Firstly, can't thank blackreplica enough for his hospitality and kindness in hosting the meet, not to mention the snacks + drinks he provided. Thanks Kevin, it turned out to be an awesome meet and must say you guys are the friendliest bunch of people I've met!
Oh and just to get the record straight, Jahn's fully modded toshiba 3960(Tushi) was there at the meet. Kudos to Jahn, USPS and auspost for getting the timing inch perfect!
In terms of SQ, there was much to like about the Tushi; very musical, none of the digital harsness that is so common with mid-fi sources, and it seemed to present the music in a very nice, non-fatiguing manner. I'm sure others can chime in on the Tushi impressions also. It was unfornunate that there were no other cd players to compare the Tushi with, but I dare say it was the stand-out source of the meet!
Now, on to the Raptor - This was a real eye opener for me. It seemed to synergise well with basically anything thrown at it, and it drove them with such ease, power and precision. It is definitely an amp which demands respect, not just in the powerful sound but also in the incredible workmanship. I particularly enjoyed the sa5000's and rs-1's with the raptor.
Blackreplica's VAL tube/hybrid amp - Nice sounding amp for a relative cheap price. If I had to describe the sound in one word, SMOOTH! It lacked dynamics though.
Sony cd3000 - now the cans that really impressed me on the day.... Very engaging and forward sound, similar to that of the grado's. Hint of brightness/sibiliance in the top end, but good extension and detail. It had a really nice soundstage as well (on par with the DT770's), but the bass was slightly lacking. However with the bass boost on (SM-3), it definitely helped bring out some of the presence and impact that was required. As blackreplica mentioned, hearing Micahel Buble on the cd3000's with the sm3 and bass boost on, was purely insane! Couldn't help notice the huge grins on everyone's faces, not to mention the one on my face! Oh and it felt like having two plush pillows resting on your ears!
Sony SA5000 - Ok, now I had mixed feelings about these cans. There was no doubt that this was the most detailed and accurate phones out of the lot. The bass that was there was well extended and of great quality (especially through the raptor), but I thought it was still lacking in impact and presence. This created a bright, somewhat analytical sound overall. With the sa5k's, I found myself trying to analyse and pick out the little nuances in the music, rather than enjoying the music as a whole as I would on the RS-1's.
I can see why so many people enjoy these cans though, but I still prefered the grado's for its bass slam. Not to take anything away from the sony's, I definitely preferred them over the hd650 with stock cable. Oh and the Sony's had great build quality (nothing flimsy about these futurist sa5k's) along with some super sexy accessories!
Made my grado's look like some wooden junk out of the 60's!
RS-2 seems to get very close to it's older brother, RS-1. Slightly less engaging, smoother and more laid-back if you'd like.
That's seems to be what I can remember for the time being. If there's anything else, I'll keep it posted. To everyone that turned up, it was a pleasure meeting you all. You guys set a huge precedent for future Sydney Meets to come, and it was great to be part of it! Great stuff!
