leylandi
500+ Head-Fier
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THE WATERCOOLER HEADPHONE EDITION – Headphones, Amps, DACs, and desktop/home audio related – a freewheeling discussion of gear, impressions, music, and musings.
- Thread starter goldwerger
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Death_Block
Headphoneus Supremus
The w
Another that came to mind is the war of the worlds. That was played alot
i know right, how is that fair lol
Another that came to mind is the war of the worlds. That was played alot
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As I've documented in the past my parent's taste in music was awful at best. I spent a summer with my uncle in Wisconsin when I was ten. One of the fondest memories I have of growing up was riding around in his pickup truck, heading out on Friday nights to a bar( yeah kids were/are? allowed in bars in Wisc.) for the friday fish fry...so good, and I ddon't even like fish. Anyways, my uncle had a couple 8 tracks in his truck and this dude got a lot of airtime. Still love Johnny Rivers to this day!
Damn, that is some fine taste, all around. I listen to all of that...frequently!
Another new planar coming up: Fosi Audio i5 (based on their past offerings, I’d guess it would be a lower cost one, but I have info):
https://fosiaudio.com/pages/fosi-au...WJZ6Gj3x29WLCFIcRA_aem_JrveUcIHMOvTm9X0PgktQg
https://fosiaudio.com/pages/fosi-au...WJZ6Gj3x29WLCFIcRA_aem_JrveUcIHMOvTm9X0PgktQg
Yeah, that is the one Fosi introduced at the last NYC CanJam. It was interesting and generated some positive impressions from those who got a listen. I enjoyed my brief time with it and I liked the comfort with the thick pads.Another new planar coming up: Fosi Audio i5 (based on their past offerings, I’d guess it would be a lower cost one, but I have info):
https://fosiaudio.com/pages/fosi-au...WJZ6Gj3x29WLCFIcRA_aem_JrveUcIHMOvTm9X0PgktQg
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Yeah, that is the one Fosi introduced at the last NYC CanJam. It was interesting and got some positive impressions for those who got a listen. I enjoyed my brief time with it and I liked the comfort with the thick pads.
I missed that one.. thanks!
Something I noticed on that Fosi promotion page for that headphone here seems dodgy. It looks like they took pictures of people listening to it during CanJam. I'm showing as one of the listeners giving it 5-stars. I was not aware they took pictures and I did not give a 5-star review or provide any quotes for them. I did have a nice chat with the Fosi folks who were there at NYC and they were very polite. However, whoever at Fosi is marketing this should coordinate and ask permission of listeners. I would have gladly gave them some feedback if they asked appropriately as I did have some positive impressions as well as some constructive suggestions .
Stopped in @jmanpd's place this morning to introduce his Cayin Soul 170ha to my 3-day old LTA Aero. Best I've heard my Caldera's sound and the most impressed I've been so far with his Caldera Closed. They both really sounded fantastic on this amp. The Soul absolutely slams, just has loads of energy and detail, and casts an expansive stage, especially paired with the Aero. I was also surprised at how much you can shift the sound with the Triode & Ultralinear modes. I tended to prefer the softer Triode mode; it reminded me a bit more of the richer tonality of my OTL and the HA-3A, but very nice to have the option.
The Aero is still very new to me, but I have quickly fallen in love with it (I think jmanpd has as well, since he was actively trying to figure out where he's going to put one). I never expected myself to be actively wowed by a DAC, but it has been a significant step up from my Cyan 2. For anyone unfamiliar with the Aero and thinking since it's tube-based, R2R and NOS, it's going to be thick and soft and syrupy, that's very much not the case. It's actually a very lively and crystal clear sounding DAC. It also takes the holographic soundstage of amps like the ZMF OTL and turns them up to 11, while still sounding fluid and natural. The prospect of being able to tune it further with different tubes is definitely icing on the cake.
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That is so misleading of them to do that. Makes me think the quotes are fictitious.
Death_Block
Headphoneus Supremus
I was so very close to pulling the trigger on the aero and velo. I wonder what could have been..
Damn tariffs
Damn tariffs
That's what impressed me with the Aero when I've demoed it. I had the preconception going in that it would be thick, mushy, and warm, but it was not. That's a great thing in my book as I don't like overly thick-sounding gear. On some songs I actually found the Aero to be brighter than the Erco which was unexpected. It also did not lack any detail vs the Erco Gen 2 that I brought to the demo for comparison.
The only caveat for me is that I wouldn't pair it with an LTA amp. I have their Z10e and I think it sounds better with the Erco as the DAC than the Aero. Both the Aero and the Z10e have a full-bodied sound and each on their own is nice, but together they overthicken the sound for me. Other people love the sound of a full LTA chain, so it's just me being particular.
The Sony MDR-R10 and Riviera Labs AIC10-Bal is such an incredible combination.
The soundstage and effortlessness of the R10 coupled with the grounded lushness of the AIC10 make for a wonderful synergy where the sum is greater than its wonderful parts.
Listening to Tracy Chapman as they unwinds, letting the sonic memory take me in its embrace and having a real goosebumps moment, the kind that makes me love this hoby so much
And, a bonus track. "Bobo" by Malian singer Salif Keita is, well, just awesome. I don't know what he's singing about, but it always makes me happy":
The soundstage and effortlessness of the R10 coupled with the grounded lushness of the AIC10 make for a wonderful synergy where the sum is greater than its wonderful parts.
Listening to Tracy Chapman as they unwinds, letting the sonic memory take me in its embrace and having a real goosebumps moment, the kind that makes me love this hoby so much
And, a bonus track. "Bobo" by Malian singer Salif Keita is, well, just awesome. I don't know what he's singing about, but it always makes me happy":
Death_Block
Headphoneus Supremus
More like an obsession than a hobby 
Sony is a weird brand in what they release. No TOTL open back?
Sony is a weird brand in what they release. No TOTL open back?
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Johnny Rivers singing “Baby I Need Your Lovin.” So 1960’s, especially in that video. Love that song.
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number1sixerfan
Headphoneus Supremus
The Sony MDR-R10 and Riviera Labs AIC10-Bal is such an incredible combination.
The soundstage and effortlessness of the R10 coupled with the grounded lushness of the AIC10 make for a wonderful synergy where the sum is greater than its wonderful parts.
Listening to Tracy Chapman as they unwinds, letting the sonic memory take me in its embrace and having a real goosebumps moment, the kind that makes me love this hoby so much
And, a bonus track. "Bobo" by Malian singer Salif Keita is, well, just awesome. I don't know what he's singing about, but it always makes me happy":
It truly is. That was a big reason I sprung for the AIC. It is a beautiful match with the R10. I'm also really jealous of people that have really pristine pairs of the R10, like yourself and Ray Samuel. My pair has some wear, although performs flawlessly. At least I got them at a bit of a discount. I will have these headphones until they die, there's nothing out there like them.
Also, love Tracy Chapman!
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Separate from the above, I've gotta thank this thread for nudging me to try to give listening to my system while working a second chance. When I'm writing net new strategy docs I still can't really listen to headphones, but there are a lot of other things I've found that I can do while enjoying my system at lower volume levels. Getting more use out of my chain.
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