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Hifiman Ultimate ESL Headphone system: Shangri-La

TitaniumTroy

Well-Known Member
The highlights, electrotstatic (not planer magnetic) headphones, big tube headphone amp (no transformer is used) and for the modest price of 50k:fearscream:
http://www.theabsolutesound.com/articles/hifiman-introduces-ultimate-headphone-system-shangri-la/
Maybe Flint can check this out at CES, it will be at two locations. Hoping to check it out myself at AXPONA 2017.

Tianjin, China | December 12, 2016 -– HIFIMAN, a leading designer/manufacturer of high performance headphones and portable audio products, announced the introduction of an all-new, premium electrostatic headphone system called Shangri-La. Several years in the making, Shangri-La builds upon HiFiMAN’s unmatched expertise in Nanotechnology to create a cutting-edge headphone with virtually zero distortion and lightning fast response. A custom designed amplifier featuring four audiophile-grade 300b tubes is an integral part of the cost-no-object experience. Shangri-La will be unveiled at the upcoming CES 2017 in Las Vegas but is available now to pre-order with estimated delivery in Spring 2017.
 
If they are in the convention center, I will check them out. I won't have time to go to the Venetian where the audiophile show takes place.
 
I'm scratching my head about the need to use four 300B tubes. Even a single 300B will put out a solid 7 watts (even at the high voltage of 500-600 volts the headphones need). Somehow I think that the designers are purposely using as many tubes as possible even thought they aren't needed in order to make the amp look more impressive.
 
I heard these at AXPONA 2017 and, I thought they sounded very bright. One of the young sales guy from a nearby booth, liked their sound but agreed with me that they did have too much high frequency. The same guy helped me in comparing HiFiMan 1000v2 to Focal Utopia's. Which was a very close race to me, but I favored the HiFiMan 1000v2.
 
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