The Cavalli Liquid Carbon

Discussion in 'Headphone Amplifiers and Combo (DAC/Amp) Units' started by maxedfx, Oct 17, 2015.

  1. Cryptowolf

    Cryptowolf Repping Chi Town - Friend

    Pyrate Contributor
    Joined:
    Sep 27, 2015
    Likes Received:
    1,450
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    Rural Illinois
    I heard the LC at Axpona here in Chicago. Though it was show conditions, I probably got a half hour to listen across two listening sessions at Dan's booth. I don't recall the DAC. I heard the amp with the open Ether and my personal Mad Dog Pro headphones in balanced mode. I enjoyed the amp enough that I pre-ordered a copy.

    I thought the amp sounded musical and not as analytical as my home Headroom Max. Without being able to directly compare, I don't know if I will prefer the LC to my other amp, the TTVJ FET-A. I listen to a wide mix of music ranging from folk death metal (Eluvite) to Blues (Job Bonamassa) and just about everything in between.

    My main reasons for purchasing were knowing that the amp is a good match for my Mad Dog Pro headphones. I'm squarely in mid-fi land with Beyer DT 880 250 Ohm and the Mad Dogs at home, and a well-loved pair of DT 250 80 Ohm for cubicle land at work.
     
  2. logscool

    logscool Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Sep 28, 2015
    Likes Received:
    69
    Trophy Points:
    28
    Just got an email from Cavalli saying that mine should ship around November 9th.
     
  3. Xen

    Xen Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Sep 30, 2015
    Likes Received:
    207
    Trophy Points:
    43
    Location:
    Houston, TX
    Good news! That means you are in the first batch!

    :bow: Need the popcorn Pirate, too!
     
  4. elwappo99

    elwappo99 Friend

    Pyrate Contributor
    Joined:
    Oct 8, 2015
    Likes Received:
    797
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    SoCal
  5. FlySweep

    FlySweep Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Sep 27, 2015
    Likes Received:
    1,412
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    Portland, OR
    Same here.. mine states order # 569.. and I think the numbering started at 500, right?
     
  6. burnspbesq

    burnspbesq Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Sep 28, 2015
    Likes Received:
    152
    Trophy Points:
    43
    Location:
    Cedar Park, TX
    Ditto (order number 563). Will see about arranging some sort of listening opportunity in OC if there is sufficient interest.
     
  7. HitmanFluffy

    HitmanFluffy Hoping to see real genitals someday!

    Anti-SBAF PSYOPS Banned
    Joined:
    Sep 26, 2015
    Likes Received:
    1,532
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    Austin, Texas
    I just saw the email too. Order no. 455, scheduled to ship in the week of November 9th. I'm assuming you guys got the same date?
     
  8. atomicbob

    atomicbob dScope Yoda

    Pyrate BWC MZR
    Joined:
    Sep 27, 2015
    Likes Received:
    18,653
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    On planet
    No. They started in the 400s. Mine was 467.
     
  9. insidious meme

    insidious meme Ambivalent Kumquat

    Pyrate Contributor
    Joined:
    Sep 26, 2015
    Likes Received:
    4,999
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Sector 8023 of the Third Quadrant
    Mine is week of Nov 9 as well. I'm 426.
     
  10. abernardi

    abernardi Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Sep 27, 2015
    Likes Received:
    197
    Trophy Points:
    43
    #507 coming Nov 9, oboy
     
  11. audiofrk

    audiofrk Guest

    820 here :(:piratemug:

    So December?:drunk::piratemug::piratemug:
     
  12. JewBear

    JewBear Almost "Made"

    Joined:
    Sep 28, 2015
    Likes Received:
    270
    Trophy Points:
    63
    #1098, FML
     
  13. maxedfx

    maxedfx New

    Joined:
    Oct 2, 2015
    Likes Received:
    6
    Trophy Points:
    8
    Location:
    UAE
    #1105! Just ordered 10 days ago! So have to wait.
    @audiofrk I'm guessing probably mid-end November! There were a lot of cancellations remember??

    I think the total units is still around a few below 500, or Dr.Cavalli increases the production run!
     
  14. The Alchemist

    The Alchemist MOT: Schiit - Here to help!

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Sep 24, 2015
    Likes Received:
    1,189
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    The SchiitR
    Home Page:
    @purrin How do you think the Liquid Carbon will compare with the Schiit Valhalla 2? I'm sure we'll have measurements at some point, but just interested in your opinion as of right now. I know you may not of heard it (or maybe you have) just kinda curious how they may compare.
     
  15. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

    Staff Member Pyrate BWC
    Joined:
    Sep 24, 2015
    Likes Received:
    89,777
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Padre Island CC TX
    Hard to say, I need to better listen to the Carbon under more controlled circumstances. However, I will say that I will almost always prefer a well implemented (neutral) tube amp for Sennheiser headphones.
     
  16. The Alchemist

    The Alchemist MOT: Schiit - Here to help!

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Sep 24, 2015
    Likes Received:
    1,189
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    The SchiitR
    Home Page:
    Thank you purrin for the reply - I know I love the V2 with Sennheisers - and now the Amperex Orange Globes are really starting to shine and have that nice "Warmth" to them.
     
  17. BioniclePhile

    BioniclePhile The Terminal Man - Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Oct 25, 2015
    Likes Received:
    386
    Trophy Points:
    63
    Location:
    Admudnson-Scott Antarctic Facility (Seattle WA)
    Home Page:
    #403 here, hoping to talk a bit about what I hear when it gets here. All I've heard is my Magni, and I'm not expecting a big difference, but if there is one I'll note it. Apparently Schiit amps have a 'bright' house sound, and people have talked about the Carbon being a tad bit warm.
     
  18. BioniclePhile

    BioniclePhile The Terminal Man - Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Oct 25, 2015
    Likes Received:
    386
    Trophy Points:
    63
    Location:
    Admudnson-Scott Antarctic Facility (Seattle WA)
    Home Page:
    I don't think I've ever actually heard anyone say how expensive the materials for the Carbon were in the Head-Fi threads or here. Dr. said he'd order all the materials at 200 orders, and at $600 that's $120,000. (duh) Divide that by 500 amps and you get to $240 per unit. So 40% of the cost is going right back into the components of the amp. Notwithstanding, there is probably some fiddling around to do with the exact numbers since everything is never exactly as it appears, but this seems like an extraordinary return rate for an audio product even thought I have absolutely no understanding of business math. I'm not sure how high the rate of return on Cavalli's other amps are, but I'm positive this has got to be the best of em. What's a typical cost-of-materials-and-manufacturing/price ratio anyway? And now I'm interested in pinning down the ratios in other companies' products, especially Schiit. I remember reading something in Jason's Schiit Happened about how they've got pricing down to a science and that everything they sell is on the same equation.
    I'm sure everyone else has already thought of this, I'm just the first (am I?) to come out and say it. And all I have to say about that is I feel smart and I'm afraid I might want to take business math.
     
  19. bixby

    bixby Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Sep 26, 2015
    Likes Received:
    3,987
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Northern Colorado
    Where are you coming up with the "bright" conclusion on Schiit amps? Hopefully not from people who have heard them and a few others. :D


    Just curious, why is it that some folks have this mission to know or seems to think they know, the margins in the audio business? What does it accomplish in the end? o_O

    Oh, and chances are more than probable that you don't really know :p
     
  20. audiofrk

    audiofrk Guest

    Agreed if you want to spend time working out the number, it'd be better put doing some diy.


    Parts are just part of the cost
    -factory operations
    -employee wages and benifits
    -shipping infrastructure
    -website management (servers, coders, designers, domain registration)
    -R&D
    -warrenty cushion (if it breaks customer gets their money back, unless we are talking about light harmonic Hi-oH!)
    -storage of parts
    -business tax


    you want to take out time, shipping, operations cost, storage, wages build it yourself.
     

Share This Page