Vancouver Head-Fi Meet - January 14, 2012

[vkung]

Quote:

Great. I thought I might not be able to make it as I had to go to LA but I will be back in time!

Great.!!
 
 

 

[tonereef]

I'll bring the Stax SR009s and a very good headphone amp. We can use a Meridian CD player that Edward of Element Acoustics is bringing as a front end, or can pair it with any server/DAC (the amp has RCA inputs).
 
Would be interesting to hear the HE6 - gurus, is it going to be there?
 
 

 

[ianmedium]

Ohh, 009's, i predict a long line up for those!
Which reminds me. I will bring the other end of the Stax spectrum along as well the SR-001 MK2 portable headphones and energizer

 

[gurus]

Quote:

I'll bring the Stax SR009s and a very good headphone amp. We can use a Meridian CD player that Edward of Element Acoustics is bringing as a front end, or can pair it with any server/DAC (the amp has RCA inputs).
 
Would be interesting to hear the HE6 - gurus, is it going to be there?
 
 

I will be there and I will bring some good CDs as I myself will be using a laptop for source.
 
I will bring
 
Marantz PM -84D Integrated
Metrum DAC
Custom wired HE-6
DIY SRPP  Pete Millett Tube Amp
Beyer Dynamic T1
 
 

 

[gurus]

Disaster strikes!
 
I got some silk tubing to cover my DIY HE-6 cable , first of all they send me the wrong  length  (too short), and then  while I was  threading the wires into the silk tube one of the channels (left) must have had a weak solder joint, it broke the connection so no sound in that channel. The connectors on the HE-6 are probably one of the worst as they don't take solder properly. Now I have to cut the shrink  tubing  and take everything apart to see If I can fix it. Easier fix would have been to cut the wire at the connectors and use new connectors that unfortunately I don't have on hand and don't know where to source them locally. Lot of work so I will give it a shot tomorrow or Sat morning before the meet. Hopefully I will have a working cable but regardless I will have the HE-6 at the meet with the stock cable if all else fails.

 

[ianmedium]

See everyone on Saturday!
My final list which I am bringing is:

Ray Samuels Audio Blackbird SR71-B
CLAS/Classic (lossless files)
LCD2 Rev1
JVC HP-FX500 (Won't be able to offer a listen to the portable headphones except the Stax and ETY which I have sterile wipes for but the JVC's have comply tips as I have modified them and they only work with the comply! but you might want to see what they look like in person!)
Etymotic ER4S
Stax SR001 MK2

Cables: Custom silver interconnects and toxic cables silver poison.
I have a balanced to single ended adaptor terminated with a 3.5mm phono plug and I have a 6.35mm adaptor to fit on that if anyone wants to listen to the LCD's with other amps!

 

[vkung]

See everyone on Saturday!!
Please entrer from Slocan St
 
Here is my cell  (604) 788-8821 
 
 
Victor
P.S.  I need extra Power Strips/Power Extension cords
         I will bring some bottle water too

 

[gurus]

Quote:

  I need extra Power Strips/Power Extension cords
 

How far are the power outlets from the set-up tables? Will a power bar with a 6ft cord suffice? Or do I need to get an extension cord? If the meet starts at 12:30pm what time  can we start the set-up?
 
Thanks

 

[vkung]

Quote:

How far are the power outlets from the set-up tables? Will a power bar with a 6ft cord suffice? Or do I need to get an extension cord? If the meet starts at 12:30pm what time  can we start the set-up?
 
Thanks

I need both .. 6 ft is too  short.  I will be there around 12:00pm
How far are the power outlets from the set-up tables? some position is Okay 
Will a power bar with a 6ft cord suffice? it depends the position of the table
Or do I need to get an extension cord? if you have one
If the meet starts at 12:30pm what time can we start the set-up? I will be there before 12:00pm, I guess that 30 minutes should be OK 
 
Thanks 

 

[gurus]

I have two 25-30 footers extension cords and probably an extra power bar if you need them. LMK. I  will try to be there by 12.

 

[vkung]

Thanks 

 

[ianmedium]

Just got home after a wonderful afternoon. Thank you Victor for a splendid gathering.
There was nothing I did not like the sound of at the show and some truly spectacular equipment to listen to. Gurus set up was wonderful and the HE6's amazing headphones that really sounded superb through his set up, very impressed with those.

Likewise and I am sorry, I am terrible with names, the gentleman who brought the Stax 009.. Thank you. That is the most natural I have heard piano played through a HiFi system, absolutely loved them and if I had a home system they would be the top of my list.

Three sets of LCD2 Rev1's and it was great that folks got a chance to listen through my Toxic cables and liked the sound a great deal. I was so happy that my little portable system though behind in terms of sonics compared to the home based set up's still held its own and folks liked it.

I will post some pictures later but thank you folks, good company, good sounds, what more could you want!

 

[gurus]

The best thing at the meet was the brownies! Thanks Victor! Pm me if they are available commercially otherwise I will have to visit your home if they are homemade.
 
PS. And thanks for arranging the meet. Had a good time and everybody at the meet was super nice. What a great bunch of guys (and not forgetting the lone female there)!

 

[ianmedium]

Some quick pictures!
overall view of the room.


Victors wonderful set up with the venerable HD650's which sounded wonderful with his system.


How is this for a group of headphones! HD800' with Cardas cable, Beyer T1 Stax SR007 and the gentleman Who's name has vanished from my memory (I am sorry sir, it was a pleasure meeting you) with his SR009. I fell in love with the 009's!


Gurus table, incredible sounding set up and I was so impressed with the HE6 and how they sounded with his custom tube amp, perfect synergy I thought, such an alive, vibrant and engaging sound that had my toes tapping! also in the picture where his T1's which again were a truly lovely sounding headphone.


This wonderful group of lovely sounding equipment was supplied by the great folks from Element Audio in Vancouver. So nice to see dealers who are truly passionate about music and from what I heard their main aim is to provide musical and engaging systems rather than just HiFi, Just like our host Victor, wonderful tube gear that sounds so engaging and musical.



And lastly my Humble contribution. I had both my main portable rig which is in my signature as well as my Stax SR001 MK2 running directly out of the headphone jack of my iPad


Once again, it was great meeting you all and I am truly sorry if I did not remember everyones name!

One last thing from this meet about the top tier headphones. There really is no bad sounding headphone, they all excelled in different ways, The HD800's surprised me and showed me how important synergy is. With the set up they were with they sounded lovely. Anyone looking in this area of headphones, you really won't pick a bad one as there is not one of them that is bad or even mediocre they just have different ways of bringing the performance out and all you have to do is figure which sound signature you like and choose the headphone accordingly... Having said that, money no object, hands down for me would be the SR009. They do that thing that Stax do so well, they don't immediately wow you but very quickly draw you into the emotion of the music so that you find yourself not wanting to part with them and wondering which body part will get the most money to fund them!

 

[vkung]

Hi Ian
 
Thank you for your wonderful cabls...