Sorry for the delay of impression. I have been busy after the meet. This is my first meeting with such high number and quality of gears. It is overwhelming for me. As a person who had only used low end gear, I was amazed by how much the music improved with high end gear. Some of the background noise were gone and some of the background sound became noticeable. Now I can understand why people are willing to spend so much money on audio gear. This meeting has opened my eyes to an different world of music.
Grado PS-1: I have previous heard this phone out of Grace901(as amp and DAC) at Berkeley mini meet. I found it was too heavy on the bass and I can not notice anything else. As a person who enjoy mostly laid back music, this phone is clear not for me. I had tired it again during the Socal meet. My opinion has not changed. However, I found PS-1 is actually very detail out of a better source and amp. It is difficult to notice as the bass still over shadow the other sound. Now I can understand why anyone want PS-1 but I am not among them.
HD-580/600/650 with Emmeline amp: HD series all have very similar sound while the higher model may have more detail or better bass, everyone could tell easy they are from the same family. This is also true with Emmeline's solid line product. The Sennheiser with Emmeline are extremely detail with a very dark background. It work very well with the Chinese Classical music which I used to test with. Some of the previous background sound, which sound like background noise, now sound like music. Ever the portable SR-71 sound great with Sennheiser, given its size, it is a great achievement. I am very happy with the combo. The Sennheiser and Emmeline are very close to what I want from my gear. The only thing I may want could be a little more sweetness but I am not ever sure about that. Ray can expect a order from me very soon once I have gotten my pay check.
Omega2 with Blue Hawaii (ayt999's setup): whoever say Omega2 sound like Sennheiser580/600/650 must have a different definition of similar than me. While Omega2 does many character from Sennheiser580/600/650, there is still clear different between them. The Omega2 setup have a very clear detail sound which is similar to Sennheiser580/600/650, but everything seem less personal with Omega2. It seem there is a window between my ear and Omega2. However, it clear detail sound character is unique and not ever Sennheiser 580/600/650 can product such natural, clear detail sound. Part of me want to have this kind of sound in my possession eventually but I would not be sure until I listen to Omega2 more.
Single power series, especially attention to PPX3: Due to the fact so many are interest in Single power and I am tired when I listen to them, I can not give a very clear impression on them. They certainly sound interest. It is the first time I heard a very tube sound setup. Everything seem to have extreme sugar in it with single power. Ever CD3000, which I found so bright that I can not bear, sound fine with me with PPX3. These amp sound very pleasing to my ear but I do miss the detail and dark background of solid amp. I really have to live with these amp awhile longer to determine do I really want to have that much tube sound with me. Consider the fact that single power want NOS tube and require extra care to maintain, I doubt I will want to own them in any near future.
Builders impression: Ray's amps are truly amazing in term of build quality. Everything is so nice inside of his magic boxes. The metal case are also very well build. I have no doubt in my mind that Ray's amps will live longer than me. While some could say that they do not want Ray's house sound, there is nothing to complain about Ray's amps building quality. It was also remarkable to meet Ray in person. He is a guy has a great passion with sound equipment.
I do not have as much time with Mikhail but he is also a person with great passion. He was very willing to answer the questions about sound equipment ever when the questions are unrelated to his equipment. While I could not look inside of Single power amp, these amp look very nice outside. If that is any indication, single power amp must also have great build quality.
More on amp: There are many amp in the meeting. However, some of them seem to be build with less quality. While these amp may sound great, I would never want to buy them. Many Head-fier concern about sound greatly but I believe they should also pay attention to the building quality. An Amp could be a danger equipment, expeically the tube one. It would also troublesome to repair an amp.
On comfort of headphone: What the headphone's designers are thinking!! Grado line are definely not comfort to wear. Sennheiser are better but it was still uncomfort. Some head-fiers told me they will be better once you “break in” the headband. While I can see that happen, I can not stop to wonder why can't they improve the comfort of their product. Audio technical are the one company that are great at doing that. Both L3000 and W2002 are extremly comfort. Sony's R-10 are also very comfort, and their CD3000 also share that design. However, the increase in weight make it less comfort compare to R-10. Omega2 is an other headphone that get it right on comfort design.
Rating of comfort: R10=W2002>Omega2>L3000>CD3000.
I hope the companies will not only improve of sound but comfort as well.
It is a enlighting experience. I want to thank Every head-fiers in the meeting, especially gpalmer, Orpheus, Ray and Mikhail.
Alex, I will definely come to bother you soon. I do want to listen to R-10 and Omega2 a little more(OK, may be a lot more).
