ZMF Verite at $2500 are the sweet spot for me.
Probable not the ultimate but they sound very natural and excellent.
I tried Audeze and Stenheiser. They just fit my taste.
Probable not the ultimate but they sound very natural and excellent.
I tried Audeze and Stenheiser. They just fit my taste.
My latest favourites are Meze Empyrean Elite. Terrific sound, top-notch build quality. I can work the whole day using them and then listen to them to relax. Addicting cans, really. Has anybody tried them yet? It's a pretty fresh product.
Great stuff...I actually bought the Meze Empyrean from an industry professional who used it personally...and he then went on to buy the Elite. He was kind enough to offer to bring it by to hear when he is next in town. I probably will do that.
Very sure no regrets as the Empyrean is great, was a good price in mint condition. Very sure the Elite is super-great, but just not wanting to spend another 50% or more to get it when the Empyrean is great, and I am not a massive headphone listener.
Very sure no regrets as the Empyrean is great, was a good price in mint condition. Very sure the Elite is super-great, but just not wanting to spend another 50% or more to get it when the Empyrean is great, and I am not a massive headphone listener.
Empyrean with EAR Yoshino feels like a stunning combo. Have you experimented with pads on Meze? They do change the sound a lot. Allows you to tune the sound to your current mood.
I've spent some time with the Empyrean and is a great headphone - chalk and cheese to my Focal Utopia's. I had a brief listen to the Elite, and thought struck a good balance between the Empyrean and Utopia's - the fuller sound of the Empyrean with the detail of the Utopias.
All that said, if I was going to upgrade, I'd probably go all the way to HifiMan Susvara's, which are in a different league.
All that said, if I was going to upgrade, I'd probably go all the way to HifiMan Susvara's, which are in a different league.
Thanks and good to know what other more experienced audiophiles think as this was a combination I put together based on instinct not on live experience. Yes, I did end up with the Alcantara pads permanently but that is very personal because it completely eliminated any of the occasional tinnitus ringing I had from the leather. History is that I got a Sennheiser HD800S, discovered it made my ears ring, then tried filters and eventually sold it practically mint for what I paid for it (on discount)...and then had an opportunity to try the Empyreans. They were far more like the Sennheiser HD650 which I still use...and better in all technical respects...but every once in a while the leather still left a touch of ringing on strings.
The alcantara completely eliminated that.
I have read your comments on this before with interest. If I were going to pursue headphones more seriously, I would listen to the Elite, Susvara, Stax new reference and probably (just to calibrate) the Sennheiser HE1. However, for just sit back, relax and enjoy the EAR Yoshino HP4 and Empyrean (connected by the Transparent Audio headphone cable) are really just super easy to enjoy for hours if working and not wanting to disturb anyone.
Susvara is definitely a stunning reference headphone, but driving it... Oh my. When you get it right though it's so hard to go back.
Alcantara offers some extra damping that helps with harsher sounding recordings too. I think that Empyrean and Elite are the most user-friendly flagships on the market. They are comfortable, easy to drive and are more forgiving to bad recordings. They've won my heart with that. For inexpensive reference, I'm using HiFiMan HE400se. it's amazing what have they achieved with such affordable headphones. Seems like I have a thing for planars. What kind of headphones are you using outside your home?
Good to know...I dont listen to music outside the home...and so dont use headphones outside other than when speaking on the phone.
Having such an amazing setup at home, no wonder why are you not bothering with mobile sound. Or is there any other reason? I'm commuting a lot, so going without my IEMs is like forgetting to put on shoes
While at expona I got to here some new and old flagships. i had a blast ovet all.
One name I keep heari about is Dan Clark mr speakers I think.
His really stood out to me
also the sra1 raal
on the new el34 tube amp from the HEADAMP table
also a brand I never heard of Warwick audio. they had a booth to make it quite a smart move
also the new new flagship from stax
not the 009s. Damn mike l just got the 009s and it’s old now Hahahaha.
all very nice sounding
One name I keep heari about is Dan Clark mr speakers I think.
His really stood out to me
also the sra1 raal
on the new el34 tube amp from the HEADAMP table
also a brand I never heard of Warwick audio. they had a booth to make it quite a smart move
also the new new flagship from stax
not the 009s. Damn mike l just got the 009s and it’s old now Hahahaha.
all very nice sounding
I was hanging out with frank I what an amazing man has soo much info on all of this personel audio as well as great other stories. also the owner of headphone guru
man we talked for
hours. he helped me understand so much in theory
what sounds best we can debate but why and how is a fact. a very big thanks to both of them
truly audio loving souls who have helped me
many many times.
god bless you guys and frank I as always a bigger then life amount of passion
so happy to hang out.
man we talked for
hours. he helped me understand so much in theory
what sounds best we can debate but why and how is a fact. a very big thanks to both of them
truly audio loving souls who have helped me
many many times.
god bless you guys and frank I as always a bigger then life amount of passion
so happy to hang out.
I actually like listening to headphones, but yes, you are right. I prefer listening to the main rig...plus I particularly enjoy listening to music that the family likes as well. When working, when playing, watching movies...even during dinner. All not do-able with headphones!Having such an amazing setup at home, no wonder why are you not bothering with mobile sound. Or is there any other reason? I'm commuting a lot, so going without my IEMs is like forgetting to put on shoes
As for while mobile, that is generally during the week when I am constantly on the phone when not in meetings. If on a plane, I do listen to headphones while working. But that is about it. And while I almost MUST listen to music while working...I actually do NOT like listening when running, preferring instead to listen to the sounds around me and really focus on breathing, pace and the run. So really, there is pretty much nothing while mobile other than working on flights.
Another vote for Spirit Torino Valkyria + Riviera AIC-10, especially for acoustic genres.
After having owned / extensively experienced several high-end headphones, including Susvara, SR1a, Empyrean, Stax (not the X9000, though), ..., I settled on the Valkyria and AB-1266 TC as a very complementary pairing, where the Valkyria provide ultimate timbre realism, tonal density, dynamics and the Abyss offer grand soundstating, excitment, detail and works splendidly with modern popular genres - and most impressively with electronica and bass-heavy musical content.
Since classical (especially piano) and jazz dominate my listening, the Valkyria are my daily driver, but I still grab the AB-1266 for my most eclectic sessions.
After all, I believe that giving the chance of dramatically changing sound presentation with a modest logistic effort is a major luxury multiple headphones setups provides.
After having owned / extensively experienced several high-end headphones, including Susvara, SR1a, Empyrean, Stax (not the X9000, though), ..., I settled on the Valkyria and AB-1266 TC as a very complementary pairing, where the Valkyria provide ultimate timbre realism, tonal density, dynamics and the Abyss offer grand soundstating, excitment, detail and works splendidly with modern popular genres - and most impressively with electronica and bass-heavy musical content.
Since classical (especially piano) and jazz dominate my listening, the Valkyria are my daily driver, but I still grab the AB-1266 for my most eclectic sessions.
After all, I believe that giving the chance of dramatically changing sound presentation with a modest logistic effort is a major luxury multiple headphones setups provides.
Yes, I understand that. When I'm cycling I'm also not using headphones, for the same reasons as you. Additionally, it's safer to have awareness, especially while being on the roads. What I have found very interesting about IEMs in particular is that they have a very different style of presentation. Sometimes I like to listen to them instead of stationary headphones. For me, it's mood dependent. Have you tried any IEMs?
3 days ago i listened in Spirit Audio Torino company,the Valkyria with their amp,an integrated amp,with the tube preamp section,and output of 5 watt and 30 watt for speaker output and sound was amazing,the same natural and delicacy midhigh of Stax 009 i previous had plus better bass,punch and power.
Really impressive
Really impressive
Attachments
The field is growing. The Spirit Torino Valkyria should be heard. I L-O-V-E the Camerton headphone. The top Meze cans are great and comfortable (very important to me, comfort level) The Stax SR-X9000
is superb as is the RAAL. With electrostatic cans, I find it very useful to have a head amp that allows for adjusting the voltage. Almost none of them sound their best at their stated voltage....great to be able to dial them in. Very simply done and intuitive with a Mal Valve amp. I still haven't heard the Audeze electrostatic cans, but will shortly. Dan Clarke's top can is superb. Oh, damn, I think I've made it worse.
is superb as is the RAAL. With electrostatic cans, I find it very useful to have a head amp that allows for adjusting the voltage. Almost none of them sound their best at their stated voltage....great to be able to dial them in. Very simply done and intuitive with a Mal Valve amp. I still haven't heard the Audeze electrostatic cans, but will shortly. Dan Clarke's top can is superb. Oh, damn, I think I've made it worse.
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