Ok,so now I want to give you my impressions on the Stepdance.This is not supposed to be a review,I have by no means enough experience with high-end audio gear as well as with the evalutation of it.But I am experienceing great pleasure listening to music and even more so when the quality is there.
So,I am interested in portable audio gear for about 5 years now,I am a student so my funds are not what I would like them to be and I am using the following equipment at the moment:the source is a Cowon iAudio X5L 30GB,packed with a lot of FLACs and high quality mp3s.The interconnect is a Qables SilverCab Pro but I added the ViaBlue T6s 3.5mm Jack and soldered the Switchcraft Plug to my AKG 701,I also have a pair of Shure SE530 for listening to music while on the road.I bought the Qables interconnect quite some time ago because I always planed to buy a portable headphone amp,and man I am happy I did!I had a iBasso P3 as a loaner for about half a year,and I also listened to the RSA Predator (wich I liked much much better,but that is no suprise I guess)
Ok now lets get to the point,ahhh not quite yet!I want to tell you how I got my Stepdance.
I am living in Erlangen,and it´s only half a year now that I came to know that Meier-Audio is based in Spardorf,wich is about 2 miles from Erlangen.
Lucky me I guess!I couldn´t reach Jan by phone so I thought I could just as well pack my gear and just cycle to his home,and see if he is there.And he was!He said he only has about an hour,because he has to get to the post-office to get the stuff you are waiting for on it´s way.Then he asked me what I am interested in.I said the Headsix and the Stepdance.But the Headsix would be my first joice (of course never having listened to either) because I want to use it on a big bicycle-trip to China,and the headsix is using much less battery.He totally agreed and gave me a Headsix for listening to it.He was preparing his parcels as I was listening to the Headsix.A great experience and a really lovely little amp!I listened to some of my favorite songs for evalutating audio gear.2 or 3 songs from Avishai Cohens Continuo,then 2 songs by Tom Waits (Gun Street Girl for example is a great reference for evaluating bass impact).Then Jan said he only has another 15 minutes so I said that it´s time to show me the Stepdance.He reminded me that it would not be wise to listen to it,but I said,sometimes you just have to make mistakes,just for the sheer fun of doing it
OK,NOW TO THE STEPDANCE,AT LAST:
I plugged in the Stepdance,again listening to Avishai Cohen Trio´s album Coninuo!I was struck by the difference!Immediatly!The Stepdance came straight out of the box,so no burning-in done yet.The soundstage was much wider,instrument seperation much better (Ok,only 3 Instruments there,but none the less) and the sound was absolutly silky smooth without loosing any details!Amazing.And I think the best experience I had with my AKG 701 so far!Then Gun Street Girl by Tom Waits again.The timbals beeing struck right in front of me,AMAZING.A big grin from the left ear to the right.Jan said: "I warned you!You just didn´t want to listen." I said: "Yeah,and I said,sometimes you just have to make mistakes
So,the Stepdance it is!"
Jan gave me the Stepdance and we went to the post office together,wich also had an ATM so I could give him his money (I only brought 160€ with me,just to make sure I won´t buy the Stepdance,hah!Didn´t work,hmm
I have burned in the Stepdance since then (yesterday
so I think the sound is nowhere near it will be in the end,but I can say this so far:
The Stepdance is very neutral,that means whatever Phones you plug in,they will sound just like they are tuned to.So you can use them as they may or may not be designed for.For example I think that the Stepdance and the AKG 701 are really great for Jazz and classical music.Everything is right there.No overexaggeration of any part of the sound.Very good soundstage so far,but I think and hope it will open up even more.
I only listened to the Shures very briefly because I misplaced my extension cable for them,and holding the Stepdance about 30cm from your ears all the time is quite some pain in the a**.But they also do what I expected them to do,but much much better.Great for Pop or Electronic,Vocals are spooky!
The Stepdance has authority over the AKG 701.I didn´t think it is possible to get this sound out of them from a portable rig.Great!Ah and another thing I noticed is that there is absolutly no listening fatigue!The Stepdance doesn´t sound harsh or rude.It´s pure pleasure,but again,without taking anything away from the sound.Admirable!
I will continue to burn in,and when done I will write a deeper conclusion of what "I" think the Stepdance sounds like.I havent read the whole thread here because I was too busy listening to music.I read the first three pages,but there was no actual review of the Stepdance,and now I am happy that I did it that way,because you can get something from me that is not influenced by others,and we all are beeing influenced by what we read.You can´t help but do so!
I hope I could be of any help,if you have questions,I would like to answer them!And one thing in addition:dealing with Jan was a great experience.He is a really kind an honest guy,always willing to help and give the right advice (some people are just not willing to listen I guess).Strictly recommended.
Even now that I can´t forsee the whole capabilities of the Stepdance,I am absolutly confident that I made the right decision having bought it!
I think thats enough for the moment.I hope you could understand everything,my english is OK I guess,but for descibing the features of the sound I don´t know if i have been using all the right vocabulary.
Greeting to all of you,HeadFi is a great source for advice,we should all keep it that way!
Lorenz