If we were making a short list of the best available closed back on the market it would be?
Verite Closed
Stellia
TH-900 mkii
Aeon Closed 2
LCD XC
ATH-AWKT
Anything else? Just trying to build a short list to start researching prices/threads/etcâŚ
Eikon ought to make the list.
As should the Kennerton Gjallarhorn, though it has a fair amount of leakage
I would hypothesize Lawton modded Fostex-biodyna-based headphones would make this list too.
The LSA HP-2 Ultra, which is based on the gjallarhorn, has almost no sound leakage. It sounds almost like a closed back Arya.
Ether C Flow are good.
Updated pics with new stand and Skable. Stabilized sets should be going on sale soonâhopefully this month!
kind of a creepy image seeing the once living wood cups on a once living wood head. specially since the wood pattern looks like an eye at a side angle
Sorry to derail, but out of your setups, which headphone or IEM chain is your favorite listening experience?
Current co-favorites are Susvara on a SS amp chain and VCs on Pendant.
Susvara delivers the ultimate in realismâinstrument timbre and soundstage are more present and believable than from any other chain I have, and not by a little. If the âholy grailâ for television and movies is to have a screen that ceases being noticeable as a screen and instead becomes a portal opened unto another reality, then the same goal for audio is a sound-rendering device that creates music as though it is being performed in the room with you. Susvara is closer to accomplishing this than anything else Iâve heard that I can wear, aside from possibly HE-1. I currently enjoy Susvara through an ADI-2 -> Topping A90 chain, but have ordered a Holo May and a Goldpoint level control to try out Susvara on âZone Bâ of my multichannel speaker amp.
VC, meanwhile, is pure romance. It does more right than ought to be possible from any closed headphone. Every type of music pairs well with it, tuning is wondrously musical and emotional, and staging is out-of-head big and holographic. Every time I sit down to listen to my VCs I lose track of time and get lost in the music. If thatâs not what this hobby is all about, what is? Pendant, perhaps unsurprisingly, perfectly complements everything good about VC to the extent that I havenât wanted to listen on other amps. Iâve been rediscovering new and old favorites all over again since I got them.
IEMs might be more important to me if I traveled or commuted more, but this year has seen me bottled up in my basement listening to full sized cans on desktop chains. When I do go out, my best-of-the-best portable chain would be 64 Audio U12Ts on my Astell & Kern SP1000M gold player. That combo is easy to carry anywhere and sounds sublime. The U12T delivers stunning bass and sub-bass that belies the BA low-endâthereâs real slam there that sounds like a DD, but with all of the articulation and detail of BAs! All that and itâs more detailed even than my Campfires and just an all-around lovely tuning. My only complaintâI wish they were custom. I have Noble K10 CIEMs, and nothing is more comfortable for in-ear. Iâll never fly anywhere without those again.
surprisingly yes. thank you
Just received mine in camphor burl. In the process of burning in, my first pair of high end headphones. Had a quick listen when they were fresh out of the box, I didnât want to take em off. The level of detail and so open sounding. Letâs see if they change after a couple more days of burning in
Coolđ would you please upload a picture @Lalawil ?
How long did it take from order to delivery?
I ordered mine in camphor Burl as well, a few days ago and keep wanting to check for updates 
A mint pair of Stabilized Maple Desert Purple VCâs going on ebay if itâs of interest to anyone?..
Took around 2.5 mths.
Admittedly my DAC amps are not in the same league as my VCs (Modi heresy stack, gustard a18 and thx887, DV 336se) my favourite is the schitt stack interestingly. I really want to like the 887 with VC, if any thx and VC users can comment. On single ended it sounded completely flat and no dynamics, and on balanced it sounded too bright and almost shouty Vs the Hersey. And on lvl 3 gain think the VC started to clip I find lvl 2 gain on balanced is the sweet spot but still I prefer the Hersey⌠Which is a bit counter intuitive as the 887 cost a lot more than the Hersey
I read this same take a lot, especially on this forum, unfortunately there is big push on thx based amps, based mainly on numbers. Lots of shilling among the more popular reviewers as well, its unfortunate since amps from Schiit,JDS Labs, and Geshelli,going with the trend of this forum, sound better than thx, though i cant personally verify this, but NUMEROUS members on this forum have stated likewise. Regardless, you are not the only one to feel this way about thx, and that number is growing. That being said the VC is pretty great and they scale well, even going to a Schiit Asgard3, JDS Labs El Amp, and Geshelli Erish or Archel can be a better experience than a thx amp. Though, awesome you have a nice setup, thx is better than nothing.
Problem is I sold the schitt stack thinking the 887 to be better and am not too happy the âupgradeâ. Im interested with the new schitt Jot 2, but havent seen too many reviews on that yet
Your better off deciding what you want and what you want to spend before jumping on the next bandwagon amp.
What do you like about the amps youâve tried? and what would you like to get out of them?
The VC is a very good headphone, you can get a good experience from one with amps in the 500-1000 range, but theyâll continue to scale beyond that.
What DAC are you using.
And perhaps most importantly whatâs your budget.
I have only really tried it with the heresy and the 887, tbh i did like the Hersey (warm, dark background and good amt of detail) but decided a 99usd amp not doing the VC justice so i went for the 887 after the rave resviews on thx amps but its just too bright for my taste. Dac wise I am only left with the Gustard A18, which I cant fault on as I used to use it on my hifi system in the living room and imo it sounded great, but i wanted a dac with streamer function hence its been since replaced.
budget wise, Iâm flexible 500-1000 but i live abroad so will need factor in accessibility, do want to stick with SS amps tho
Looks stunning @Lalawilđ
Yea Iâve been told THX isnât the best fit for VC, very interesting with the price difference though
