padam

Thanks everyone, enjoyed it

I carry the DA11 occasionally, it is not that big or heavy so I would probably try one of these Benchmark DAC2, Lavry DA11, Mytek 192 DSD Or there used to be a HeadAmp 24/96 DAC/amp prototype (like a successor of the Pico if I am not mistaken), a balanced version of that would be interesting and stylish A laptop usually has an SD slot anyway.

Happy Birthday Colin!

The new Stig is probably quicker but in many cases it is a different person (e.g. a factory test driver) Pity I did not find anything more on Prost's lap, maybe it was a flying lap?

But the Zonda R weighs 280 kgs less.

That is a neat build, well done.

Ok I misunderstood at first I thought it is the outer grilles on the sides not the earpad cloth. No unfortunately I did not have a chance to compare side by side. But I have the Lavry and 717 for quite a while now so that hasn't changed and I heard two with that but not at one time. And yet the few I tried/owned definitely sounded different and I think the pads were not broken, the sealing was good in either pair (but with one pair I was able to achieve a good fit much easier than with the other pair as the headband had more tension but after some trial I managed to make it similar). The best I owned (and now regret selling) was an early 70xxx one (with the less foam insert in the box) and the worst was an SZ1 one. Akwok wrote a few years ago that he owned two SR007 Mk1s at the same time, both with brand new pads and they sounded different as well.

And how did they sound before that? Interesting theory. If it is true the problem is that these older grilles are not available. And I still think it is the drivers (manufacturing tolerances, etc) that cause the difference.

It was written in the old H-F Stax thread that the very first batch of SZ2 Mk2s had a production problems but it was fixed soon afterwards. Spritzer is talking about the SZ1 Mk1 ones. Most of them simply do not sound as good as the best Mk1 ones.

There is a limited edition 1.2/85 too which is a beauty. The others are 'just' not common but I really have no idea what that 25/1.4 and 28/1.8 could be worth (probably beyond insane)

Yes.

458 Italia, nice!

MF is challenging but worth the effort (still need the EVF though, LCD composing sucks)

Hand-held, MF focus wide open, first try.

I just wondered, has anyone got PCBs left or will there be another group buy? Thanks.

Thanks for the tip I am getting one for sure. I've also heard that they have also restored the production of a few Zenith lenses such as the Helios 40-2 85mm F1.5 so it is actually possible get a new one for less than a used one. But it is very tough to get because the production is so limited and it is only available in one shop and the price has also raised since the announcement. Also it is bloody heavy so not sure about the handling with a NEX but it would be fun to try, it is still cheaper than the competition.

Happy Birthday Monkey!

Just curious, what are these superb Russian lenses? In Hungary, they are not so hard to come by so I might try a few. I reckon if they make it will definitely cost more than the RX1 and it will be thicker as well and probably use somewhat similar mounting system to the VG900.

The NEX5N is super cheap now as long as you can find the remaining stock, you should just mount your superb ContaxG lens on it. The focusing feel suffers a little since it converts autofocus lens to manual focus but otherwise the overall value is amazing. Later on there will be an autofocus ContaxG adapter as well.

The phone at the back does not have a Stax driver in it.

The translator doesn't seem to work too well and a few pics are dead but I thought I might share it anyway. Somebody has managed to squeeze in 507 drivers into a Sigma: Sigma Pro 507 Mod & impressions

They don't isolate very well.

Happy Birthday!