ChaChaRealSmooth

The most annoying part is I can't simply plug and play (theoretically possible but practically not because of warm up and cool down).. I've never been successful in ABing tubes lol.

@Vtory I feel like tubes are something that you notice more over time. Hard to A/B back and forth due to warm-up time and extreme subtleties. i’ll change out tubes and notice things over time but not necessarily think “That is so much better than the other tube.”

It takes me forever to tube roll because I listen to each tube/matched set of tubes for hundreds of hours. The last time I did back to back A/B was with the OG Saga when it first came out.

Yup. Some other dude tried to sell me on getting wireless Beats when I pulled out my peasant-class wired CA Solaris.

Having been on both ends, the former is definitely worse. Being there at the hospital to support is not easy, but is one of the greatest deeds on the planet.

Don't get me wrong, I'd do it for loved ones (in this case my grandmother) any time.

The Black Panther awaits them...

Utopian

Utopia Unobtanium

Driver tech/implementation on that headphone is super interesting and clever, IMO. Stupid price, yes (and probably bad tuning, who knows).

Tuning is actually pretty good

Quick listen at a show & I thought it was pretty good too. 1/4 of the price & I'd be sold.

Have you had any issues with your Utopias? Mine have been just fine for almost five years. Think people just play music too loud. :)

I have had zero issues. From my understanding, if your Focal lasts ~3 months with no issues then it should be bulletproof. Just feels bad when I read about the problem units that even some SBAF members bought.

My Elex have been bulletproof (except for dead cables, but replacement is easy and cheap) but given their pricing and the horror stories, not sure I would buy Focal agn. Shame, love the sound.

I find the Utopia way more comfortable than the HD600/650. Clamp is part of it, but also the pad material, overall shape, and pad size makes a difference too. I have big ears though. HD800 has been the most comfortable headphone for me.

I prefer the fit on my Auteurs over Beyer, Mad Dog, and HE phones. I guess we both have strong necks from carrying our huge brains :)

Stellia and Clear (with headband foam mod) are more comfortable than HD650 for me. HD800 is both light & comfy.

+1 @m17xr2b on it being a product. Ie clarity is function of many other describers: soundstage openness, clean fast transients, evenness of dynamics scale. Many want to disagree, but neutral to bright tonality helps clarity. How many dark systems have been described as having good clarity?
The wording to describe experiences are fundamentally limited. It helps to know the dude, where he is coming from.

So...you're saying we need more clarity about the word clarity?

See...I use "clarity" different thatn Pridik. I can still use "clarity" with a warm sounding system. It is a statement more of resolution and focus. Opposite would be "veiled" or "fuzzy". But I get your point. It could just be boosted in the 2-4K range and someone say it has more clarity.

Interstella 5555 is dope. So many epic moments...

As much as I love certain tracks from RAM (Fragments of Time is still my favourite song by them) I just think Discovery is their best "album" in the sense that it's sonically cohesive and just one bop after another from start to end.

And yup, hard to say no to Matsumoto Leiji; Captain Harlock and Galaxy Express 999 were faves growing up.

The album and songs are unforgettable. I love the hell out of each of the animated versions of the songs and the drawing style is gorgeous. That whole album really set the tone for me for 2003.

I heard near the end Fry's required vendors to front the products prior to getting reimbursed wholesale, basically consignment. Apparently the vendors simply declined, causing shelves to be barren around the time they finally shutdown.

I heard about that as well, and my thought was that if it was true, that's the writing on the wall

@murray Sigh, adding the cost of good long cables plus a whole soundproofed room then. Man this stupid hobby is so expensive when you want more than mediocre sound :P

I lie to myself every night that this time I'm going to bed early.

Shutting down my bedside rig and putting away the phones would wake up my wife, so there's a strict "lights off; power down" policy ... sigh
But it does mean I go to sleep earlier.

Close your eyes and pick one up.

First world american problem. In Canada, you have to choose if you want to re-mortgage your house before buying a single stogie for the evening, lol.

My setups as well would not have been possible if not for SBAF

Truth. My set up has benefited from the knowledge and generosity of the folks here. The Systems Synergy thread remains a gold reference.

Given that I'll soon be rocking a set-up in which each component has been awarded a schlong (Pi2aes, 2541, DSHA-3F, Auteur), I am quite indebted to SBAF. Wouldn't have found this gear without yall.

Amen.... Golf is my measure activity of choice!

dropping the ball

^for the record, this stuff will go on loaner (no, this does not mean spam my inbox full of PMs asking to be put on the tour. Wait until the thread goes up)

I have been impressed with my Enog. I am willing for my Enog to go on loaner if you have a lot of requests. The two are not quite that different. Jnog adds USB, and slightly different op amps.

Hmm.

Nice work @E_Schaaf im actually interested in hearing these even though they’re electrodynamics

@Elnrik I will play it coy and defer any details to @E_Schaaf and @tommytakis

Any you can share with us now?

Some stuff has been posted on SBAF. Other things; well, I don't want to say too much because things can happen (plans do fall through), but if all goes well we shall have some exciting loaners.

It all leads into your bedroom.

The Nair is awesome! I miss that perfect tonal and FR balance. Best of any iem I’ve heard. If I had cash to throw around I’d get one just for fun.

I can’t wait for the Nair 2 ;)

I said this in my review, but I love how it gets out of the way of the music. Doesn't call attention to itself and works well with modest sources.

You "should it" indeed. :P

edit: damn it he edited it from "I should it" to "I should try it" >_>

I hope you don't have cats. Every warm spot you sit, they claim it.