[hafzz123]

Just received and tried the mentle mesh on my CO. The treble is clearly less sharp, but overall the sound is more "dull". It makes me enjoy the CO less.... should I then try the thick pad without the mantle mesh?

Yes do try, thick pad without mantle mesh tame Caldera's treble enough for me. Mantle mesh "dull"-ing the sound a bit too much

 

[betula]

Just received and tried the mentle mesh on my CO. The treble is clearly less sharp, but overall the sound is more "dull". It makes me enjoy the CO less.... should I then try the thick pad without the mantle mesh?

Absolutely. That is the sweet spot for many, including me.

 

[chrisnyc75]

red is the colour of my favourite headphone

Red Caldera just hits different.

 

[iamoneagain]

I finally got to do a quick comparison of the Caldera Open with stock pads vs the Closed Closed in stock setting. This was yesterday as CanJam using the Holo May stack in a fairly quiet room since it was at the start of show. First I’ll get to that I was not blown away with the Holo May stack. On gut feeling I wasn’t hearing anything noticeable better than my home setup Naim HE. Now in direct comparison this may be a different story but listening to same tracks seemed about the same. Now when I tried the Caldera Closed, I was surprised that it basically sounded the same as my Caldera Open. Just the overall sound and feel. It was so similar when I did a few back and forth listens with maybe a hint going to the open for little more airier sound.

I came to the meet with the idea that if I liked the closed version more and that had some nice one off editions I might pick it up. But first, since it was Sunday, most of the one offs of any model was already sold the day before. So they only had a few Closed in stock wood and I still didn’t like the design in person. And the fact that it sounded so close to my open model and don’t need a close headphone, it was an easy pass.

I also came to the conclusion that I liked my Cladera over most other headphones I heard especially the Meze Elite. Also liked it more than the Atrium. Now the Senn HE-1 was the best I heard at the show so when I tried my Caldera Open again on the Naim HE at the Focal booth, I was less than impressed. I even found the Utopia to sound better on this setup. So I went back to the ZMF room to check back how the Caldera sounded again on the Aegis. I thought this was the best I’ve heard them. Tried on the one with special tubes but also on the stock and even with stock tubes it’s amazing. Big improvement over the May stack and even the Ferrum stack, which I really like. Luckily they happened to have one Aegis still for sale at CamJam discount. It works wonderfully with my Naim HE, being used as a prepamp, streamer, dac.

 

[thefitz]

Yes do try, thick pad without mantle mesh tame Caldera's treble enough for me. Mantle mesh "dull"-ing the sound a bit too much

Depends on what we mean by "treble". The thick pads "LCD-4ize" the sound with a bigger withdrawn around 4kHz which you very well may consider the treble area, but the treble around 10kHz actually increases with the thick pads. If that's a problem spot for you, the thick pads might be even worse.

 

[TheMiddleSky]

I finally got to do a quick comparison of the Caldera Open with stock pads vs the Closed Closed in stock setting. This was yesterday as CanJam using the Holo May stack in a fairly quiet room since it was at the start of show. First I’ll get to that I was not blown away with the Holo May stack. On gut feeling I wasn’t hearing anything noticeable better than my home setup Naim HE. Now in direct comparison this may be a different story but listening to same tracks seemed about the same. Now when I tried the Caldera Closed, I was surprised that it basically sounded the same as my Caldera Open. Just the overall sound and feel. It was so similar when I did a few back and forth listens with maybe a hint going to the open for little more airier sound.

I came to the meet with the idea that if I liked the closed version more and that had some nice one off editions I might pick it up. But first, since it was Sunday, most of the one offs of any model was already sold the day before. So they only had a few Closed in stock wood and I still didn’t like the design in person. And the fact that it sounded so close to my open model and don’t need a close headphone, it was an easy pass.

I also came to the conclusion that I liked my Cladera over most other headphones I heard especially the Meze Elite. Also liked it more than the Atrium. Now the Senn HE-1 was the best I heard at the show so when I tried my Caldera Open again on the Naim HE at the Focal booth, I was less than impressed. I even found the Utopia to sound better on this setup. So I went back to the ZMF room to check back how the Caldera sounded again on the Aegis. I thought this was the best I’ve heard them. Tried on the one with special tubes but also on the stock and even with stock tubes it’s amazing. Big improvement over the May stack and even the Ferrum stack, which I really like. Luckily they happened to have one Aegis still for sale at CamJam discount. It works wonderfully with my Naim HE, being used as a prepamp, streamer, dac.

Congrats man, Aegis definitely pair perfectly for Caldera. Changing to NOS tube just improve the experience even more (I love GEC KT66 with Caldera Open).

 

[iamoneagain]

Congrats man, Aegis definitely pair perfectly for Caldera. Changing to NOS tube just improve the experience even more (I love GEC KT66 with Caldera Open).

Thanks. Think I’m going to wait a little while before any tube rolling just to get a feel of the stock tube. Now I may regret that and think I could been listening to this more amazing sound much sooner but I’m really enjoying what I’m hearing now. I also had to spend money on a Verite Silver 4.4mm to XLR adapter because I realized the 4.4mm output isn’t meant for the Caldera. I have cheap adapter on there at the moment. I’m also using $6 RCA cables, so ordered some a Blue Jean cables a well.

Maybe I’ll get some NOS tubes as a Christmas present to myself. I’ll make a note of your recommendation. Also making my way thru the Aegis thread. Kind of crazy this was a last minute decision but the CamJam price and fact I was able to bring it home and listen to it same day, couldn’t be beat. Plus I haven’t upgrade my headphone setup in almost 2 years.

So my only worry is my giant Maine Coon cat thinking this amp might make a good resting place. He’s used the Naim HE to dry off from a bath. He also likes to push things off tables but at over 50lbs, he’s not moving the Aegis. We just had to clear off a shelf near my setup because he liked the fresh air from the window.

 

[Pharmaboy]

Think I’m going to wait a little while before any tube rolling just to get a feel of the stock tube.

Good plan. The stock tubes sound wonderful.

That is one majestic cat!

 

[iamoneagain]

Good plan. The stock tubes sound wonderful.

That is one majestic cat!

Sorry if I posted this here already.

 

[Lakerfreak]

Bought an African Blackwood Caldera Open from CanJam!

 

[iamoneagain]

Don’t even think about it.

 

[Lyssky]

Don’t even think about it.

Since I've caught my cat lying on my keyboard and because she has the potential to lay on my headphones and amp as well, every time I don't use my desk, I lay a clean towel on my equipment and on top of the towel I put some very light stuff like a plastic bag or very light plastic cover and around it I put some random stuff like toys which will make it look uncomfortable for her to lie down and it seems to be working so far. Of course there are some those cats who will just crush all those obstacles and pretend like they are lying on the most comfortable place.

 

[Iffy]

I finally got to do a quick comparison of the Caldera Open with stock pads vs the Closed Closed in stock setting. This was yesterday as CanJam using the Holo May stack in a fairly quiet room since it was at the start of show. First I’ll get to that I was not blown away with the Holo May stack. On gut feeling I wasn’t hearing anything noticeable better than my home setup Naim HE. Now in direct comparison this may be a different story but listening to same tracks seemed about the same. Now when I tried the Caldera Closed, I was surprised that it basically sounded the same as my Caldera Open. Just the overall sound and feel. It was so similar when I did a few back and forth listens with maybe a hint going to the open for little more airier sound.

I came to the meet with the idea that if I liked the closed version more and that had some nice one off editions I might pick it up. But first, since it was Sunday, most of the one offs of any model was already sold the day before. So they only had a few Closed in stock wood and I still didn’t like the design in person. And the fact that it sounded so close to my open model and don’t need a close headphone, it was an easy pass.

I also came to the conclusion that I liked my Cladera over most other headphones I heard especially the Meze Elite. Also liked it more than the Atrium. Now the Senn HE-1 was the best I heard at the show so when I tried my Caldera Open again on the Naim HE at the Focal booth, I was less than impressed. I even found the Utopia to sound better on this setup. So I went back to the ZMF room to check back how the Caldera sounded again on the Aegis. I thought this was the best I’ve heard them. Tried on the one with special tubes but also on the stock and even with stock tubes it’s amazing. Big improvement over the May stack and even the Ferrum stack, which I really like. Luckily they happened to have one Aegis still for sale at CamJam discount. It works wonderfully with my Naim HE, being used as a prepamp, streamer, dac.

Gz on your Aegis! it's great to have confirmation before buying that you got the sound you really want... it's a luck not everyone have, wish I had that chance
Your windows look preeeeeeetty amazing with wide views all over the place, we need a night picture with all the lights on with those buildings and the Aegis tubes+VU's together

 

[iamoneagain]

Gz on your Aegis! it's great to have confirmation before buying that you got the sound you really want... it's a luck not everyone have, wish I had that chance
Your windows look preeeeeeetty amazing with wide views all over the place, we need a night picture with all the lights on with those buildings and the Aegis tubes+VU's together

Here’s another day and showing a night one. Need to have my wife take some shots with her professional camera.

 

[ng5921]

I finally obtained a Decware Taboo and am running it in this chain: Lampizator Amber 3 -> ZMF Reference OTL -> Taboo MK3.

Wow...now I understand the hype behind this setup and why no one wants to sell their Taboo I don't think I have heard the Caldera Open sound this good! The Taboo really brings it to life, and the LUCID modes add such an interesting change to the soundstage and imaging.