Ask MuppetFace Stuff

Discussion in 'Random Thoughts' started by MuppetFace, Oct 21, 2016.

  1. MuppetFace

    MuppetFace Sultana of Seafoam Green - Moderator

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    Um, does the Paradox count? I guess that would be my potential answer.
    Does the R10 (aka the head-boob-phone) count?
    That thing is pure magic with strings.

    I own the STAX 4070. It sounds quite nice.
    I also really like the TH900 in the "fun sound category."


    To be quite honest tho, a pair of modified Yamaha YH-1 is what I use mostly for commuting.
    Picked up a stock pair for $100 on eBay. They sound amazing. I think a pair of Koss PortaPros sound really great too for the money.

    More times than not, closed headphones just don't register any interest for me these days, unless an interesting pair happens to be closed. Really, earphones seem like a more sensible alternative, assuming you don't mind the way they feel when worn.

    The Westone W80 and Shure SE846 are my go-tos.
    More boutique stuff like the Noble K10 and Tralucent Plus5 are also favorites of mine, but they seem to be divisive, so as always, try before you buy whenever possible.

    Need more time to hear the Shure KSE1500 and HiFiMan RE2000, but both seemed very promising.






    No offense taken.
    I'm not a stickler for pronouns, personally.

    If I were an audio objectivist, I think this place would drive me kinda bonkers lmao. That being said, I think measurements and graphs do have their place. I tend to prioritize the actual listening experience however, simply because graphs are only part of the bigger picture. We should look at the numbers in light of what we hear, illuminated by it.

    Subjective listening experience is valuable. Hearing is a precious, precious gift.
    Our ears can be trained through experience.
    Our ears are scientific tools.

    And yes, they can be "fooled" as the strict objectivists say. Bias abounds (though strict objectivist seem to have the more difficulty identifying their own biases than they do other peoples'). That's why it's important to listen yourself if possible. Get get opinions from people whose ears you trust and can calibrate your own preferences and expectations against. Use measurements that were taken using the same equipment / methodology to compare one piece of gear to another. See how closely the subjective experiences match the data. See where they differ. Ask why they might differ. You tend to learn things.

    But yeah, I haven't exactly answered your other question, have I? DACs and Amps.
    That's... really broad. Suffice it to say I think all parts of an audio chain matter. And you can't just look at measurements and say "yup this amp measures flat so it should be neutral," for a number of reasons. First because there's something called synergy: *how* two pieces of equipment get along---how they sound together---is the important part. Take as an example the BHSE electrostatic amp, which is supposed to measure flat and therefore be neutral. When paired with the SR-007 earspeakers from Stax, this amp really sounds stellar. In fact this combo is one of my favorites in this hobby, one with which I could easily just "retire." One with which, for a while at least, I did.

    But pair the BHSE with the supposedly better measuring SR-009... and it just sounds too bright and "thin" for my tastes. That's because I feel the SR-009 sounds a bit dry, bright, and thin. And wouldn't you know: Gilmore amps tend to sound a bit dry, bright, and thin to me despite their seriously impressive driver control (which the SR-009 doesn't need as much as the SR-007 aka The Slumbering Dragon).

    In fact I've used several amps that measure flat: BHSE, B22, the famous Objective2. To me they all sounded quite different, and the B22 and O2 sounded different in an otherwise same setup. So much so that I could easily identify one or the other.

    I've noticed quite a few Audio Objectivists dismiss tube amps (despite tubes themselves being more linear than transistors) and seem to have a bone to pick to "boutique audio." Whatever. These individuals all have personal agendas, whether it's to shill for a particular company or something less innocuous like being a Budget-Fi Super Hero, standing up for the consumer, blah blah. We *all* have agendas and reasons behind doing what we do, the important thing is to recognize and be up front about them.

    "I don't have an agenda." "This analysis is free of bias"

    Phrases like this should be red flags for everyone.
    Those working with data who say data can't be biased especially need to be careful, because while data itself might not be biased, how we look at the data (not to mention how we obtained it, how we interpret it, etc) most certainly can be.

    Ok uh... sources. Those are pretty important too. I'm more of a turntable person myself, and of all the components in an audio chain, I find that turntables give you the most sonic gain for money spent. The apex for diminishing returns is higher too in my experience.

    Really though, so many audiophiles seem to forget about THE most important parts of the chain: what's at ether end. No, I don't mean file formats lmao. I mean the actual recording itself for one. What's the point of having a lossless file of a recording that sounds like shit regardless?

    The other is your state of mind, how hungry you are for some damned good music.
     
  2. AudioThief

    AudioThief Acquaintance

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    Thank you for a magnificent post MuppetFace. If you spent under 2 hours writing that post you should be a professional writer.

    Anyways, this thread is called ask muppetface stuff so I will keep firing. I own the TH 900 and thats probably very likely your fault. I love them dearly, especially after upgrading my amplifier, but if there is one thing I've found its that people generally hate the TH 900s, both here on SBAF, but also on other internet forums such as reddit and to a certain extent head-fi, but at least there is a frequented support thread there.

    I have read your TH 900 review from head fi many many times. I think you nailed it. But it seems that very few people actually hold them in this regard. Just here on sbaf someone told me that the th-x00 and the hd650 were superior headphones in more or less all regards..I'm getting real bummed out because I'm just not hearing the same. And I can't help but notice that you put them in the "fun sounding" category, somewhat placing them outside of the playpin of "real audiophile headphones" - do you believe the TH 900 to not be a serious headphone?

    As I said, I really do hold the TH 900 in high regard, my impressions being very in line with your original review back in 2012 over at headfi. It does have some small, mostly a somewhat recessed midrange and a bit too aggressive treble through the wrong amp - but I think it brings a lot of great and unique aspects to the sound.

    So yeah.. TH 900 review, revised edition from MuppetFace in a few lines? Would be much appreciated.
     
  3. Senorx12562

    Senorx12562 Case of the mondays

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    MF, thank you for taking the time and having the balls, so to speak, to start this thread. You are an interesting person and I like your writing style. I can't say whether you should restart your blog, but I can tell you that I would read it, and most likely enjoy it. And I think you should start without any set topic breakdown, just write about whatever has a hold on you when you sit down to write. Gear? Great. Music? Perfect. Curling? Ok. Your personality and writing ability will do the rest. My only question for you is whether you wrote a review of a $1000 all-in-one portable turntable for an online personal audio website a couple years ago. Was that you? There, a question. Thank you for giving of yourself. Cheers.
     
  4. Thad E Ginathom

    Thad E Ginathom Friend

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    I'd love to be on of those, but I left it far too late to start.

    Anyway, those guys either have a lot of luck, spend more than anyone else finding the cheap stuff that is amazing, or are just inverted audiophool price-tag snobs. Oh wait... number two there could actually be fun, and probably all of us do a bit of that.
     
  5. %20 Oddity

    %20 Oddity Friend

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    So which Muppet's face r u?

    Don't say Rizzo, though, that's the easy way out.
     
  6. Deep Funk

    Deep Funk Deep thoughts - Friend

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    Okay, what is your bias against rats (except that they can spread the plage)?

    [​IMG]

    What has "Rizzo" done to you?
     
  7. %20 Oddity

    %20 Oddity Friend

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    They're just a way too obvious of a choice in Romy's situation!

    e: I DON'T LOOK LIKE A FROG vvv
     
    Last edited: Aug 3, 2017
  8. MuppetFace

    MuppetFace Sultana of Seafoam Green - Moderator

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    Thanks for your kind words. I'm actually something of a professional writer. At least that's what I tell myself. Perhaps a more appropriate way of putting it would be: I do a lot of writing as part of what I do for a living.

    I mostly stand by my opinion back then of the TH900. Not much has changed.
    The mids sound lush and organic, with a certainly lively quality that I find a bit intoxicating.
    The bass is clean and definitely on the fuller side. They aren't quite the "bass monsters" to me that they are to some folks around here, but I understand where such views are coming from, sure. The TH900 is a fun sounding headphone which comes close in some respects to being a legitimate reference headphone, though they never quite reach that cusp, as they seem to prioritize emotional response over all out accuracy. They give you the ol' rose colored glasses as apposed to being windows unto music. Imaging is above average, and there's a nice tactile sense to the textures around you.

    Biggest drawbacks for me are midrange "suckout" that never really bothered me as much as the LCD-X or the closed version of them, but is still nonetheless present---quite noticeably---on some tracks. Highs could be smoother and more refined. In fact it's the upper frequencies that fatigue me the most over time with the TH900.

    I ended up selling most of my headphone collection a few years ago, especially my more exotic dynamic sets. This included my mk1 TH900 along with the Zana Deux SE amp from Eddie Current. The two made a fine pair. I still find myself missing the two from time to time, and I've considered buying the mk2 version of the TH900 several times in the past.

    And let's give credit where credit is due: few headphones are as "sexy" as the TH900. The metallic red finish reminds me of the Alfa Romeo 8C. In fact these headphones do as a whole: not really earth shattering in performance, but a work of art that is almost iconic in its beauty.


    I don't think so? I will say however that I've done quite a bit of ghost writing. So it's quite possible you've read something I've written. Or not. :p


    %20 Oddity is mainly referring to the fact that I kinda look like a rat IRL. It's sort of an inside joke I guess: I've got buck teeth and pointy features, I'm really scrawny, etc.

    It's okay tho cuz Sylwia looks like a frog. :cool:
     
  9. mobiux

    mobiux New

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    I followed your old blog about music and loved it. If you could add headphones into that was well it would be even better. Maybe some of the more obscure and unorthodox headphones. Those are always cool to hear about.
     
  10. D2Girls

    D2Girls Do not trust until 2021

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    hiya just saying hi. why isn't everyone as nice as you, muppet?
     
  11. AudioThief

    AudioThief Acquaintance

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    Did this thread die? :(

    MuppetFace. I am looking at getting a new high end set of headphones. My current inventory is

    th 900
    jvc hp dx1000
    hd650
    denon ah-d5000

    Now, what I am looking for is a very detailed pair of headphone (TH 900 range) that specializes in mids/treble. I have been looking at the Audio Technica W5000, LCD-2 - do you have any recommendtions?

    Thank you!
     
  12. MuppetFace

    MuppetFace Sultana of Seafoam Green - Moderator

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    The first thing that comes to mind when I see “very detailed” and “treble” is the Sennheiser HD800. It’s still pretty much a standard choice for those looking for as much detail as possible. Keeping in mind that it tends to be picky about upstream gear.

    Focal Utopia is a good choice too (tho it has a specific kind of timbre).

    The Stax Lambda lineup old and new would be worth a look if you don’t mind investing in the dedicated amplifier; very different kind of presentation quite unlike other headphones.

    Pretty much all the infamous midrange and treble emphasised headphones have a definite coloration: Audio-Technica, older Sony, AKG, Grado, etc.
     
  13. drgumbybrain

    drgumbybrain Science Nut

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    Hello Muppet
    Very interesting thread! You writing is very enjoyable. Congrats.
    I have hd 800 and focal utopia. Was wondering if the low budget stax line worth a try.
    I think the l300 with amp retail for 900 dollars. Do you think it is a side grade?
     
  14. AudioThief

    AudioThief Acquaintance

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    Muppetface!

    Stax SRS-3100 for 599$ used, do I buy or not? I've never heard any electrostats before.

    I need your opinion on this matter : O
     
  15. MuppetFace

    MuppetFace Sultana of Seafoam Green - Moderator

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    I am always a bit hesitant when people ask me how they should spend their money! For instance if you end up hating the Stax sound, I would kinda feel bad you know? However I will say that I feel everyone should have a chance to hear what e-stats sound like if possible. Like trying Pepsi if you have only ever had Coke lmao.

    My partner visited an audio show in her native home of Poland, and right away I got a text about how much she liked the Stax. Specifically it was the L300 model she fell in love with, so much so that she even preferred it to the more expensive L500 system. I’m not sure if she heard the L700 or not, but for her she most liked the entry level model and the highest end model (SR-009) the most. So as a birthday present I got her the SRS 3100 package which has the L300 model headphones and a small, very basic amp, SRM-252, which will work nicely with any of the newer (“pro bias”) Lambdas.

    I would say the SRS 3100 is a great way to go if you are a newcomer to e-stats. The alternative is to look for older gear, which you need to be patient for: in days gone by you could get amazing deals, but flippers and scammers nowadays have caught on to the vintage headphone craze and want to sell some of this stuff for waaaaaaay too much money. So be careful.

    @AudioThief
    That sounds like a good deal if the condition is very good. Are they like new? You can sometimes find brand new sets on sale for discounted prices, so I’d only go for it if they seem very lightly used.

    @David De Lucena
    The L300 gives you a taste of what Stax are like. It performs extremely well for the money, but will it compete with the Utopia? I don’t think so. Instead you might want to look to the L700 and try to find a good deal on an older, bigger amp like a used 313. I think this combo will be more impressive to someone with a Utopia.

    Alternatively you can try the older Stax Lambdas, like the Pro or Signature, which hold up really well over time. You’d save money this way, and if you end up really liking them, you can always go for the high end Stax later. The SR-007 and SR-009 are definitely more in Utopia territory.
     
  16. wormcycle

    wormcycle Friend

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    Nice to read something like that, in Poland I grew up there was no audio industry of any kind. You could buy two models of turntables: cheap one and expensive one and they were pretty much the same quality, made in the state owned factory. The same applied to everything else including Asian food. To get sweet and sour soup you would have to get a passport and drive to West Berlin. After communism collapsed the audio industry exploded, I was not surprised by the fact that a lot of stuff become available but how much demand it was and how much money people were spending. Sorry for a digression but it just caught my attention.
     
  17. AvijitS25

    AvijitS25 Acquaintance

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    I am in a bind and was hoping you or anyone could help. I am trying to sell my PHA-3 for around 500-550Cad, I prefer to have a DAP just for convenience. So far the options I have are A ZX1(with a dent on the top) +150 cad, or an Ak100ii(not sure yet if it is a straight trade or not yet). I am still not sure if I should just hold out and get the money and buy ZX2/zx100/zx300. Thanks
     
  18. Dash

    Dash Friend

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    Just fyi, I bought a zx100 open box from beach camera for $ 250 shipped.
     
  19. %20 Oddity

    %20 Oddity Friend

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    Aw come on. We had Telefunken clones... Fonomaster clones... Deltas... ......Fonicas? If ya wanna count them? We hit the stride of acceptable turntables after we started buying licenses from Germany, pricing aside.

    [​IMG]

    I mean the 60s has the amazingly shitty Unitra Bambino series. All with the very dreadful plastic tonearm and a crosley design. I once bored Muppy for an hour talking about the Turntable Thought Of The Communist Poland, cuz I find the technical solutions made in a locked up country kinda amazing. Could redo that in a post if anyone wants!

    It might be caused by the synchronic music playing on all headphones, so it'd take me over an hour each with precise timing to hear them all correctly... but I still maintain that the L500 has some really boosted treble and it bothers me a lot, especially with the Staxesque clarity on hand. Supposedly it's a repurposed 507 driver, but... eh. Who knows?
    The L700 was a good set, beating up the L300 in bass extension with both hands behind its back. But there's something insanely satisfying about the... airness and soundstage of the L300 that the L700's new "009 technology using driver" didn't quite replicate? The next Warsaw Audio Video Show starts on Friday, stay tuned!
     
    Last edited: Nov 11, 2017
  20. AudioThief

    AudioThief Acquaintance

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    @MuppetFace

    thank you very much for the fast response. I think its "as new" but we'll see. Because of import taxes and few stores holding these, I think getting them on any kind of offer is pretty unrealistic, so I'll have to get them used.. which is pretty rare as well (only 5 million people in this country)

    So on the used market right now, within my budget, there are

    LCD 2.2F
    Focal Elear
    Stax L300 + the energizer

    I'm not sure which one is "best".. Obviously it depends on my tastes.. Well, I am pretty much satisfied in terms of what I "need" - I love my TH 900, HPDX1000, D5K and HD650. But I guess I would love something with the clarity of the TH 900, but a bit more well behaved. Or just something that will sound unique and give me a new perspective on all the music I love.

    I'm leaning towards the electrostat... Elear as far as I've heard does a lot of the tihngs the TH 900 does i.e fast and dynamic.. So maybe they would be too similar? LCD 2 I hear is comparable to HD650, which I have.. ? But others say they are vastly superior to the senns. Stax seems the most unique and exciting, but I am not sure..

    Which one of those do you think is the best purchase for me? I listen to literally everything, TH 900 is my favorite cans right now.
     

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