That's a really beautiful kingwood, that's the wood variant that made me finally appreciate Caldera after being relatively unimpressed with oak and redheart LTD.

I think I've used mine since 2019, it's about time to try something new. :sweat_smile:

I'm not sure how my experience applies but with the Caldera, I was able to compare Kingwood LTD, Cocobolo LTD, resin and normal stabilised. They definitely don't sound the same and I would say that the effect is bigger than cable rolling but probably not as much as pad rolling.

Can we just use any used HD800 for the job? I was reading the other forum and apparently some SN group is more desirable than other. :sweat_smile: Basically we are probably in the similar boat, HD800 with Utopia DNA is something that I will like.

It's nice to see stock enjoyers catching up, at one point of time thick was leading with almost 80%!

Does the JAR mod get the bass performance closer to Utopia? I don’t expect planar like supreme sub bass extension and details but something like the Utopia will do.

Thanks, I quite liked the HD800 (with SDR mod, without mod the sibilance was too much) but the HD800S not so much. Have you ever compared JAR800 with the Focal Utopia?

I'm kinda interested in JAR800 but it seems that impressions are limited in that other forum. The cost is considerable so will be nice if there is some feedback here.

Based on my experience with mechanical keyboard hobby and horror stories from close friends this kind of gate keeping is 100% going to cause endless drama and angst.

Your Cocobolo looks like a clone of @hafzz123 's. :)

Any of you guys ever tried JAR800? Impressions seem to be limited in that other forum.

I'm half half between thick and stock, back to stock again for the moment. The increased dynamics and more neutral sound are welcome but the mid is almost overbearingly forward.

There is very obvious bass roll off with that pad so it doesn’t feel like a finished product (sorry Zach!).

It should be safe, just make sure you use plastic friendly contact cleaner. DACT has a pretty detailed instruction on how to clean it, they recommended a certain brand of contact cleaner but I just got something that is available locally (CRC QD, green bottle)...

Only on medium gain? Do you have scratching noise when changing volume?

That will be nice cause I have the impression that they’re another variant.

I just got a good deal on the Melz 6N8S, let’s see if it can dethrone the Sylvania as my favourite all-rounder. 🫣

@zach915m The new Air pads sure look intriguing. Can we order them separately for Caldera Open? Are they compatible?

Any of you thick pad enjoyers went back to stock?

For those of you who are thick pad enjoyers, do you feel that the treble is thinner than stock?

I remember a certain YT-er said that WANDLA is as good as Holo May too...

Thanks. It seems that the Tungsten must sounds like a further refined LCD-4 which if so they must sound completely different than Caldera.

Any more comparisons with ModHouse Tungsten?

@kkrazik2008 I wonder if the Stellaris would fare better driving the Caldera.

Did you try swapping around the pads of the loaner Caldera?