Quote:
Originally Posted by 2deadeyes /img/forum/go_quote.gif
There should be many more from others as there were quite a few with cameras.
Here are some from what I took.
|
Great pics! And great meet! Sans camera, so from those pics here are my impressions (and thanks to Aaron and SiBurning and gang for hosting another great NYC regional, and entertaining auction!
Jpelg wearing the Darth Grados. I'm sooo glad after all this time, there's still a timeless standard for audio quality that these things uphold. At Woo Audio's station, I was checking out the New Hotness - the recabled K701 into a balanced tube amp - killer soundstage, the AKG's inherent sibilance countered with the tube's warmth, a fun and overwhelming extravaganza of Can. But my modded HP2s through that Woo single ended tube amp all the way to the left (forgot the name, it's the one with the monster big tube in it)
Edit found it, it's the Woo WA6-SE:
WooAudio6 Special Edition - Single-ended Triode Class-A Tube Headphone Amplifier, Output Transformer Coupled
It brought out the best qualities of the old school Joe Grado sound - intimacy, immediate transients, sounding Real instead of wow-hyperreal. The soundstage was like 5 minutes in heaven with whoever that girl was who was singing on that track (ingrid michaelson?) - the K701 was like the sydney opera house performing mannaheim steamroller.
But this one, Ari's homemade tube amp with 6SN7s, really surprised me. It had the best placement i've heard from my cans, you could totally hear where around your noggin (or where inside your skull) that maraca shake was happening very specifically, and it was balanced towards detail, which was a very clean but not sterile presentation that was a nice complement to...
The MELOS. Lookit this pair. The classic matchup with Grados. The one on top was modded by Ari, the bottom is Bozebutton's carlo-modded beast. The one on bottom is the classic signature i know and love, very similar to mine at home (but more so) - just that joe grado warmth and intimacy but with serious PRAT in the bass, and reality in spades. Ari's was like John Grado's take on the MELOS sound - it came busting out the gate with far more impact and bass and forwardness and pretty much a Hard Rock approach. it emphasized a more commercial appeal without becoming cartoonish, and took more advantage of the good side of solid state in this tube hybrid beast.
So there you go, I found a new DIY, new mod, and new commercially available amp trio, all which i would happily have as a complement to my MELOS to go with the Darth Grados - but not a replacement, the carlo-modded MELOS still holds its own with what it does (and does well). Plus, a new healthy respect for what you can do to wring out the best from a K701. That HD800 better watch out once the inevitable balanced recabling and tube ampage hits it from the Head-fi community!
Good seeing everyone again! And darn it I really wanted those PK1 buds!
