2022 Texas Audio Roundup

Discussion in 'The Meeting Place' started by purr1n, Jul 21, 2022.

  1. rhythmdevils

    rhythmdevils MOT: rhythmdevils audio

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Apr 15, 2020
    Likes Received:
    12,237
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Bay Area, CA
    Home Page:
    I'm thinking of buying a Studio B to try with my modded LCD-4 after reading about the synergy here.

    But the Studio B is known to be a warm amp and I feel the LCD-4, while my mod makes it neutral, still has warm tonality. Could anyone who heard the combo at the meet comment on whether it was too warm with the Studio B/WE 300B amp?

    I'm trying to decide whether I should try the Studio B or the Studio 2a3.

    thanks for any impressions!
     
  2. Vansen

    Vansen Gear Master (retiring)

    Staff Member Pyrate
    Joined:
    Nov 19, 2016
    Likes Received:
    3,893
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    Seattle
    The folks that I know listened to the combo @purr1n, @CEE TEE, and myself. It's also worth mentioning that the Studio B was running all Western Electric tubes and was being fed by a Yggdrasil A2 (@purr1n, please correct me if i have the wrong info here). (EDIT: Seems to have been Yggdrasil LIM, not A2).

    On the Gungnir/ Monolith Liquid Gold, I found the LCD-4 to be too rich, too lush, and not resolving enough for my tastes. On the Studio B, these aspects fell away as the headphone became less lush, more open, and more resolving while showcasing some impressive dynamics.

    I did not find the bass to be too warm on this set up. I'll let @CEE TEE speak for himself, but I got the impression that he did not feel it to be too warm either. To put this in some context, back when I was into IEMs, I would always tell CEE TEE that we needed to figure out how to convince Ken Ball to make an Andromeda with UERM bass levels. And I always said that my dream IEM would be pulling off an Andromeda signature with UERM bass levels while doing it on a single dynamic driver. My number one complaint with most IEMs was usually, "too much bass".

    ...this was a meet environment (edit: and my fist time listening to the Studio B) so I hope I do't eat my words on the bass response.

    I really wish I could remember the vocal presentation better. I cannot recall if the vocal presentation of this set up would be to your tastes. Having listened to a few of your setups and tunings, I get the impression that you like vocals to take front seat in the presentation. However, I particularly remember listening to the song "Manhattan" on Sara Bareilles' "Brave Enough: Live at the Variety Playhouse" and her voice was clear and sublime on this set up and had an edge that gave me goosebumps.
     
    Last edited: Aug 11, 2022
  3. ColtMrFire

    ColtMrFire Writes better fan fics than you

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Jun 16, 2016
    Likes Received:
    6,226
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Austin, TX
    FWIW I"m using your LCD-4 with the ZDSE which is on the warm side (warmer than Studio B) and don't think it's a problem... I felt the LCD-X didn't work as well with the Zana and was a little too warm. The LCD-4 sounds neutral enough to benefit from a little warmth. It is also much tighter and more focused than the X, which helps mitigate things even further. I didn't listen to the LCD-4 with the Studio B, but based on what I've heard, I'm not surprised it was a hit pairing.
     
  4. ColtMrFire

    ColtMrFire Writes better fan fics than you

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Jun 16, 2016
    Likes Received:
    6,226
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Austin, TX
    Pretty sure I heard someone say it was a LIM, not an A2.
     
    • Like Like x 1
    • Agreed, ditto, +1 Agreed, ditto, +1 x 1
    • List
  5. CEE TEE

    CEE TEE MOT: NITSCH

    Pyrate IEMW
    Joined:
    Sep 25, 2015
    Likes Received:
    3,721
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    California Bay Area
    Home Page:
    With the WE300B and whatever driver tube/version of Yggdrasil, I didn't think your RD-modded LCD-4 were too warm on the Studio B (I know "warm" can mean several things). I thought the WE300B were pretty forward in mid-mids to upper mids and not laidback or with too much bass or bloom. There was a glassy cleanliness (hard to describe) and energy to the sound with a bit of tube sweetness for sure. I focused on the tonality, linearity, and openness- with good (not overblown) bass that is there whenever it is called for. Pretty effortless, clean, and consistent qualitatively throughout the frequency range. Some of this I hear from the Studio B + WE300B when listening to speakers as well. Not warm or sleepy.

    @rhythmdevils I think you might like the pairing with Studio B. But know that the WE300B in that combo are expensive and were part of the sound. I know that vocals in particular need to be right up front for you and your Audeze builds, I did not do this specific check but the overall sound had clear mids and no excessive bass/warmth when I listened.
     
  6. joch

    joch Friend

    Pyrate Contributor
    Joined:
    Oct 8, 2015
    Likes Received:
    1,397
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    the other side of the big ocean
    I was looking at the Studio B too.

    For what it’s worth, I was leaning toward the 2A3 when was inquiring about ordering because I didn’t want an overly warm sound. Craig hinted (and I mean this loosely because he wasn’t really giving advice per se as to what I should choose) that he uses 300Bs himself and that the newer makes are good. He didn’t mention the 2A3, and I don’t think he had any motives to suggest the 300B over the 2A3.

    Also I believe purr1n mentioned the LAuX was reminding him of the Studio B with your modded X in the LAuX review. So maybe you can triangulate that by seeing how much you like the LCD4 on LAux. Or ask @purr1n for his thoughts?
     
  7. Mike_WI

    Mike_WI New

    Contributor
    Joined:
    May 5, 2018
    Likes Received:
    32
    Trophy Points:
    13
    Location:
    WI
    A morphine PCA (continuous + bolus dosing) does [last long]...
     
  8. penguins

    penguins Friend, formerly known as fp627

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Sep 26, 2018
    Likes Received:
    3,451
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    SouthernCA
    Doesn't seem like there's been much mention, but did anyone happen to get any time in with the new Modi MB? I'm also assuming it's an "actual Modi 2 MB" and not just a v2 (which I believe has been out for a few years)?
     
  9. brencho

    brencho Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Dec 18, 2015
    Likes Received:
    7,978
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    LA
    Likewise, I’m curious about impressions for the Lyr+ thingy on the first page of the thread. I read through the first few pages again before it flew off the rails with some wankery debate, so I apologize if I missed it. Piety has my undivided attention. Also the Fuckbanger looks cool.
     
    • Like Like x 5
    • Agreed, ditto, +1 Agreed, ditto, +1 x 2
    • List
  10. bazelio

    bazelio Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Nov 16, 2015
    Likes Received:
    3,417
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Page 9 is pork chops. Page 10 is Lyr+. Found enough spare old SN7s lying about to make it fun. I'm in.
     

Share This Page