the 009S, X-9000 is a league of its own in soundstage.
DIY T2 with Stax 009S, right away the up close presentation is noticed sounds more energy than the other two, but I forgot 009S is the easiest headphones there to drive meaning I was listening at a higher decibels giving the false impression. Bass is lightning fast you can hear the speed of the impact when the drum is hit and quite impactful.
But, I noticed T2 sounded little different. I didn't know it was a different T2 until I spoke to Kerry little later. The CanJam version was richer in tonality, speed, soundstage, bass impact/slam sounded better to my ear. First time in my audio journey that a
burn-in process that does improved.
At first I wasn't going to listen to the Aeras, because I was going to listen at home anyway. But, since Kerry already got it setup so why not. This Aeras is the same one at CanJam, Kerry offers me a chassis swap which I didn't know if I should take up the offer because he needs to transfer from one chassis to another in just one day. Actually after hearing the fully burn-in version I am glad Kerry made this available.
Aeras --> Stax X-9000 my first impression it sounded different between the other setup? It is very competent much better than I thought it can sound, keep it short it is a quite magical I will go on with the detail on the X-9000 thread.
Aeras --> Stax SR-009S mirror what I heard in CanJam but sounds richer due to mainly the burn-in effect that I am hearing this time.
Aeras --> Stax SR-007 MK1 I would like to revise what I said at CanJam about the best bass was the T2/SR009S combo, the 007 MK1 bass is one of a kind can't be replicate by the other two.
The Indiana Jones track I selected due to the fact the X-9000 was that don't utilize it's strength that is the reason why I went to test it's strength and it doesn't disappoint either.
Keep it on track T2 and Aeras share similar sound signatures, T2 to me got a better bass control for basshead I would pick this over the Aeras. Aeras fully burn-in version is right at the heel of the T2 in some area I considered it better than the T2 especially in the high end frequency the note seems more sparkling than the T2. Could be just my ear. T2 also got better separation, is a good choice for those like orchestral music or classical. Aeras sounds a little warmer to my ear than the T2 for some reason, but I did prefer the sound slighter more in term of tonality because my headphone of choice is the Sennheiser HD650.
My home setup: Foobar (redbook cd flac) --> Schiit Yggdrasil XLR out --> Aeras --> Stax SR009S
This is the first time I got to hear the Aeras with my own music library. The sound is exceptionally clean and clear, definitely above the Susvara in this regard some of the track I need to focus to hear some of the details are just present out straight out with the 009S and the X-9000 is even better in that regard (not much). Vocal is rich not thin sounding like the Sennheiser HD800. Bass is fast and got good slam for me.
Better recording material does sound better, the difference is quite noticeable for me.
My impression might be different if the T2 is fully burn-in, for now the Aeras sounds exactly what I was looking for. And thanks to Kerry making this possible.
Utopia+Stellaris & CRBN+Aeras sounds like a mighty nice endgame.
