SBAF mini-meet in Chennai, India on January 13, 2018

First day, viewing and chatting. Second day for serious listening.

Oh, and eating of course. Serious listening when not eating!

A big thanks to @Koth Ganesh for that excellent lunch, and for introducing me to a really nice restaurant that is right next-door to my usual place, but I never visited before.

@Rthomas recommended a London shop to me, and reminded me of the VAT refund I'd be able to get when taking a pair of HD800s out of UK. And that shop currently has them at a really good price anyway. Then I see an option to get them in India for about a hundred UK pounds more than the net cost of buying in UK... In seven months time...

Hmm... A hundred pounds is a hundred pounds, and more than most of the world would ever spend total on headphones. But seven months is seven months.

 

Hi guys,

It was a real pleasure meeting a bunch of audio nuts in my hometown. I was too busy chatting to do much listening but @Koth Ganesh TOTL Stax rig was lovely. I don't know how ''accurate'' the SR007 is but I really liked the sound. I'm sure Yggdrasil and the KGSSHV had something to do with it as well

The SR009 sounded a bit too thin and bright for my liking.

Special thanks to Koth for bringing a Canjam worth of stuff and also to @Arun Kumar for the top floor, air conditioned office space which was way better than any Canjam floor for listening.

Also much love to the guys who came all the way from Bangalore.

I cannot miss out @Thad E Ginathom the Englishman who was brave enough to make Chennai his home!

Sorry I could not stay longer due to family responsibilities. I'll be back in Chennai at the end of this year and would hope to meet you all again.

 

However much I will always stick out like a sore white thumb, I identify as pale brown now . It gets a little darker every day, too!

Might see you in London in July. Perhaps we could visit that shop together if I have not already splurged on the HD800s here!

 

Don't be scared to buy used HD800- there are loads of them to be had in good condition for £500-600ish. The new price is a bit silly, often, and they're a pretty safe used buy, if you pay attention to what's on offer.

They're a very distinct flavour and so comfy, I completely understand why you'd want a pair. I'm quite fond of mine- I seem to rotate between three very different pairs of headphones and certainly do have very distinct HD800 days.

(Also, a used pair in a Peli case is probably less likely to catch the eye at customs, if you're carrying them yourself... No, no these are my old comfy headphones, absolutely...)

 

I'm not so much scared as lacking time, with just a (not yet booked) short trip of a few weeks in London.

But, as I am a shopoholic generally, the fewer expensive items I have to bring back through customs here, the better.

 

The gear was impressive. Thanks for the impressions. The food! I can see why you want to do a 2 day meet next time. Thad, is that you in the traditional garb? Looks comfortable. I have pajamas from India a student’s Aunt sent to me as a gift. I love them in the summer time.

I have the BW1 and use the Paradox cans with it all the time. One of my go to pairings. Next time.......

Next meet in CA, we have to up our food game guys. Although breakfast was good in Pasadena.

 

I have thought, if I had easier access to Indian food, I'd get fat. You guys look like you are doing a good job keeping it under control.

 

Familiarity breeds.....

 

Yes, and yes. Maybe it started as an eccentricity; maybe I had some need to demonstrate being local. But it has been so long now, it has just become my every-day habit.