Kharma Comes To Suncoast Audio

mep said:
Curious if you listened to the original version from their third album and compared it to the Gold version?
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I didn’t. You find that one better?


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Mike said:
I didn’t. You find that one better?


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I haven't listened to either version yet on my system. I'm curious though after hearing your video. My reference is the original LP and my memory tells me the LP sounds different than the Gold version on digital. My past experiences with Greatest Hits versions of albums is that many of them sucked in comparison to the original versions. This was usually blamed on not using the original master tapes from multiple albums to put the Greatest Hit compilation albums together.
 
Alpinist said:
I believe it. Karen Carpenter’s voice is stunningly lifelike on that system. I’ve listened to the video half a dozen times. I’m in awe of what I’m hearing.

Ken
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just listened to this video with my new MSB Select Headphone amp and Stax 009S headphones. it takes my analog out from my laptop into an analog in on the Select II dac. it's the first 'system' video i've used it for.:cool:

i liked it, but don't have other 'system' video experiences to compare it to using my new rig.....except.....it's way more enjoyable than my laptop speakers.

i'm already a Kharma fanboy.

as well as in love with Karen Carpenter's voice. how can you not be? i think we are all hard wired in that way.
 
Mike Lavigne said:
just listened to this video with my new MSB Select Headphone amp and Stax 009S headphones. it takes my analog out from my laptop into an analog in on the Select II dac. it's the first 'system' video i've used it for.:cool:

i liked it, but don't have other 'system' video experiences to compare it to using my new rig.....except.....it's way more enjoyable than my laptop speakers.

i'm already a Kharma fanboy.

as well as in love with Karen Carpenter's voice. how can you not be? i think we are all hard wired in that way.
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Hi Mike,

What are your impressions of the Select Headphone Amp and Stax 009s Headphones thus far? Are they meeting expectations?

Ken
 
Mike Lavigne said:
hi Ken,

i am very much enjoying the way the Select Headphone amplifier works in my system, the MSB integration and how it all blends. the fact that the Select II has such a high performance passive volume control plus an analog input really makes it slick. and physically it is an elegant thing to fit. other high level headphone amplifiers are not 2 channel speaker system integration friendly. i'm able to switch easily from speakers to headphones, from dac to my laptop input, and use it seamlessly.

and in and of itself the performance is really fine; the Stax 009S's are still breaking in so i'm not there yet in terms of ultimate transparency. it's nice to have such unlimited headroom in terms of power and control. objectively i'm getting phenomenal headphone performance.

it's a spendy proposition, but it really delivers the goods.

the only thing not ideal is that i had a level of purity and total grainless type of performance with the MSB RCA analog module feeding my 50 ohm BNC 'zeel' darTZeel input on my preamp with the Evolution Acoustics BNC cable. the MSB XLR analog module does bring more drive and power to the music, but the XLR cables i had on hand don't play at the same level as my Evolutions did. and with this system and this headphone amp and headphones, it's an open window to every piece in the signal path. it's great sound, but not quite all the way there to where i was. the recent (Taiko Extreme server music management) TAS upgrades to the transparency were amazing. it's just a tic less now.

so i might need to invest in some better cables, and if/when i do that, i will find out whether cables can be enough to get back what is missing. i do appreciate the extra drive to the music. it's normal to need to optimize any addition. and this one is so integrated it's inevitable to have to do some things to get it perfect.

i have been to valhalla in terms of ultimate transparency. so it's a question.

i would add that even though there has been trade-offs up to now, that the headphone experience is different and quite special. i'm not exactly sure why yet, but there is something very intimate about listening to great music on this headphone system. very relaxing and satisfying. and this is even directly compared to my 2 channel system. so maybe it's just a 'new thing', but maybe it's more than that. i need some time to know where this part will end up. and so far i've listened for more than 2 hour stretches a couple of times with the headphones and had zero fatigue or anything uncomfortable. the Select Headphone amp and Stax 009S headphones seem a match made in heaven.

FYI; i have not sampled other top level current headphone combo's; so i don't want to infer that what i'm hearing is any better than any other choice. i do suspect that this plays at the highest levels, but i really am only guessing.

moderator; if you want this in a separate thread, i'm fine with that, or not. i just don't want to derail the Kharma thread. up to you.:D
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I for one vote to move your new uber headphone story to it's own thread. The title of this thread is "Karma Comes to Suncoast Audio."
 
Getting this thread back on track, Mike B., tell us a little about the Kharma Elegance DB11-S and Kharma Exquisite MIDI and how they compare to the models that you already have in your store.

Ken
 
Congrats Mike! I just "wandered" into the world of Kharma on used pair of Exquisite Midi Signatures. Coming from Raidho and numerous top-level monitors along the way this was first trek back into a full range speaker in over 30 years. All I can say is WOW! Kharma is VERY special and although I'm just 3 weeks in the midis are already one of the most resolving AND emotionally engaging speakers I have ever heard. They simply disappear and make music. Hope the addition of Kharma becomes a great success for you and your customers!
 
Aldog said:
Congrats Mike! I just "wandered" into the world of Kharma on used pair of Exquisite Midi Signatures. Coming from Raidho and numerous top-level monitors along the way this was first trek back into a full range speaker in over 30 years. All I can say is WOW! Kharma is VERY special and although I'm just 3 weeks in the midis are already one of the most resolving AND emotionally engaging speakers I have ever heard. They simply disappear and make music. Hope the addition of Kharma becomes a great success for you and your customers!
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Thank you!


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Enigma Veyron 4D/5D -- I know you don't plan to get one of these pairs for store, but have you at least heard them? One of those was on the cover of latest TAS Equipment round-up, and the look was so striking I had to go on a internet hunt to figure out who made it.
 
pdub said:
Enigma Veyron 4D/5D -- I know you don't plan to get one of these pairs for store, but have you at least heard them? One of those was on the cover of latest TAS Equipment round-up, and the look was so striking I had to go on a internet hunt to figure out who made it.
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Yes, heard them in Munich. Was blown away.


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The big-daddy Veyron 2D or the smaller floorstanders (4D/5D)? If the latter, which?
 
the taiko-msb-boulder-kharma9 sounded excellent.
overall, i d wish to hear a bit more dynamic music on mikes videos. mainstream pop and hiphopp:)
 
u-sound said:
the taiko-msb-boulder-kharma9 sounded excellent.
overall, i d wish to hear a bit more dynamic music on mikes videos. mainstream pop and hiphopp:)
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I played some Post Malone one time and everyone got mad! Said it wasn’t music. They wanted more boring classical.


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