I also have synesthesia. I assumed most audiophiles had synethesia, but in another thread people were saying they didn't have it. For me, a really detailed dac (like a Chord DAVE) and a tube amp (like a WA33) produces extremely clear, unfiltered imaging, spacial positioning, and colors. I feel you need a clinical dac (not necessarily Chord, maybe dCS or MSB), and a tube amp (not necessarily a WA33, there are lots of options) to get a more 3D effect. The TC, Susvara, and SR1a produces the clearest images for me. I had the LCD4z, HD800, Utopias and they didn't produce the same level of clarity.
Is there a reason why you want a SS amp vs tube amp?
Oh, thank god! You are absolutely the guy I need to speak with!!!!!! Good to know I'm not alone! This has been nuts to deal with for SO long...
Nope, no real reason I want a SS other than it gives me better "impact," "feels," and imagery on the iCAN versus the tube and tube+ modes w/WE 396A tubes. I have literally no other experience to compare it to, just the iCAN. As for amps, if you guys (and you in particular) get better "symptoms" from tubes and an uber-clinical DAC I'm totally down. I will 100% take your advice here as I'm pretty much flying blind. I want the absolute best 3D imagery, spatial positioning, "impactfullness," and clarity I can possibly get. So if you had to pick the ultimate synesthesia setup what would it be? Also, the million dollar question for me is; does the highest of the high-end stuff produce better "symptoms" for people like us compared to "just" high-end? If so, I have my credit card standing by and I will sell my old kit here on Head-fi straight away. Much like you, I tried a couple of other headphones like the HD-820s, but I ended up selling them because the Ether Cs blew them almost completely out of the water from a symptoms and imactfullness perspective. I honestly have no clue why. I just ignorantly assumed it was due to some soft of black magic voodoo with planar versus dynamic drivers. Also, if you could chose only one out of the TC, Susvara, and SR1a which would it be? Which produces the most feels and imagery for you?
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