Official 2016 SF Head-Fi Meet Impressions Thread - July 16, 2016

[glitch39]

I wanted to thank the organizers of this really cool event. And HUGE props to Wikia for opening their doors to head-fi. It's a really cool office.

Lots of totl cans and amps everywhere. So hard to pick just one.

I enjoyed the time and experience.

 

[aamefford]

I had a blast!  It was nice to meet new friends and see old friends.  Joe (great to meet you), Amos (great to meet you too, I'm glad you made the trip!) and Jude get the travel awards as far as I know.  Got to share a table with Larry (@jazzfan), see @shane55 after a loooooong time, @CEE TEE, @warrenpchi, @mrspeakers and @MrSpeakersPeter, @Stillhart (Nice to finally meet you also).  I met and saw others, but my memory suffers the "older than 55" syndrome, so please forgive me if I forgot to give you a shout out.
 
I got to hear most of what I wanted to - the Ether C Flow, the Focal Utopia and the Liquid Tungsten prototype.  I did miss the HD800s and trying a Schiit GMB with my amp, just to compare with the Dac-19 and see which one I liked the most.
 
Some verdicts - Hearing the Ether C Flow is gonna cost me some upgrade money in the future.
Luckily, I need closed cans, or I'd really wish I could afford the Focal Utopia - very nice (and way pricy) headphone.
The Liquid Tungsten was lovely, seems to be everything it has been noted to be, but this one won't cost me money - I'm not really a tube junky.
 
For those that asked me earlier - for me, the Ether C Flow is pretty much a guaranteed upgrade.  It has more and deeper low and mid bass, the midrange is filled out, the details are better and more present, and the highs are not overly bright.  The end result is what I wish the single black pad would do to the non-flow version ('cause then I wouldn't have to upgrade....).  It makes the headphone closer to my desired signature, and the best closed headphone I've heard.  For the record, I did not try the open flow.....  I had my standard Ether C and an Ether C Flow the @MrSpeakersPeter kindly loaned me for the day at my set up (AK100ii or iPhone as transport, Dac-19 10th anniv into Cavalli Liquid Crimson).  I talked to two people who preferred the Ether C over the Ether C Flow based on the brighter presentation.  My take on this - if you like a bright presentation, you may prefer the non-flow.  Everyone else liked the Flow version better, some found the difference more profound than others.  For me, the flow wins hands down.  Just a more realistic, "smoother" presentation for me.
 
Oh, I'm so lousy with names - whomever sponsored me a piece of the "vendor pizza - THANK YOU!  I was starving! 

 

[buke9]

I had a blast!  It was nice to meet new friends and see old friends.  Joe (great to meet you), Amos (great to meet you too, I'm glad you made the trip!) and Jude get the travel awards as far as I know.  Got to share a table with Larry (@jazzfan
), see @shane55
 after a loooooong time, @CEE TEE
, @warrenpchi
, @mrspeakers
 and @MrSpeakersPeter
, @Stillhart
 (Nice to finally meet you also).  I met and saw others, but my memory suffers the "older than 55" syndrome, so please forgive me if I forgot to give you a shout out.

I got to hear most of what I wanted to - the Ether C Flow, the Focal Utopia and the Liquid Tungsten prototype.  I did miss the HD800s and trying a Schiit GMB with my amp, just to compare with the Dac-19 and see which one I liked the most.

Some verdicts - Hearing the Ether C Flow is gonna cost me some upgrade money in the future.
Luckily, I need closed cans, or I'd really wish I could afford the Focal Utopia - very nice (and way pricy) headphone.
The Liquid Tungsten was lovely, seems to be everything it has been noted to be, but this one won't cost me money - I'm not really a tube junky.

For those that asked me earlier - for me, the Ether C Flow is pretty much a guaranteed upgrade.  It has more and deeper low and mid bass, the midrange is filled out, the details are better and more present, and the highs are not overly bright.  The end result is what I wish the single black pad would do to the non-flow version ('cause then I wouldn't have to upgrade....).  It makes the headphone closer to my desired signature, and the best closed headphone I've heard.  For the record, I did not try the open flow.....  I had my standard Ether C and an Ether C Flow the @MrSpeakersPeter
 kindly loaned me for the day at my set up (AK100ii or iPhone as transport, Dac-19 10th anniv into Cavalli Liquid Crimson).  I talked to two people who preferred the Ether C over the Ether C Flow based on the brighter presentation.  My take on this - if you like a bright presentation, you may prefer the non-flow.  Everyone else liked the Flow version better, some found the difference more profound than others.  For me, the flow wins hands down.  Just a more realistic, "smoother" presentation for me.

Oh, I'm so lousy with names - whomever sponsored me a piece of the "vendor pizza - THANK YOU!  I was starving! 

Thanks for your impression of the C flow I would hate to lose a little high end but if everything else is better I'm in the upgrade path as well. Thanks for depleting my wallet ; )

 

[aamefford]

^^^ They don't loose high end, more it is tamed a bit - at least to me. There were at least two listeners who disagree with that statement to some degree though.

For me, the overall presentation is easier, more realistic. My descriptive vocabulary for sound characteristics isn't particularly precise, so this is about the best I can do.

 

[buke9]

^^^ They don't loose high end, more it is tamed a bit - at least to me. There were at least two listeners who disagree with that statement to some degree though.

For me, the overall presentation is easier, more realistic. My descriptive vocabulary for sound characteristics isn't particularly precise, so this is about the best I can do.

So we are both going to upgrade?

 

[aamefford]

So we are both going to upgrade?

I will, though maybe not immediately. Summer vacation and a couple of other purchases have sapped my fun money for a bit...

 

[imac2much]

Thanks for your impressions, aamefford!  Very helpful!
 
Did anyone get a chance to compare the Focal Elear vs the Ether C Flow?  I'm especially curious how they compare in bass, upper mids, imaging and comfort.

 

[Delayeed]

^^^ They don't loose high end, more it is tamed a bit - at least to me. There were at least two listeners who disagree with that statement to some degree though.

For me, the overall presentation is easier, more realistic. My descriptive vocabulary for sound characteristics isn't particularly precise, so this is about the best I can do.

Was the soundstage wider on the Ether C Flow?

 

[aamefford]

Was the soundstage wider on the Ether C Flow?

To my ears, yes, a bit. That's part of the "ease of presentation" that I was trying to describe.

 

[aamefford]

Hey all, back to the Meet!!!!  there is an appropriate thread for the Ether Flow - I propose that in depth discussion continue over there, and the "I heard the Ether Flow and it was amazing" or whatever type comments stay here, as those are appropriate.  Just my thoughts.....

 

[buke9]

I will, though maybe not immediately. Summer vacation and a couple of other purchases have sapped my fun money for a bit...

That's fine just wanted to know that you will is good enough for me.

 

[aertoria]

Hey, anyone there tomorrow (SUNDAY)? I plan to go.

 

[joe]

It was a one day meet, so no one will be there tomorrow. Sorry!

 

[DecentLevi]

I'm surprised two pages already and no mention of the Focal Utopia. That is one aptly named headphone! It's true utopia as immense as it gets short of electrostats! This headphone is sure to be a massive game changer - it will definitely shape my audiophile path forever - it will take some introspection and processing to even attempt to come up with words to describe it's grand splendor.

 

[artemart]

I want to hear some impressions of new woo amp