Was set on Icons 205D/300B - now Aegis is out. Also Abyss DC and Kennertons paper Arkon, CC,...
Maybe the german ZMF "colleague" will add Aegises also, will see...
If your budget allows - go for the Aegis. It is an outstanding and future proof for any headphone you may have. Lots of tube rolling options to fit your taste.
So, I listened to the new Calderas on what I have. This is how they rank:
Accuphase A-70 with HP adapter
Accuphase 3850 1/4 output
Synthesis A40bTube Amp with HP adapter
Chord Dave
Chord Mojo 2
If I go with Chord I prefer Dave solo over MDave. Caldera picks up the HF noise of the Mscaler. Mojo 2 great as a portable.
Enjoyed the Synthesis, but the noise floor can be much, but quality of sound is up there with the Accuphase. (DAC CHORD DAVE)
The dedicated HP output of the 3850 preamp is good. Plus, it allows flexibility with both preamp and headphone gain along with a bass compensation. Love the Class A. (DAC DC-37)
The winner is straight from the A-70 amp. The noise floor of the SS amp is silent. Sound signature is pure listening bliss.The only issue you feel the power. Need to listen at a lower volume due to bass impact and hightened instrument presentation.
So, what will end up using most, well don't know.Time will tell. Probably the dedicated HP amp from the 3850 due to convenience.
The Atrium is a 300 Ohm dynamic driver headphone, so any amp will need to be effective with gear with high impedance. I recommend checking the ZMF amp thread for details.
The ZMF DD headphones are quite different with regards to amping requirements vs. the planar driver Caldera.
Listening to this on the Caldera this evening after stressful day. This is what it's all about. Listening with the Aegis/Holo May KTE/Innuos Zenith and it is so, so good. The realism and engagement is stunning!
So the thick pads continued to have more issues for me. On two albums in a row it was giving the hall-like effect and didn’t sound right to me. So I took a break and watched goldensound review and he’s a suede fan, so figured what the heck, let’s give the suede pads another run. I used them for the first 3 months exclusively and loved the sound, so let’s throw them back on. Still love them and it’s only in quick switching back and forth where I find the bass lacking. Once I adjust to the sound, it sounds right.
Anyone have experience with the Arya Organics and he1000se? I’m looking for a good complement to my Calderas under 2k. Any other suggestions also welcome.
I used to have Arya v2 and when I a/b'd with Caldera my distinct impression was that Caldera was just better in every way. More resolving, less sharp, better soundstage, more body, WAY better bass. I struggled to find any way that Arya matched up against Caldera, much less exceeded it. I would think of them more as a lesser and greater riff on the same thing - unless of course you are looking for something thinner and brighter as an alternative to Caldera.
If you're looking for a worthy peer to Caldera from Hifiman, I think you have to go all the way up to Susvara.
I used to have Arya v2 and when I a/b'd with Caldera my distinct impression was that Caldera was just better in every way. More resolving, less sharp, better soundstage, more body, WAY better bass. I struggled to find any way that Arya matched up against Caldera, much less exceeded it. I would think of them more as a lesser and greater riff on the same thing - unless of course you are looking for something thinner and brighter as an alternative to Caldera.
If you're looking for a worthy peer to Caldera from Hifiman, I think you have to go all the way up to Susvara.
I used to have Arya v2 and when I a/b'd with Caldera my distinct impression was that Caldera was just better in every way. More resolving, less sharp, better soundstage, more body, WAY better bass. I struggled to find any way that Arya matched up against Caldera, much less exceeded it. I would think of them more as a lesser and greater riff on the same thing - unless of course you are looking for something thinner and brighter as an alternative to Caldera.
If you're looking for a worthy peer to Caldera from Hifiman, I think you have to go all the way up to Susvara.
I find the Verite Open to be an ideal comparator to the Caldera Open. These headphones differ in many respects, starting with dynamic vs planar driver. Yet both sound wonderful to my ears.
Anyone have experience with the Arya Organics and he1000se? I’m looking for a good complement to my Calderas under 2k. Any other suggestions also welcome.
For a sound that's fast, with snappy transients, outstanding resolution, lovely treble extension and sparkle, as well as a lighter tonality, I'd recommend the Raal CA-1a with the TI-1b transformer interface. It doesn't need especially powerful amplification and I'm sure your Topping would be up to it. They can be had used for ca. $1.5k.
It's less peaky than the Arya Organic and the HE1k v2, and it has more a even frequency response, with no oddities or unevenness. You can pad roll to get different flavors, one more studio neutral, the other a bit warmer and mellower. And the CA-1a has nice open and fairly spacious staging and excellent imaging as well as plenty of impact and slam. I owned the HE1k v2 and vastly preferred the CA-1a.
I had the Arya V2 and loved it. Those can be had today at around $500-600 which are a steal.
But in a <$2k budget, I second the recommendation for used VO. Some amazing ones are listed ont he classifieds at <$1.5k and it's a great complement for the Caldera, and still one of the best performing dynamic driver headphones, with great speed and amazing synergy with tube amps.
I find the Verite Open to be an ideal comparator to the Caldera Open. These headphones differ in many respects, starting with dynamic vs planar driver. Yet both sound wonderful to my ears.
I had the Arya V2 and loved it. Those can be had today at around $500-600 which are a steal.
But in a <$2k budget, I second the recommendation for used VO. Some amazing ones are listed ont he classifieds at <$1.5k and it's a great complement for the Caldera, and still one of the best performing dynamic driver headphones, with great speed and amazing synergy with tube amps.
I agree with these suggestions, VO is a great complimentary headphone beside CO. Speedy and fast but with overall different timbre/nuances than Caldera. I still don't know which i prefer between those two
I have the Caldera and HEKV2 non stealth and they are a great complement to each other. As a quick comparison, I would describe the HEKV2 as being 'vivid' and very open sounding for an open back.
It is also very much of a chameleon and the sound signature can change quite dramatically depending on the chain you are using.
Some people have commented that the HEKV2 can sound bright and lean in the bass department. With the right DAC & amplifier such as the Cayin HA-3A, the bass becomes much more prominent and the treble is much more controlled and well extended.
The Caldera in comparison has more bass, especially sub bass, sounds less open but the midrange, especially with vocals cannot be matched by the HEKV2. The Caldera also wins with its natural timbre, note weight and that special organic touch of warmth.
Personally, the HEK stealth versions don't work for me because the treble is 'hotter' but YMMV.
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also, will see...
