Great post. Brain burn in surely exists and when a new acquisition suddenly clicks it’s a great thing. Enjoy.
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I got a pair of ZMF Aeolus and I clearly prefer them on my tube amp over my THX amp. They come alive on tubes and are never fatiguing. Getting the best out of a pair of ZMF I would go for a tube amp and there are plenty around at a decent price.
I would not recomend to buy a THX amp, to be used mainly with a ZMF headphone.
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Yes, and I don’t think it’s correct when people call this “placebo”. It’s more a matter of the brain learning to speak the language of the new equipment. It’s as if headphones use different tricks to signal space, attack, warmth, distance, etc., and we have to learn their repertoire before we can understand how they speak music.
I find this reassuring, in that I could probably learn to enjoy any equipment that is in the range of decent. Each time I start with something new my first response is “this is strange” and that comes with some element of dislike. But I know by now to give it time. The equipment may really have the qualities I dislike, objectively speaking, but the dislike is not objective, and the important question is: is this language one I can learn to understand and enjoy? Some combinations of objective properties will never become that enjoyable, but there is a wide diversity within what can be enjoyed. Which makes measurement can serve as a guide as to whether you’re probably in the range of OK, but not too useful beyond that point, and combative hi-fi arguments a mistake.
Another thing I notice is that, when reading about audio gear, I tend to start from what I’m familiar with and interpret the reviews in those terms with a dose of imagination. A modest-budget person like me who replaces equipment only every few years doesn’t have too many reference points (we don’t speak too many languages), so it’s actually harder for us to understand other people’s writing about audio than it is for someone who speaks many of these languages already. A new piece of gear may be so different from my existing reference points that I can’t imagine it in their terms, and experiential learning needs take place before I can appreciate it. The shift from AFC to Eikon was, for me, this dramatic. I could not have imagined the Eikon sound as a variant of AFC, and when I first heard the Eikon it was a foreign language to my brain. I had imagined what the new equipment might sound like, but my imagination couldn’t draw on resources that would get it close, so the reality came a shock.
This all leaves me fairly optimistic actually - it’s not about seeking a holy grail that matches what you imagine (“everything I already like about music but more so!”), but exploring the territory and expanding your understanding as you go.
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Not responding to anyone in particular.
While the O2 amplifier may be situationally defensible … the original ODAC was a turd on its BEST day.
There are better choices, for less money, today, from multiple brands.
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Lol - seems I have inadvertently spent 8 years enjoying a turd. Makes me eager to try a non-turd.
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It’s all relative.
You like what you like.
And without hands/ears-on reference to “better” (which is somewhat subjective anyway), one has no way to “know”. Still, there are numerous $100 DACs that beat the original ODAC bloody objectively as well as subjectively (obviously personal).
None of which are going to turn the Eikon into something you like … if you don’t like it.
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Yes, I’ve seen some of the measurements of more modern DACs, and it seems things have really come on technically. And I do enjoy the Eikons so a better DAC can only help.
Thanks for the MCTH suggestion. Would the Monolith/Cavalli Liquid Platinum pair well with the Eikons? It’s just about within my budget and seems to have its fans. (Also its critics, which concerns me slightly though I don’t have the engineering knowledge to evaluate what’s said here.)
You know, I’m racking my brain trying to remember specifically, and I don’t rightfully recall what I thought of the pairing. Wish I could be of more help.
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Seems to me that guy bad mouthing the LP and Schiit products is jealous they can make really good sounding amps for low cost, with great warranties. The LP has a 5 year no hassle free replacement, and is selling for $600, which is a steal. I have never heard the Eikon, but the Aeolus and LP go together like peanut butter and jelly. Just my 2 cents, about one man’s rants.
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I can see how hybrid tube amps could really irk some people. I used to post a lot on the HF Lyr 3 tube rolling thread. Dude saw a lot of my messages and sent me a DM asking why I’m lying, the Lyr 3 was bright as hell, and no one could ever enjoy the the thing, and I was a POS for misleading people.
Turns out, dude was using Beyer 990 pro and bought a $250 KenRad black glass tube off a buddy’s suggestion… check this out… because that tube has great bass. I mean, the tube is ok for bass, but it is also bright as hell. Anyway… He constantly got headaches listening to Skrillex or some such nonsense. So… yeah.
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LOL!!! Some people just don’t have a clue.
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@typicalheadfierandy - if you want to know more info about the Liquid Platinum, there is a guy that goes by the name, AtomicBob, that does amazing testing and measurements. He is very well known on the other forums, and is one of if not the best testers of audio equipment. I bought the LP, after reading what he had to say about it. He liked it so much, he owns one too.
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Can confirm AtomicBob is legit…more so than some more well known cult group … 
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It should be noted that the fellas at ZMF seem to be working their butts off to keep their turnaround times and service levels. I sent them a query on Thursday, and got a response from Zach at 10:45 last night.
I’ve gone through periods where I’ve worked long days and 7 days weeks. But I don’t think I’ve ever lasted until 11pm on a Saturday night. Hats off to them!
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And I think they don’t spend much time on updating the excel sheets re production. Everything is just staying at “Pending”.
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Which did you order?
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Zach and Bevin are class acts, they are very responsive no matter what the question entails. One day I’ll get to thank them in person, A+++ service.
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Patience grasshopper. If the choice is to spend time in production and responding to customers over updating a spreadsheet, then I’ll take the former for $2500 please.
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I ordered the Verite Open Silk.
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