THE WATERCOOLER HEADPHONE EDITION – Headphones, Amps, DACs, and desktop/home audio related – a freewheeling discussion of gear, impressions, music, and musings.

[cwoo]

I wish I had some regrets, quite honestly, because it would mean that I figured out how to use the classifieds here effectively. Seems like a daunting catch-22: I need to buy and sell many things to get the feedback needed for others to feel comfortable transacting with me?

If you sell something and you don't have much feedback, make sure you are very descriptive, use lots of pictures, include a timestamped name, and offer to setup a facetime call or something to help validate the transaction. Also, make sure that you offer PayPal Goods and Services as an option for the presumed buyer. It provides extra protection. When you are the buyer, you take all the risk.

If you are buying something in the classifieds, make sure you send payment promptly after any negotiation or vetting of the seller that needs to be done. Also, don't lowball. If the price isn't close to what you want to pay, just move along and watch the listing to see if the price drops. Many times, certain sellers will post items that are way too expensive hoping they get a quick hit and more money. You will see those items hang around for awhile if they are wildly off of what the market dictates, and the price will start to drop. Same thing is true for items priced way too low. Be cautious of those as well.

Be prompt and courteous in your PMs, be aware of scammers, and be sure to agree to the terms you settle on with the sale of item. You will definitely want to leave feedback for the buyer/seller and they should do the same for you. You will eventually get more feedback as you get more active in the community.

There are a lot of scammers out there, so the community is extra cautious (especially with new accounts). Just because you are a new seller/buyer, doesn't mean you should take risks and get lured into those scams because you are trying to build feedback. Ask questions, ask for validation, and as always, be courteous.

 

[Kiats]

In case you folks missed this post in respect of the MySphere 3:

Post in thread 'MYSPHERE 3.1 "FAQ's"'
https://www.head-fi.org/threads/mysphere-3-1-faqs.857940/post-18397513

 

[bifford]

If you sell something and you don't have much feedback, make sure you are very descriptive, use lots of pictures, include a timestamped name, and offer to setup a facetime call or something to help validate the transaction. Also, make sure that you offer PayPal Goods and Services as an option for the presumed buyer. It provides extra protection. When you are the buyer, you take all the risk.

This was the most helpful feedback I’ve received to-date; thank you!

 

[Pelilin]

(Im sorry, deleted for reasons).

 

[Leonarfd]

Something new arrived, AUNE SR7000. I had a short session of the DAP, and I like what I hear. Will try some more later on the desktop stack, but it's quite impressive how open the stage is to be closed back. Clean and balanced sound, nothing that sounds offensive or lacking.

Update after some hours:

It is easy enough to drive so you can use your DAP and Dongle and get good sound, it also scales if you give it more power from desktop gear. Good build quality, and okay stock cables (balanced 4.4 and 3.5mm) also a nice storage case. Very good comfort and not heavy, nice depth with angled driver (personal problem of ears touching the driver enclosure on most headphones).

The tuning is neutral warm, very balanced without being peaky or offensive. If anything a little safe up top, but still good extension to sound clear and open. Bass is punchy and goes deep, no bleed that muddy up the midrange. This is perhaps the most balanced closed back I have used, while also having enough warmth to be enjoyable. Maybe the most impressive is the soundstage, much more open than most closed back models.

 

[goldwerger]

-Cross posting from the Watercooler thread. -

What a day today , we @Loafy @AxLvR got some demo's of the most hyped gear this year. Thanks to Jaben Indonesia for providing these insane demos to my house.

Immanis definitely is one of the best headphone out there. At first i tried it with my Cayin Ha2a and it was not enough to drive the immanis . With ha2a everything sound less dynamic and very small stage. The notes also become blunted. But after using the SAEQ armageddon everything change. So today we use armageddon as our amplifier of choice.

So how was immanis? IMO it is very resolving and technical clean and luxurious , neutral tuning, very huge stage, high resolution, the bass is outstanding but there is one thing i and @Loafy didnt like it was the upper mid and treble can sound metalic or cold depending on the music and amplifier pairing. It was amazing but unfortunately i and @Loafy tend to like more emotional and soulful gear. The immanis is definitely will steal the heart of people who like technical gear. Or maybe i should change the DAC to R2R so it will suit my taste better?



So the next we tried Atrium Open with Armageddon. And wow!!! I didnt expect my Atrium to sound this good i think i can no longer use Ha2a with my atrium after this. The improvement was amazing. Didnt expect atrium to be able to play EDM while remaining sweet in the vocal. Also the stage now become bigger and more immersive, the notes become thicker, there is more emotion here. I suddenly fall in love again with my Atrium.


@Loafy actually bring his other gear to my house including Empyrean 2 and Roson Rad0 both was amazing.

The Empyrean 2 was very similar to Hifimanish kind of tuning with a little bit more bass but the comfort is amazing.

The Roson is very unique, it was very emotional in the vocal with big stage but maybe a bit shouty in the upper mid and less resolution than Atrium. Im sorry @Loafy i pick my Atrium here as the winner.

After today long listening we voted that the winner was not the headphones but actually the Amplifier and the time we spend!! Actually the armageddon literally made every gear sound quality increase by a lot! Yes even IEM. I really want one now.

Look at this guy @AxLvR flexing his new stolen watch.


We end our small short meetup by going out eating some chinese noodle nearby and had a good times.



The lamb noodle was very unique, a bit of sizhuan pepper and some sweet sourness from vinegar. The noodle was very chewy very good!! 8/10.

My conclusion from today short meetup
1. Immanis definitely is one of the best headphone but you will need a lot of power and better synergy i think armageddon or my dac was not the best pair.
2. Saeq armageddon was a very good amp it was thick , huge stage, warm, natural timbre, resolving. Made every gear sound wonderful by a lot.
3. @AxLvR need a GF. And please return my watch or i will call the police.

Thank you for reading my post. I write this post in a hurry sorry if i mispell anything and if it wasnt a good read.

Wonderful writeup, thanks for sharing!

@timeslip has previously shared his good impressions from his home demo of the Armageddon. I may need to give it a spin one day. I do understand it’s quite dynamic and a bit more v shaped which lines up with your impressions.

Looks like the Immanis is very amp dependent, from all accounts. I still hope to one day demo it with the AIC one day…

 

[Hiker816]

This was the most helpful feedback I’ve received to-date; thank you!

Also, participate in the forum a lot. A scammer is unlikely to put the time and effort into reading through the forums and posting meaningful comments. If potential buyers/sellers see you're really engaged, that will make them more comfortable that you're not a scammer.

 

[Whazzzup]

I should sell something but nope, can’t make me.

 

[JerseyD]

-Cross posting from the Watercooler thread. -

So the next we tried Atrium Open with Armageddon. And wow!!! I didnt expect my Atrium to sound this good i think i can no longer use Ha2a with my atrium after this. The improvement was amazing. Didnt expect atrium to be able to play EDM while remaining sweet in the vocal. Also the stage now become bigger and more immersive, the notes become thicker, there is more emotion here. I suddenly fall in love again with my Atrium.

That Atrium is unbelievably beautiful. What is the wood & grill? Thanks. Hummina-hummina...

 

[Pelilin]

That Atrium is unbelievably beautiful. What is the wood & grill? Thanks. Hummina-hummina...

It is the zebrawood limited edition using coffee grill

 

[goldwerger]

Tube rolling this evening on the WA23. I'm settling on the Takatsuki 2A3 (loaners) and WE422A rectifier as the ultimate musical combo (WE417A adapters inbound, will try swaping those next)

While a low-res YouTube upload, this remains one of my favorite all-time a cappella arrangements, beautifully performed.. Listening with the Kenneron Vinneta (on high impedance setting) it's a real treat of mids lushness:

 

[warrenpchi]

So who's going, and what are you most excited to try out (other than BBQ)?

 

[goldwerger]

So who's going, and what are you most excited to try out (other than BBQ)?

My current demo list fo Dallas:

Headphones

• HiFi For All Dahlia
• Audeze CRBN 2
• Final D8000 DC non-Pro (only demoed the Pro at SoCal)
• Immanis (my usual trip to say hi to Danny, drool, and move on…

Amps

• Headamp CFA3 (revisit final version)
• SAEQ Armageddon / Hyperion GE (if any pops up)
• Audma Maeatro HPA1
• Schiit (whatever is being released?)

Portable

• Softear Enigma vs. Forte Ears Macbeth (revisit my SoCal bake off)
• AKSP3000M (used to own the 1000M)

I know you said except BBQ but, more than anything, I’m excited to go back to Hard Eight BBQ…

 

[Conan1974]

fooood !

 

[leylandi]