mikeymad

Where is my SPAM...??

Thanks for the heads up. Will have to look into the CA Audio Show... I not been to one in a long time. Cheers, Mikey

I have not started drinking them yet, but I love when I get bottles at work... Cheers, Mikey

looks yummy....

Large Brandy of Macallan 12yo, and a La Gloria Cubana N series.. Going to sit outside for a while. Cheers, Mikey

I don't think I have ever taken pictures of meat, but these rib-eyes had such great marbling. (the one on the left was most tasty - the other two dry age) Cheers, Mikey

Nice Al.. I knew I should have stayed to try the rest of those... )

good glass - good beverage

Yeah I just pulled out of the gathering (sorry Frank).. I have company coming in (in a good way). Cheers, Mikey

Many thanks Al for Sharing these around with the unworthy (me).. They were very good... wish I could have had more. cheers, Mikey

Thanks for this thread guys. I have had my 802-80's back up and running since last June (after about 5 years of storage). I had not really thought about the Caps until now. I had to replace a driver about 10 years ago, but other than that, it has been super clean sound. But now I might have to do a little inspection tour and order up some parts. Still, overall the speaker design holds up. Cheers, Mikey

Sorry for the delay in my notes. It was a good day, good tunes, good weather, good people. What more could you need. After cleaning out some of the stinky, and getting the tables setup. The people started to come and the rigs started to get setup. After spending a little time making sure my setup was working the way it should, I started poking around at the other systems. Here are some of my thoughts (not in order) JP#'s Eddie Current HD2 vs. Zana Duex Source> mac mini/wavelength cosecant Cans> Grado RS1, GS-1000 One of the things I really wanted to listen to. I had some previous experience with the ZD, but this was my first listen to the HD2. I listened to both the ZD and HD2 with both the RS-1 and my GS-1000. I have to say that the HD2 was a good/beter amp than the ZD. But there is something about the ZD that kept drawing me back to it every time. I liked the HD2's power and detail, but the warmth of the ZD (OTL) produced a great sound that I find attractive. There was nothing that the HD2 was doing wrong, it was more that the sound that the ZD was producing was more pleasing to me. Wow, I just looked up the price of the DAC... Wow again... The sound of these computer source systems (this mini-mac, and laptop below), makes me feel better about moving forward with my home server system (just got my 1T Maxtor drive last week (it is full now)). Voltron's Single Power SDS Source> Emm Labs (2 box player) Cans> Balanced Hd650's and SE- Grado GS-1000 This tower of power was really a great system. To get the bad out of the way first. I tried it with my Gs-1000, and I was not very happy at all. It was sounding thin on top, it gave a very little soundstage, even after a driver tube change. But that is just the hit and miss that I have had with the GS-1000 and amps. Now the Senn HD650's were the best that I have ever heard them. These were my first (real) headphones (after the Grado 60's). I have always thought that they had potential, but I had always thought that potential was limited. I have heard them in many ways, and have given them every chance in the world (RSA b52, four different cables, tubes (OTL), SS), but they never measured up. Untill now. This showed me how far they could go. I could not find any of the faults that I always saw before (overdone base, slightly dark). It was full of detail, power, fast, engaging. I think about getting rid of my pair all the time. But now I think about this rig, and hold onto them a little longer. Icarium's SinglePower SS-1 Source> Esoteric UX-1. Cans> Balanced Qualias I am sad to say that I didn't spend too much time with this setup (several minutes only, then I got distracted), it was a busy table with the APL. So, all I can really say is that I was interested enough that I would like to spend more time with it. It deserves some quality time. Neilvg's Single Power ES2 Source> APL NWO Cans> Senn HE90, Stax O2's Very much the best headphone system that I have heard (thanks for bringing this), I got to spend some more time with the HE90's than I have before. They really are special. I really like the overall presentation. I liked the way that they sounded on my system as well (the little es-1). I did not get to spend much time listening to the APL, but I will concur with the rest of the comments in this regard. If I had the piles of cash, I would love to have this system. I would like to add the He90's to my headphone collection as well, but I would like to get them for around 4-5k, not the current asking prices. Oh well, maybe the new O2's will find their way to my home. Foo_me's Zanden 300b Source> Emm Labs Cans> AKG K1000 (open grills) Running off of Voltron's EMM this was another treat. I like the sound of the Zanden pushing the open grill k1000's. Orchestral presentation is huge, and detailed all at once. The only think that I had a problem with was the open grills the drivers would vibrate hairs over my ears, shoking me back into reality. This is my fault for looking like a hippy. Guzziguy's Singlepower Platinum Extreme source> eXemplar Denon 2900 Cans> Grado Gs-1000, Leopardwood V3 Darth Beyers I didn't spend that much time with Guzzy's rig (a couple of tracks). The Darths blew my head off with bass. WOW, I could only listen to them for a little bit. First time that I thought that I had a pair of headphones with a subwoofer. With my GS-1000's I did like the overall presentation of the Extreme. Nice richness in the bass, and warmth through the midrange, and no harshness in the top end. I hope that your player made it home okay (and still works). Ori's mystery 300b amp source> random player into Ori DAC Cans> K1000, Hd650's XLR's that I tried in my system This setup did not grab me during the meet. The 300b's pushing the k1000's, did not have the presentation and detail that I was looking for (see Foo_me's system). Maybe some new 300's would help out. I did like the DAC/amp with the HD650's, but would not be a system that I would be looking for. It showed the problems that I have had with the HD650's (see voltrons system) Ori let me try out the X-2 XLR against my new MIT Shotgun cables. This was a nice set of interconnects. More transparent, faster, increased micro-detail, and this was only about a 5 minute trial. Good job Ori. Iron_Dreamer's Apogee Mini-DAC Source> Laptop Cans> AT L3000, Grado GS-1000, Ult Ed9 I spent a lot of time playing on this system. Mostly because I discovered that I need to have a pair of L3000's. But also I spent time listening to A Perfect Circle and Ayreon (great modern prog-rock - just buy it). My gosh, I never thought that the L3000 would sound this good. I have never been really happy with my W5000's fit, but I think that great sound is hiding in there. The L3000 fit was perfect, and the overall sound was beyond great. Just pushing them with the Mini-DAC they produced a bass with power and punch, great pace and finess in the lower midrange, and then an increadible vocal midrange, and detailed high. I NEED L3000's. These phones made me loose interest in the Ed9's faster than I thought imaginable. I know that the AT's are twice as much, but I thought that they were twice as good. Overall a great day, and good sounds all around. Several things in the end: Get a pair of AT L3000's Don't worry about the Ult Ed9's Don't worry about the k1000's find a cheap pair of He90's ) Cheers all,