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Nashua, New Hampshire Meet: Decemeber 5th, 2015 Impressions
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Dec 7, 2015 at 7:01 PM Post #16 of 34
zonto said:
   
Could you confirm which Cardas HD650 cable you tried out? Been thinking about trying one out, but see multiple versions online, e.g. Fat Pipe, older grey version (most common), or new Clear.
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I've been researching (read: obsessing) about Cardas cables ever since our meetup.  Based on the light blue color, I believe it was a Cardas Audio Clear Light Headphone Cable:
 
http://www.cardas.com/clear_light_headphone_cable.php
 
The levels I've been able to deduce are:
  1. Cardas Clear (top of the line) http://www.cardas.com/clear_headphone_cable.php
  2. Cardas Clear Light (mid-grade) http://www.cardas.com/clear_light_headphone_cable.php
  3. Cardas "Cross" (listed as a "replacement cable") http://www.cardas.com/headphone_cable.php
  4. Fat Pipe (an OEM cable built by Headroom using Cardas cable) http://www.headphone.com/products/headroom-cardas-fat-pipe-cable-for-audeze-4-pin-xlr-10ft
 
They're all stupid expensive, but I've got the Clear Light on my wishlist.
 
- Dave
 
Dec 7, 2015 at 10:14 PM Post #17 of 34
Thank you to everyone who made this happen, I had a great time meeting new people and listening to some new toys. Some highlights for me in no particular order:
 
  1. HD800 + MicroZOTL amp: I just remember this setup had a really nice amount of detail and dynamics that sounded just "right". It almost makes me want to invest in a HD800 system.
    biggrin.gif
  2. ZMF Vibro/Blackwood and Omni: I actually prefered the Vibro and Blackwood over the Omni. The former two sound more natural to me whereas the Omni has a bit more bass slam than I'm used to. I can definitely see the attraction for both, but I thought the Blackwood and Vibro still had a good amount of bass while still sounding neutral.
  3. The people: if you haven't been out to a meeting, you owe it to yourself to come out and chat with an awesome group of people. Also, thanks to Josh for letting me piggyback off of his system.
 
Hope I can make it to next year's!
 
Dec 7, 2015 at 11:00 PM Post #18 of 34
vipergeek said:
   
I've been researching (read: obsessing) about Cardas cables ever since our meetup.  Based on the light blue color, I believe it was a Cardas Audio Clear Light Headphone Cable:
 
http://www.cardas.com/clear_light_headphone_cable.php
 
The levels I've been able to deduce are:
  1. Cardas Clear (top of the line) http://www.cardas.com/clear_headphone_cable.php
  2. Cardas Clear Light (mid-grade) http://www.cardas.com/clear_light_headphone_cable.php
  3. Cardas "Cross" (listed as a "replacement cable") http://www.cardas.com/headphone_cable.php
  4. Fat Pipe (an OEM cable built by Headroom using Cardas cable) http://www.headphone.com/products/headroom-cardas-fat-pipe-cable-for-audeze-4-pin-xlr-10ft
 
They're all stupid expensive, but I've got the Clear Light on my wishlist.
 
Click to expand...

 
This is a bit OT, but along the lines of my cable upgrade epiphany.  Does anyone have experience using Silver Dragon headphone cables (I'm looking your way @Rynsin).  If so, have you ever compared the sound quality of the Silver Dragon to any of the Cardas models?  They've got 41 extremely positive reviews:
 
http://www.moon-audio.com/silver-dragon-headphone-cable-v3.html
 
and I'm curious, for about half the price of Cardas Clear, how they stand up in direct comparison to the Rolls Royce of headphone cables.
 
- Dave
 
Dec 8, 2015 at 1:56 AM Post #19 of 34
I snapped a few pics while I was there and will post them up later this evening.   It was a great time,  I'm glad I was able to make it up to NH to participate (although a bit later than scheduled ). I got a few great ideas for improving things in my headphone system(s).  From Tube recommendations for the Schiit Lyr, to  Headphone Cups for my Custom Vibro / Turbulent Labs Grados. - Thanks to the gent who let me demo his Grado Earpads.
 
I didn't get to check out the OPPO rig but hey, that's what next year if for right? 
 
Zack at ZMF, Thanks for sharing your "start-up" story.  Much success to you in your venture- I try to grab inspiration from all sources, and I like the story of the accidental career path that came to be, organically.  If Luke (Vibro Labs) remembers me, tell him Jamal says Hello
 
The "SCI-FI" Cans ( That's what I'm calling them) , most "unique" looking things in room when worn ( and I have pictures to prove it).  
 
So many cool looking and EXCELLENT sounding rigs , one could immediately go home and max out a card or 3 trying to replicate some of those systems.  Some super straight forward like that Fisher set up,  some way more complex with  multiple components and Hi res audio players etc,   
 
The beauty of the event was the diversity (gear , folks etc) and  the social nature of it all.
 
 I've never been to Fidelis Audio , ( I've heard about them)  and I will say they were absolutely gracious and generous hosts.  As soon as I hit the lottery,  or  find my way into fort knox ( undetected).   They'll have to be on my list of places to "leave a trail of money"  -  actually there were many things that are well within reach that I'd consider today.  Nice to see some old school brands reborm- ( Elac, Aragon) and some new chic gear from Dan D'agostino, VAC / Kevin Hayes, Harbeth, Pass etc etc. 
 
In any case. Thanks to the organizers who put this together, the reps from Technics and REL subs, Fidelis Audio and the many folks I had a chance to chat with and interact with.  
 
Hopefully you will all attend the "Frankenfest" Audio Social  in Clinton MA in February.   I'm not the organizer of that gathering but I will certainly share the date and details with the folks here if that's within the rules of Head-Fi. 
 
A few images from this event that I snapped will follow this evening.
 
Cheers
Jamal K. aka Bostown



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 
 

 

 
 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
Dec 8, 2015 at 9:30 AM Post #21 of 34
Re: Cardas cables
 
FWIW, my Senn 800, connected to the Micro-ZOTL, was using the Cardas Clear Light cable.  I also had a Clear Light cable on my Senn 650, but I don't think it ever got connected to any system (I brought it to hook up to the Micro-ZOTL in case someone wanted to borrow my 800 to use on another system).  I also have the gray Cross cable at work for use with some Senn 600's.
 
I have had Cardas cables on Senn phones off and on for many years, from the old blue "smurf" cable up through the Clear light; a few DIY with Cardas wire as well.  The Clear Light de-throned my previous favorite, the Revelation Audio Labs Cryo-Silver cable.  I imagine the top-of-the-line Clear is fantastic, but I didn't want to spend that $.
 
I have also used Moon Audio Dragon cables in the past with great results.  Two times with Silver Dragon (v1 and v2), and once with Black Dragon (forgot which version, but early).  Very good for the money IMO.  Read the web site to see which cable - Blue, Black or Silver Dragon - you think might fit well with your phones and system.
 
Jamal/Bostown, thanks for the info on the Clinton event, I may try and make that.
 
Dec 8, 2015 at 4:58 PM Post #22 of 34
skullguise said:
  Re: Cardas cables
 
FWIW, my Senn 800, connected to the Micro-ZOTL, was using the Cardas Clear Light cable.  I also had a Clear Light cable on my Senn 650, but I don't think it ever got connected to any system (I brought it to hook up to the Micro-ZOTL in case someone wanted to borrow my 800 to use on another system).  I also have the gray Cross cable at work for use with some Senn 600's.
 
I have had Cardas cables on Senn phones off and on for many years, from the old blue "smurf" cable up through the Clear light; a few DIY with Cardas wire as well.  The Clear Light de-throned my previous favorite, the Revelation Audio Labs Cryo-Silver cable.  I imagine the top-of-the-line Clear is fantastic, but I didn't want to spend that $.
 
I have also used Moon Audio Dragon cables in the past with great results.  Two times with Silver Dragon (v1 and v2), and once with Black Dragon (forgot which version, but early).  Very good for the money IMO.  Read the web site to see which cable - Blue, Black or Silver Dragon - you think might fit well with your phones and system.
 
Jamal/Bostown, thanks for the info on the Clinton event, I may try and make that.
Click to expand...

 
It's weird because all the pictures I'm seeing online of the Clear Light headphone cable show it being black and Clear as a black/white weave, whereas the Clear Light (and Clear) speaker and interconnect cables are blue. 
 
I may try and make Clinton too since I couldn't get up to Nashua this time.
 
Dec 8, 2015 at 6:07 PM Post #23 of 34
Hate to post OT but any information on the Clinton meet? Couldn't find anything on it...any links?
 
Dec 8, 2015 at 10:02 PM Post #25 of 34
Dec 8, 2015 at 10:11 PM Post #26 of 34
Wow what a great meet a lot of amps and phones. The fisher receiver looked pretty interesting.  I myself am a big fan of using a vintage receiver to drive my phones. But I am using a high powered unit the concept 16.5 . It is not your typical headphone amp in size or weight . I have to say though that it drives at least my phones with an authority that many high powered dedicated headphone amps can not match. I dare not turn it up past the 9 oclock position which is very loud . I wished my local headphone show offered as much equipment and phones as the new Hampshire meet.
   But at this years meet in the spring/summer I was surprised to see a few stax electrostatic rigs. I had not heard one since I sold my lamda pros and the tube amp a while back.
  But the new hampshire show
looked like it was very entertaining.
 
Dec 9, 2015 at 12:27 AM Post #27 of 34
Did any of you, not familiar with Schiit, get a chance to hear some of their gear? I think the LCD-XC sounds excellent from the Bifrost and Valhalla 2, but want to know what your thoughts on their gear at the meet if they had any.
 
Dec 9, 2015 at 12:37 AM Post #28 of 34
I wasn't too impressed with the Bifrost Multibit. I thought my much cheaper Theta Progeny was just as, if not more resolving but it's not a fair comparison considering it originally cost much more.
 
Dec 9, 2015 at 4:56 PM Post #29 of 34
Dec 9, 2015 at 5:40 PM Post #30 of 34
mrman said:
  I don't think anyone at the meet said they really enjoyed the sound of the Audeze 8's. And chances are this was the precursor as to why. They have removed the standard 3.5/6.3mm jack and made it an apple exclusive lightning port. 
 
http://www.apple.com/shop/product/HJLS2VC/A/audeze-el-8-titanium-closed-back-headphones?fnode=93&fs=f%3Dheadphone%26fh%3D458a%252B45f6
Click to expand...

 
See also:
 
https://www.audeze.com/products/el-8-collection/el-8-titanium
 
I simply didn't mingle enough to try the majority of OPPs (Other People's 'Phones), so I can't really speak to the EL-8's, but seems like a bit of a myopic marketing decision on Audeze's part to restrict usage to iDevices only.  I'm not sure why they'd want to overtly exclude a not-insignificant user base of Android (by some measures, 82% of the world) and DAP/PMP users.
 
Still lovin' my LCD-2s and coveting the LCD-XCs, but strange just the same.
 
UPDATE: Ah, OK:
 
Package Includes
  1. Cypher Lightning Cable
  2. 2m (6.56 feet) Audeze headphone cable
  3. 3.5mm to 1/4in stereo adapter
 
so old-fashioned analog users aren't completely SOL.
 
- Dave
 
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