1.     Don't be a dotard!
    Read these "rules" AND introduce
    yourself     before your first post
  2. A healthy approach to understanding measurements
    Being true to what the artists intended
  3. After being asked for the 308th time, Merv lists top 5 headphones
    (opinion / entertainment piece)
    Dismiss Notice
  4. $1000 to the first to design a headamp using discrete components with better measurements than Magni 3+
    Dismiss Notice
IMPORTANT: New Members Read This Don't Be a Measurement Fascist Merv's Top 5 Headphones - 2023 Edition $1000 Challenge

Airist Audio Heron 5 Loaner (CLOSED)

Discussion in 'Closed Loaners' started by sphinxvc, Nov 17, 2015.

Tags:
Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.
Page 3 of 3
  1. thegunner100

    thegunner100 Hentai Master Chief

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Sep 25, 2015
    Likes Received:
    2,461
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    NYC
    Do we have a list for the order of recipients?
     
    thegunner100, Nov 23, 2015
    #41
  2. velvetx

    velvetx Gear Master West/Vendor Spotlight Moderator

    Staff Member Pyrate
    Joined:
    Sep 26, 2015
    Likes Received:
    1,067
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Bay Area, CA
    velvetx, Nov 23, 2015
    #42
  3. sphinxvc

    sphinxvc Gear Master (retired)

    Staff Member Pyrate BWC
    Joined:
    Sep 28, 2015
    Likes Received:
    3,320
    Trophy Points:
    113
    And then you, @thegunner100. I'll post a rough list once I receive the unit. This one is a little unconventional list-wise in that it will be making the rounds among some regulars in CA at the end. More details soon.
     
    sphinxvc, Nov 23, 2015
    #43
  4. thegunner100

    thegunner100 Hentai Master Chief

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Sep 25, 2015
    Likes Received:
    2,461
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    NYC
    Thanks! PM me for my address when you're ready. I'll hold off on reading comments on the amp so that I don't bias myself.
     
    thegunner100, Nov 23, 2015
    #44
  5. sphinxvc

    sphinxvc Gear Master (retired)

    Staff Member Pyrate BWC
    Joined:
    Sep 28, 2015
    Likes Received:
    3,320
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Heron 5 in the house. I'll post some initial thoughts later today. thegunner100, look away.
     
    sphinxvc, Nov 25, 2015
    #45
  6. sphinxvc

    sphinxvc Gear Master (retired)

    Staff Member Pyrate BWC
    Joined:
    Sep 28, 2015
    Likes Received:
    3,320
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Ok, some short impressions. I compared against the ubiquitous Leckerton UHA-6S MKII. The Heron 5 was fed by the Leck. Headphones were HD650s and Noble 4S.

    Overall, the H5 didn’t have a large edge on the Leck. Micro-detail/plankton, lack of digititus/grain, macro-dynamics, micro-dynamics and head-stage were all slightly better on the H5. The attack and transients were a wash, but the Leck beat out the H5 on blackness/cleanness with my sensitive CIEMs. I heard a clear hum with the 4S on the H5. No noise from the 650s though. I also thought the H5 had a more natural timbre than the Leck, particularly in the micro-details, showed more timbral nuance.

    Wish I had a 3-channel Beta22 to compare it to. =/
     
    Last edited: Dec 1, 2015
    sphinxvc, Nov 25, 2015
    #46
  7. sphinxvc

    sphinxvc Gear Master (retired)

    Staff Member Pyrate BWC
    Joined:
    Sep 28, 2015
    Likes Received:
    3,320
    Trophy Points:
    113
    I just sent the Heron 5 on to thegunner100. After a few days with it, I have to say I’m underwhelmed. =/

    In sum: it offered just a bit of technical improvement over the portable Leckerton - resolution, space, etc.

    I’m well aware that all of our hair-splitting happens in the realm of diminishing returns, but I’ve heard better at lower price points, so it's not a great value proposition.
     
    sphinxvc, Dec 3, 2015
    #47
  8. The Alchemist

    The Alchemist MOT: Schiit - Here to help!

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Sep 24, 2015
    Likes Received:
    1,189
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    The SchiitR
    Home Page:
    SO I guess it is safe to say the $2000 price tag is well overpriced for it's performance?
     
    The Alchemist, Dec 3, 2015
    #48
  9. sphinxvc

    sphinxvc Gear Master (retired)

    Staff Member Pyrate BWC
    Joined:
    Sep 28, 2015
    Likes Received:
    3,320
    Trophy Points:
    113
    In my eyes, at least. Hopefully we'll have more data points here from others soon. Thegunner100 can compare against the Valhalla2. And maybe even the ECBA.
     
    Last edited: Dec 3, 2015
    sphinxvc, Dec 3, 2015
    #49
  10. The Alchemist

    The Alchemist MOT: Schiit - Here to help!

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Sep 24, 2015
    Likes Received:
    1,189
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    The SchiitR
    Home Page:
    yes, Gunner is really good at A/B testing. I look forward to his impressions.
     
    The Alchemist, Dec 3, 2015
    #50
  11. thegunner100

    thegunner100 Hentai Master Chief

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Sep 25, 2015
    Likes Received:
    2,461
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    NYC
    WP_20151207_17_15_29_Pro.jpg

    Yggdrasil (SE out) -> Heron 5 -> HD650

    See the other thread for review.
     
    Last edited: Dec 8, 2015
    thegunner100, Dec 7, 2015
    #51
  12. thegunner100

    thegunner100 Hentai Master Chief

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Sep 25, 2015
    Likes Received:
    2,461
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    NYC
    The loaner unit has been sent out to velvetx as of yesterday. There are still some unanswered questions about the Heron 5's design, which we may never find the answers to. I think the west coast people will probably have similar impressions to mine, with the hd650s at least. The amp might fair better with other headphones, who knows?

    Thanks Airist Audio, @velvetx, and @sphinxvc for the loaner opportunities and entrusting me with impressions.
     
    thegunner100, Dec 18, 2015
    #52
  13. velvetx

    velvetx Gear Master West/Vendor Spotlight Moderator

    Staff Member Pyrate
    Joined:
    Sep 26, 2015
    Likes Received:
    1,067
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Bay Area, CA
    velvetx, Jan 10, 2016
    #53
  14. thegunner100

    thegunner100 Hentai Master Chief

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Sep 25, 2015
    Likes Received:
    2,461
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    NYC
    Sounds good. What did you think of it?
     
    thegunner100, Jan 10, 2016
    #54
  15. velvetx

    velvetx Gear Master West/Vendor Spotlight Moderator

    Staff Member Pyrate
    Joined:
    Sep 26, 2015
    Likes Received:
    1,067
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Bay Area, CA
    I hate to say I haven't really had time to evaluate with holidays and CES so this week I will give it a serious listen.
     
    velvetx, Jan 10, 2016
    #55
  16. Luckbad

    Luckbad Traded in a unicorn for a Corolla

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Sep 27, 2015
    Likes Received:
    3,409
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Holly Springs, NC
    Purrin can take it. I'll have no time to listen because of overtime at work for a few months.
     
    Luckbad, Jan 10, 2016
    #56
  17. atomicbob

    atomicbob dScope Yoda

    Pyrate BWC MZR
    Joined:
    Sep 27, 2015
    Likes Received:
    18,913
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    On planet
    Take your time shipping to me. I had corporate project run into overtime after my winter break. I've not had much time for forum activity, though I am still taking weekends for family and myself. No more 70+ hrs weeks. 45 tops for corporate.
     
    atomicbob, Jan 12, 2016
    #57
  18. velvetx

    velvetx Gear Master West/Vendor Spotlight Moderator

    Staff Member Pyrate
    Joined:
    Sep 26, 2015
    Likes Received:
    1,067
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Bay Area, CA
    Just wanted to confirm if anyone else wanted to give this a listen prior to me shipping it on?

    thanks.
     
    velvetx, Jan 28, 2016
    #58
Page 3 of 3
Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.

Share This Page