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Here I was thinking I was going to have a productive day... I didn't take any pics of the wooden boxes but they are very nice though my EX-1a box was branded as ES-2a... no matter. First off is the ES-2a and I went for the "Omega look" in terms of color. My ES-1a is all black so made sense to separate them in the collection. I like the color a lot, the finish isn't quite perfect but having been through the hell of trying to get perfect anodizing... yeah I understand that. I'm happy the outer screen has mesh in it now as that's a large part of why the Omegas sound the way they do, not that this is a copy of the Omega. I mean not really... The earpads are very nice and supple, concave similar to the newer Audeze LCD pads. A closer look at the driver face and those lover copper stators. The dust covers come with the set and I did install them as I like to keep dust out of all of my headphones. Might have some slight impact on the sound but who cares. I ordered the set with the regular cable but Benson upgraded me to the Stax Wide PC-OCC cable free of charge so thanks for that. The fit and finish of these is excellent, better than the ES-1a and that was no slouch. My main issue with them was the lack of strain relief on the headphones for the cable but that has been fixed here. EX-1a: I was pleasantly surprised when Benson told me that there would also be a cheaper version coming in the form of the EX-1a as ~1k$ headphones are sorely needed. Clearly been in the works long before Stax introduced the X1 but a take on the same Stax SR-1/2/3/3N/5/5N and X design but with much better build quality than the X1. The earcups are actually fixed to the headband and made of aluminum, not needing the new Stax mod of placing some tape over the X1 forks on new units as they won't stay in place. Very nice, all leather, earpads and it looks like leather on the headband as well. Very nice cable entry, made of soft "rubber like" material. Same plug on both sets (this has the basic 6core cable which seems to be perfectly serviceable but more on that when I get some time with them) and it is a mixture of the same rubber-like material and 3D printed end piece. Works perfectly. Now for some impressions. I've just about had an hour since I got them and spent it on the ES-2a and all I can say is... I've very, very impressed. Very neutral sound signature, a bit laid back (as if you are a couple of rows back from the performance) with a large and expansive soundstage. No lack of focus here though, they conjure a very solid stage but it's just a step back from say a 007. Very Omega like really... Treble is nice and extended, not the mess of the Stax 009 and X9000, just as detailed though . Midrange is excellent, voices have the right presence without being too forward. The bass is tight and deep, only small issue I've found would be a bit of a lack of extreme deep bass and some slight resonance in the bass on certain tracks. Nothing I worry about and I'd take these over the Stax 009's or X9000 any day of the week. I'll try the EX-1a when I can take these off my head dig my only working X1 out of storage to compare against it.

first brisket smoke. 14 hours @ 225°, Got up to temp faster than I though. The end bit is a little dry. But a center cut is really tasty. Room for improvement.. She'll eat ..

Dinner: Chicken Shawarma on homemade garlic naan with garlic white sauce. Dessert: Atlantic Beach Pie (also homemade)

I like that AI AL is a two-fisted drinker in each version! Thanks for the good wishes everyone. I have had a good day and went out to dinner with friends and had cake back at home. Only one drink at a time, though.

I can see this happening all over again. LGBTQ are not the top priority of this administration at the moment. But Musk will lead the charge. They're going to come for us. Who's going to really stand with us is my only question. I know most of you will. ❤️

Went to see this yesterday https://trh.co.uk/whatson/the-score/ . Amazing production.

I've been thinking about it for a few decades now, and this is still my absolute favorite song.

Talk Talk - It's My Life

Al was in the city today and texted me about my favorite breakfast place, not too far from his city house. I hadn't realized that it managed to stay open through the pandemic. He later texted pictures of their famous hashbrown sandwich. That was all the motivation I needed to head into the city. Even better than I remembered! After consuming that, I decided to visit my favorite SF bakery for their famous croissant pudding. Bread pudding made from their day old croissants. I'll save that for desert tonight.

Chicken Shawarma.

Vintage Krell gear is highly regarded. Analogue equipment ages like a fine wine. A nice set of meters really accentuates a properly built stereo. In the words of the late, great Bill Hicks, does anyone not know where this is going? A panel of 4 will will run you about $2600.

Drivin n cryin

Saw the new Matthew Gasda play Doomers (jointly playing in NYC & SF). It's a split play, the first half in a conference room right after Sam Altman being fired, the second half, simultaneously happening, in the OpenAI boardroom. Loud raging debates on the benefits and dangers of artificial general intelligence and man’s role in the future in both. Loved it. “A play that captures the absurdity of tech’s existential hand-wringing while the world burns” — The Guardian, Feb. 4, 2025

I don't listen to enough Schubert. Lupu playing his Impromptus is about as good as it gets.

The Onion has been going off these days...

Classic special effects movie, with an impossibly young looking Leslie Nielsen. Loosely based on Shakespeare's play The Tempest.

RIP, George Foreman. You have my deepest sympathies, George, George, George, George, and George, and your sisters too.

I'm rewatching, Northern Exposure. What a great show. So unique. Anyway, I forgot that they would always finish each episodes with a legitimately good song. The last episode I watched played this song that I had completely forgotten about. It's an absolute masterpiece. warning: it may bring out emotions.

I'd rather have an RX1R II, much smaller, wonderful f/2 lens. I have to say, I miss it despite all the issues, hard to find now for a good price. On the other end of the spectrum: "Say hello to my lil’ friend!" Otherwise known as Nikon 800mm f/5.6E FL ED VR One way to make use of all the noisy planes distracting listening is to shoot them. All handheld from my window, this is FF on a D3s, no crop: Maximum reach on a D200 with the 1.25x teleconverter (1500mm equiv.): 1200mm equiv: Hopefully one day, I can find a much better locaton, maybe a Z8 to make use of all its performance. Or maybe I will revert back to something reasonable, this is cumbersome to transport, very big and conspicious... good workout though.

I moved into the new place this weekend. Moving sucks, but hopefully that was the last move I need to make in a good while.

Locavore Chocolate Stout Cake, And Nice Cup of Tea.

Pre St. Patricks Day Brit / Irish Nibbles, in The City

Did a little "audio therapy" last weekend with an audio buddy. Visited one of my 2 favorite dealers and did some nice listening to YG Acoustics....have loved their stuff for years.

I think season 2 is better than 1...It could be the addition of a new writer...MY SISTER!...

Tchaikovsky: Serenade for String Orchestra, Op. 48, TH 48 - Barber: Adagio for Strings, Op. 11 - Elgar: Introduction and Allegro, Op. 47 by Charles Munch (1957) https://album.link/rkzptq2wkrt63 Example: Lovely LS recording of the Boston with Munch. Including the iconic Adagio.

Emily Remler - Cookin' at the Queens Live in Las Vegas 1984 and 1988 Sound quality is just meh, probably that's why they took so long to publish this (2024), but her performance and the band's is stellar if you like straight ahead jazz based on the legacy of bebop. In this one she doesn't sound as much as Wes Montgomery as on other earlier albums.

Yeah, but 42MP is the bare minimum for Insta. Nice shots.

I trust Google and this came up for "voltron birthday".

^ ^ Just completed. Best television of 2025

Less emotional weight but how can you not dig it?

Getz Au Go Go by The New Stan Getz Quartet (1964) https://album.link/d9qhntpcj25fx Example: I said I needed more Astrud in my life, and I get Getz for free. Even better..

New Podcast started today. Yeah you can find it on your phone, but the YT fun is just too fun, even before Tina joins.

Heavy stuff, but done so well. Absolutely worth the watch.

Lunch yesterday, slow smoked brisket point, candied and smoked again.

The lady I mentioned a few pages ago with the pile of Canon gear to sell has been pestering me, which means she's a motivated seller. Now maybe she'll face up to the fact that her prices are retarded come down a bit. I really want that 135L. I would make much better use of the 24-70mm F/2.8 II (which is a pro grade workhorse of a lens.) I dunno what to think of the 7D II. I learned quite recently that Canon R series mirrorless bodies can use EF and EF-S lenses with the same adapter. Neat. I swear I used to post photos in this thread. Last December, right before I got covid, I took the 50D and 35mm F/3.5 Takumar out for a stroll. I have a bad habit of taking photos of the same thing over and over again. Since I took this photo, both the house (built 1940) and barn no longer stand. The EDG Yacht Club bought the property as-is for over $1M and bulldozed the whole thing. They're butting in high density housing for their staff because no one can afford to live on this fucking island. Cannonball Park, looking quite cheery on late fall. This is what the houses of MV residents who are still hanging on by an economic fingernail look like. Same idea, but after it's been sold to off-islanders who then dump a fortune into renovations. In this case, I'm not talking shit. The new owners did a really nice job with the house. It's too bad they stay here like 2 weeks a year at most and the rest of the time the place is empty. Until quite recently, this house belonged to the descendants of my great aunt. It's an old house that sits on a double lot, across from Cannonball Park. Sweetened Water Farm's horse barn. One of the most famous views on MV. It's a 5 minute walk from my front door. I really should bitch about things less. I will literally never stop. Mr Norton, the owner, died last month at 95 years old. Back in the creepy woods. It's not actually creepy at all. Tune in next time for a frozen pond and 300mm prime!

My favorite version of my favorite song by REM. I saw this concert and the extra drumstick on the chair was really effective live

Sophis' City Fare

Fuji’s small, fixed lens, medium format camera is out. https://www.engadget.com/cameras/fujifilms-gfx100rf-is-a-102mp-medium-format-compact-camera-110044609.html https://www.theverge.com/news/633093/fujifilm-gfx100rf-camera-features-price https://www.shopmoment.com/products/fujifilm-gfx100rf-mirrorless-digital-camera

Glad you found a solution to the hum problem. I don’t have any empty board left – last one sent to Finland a week ago Below print screen from my PCB software, silk screen disabled, version .24.

The Incredible Jazz Guitar Of Wes Montgomery by Wes Montgomery (1960) https://album.link/sn0dthrqvkqbb Example: I don't feel I listen to Wes enough.. and this was just a reminder...

A little late for Ravel's 150th, but this was my great (ahem) gateway to Ravel's orchestrating genius. I heard his orchestration before I heard Mussorgsky's solo piano version, and have since fallen in love with his genius. Even from his treatment of the opening Promenade, there's a bit more breadth, a bit more gravitas, a bit more there there. Not afraid to solo instruments, or interleave solo instruments against a delicate backdrop of small subsets of the orchestra, it is a masterpiece of restraint. cf. "The Old Castle" movement All the better to contrast the bombast. cf. "The Great Gates of Kiev" movement

I can only imagine @Grahame is extremely hyped for this? https://www.apple.com/uk/newsroom/2025/03/apple-music-announces-the-kings-music-room-with-king-charles-iii/ Nice to hear he's going to fit some Grace Jones in there. Probably not this one?

"Sir, there appears to be a dining table in front of your stereo."

Alternatively use the speakers to play this

You know the old saying "No highs, no lows, must be Bose there's a cat on the speaker."

Yo dawg...

* Cheery upbeat background music * * Friendly reassuring voice * "And in this week's podcast we discuss planning for dystopian events in your neighborhood."