^you sure you can say that considering the lack of impressions anywhere?
And look, I like ETA and the people who've started it, but I'm not interested in becoming a type of ASR where we peddle all stuff our members made "just because" it's associated with us.
maybe, maybe not? ETA has a good track record with bass slam and heft specifically, and I'm way way happier blind recommending a $600 headphone than a $2000+ one. I also don't want this forum to be one where we peddle/give more exposure to the expensive stuff than the more affordable stuff.
I can't remember the last time we've recommended something without even hearing it first, so I don't want to recommend something blind period. I never have done this and never will.
Yes it's only $600 which is affordable enough that someone like me can actually consider picking one up eventually new, but blind recommendations serve no one well @pure5152. I trust the guys behind ETA cuz they're great folk, but blind faith only serves to hinder meaningful growth.
And I hate the rising prices as much as the next guy. SBAF has always (or at least should be) about good sound. Something cheap and good has always been praised (rightly so). Sometimes the good stuff costs more.
And before you accuse me of only giving exposure to certain gear, let me ask you this; do you KNOW how difficult it is to get companies to send us stuff? I'm not even talking about the expensive things.
Not that I'm saying this'll inflate their egos cuz you have to be pretty self-absorbed to let that happen, but maybe only recommending the stuff that's already out that you've heard and KNOW slams ass (uh... not in that way) might better serve people since it'll be easier to then relativise things.
Yeah, I'm really curious about the Raal as something different. And, indeed, the ETA stuff. But also wary of a blind buy, so to speak. As far as hyped products coming from forum members, I'm inclined to give them the benefit of the doubt.
But, then, you never really know how you hear differently from others. I've been (mildly) burned before by forum faves that got dropped six months later, so I take everything with a grain of salt now.
Even with this forum, always take it with a grain of salt unless you've tried it for yourself. That being said, with some experience listening and comparing notes to notable SBAF members, you'll learn to triangulate and guess what you'd like.
Oh, for sure, that's how I like to use this forum. Been participating for quite some time. Have owned lots of stuff and hae been using Utopia/HD800 through Starlett and EC Studio Jr. for quite some time, so I'm familiar with (hopefully) TOTL sound. Just casting around for something different.
Mostly purchased used or on heavy discount, so luckily I've been able to make some savvy buys and not too many missteps. Started with HD650 and Jot 1 (never much liked it) and researched and auditioned most things along the way.
@wbass I'd rank Utopia the first for the overall bass quality (note that I hate to discuss heft only ignoring other quality components of bass) among the three you mentioned (IDK about o2 because I have zero idea). If you meant bass heft as weightness/density without sacrificing delicate expressions, Utopia was better to me among anything equal to or cheaper than its price. Quantity might be compromised tho.
@wbass I don't mean ca-1a is bad. It sounds great and tasteful in its own light. But for various reasons I don't quite feel like it can serve as a primary reference in evaluating music and audio.
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