#31
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Stephen, yes good analogies for sure. In the case of Utopia and notice I have not mentioned the Elear just yet, although that’s a good topic in itself since it shares much of the design principles, the Utopia is not a product where one is forced to perform extended A/B listening sessions with a sprinkle of expectation and imagination (psychoacoustic effect) coming into play. You put them on, plug them into a good headphone amp and you don’t need further convincing. It’s that simple.
That was my experience. I spent a few hours at a local dealer with a whole wall of different brands of headphones and a McIntosh MA150 (pretty good!) and as I worked my way up towards the Utopia and LCD-4, from the first notes that rang out, I was simply blown away. This is where I spent some extra time evaluating the two. In the end, the Utopia emerged a winner for my taste and personal preference but the Audeze LCD-4 is a fantastic pair as well. Never heard the new Sennheiser Orpheus and not sure I’d want to because at $55k, or there about, they will never find their way to my place |
#32
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Quote:
My next audio foray, though, is going to be with speaker cables. Ha! This just occured to me; with headphones, there no need for speaker cables! One more variable removed.
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Lumin P1 streamer/DAC/preamp, Constellation Inspiration integrated TT: Michell Gyro SE MkII, SME V, Koetsu Urushi Vermilion, EAR324. Harbeth 30.2s, REL R-305, Shunyata Alpha V2 ICs, Alpha V2 SPs, Sigma XC, Sigma NRv2, Omega QR-s & Alpha NRv2 PCs, segmented Altaira SG stack w/ Alpha & Omega CGCs, Everest 8000 PD. Remote Server Room: Uptone EtherREGEN, AfterDark Master Clock & LPS, Alita, Battle Angel, (Akasa NUC Roon Core), iFi DC Purifiers (for SMPS used for Alita & router), Shunyata Gemini combo power distributor & Altaira-type CG GP-NR hub, Venom & Alpha CGCs, Shunyata NRv14 power cords for digital components. |
#33
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Well, there are still cables for headphones. Gotta try the Moon Audio Dragons! |
#34
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Serge, one of the things I'd be interested in is hearing about how the different headphone amps stack up.
Ha! I guess you will need an ANOVA!
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Lumin P1 streamer/DAC/preamp, Constellation Inspiration integrated TT: Michell Gyro SE MkII, SME V, Koetsu Urushi Vermilion, EAR324. Harbeth 30.2s, REL R-305, Shunyata Alpha V2 ICs, Alpha V2 SPs, Sigma XC, Sigma NRv2, Omega QR-s & Alpha NRv2 PCs, segmented Altaira SG stack w/ Alpha & Omega CGCs, Everest 8000 PD. Remote Server Room: Uptone EtherREGEN, AfterDark Master Clock & LPS, Alita, Battle Angel, (Akasa NUC Roon Core), iFi DC Purifiers (for SMPS used for Alita & router), Shunyata Gemini combo power distributor & Altaira-type CG GP-NR hub, Venom & Alpha CGCs, Shunyata NRv14 power cords for digital components. |
#35
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I believe ya. Heard great things about the Moon Audio Dragons, BTW. I should see if they are available for the HD600s.
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Lumin P1 streamer/DAC/preamp, Constellation Inspiration integrated TT: Michell Gyro SE MkII, SME V, Koetsu Urushi Vermilion, EAR324. Harbeth 30.2s, REL R-305, Shunyata Alpha V2 ICs, Alpha V2 SPs, Sigma XC, Sigma NRv2, Omega QR-s & Alpha NRv2 PCs, segmented Altaira SG stack w/ Alpha & Omega CGCs, Everest 8000 PD. Remote Server Room: Uptone EtherREGEN, AfterDark Master Clock & LPS, Alita, Battle Angel, (Akasa NUC Roon Core), iFi DC Purifiers (for SMPS used for Alita & router), Shunyata Gemini combo power distributor & Altaira-type CG GP-NR hub, Venom & Alpha CGCs, Shunyata NRv14 power cords for digital components. |
#36
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Definitely are available for Senns.
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#37
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I have not decided if I want to upgrade the Focal cables yet, those firehose sized cables that weigh a ton were definitely not an off the shelf grab for the Elear and Utopia. The cable research at Focal for their statement Utopia and little bro Elear was as real as the rest of the project. It’s in the Focal Utopia white paper that I posted in another thread.
The HD600 and 650’s will share a Black Dragon dual XLR for the Bryston and after evaluating I may get another Dragon with 1/4 termination for the Schiit amps. |
#38
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I too have the HD600 and Oppo PM-3 and Focal Elear. The Oppo’s get used when mowing the lawn or at work and the Elear’s at home for serious listening. The HD600’s seldom see any use since buying the Focal’s.
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#39
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What are you using to drive the Elear?
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#40
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Either my Mac C2300 or my Chord Mojo or Benchmark DAC3 HGC
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