If you hang out on head-fi, you know it's notorious for FOTM gear that everyone seems to *havetohavethisrightnow* and then 2 months later, no one wants anything to do with it. I'd been reading about the Audeze cans for a while, and I was initially thinking that's what it would be, but over a year later, people are just nuts about them still, so I thought I'd bite. Unfortunately there's not much around RI in the way of meets, so I had to buy them un-heard, but I figured I could turn them around pretty quickly if I didn't like them.
I'm glad I did... I haven't had a huge variety of reference, but they are the best cans I've ever heard. Some people think their highs are too laid-back, but I don't find that the case at all. I wouldn't call them bright, but they do sound very natural. The mids are really, really nice, and they without a doubt have the best bass I've heard in a headphone. They could be a bit lighter, but I do think they're comfortable and you get used to the weight. There's something nice about how solid they feel. My Beyer 990s feel like toys in comparison, and will probably be up for sale in the near future.
You know, I don't know what it is about recyling cases... there's some pretty amazing DIY casework out there and one of these days I'd love to go all out and build something along those lines, but I like the challenge of building something into something else that was never intended for it and making it work. That Mac Mini was a bit of a pain in the ass to get to come together like that, but it was a hell of a lot of fun to do. Back around the same time I did the cigar box amp, I also did a portable amp in the shell of a wireless mouse - I think that has to be my favorite.. rigged up the mouse wheel to a pot as a volume control. Heh. It's not really much of an amp sound-wise, it was more to see if I could pull it off.
http://www.richat.com/mhamel/photos/mouseamp/ -Mike
You know, it's funny you mention the 9100. Scott (bmwr75) and I were discussing how vintage receivers are all the rage right now on Head-Fi because of their headphone amplifier sections. Personally, I find that headphone amplifier section of my Onkyo Integra P-304 is more than competent.
Very interesting projects that you've got going on. I like the cigar box. I'm also into recycling shells and casings from various items. My subwoofer plate amp found a permanent home inside the housing of an old Electro Voice EV 1180 receiver.
How do you like the Audeze cans?
