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

[Alexzander]

For the two latest hyped TOTL (forget about the Fugaku atm, since you can only get half a set of Fugaku for the money): APX SE plus $2k change vs Macbeth/Ambition, let's do a showdown!

Storm +1.5k$ also

 

[buenahora]

Thanks My oldest dog got unexpected very sick, people who been close to a pet probably know how it feels to lose a loved pet. It's more similar to loose your best friend(or stronger), even worse for wife who work at home and was by her 24/7 for all her 11 years.

Gone some days now and started to enjoy some music again today, but the thoughts pop up of her almost all the time. Zelda will be missed by wife and I and also our other dog, rest in peace in dear Zelda.

Photo of our last time together on the sofa, she was very safe and loved even in her last moment.

So sorry to hear about your loss. I'm sure she was quite loved (evidenced by her peaceful demeanor in the pic). Time (and music!) heals all wounds. My thoughts go out to you and your wife.

 

[emdeevee]

Got ambition & macbeth today, but have not received fugaku yet. Two very different iems (fugaku & macbeth). Both have big notes but I would say the difference is as big as susvara OG and 1266.

I think they wanted a comp of Macbeth/Ambition and APX SE.

 

[gryphonos]

Thanks My oldest dog got unexpected very sick, people who been close to a pet probably know how it feels to lose a loved pet. It's more similar to loose your best friend(or stronger), even worse for wife who work at home and was by her 24/7 for all her 11 years.

Gone some days now and started to enjoy some music again today, but the thoughts pop up of her almost all the time. Zelda will be missed by wife and I and also our other dog.
Photo of our last time together on the sofa, she was very safe and loved even in her last moment.

I am touched and feel very sorry for your loss, my friend !

 

[twister6]

While I only attend CanJam NYC shows, last year I started a new trend by asking Andrew/MT to send me the goodies he showcased at the SoCal show (instead me going to that CanJam, it came to me lol!). So, last year was my first write-up of the SoCal show from Musicteck Tables, and since a few people asked me if I'm doing the same this year, I caved under the pressure and did it again, my CanJam SoCal '24 Show Impressions from Musicteck Tables after getting a bunch of new stuff from Andrew to test. This write-up covers Forte Ears Macbeth, Jomo Nautilus, AME Mousa, EE Triton and Novus, Lime Ears Terra, Alpha & Omega Omega. Also covered the new Cayin C9ii amp and Aroma Xuan Wu dongle, and the latest cables from Eletech The Fifth Ode, EA Beyond, and Beat Audio Valhalla.



Enjoy the read!

 

[wolfstar76]

Thanks My oldest dog got unexpected very sick, people who been close to a pet probably know how it feels to lose a loved pet. It's more similar to loose your best friend(or stronger), even worse for wife who work at home and was by her 24/7 for all her 11 years.

Gone some days now and started to enjoy some music again today, but the thoughts pop up of her almost all the time. Zelda will be missed by wife and I and also our other dog.
Photo of our last time together on the sofa, she was very safe and loved even in her last moment.

Sorry to hear your loss. I lost my oldest cat last year and the bandage on Zelda's foreleg in your picture reminds me just like that in her last days with us. It takes a long time for my wife and I to move forward from the deep grief.

 

[BS5711]

Thanks My oldest dog got unexpected very sick, people who been close to a pet probably know how it feels to lose a loved pet. It's more similar to loose your best friend(or stronger), even worse for wife who work at home and was by her 24/7 for all her 11 years.

Gone some days now and started to enjoy some music again today, but the thoughts pop up of her almost all the time. Zelda will be missed by wife and I and also our other dog.
Photo of our last time together on the sofa, she was very safe and loved even in her last moment.

Sorry for your loss Leo.

We lost a very loved cat that was with my wife and I for a few weeks short of 20 years and it was much harder than non pet owners could probably imagine.

 

[gLer]

Hey guys, my full feature review of Macbeth is now online here. Enjoy!

​

 

[AxLvR]

Thanks My oldest dog got unexpected very sick, people who been close to a pet probably know how it feels to lose a loved pet. It's more similar to loose your best friend(or stronger), even worse for wife who work at home and was by her 24/7 for all her 11 years.

Gone some days now and started to enjoy some music again today, but the thoughts pop up of her almost all the time. Zelda will be missed by wife and I and also our other dog.
Photo of our last time together on the sofa, she was very safe and loved even in her last moment.

I'm so sorry for your loss Leo! May she rest in peace in dog heaven!

 

[goldwerger]

Thanks My oldest dog got unexpected very sick, people who been close to a pet probably know how it feels to lose a loved pet. It's more similar to loose your best friend(or stronger), even worse for wife who work at home and was by her 24/7 for all her 11 years.

Gone some days now and started to enjoy some music again today, but the thoughts pop up of her almost all the time. Zelda will be missed by wife and I and also our other dog.
Photo of our last time together on the sofa, she was very safe and loved even in her last moment.

As an owner of an aging dog, I can only imagine how hard this is. It’s great that you could spend her last days together in peace and with love. Wishing you only fond and happy memories

 

[tfenton02]

As an owner of an aging dog, I can only imagine how hard this is. It’s great that you could spend her last days together in peace and with love. Wishing you only fond and happy memories

I’m so sorry to hear this. Dogs are just amazing, loyal and loving. I can only imagine how much you loved Zelda and how much joy she brought you

 

[Scubadevils]

Thanks My oldest dog got unexpected very sick, people who been close to a pet probably know how it feels to lose a loved pet. It's more similar to loose your best friend(or stronger), even worse for wife who work at home and was by her 24/7 for all her 11 years.

Gone some days now and started to enjoy some music again today, but the thoughts pop up of her almost all the time. Zelda will be missed by wife and I and also our other dog.
Photo of our last time together on the sofa, she was very safe and loved even in her last moment.

Very sorry to hear, they really are our best friends and incredibly difficult when they leave us.

 

[fiascogarcia]

Thanks My oldest dog got unexpected very sick, people who been close to a pet probably know how it feels to lose a loved pet. It's more similar to loose your best friend(or stronger), even worse for wife who work at home and was by her 24/7 for all her 11 years.

Gone some days now and started to enjoy some music again today, but the thoughts pop up of her almost all the time. Zelda will be missed by wife and I and also our other dog.
Photo of our last time together on the sofa, she was very safe and loved even in her last moment.

Pets are family. So sorry for your loss.

 

[thaslaya]

While I only attend CanJam NYC shows, last year I started a new trend by asking Andrew/MT to send me the goodies he showcased at the SoCal show (instead me going to that CanJam, it came to me lol!). So, last year was my first write-up of the SoCal show from Musicteck Tables, and since a few people asked me if I'm doing the same this year, I caved under the pressure and did it again, my CanJam SoCal '24 Show Impressions from Musicteck Tables after getting a bunch of new stuff from Andrew to test. This write-up covers Forte Ears Macbeth, Jomo Nautilus, AME Mousa, EE Triton and Novus, Lime Ears Terra, Alpha & Omega Omega. Also covered the new Cayin C9ii amp and Aroma Xuan Wu dongle, and the latest cables from Eletech The Fifth Ode, EA Beyond, and Beat Audio Valhalla.



Enjoy the read!

Mousa literally in my ears as I'm typing this and yeah I still can't believe this bass is coming from only BAs sometimes. It's a very special set indeed and deserves to be talked about among the best of the best.

 

[tone.texture.soul]

After almost 1.5 years of searching, I finally have a STORM I also splurged and got the SS8 cable, which is HUGE, but the sound improvement is absolutely insane.

I can say with great certainty that STORM is indeed the most impressive IEM I’ve ever heard. Hype and praise, but this is really more than just that. As a studio engineer, and a 2 channel guy, nothing, and I mean nothing sounds else comes as close to listening to speakers. Like big Genelecs. The sense of space and staging is maddening, and the bass is so massive it sounds like an IMAX in my room. They are also as technically powerful as anything I have ever heard, while remaining musical and very, very engaging and musical. If anyone think reference means boring, this is anything but. It’s actually quite intense, which I dig. It’s also an amazing all rounder, since it’s reference tuned, everything sounds just like it should. In a perfect treated room. There is no style that doesn’t sound correct. And massive too. (Of course Fugaku is rumoured to be very speaker like too, but I haven't heard it yet. I do find the price, required amp and cable to be a major drawback. Hope to get a chance soon)

Fit for me is OK, I have very small canals but the nozzle is very short so it works well. They are big shells, but the design is really good, shapes well. I prefer the Baroque S, but I randomly pulled out some custom tips that Piotr from Custom Art made for my Traillii JP, and they fit perfectly. Sound solidity and detail is mindblowing, they really bring out all the resolution and deeper more power bass. Vocals are sweet but so detailed, as is the treble. I can hear things I never knew were there like mic placements, scratchign in the floor boards as the musicians move around, different kinds of guitar picks, layers of vocal harmonies, crazy stuff. In Bill Evans "Waltz For Debby" live album, I can clearly hear people at a table having a conversation during the music.

The SS8 cable is something from another planet. The SS is my favorite cable of all time, and the SS8 improves on it in a very very noticeable way. Like a big upgrade, which is hard to believe I know. It is big, and heavy, but it wears pretty much like my SS, though it pulls in your ears a bit and I get sore canals faster than normal. But it's worth it.

One drawback of STORM is it really needs power to shine. Yes, you can use a dongle or a DAP and it can be good. Fine. But when you feed it real power, it becomes a fire breathing monster. E7 was ok, but E7 into Morpheus is insane. Even better, LP6 Ti AE into Morphy, with my SS IC and Cardas Golden Cross RCA ICs I have from my 2 channel leftovers. This is the most mad, wild, ridiculous setup I've ever heard. The same with Traillii is also mind-blowing, they're just different. I will do a bunch more testing in the days to come, but I just wanted to share some initial feelings and impressions with y''all.

You can see I made myself a breakout box to use the Cardas, which is temporary, but works well. After tons of testing I greatly prefer SAEQ gear single ended. In fact Dragan feels the same, and Morphy is far better in SE. So I am trying to figure out the best way to rig all this up, fun stuff!

Just want to say thank you to my boy @AxLvR for passing these magic babies on to me. You're too kind!