The Watercooler -- Impressions, philosophical discussion and general banter. Index on first page. All welcome.

[wazzupi]

Ah headphones list, here is my contribution

Headphones:
1) Bass: Campfire Cascade (however terrible hotspot issues)
2) Mids: Hifiman Shangri LA SR (runner up Susvara)
3) Treble: Focal Utopia 2018
4) Technical: STAX X9000
5) Imaging: Crosszone CZ1
6) All Rounder: Sony Z1R

Dude I don't know how people can listen to the crosszone without hearing plastic walls reverb back at you....

 

[audio123]

Someone was not happy with how his turned out!

Damn they should change it for you right away! No wonder you say my MM faceplates are nice.

 

[aaf evo]

I love those ladybug ones

 

[Doug2507]

Ah headphones list, here is my contribution

Headphones:
1) Bass: Campfire Cascade (however terrible hotspot issues)
2) Mids: Hifiman Shangri LA SR (runner up Susvara)
3) Treble: Focal Utopia 2018
4) Technical: STAX X9000
5) Imaging: Crosszone CZ1
6) All Rounder: Sony Z1R

Nice to see you putting Z1R as an all rounder, should have mine start of next week.

 

[claud W]

@aaf evo So what's supplanting Jewel?

Nothing!!

 

[wazzupi]

Headphones:
1) Bass: Final D8000pro Collectors edition/caldera(need to own one before it takes the spot)
2) Mids: d8000pro
3) Treble: Warwick Bravura
4) Technical: Warwick Bravura(my lack of audition time to find good synergy with x9000 is why bravura is here)
5) Imaging: Warwick Bravura
6) All Rounder: final d8000pro collectors edition

 

[drftr]

X9000 is very unique in the sense that everything I heard is like being washing and cleaned, though not something I desparately want.

I can understand the perception you have of X9000. For me, Ragnar as great technically as it is, that is the perception I have with it when paired with the wrong source. For me, the X9000 is the truest representation of natural music that I have heard in a headphone. Its FR is linear and extends low and high in nearly perfect balance. This is based on my own listening biases and being a former Jazz musician and live concert attendee. Everything sounds accurate to me on it. So, even music which I may prefer more coloration, such as in the bass response for R&B music, sounds great without that elevation.

Earlier this week when talking with Dita and having a similar discussion with @yaps66 just days earlier we talked about the way Stax has been in the front seat for representing the most natural sound possible for at least 4 decades. And I wonder how much the sound of my first love, the Lambda Pro, has shaped my journey onwards.

I'm getting a bit of a nauseous feeling seeing you're talking about Ragnar in similar fashion though Could I be in trouble yet again? On the other hand it now suddenly makes much more sense that I fell in love with the Sultan, so tnx for connecting the dots for me! Maybe I have finally arrived back home?

drftr

 

[wolfstar76]

Earlier this week when talking with Dita and having a similar discussion with @yaps66 just days earlier we talked about the way Stax has been in the front seat for representing the most natural sound possible for at least 4 decades. And I wonder how much the sound of my first love, the Lambda Pro, has shaped my journey onwards.

I'm getting a bit of a nauseous feeling seeing you're talking about Ragnar in similar fashion though Could I be in trouble yet again? On the other hand it now suddenly makes much more sense that I fell in love with the Sultan, so tnx for connecting the dots for me! Maybe I have finally arrived back home?

drftr

It seems that your way back home is very, very complicated with numerous detours.

 

[drftr]

It seems that your way back home is very, very complicated with numerous detours.

There's actually a word for it. It's called life

drftr

 

[F208Frank]

ALO Audio Pilot = really damn good for its price, form factor, travel convenience, sq boost high value relative to dollar spent

Also quite refreshing to feel good about a purchase that was so cheap, got it at bloom audio, owner is friendly there so I try to support them whenever I can.

With that said I got a TA T wireless bluetooth over ear coming in soon, very stoked for that.

Been traveling a bit more for work and am enjoying these portable set ups that are actually portable!

I used to be an extremist of sq above all even during travel but over time it became more of
"damn TSA.. please dont mess with my dap" or "I hope I dont ding my expensive cable or dap" while on the go during travels.

But of course that magical wow feeling for iems cant be achieved without proper dap and proper cable. I do miss my sp3000 and pw cable dearly.

 

[yaps66]

For full sized headphones:

1) Abyss 1266 TC
2) Hifiman Susvara / DCA Stealth
3) WW Bravura
4) Solitaire P
5) Hifiman Susvara

I don't have the SR-X9000. But I demoed it and I think it's the best headphone I have ever heard.

True. Susvara can sound rather pedestrian especially in the bass if it is not amped properly. When it is, the mids sing like nothing else and the bass is great as well.

I can understand the perception you have of X9000. For me, Ragnar as great technically as it is, that is the perception I have with it when paired with the wrong source. For me, the X9000 is the truest representation of natural music that I have heard in a headphone. Its FR is linear and extends low and high in nearly perfect balance. This is based on my own listening biases and being a former Jazz musician and live concert attendee. Everything sounds accurate to me on it. So, even music which I may prefer more coloration, such as in the bass response for R&B music, sounds great without that elevation.

If I were to participate in a headphone list, it would be very short: Hifiman HE400i. As good as the experience was, it never captured my imagination as much as the Thieaudio Legacy 5 did which was really my entry into the rabbit hole in January 2021. It has been a whirlwind of a journey that has led me here now and I feel I would now like to jump into the deep end with SR-X9000. I have just acquired the first part of what will allow me to enter, the Chord Hugo TT2. The next part, the X9k and the Mjolnir Carbon will be next. Super excited to experience this for myself!

Nothing new, I've tried all the TOTL android DAPs. For now my favorite is still N8ii but I don't like the size and how hot it gets.

I’ll see what happens with my Jewel listing too, if that sells I’ll hang onto SP3000/M6 U.

Shock! Bobby with 2 DAPs! Someone quick buy the Jewel!

The Dignis case really does a good job with heat dissipation for the N8ii vs. stock case.

That case is the one they should have released as stock, but in a different color. Very similar to Hiby RS6 case. The Dignis case is much much better at heat dissipation than the OG Cayin N8ii case. If fact, it doesn't even seem to get very hot at all. It is very well designed.

I agree. I can feel the heat dissipating but it doesn’t feel very hot at all after an hour and more of P+ AB Tubes playback in the Dignis case. It is very well designed and I appreciate the brushed leather finish which feels less slippery.

Not sure how the Dignis case does it but I too have my N8ii set by default to P+ Tubes and it no longer is as hot as before. Perhaps the leather is softer and is able to absorb the heat better. Love the craftmanship also and the simplicity of the flap.

Damn they should change it for you right away! No wonder you say my MM faceplates are nice.

Haha! It is not mine fortunately. I have the Jade custom faceplates for the MM and I love it!

 

[drftr]

Chord Hugo TT2

drftr

 

[HiFiHawaii808]

If I were to participate in a headphone list, it would be very short: Hifiman HE400i. As good as the experience was, it never captured my imagination as much as the Thieaudio Legacy 5 did which was really my entry into the rabbit hole in January 2021. It has been a whirlwind of a journey that has led me here now and I feel I would now like to jump into the deep end with SR-X9000. I have just acquired the first part of what will allow me to enter, the Chord Hugo TT2. The next part, the X9k and the Mjolnir Carbon will be next. Super excited to experience this for myself!

You are picking up my exact chain for STAX SR-X9000. You are in for a terrific treat!

 

[HiFiHawaii808]

I just received an early Christmas present. Airpods Pro 2 just arrived in the mail. These are fantastic. The first TWS earphones that have sound quality that I am willing to listen to since Sony XM3. And, it has all the IOS integration features. So stoked.

 

[jwilliamhurst]

There's actually a word for it. It's called life

drftr

The perfect response!