Gear you wish existed

I'd like a magic switching box that doesn't degrade the signal with multiple bal/se inputs and outputs that volume matches for easier listening comparison setup.

 

Yeah, later in the day after I posted that I kept thinking about it and then did a facepalm when I realized I'd basically described a mastering EQ hahaha. Part of me thinks picking up a used mastering EQ might be fun, and part of me thinks it's nervosa maxima.

 

Well, doing it analogue might be, just a bit, unless you were going to go for something like all-vintage kit. Doing EQ digital, in an imperfect world with imperfect ears and imperfect rooms, not to mention personal tastes, is not at all nervosa. I say... Bring back Tone Controls!

My Cyrus integrated amp has adjustable levels per channel for comfortable switching. I never really bothered, though.

Come to think of it, I think that the Sony amp I had in 1980-something did that too.

This is setting levels for comfort, though, not level matching in the for-serious-comparison sense. Wait... come to think of it, with added multimeter... Problem solved!

I wish... I'd thought of that when I was more seriously into comparing things

 

I wish there was actually a true successor to the Acoustic Research 3/3a. Quite flat response with smooth sound signature, great timbre and big bass in a reasonable sized box (basically a hd650 in speaker world). It's a shame that these days sealed box + big woofers combination is mostly replaced by slim, vented towers.

 

@Garns beat me to it. Three very fine analog PEQ. If using a media player that supports VST plugins, this is a digital implementation that sounds very very good:
https://dmgaudio.com/equick
It vies with my Z-SYS z-Q2 for sound quality.

 

Like. Like a lot... except, in practice, not being an engineer, I'll stick to my PC GUI EQ.

Damn, I didn't know that. I have two integrateds, both Cyrus. Balance control is available on both, but, on the more recent one, only using the remote,

 

this one comes close, doesn't have balanced inputs or outputs, uses relay switching:
http://avahifi.com/products/accessories/abx-comparator-switchbox

 

Better make sure you have the first before using the second. Maybe add virus check too!

A wire with gain is the absolute only acceptable amplifier model, and when achieved, they will all sound the same. That is my xenophobe/bat-shit-crazy/final solution all other audio opinions

Water, IPA, a drop of washing-up liquid and a microfibre cloth. Done. Oh wait... you want one of those fancy machines!

 

Contrary to this, I want manufacturers to focus less on small speakers and start selling big speakers with high efficiency 18" woofers in huge cabs for good bass quality, for less money than they currently do. I also think lots of manufacturers seem to base the price of their speakers too much on woofer size. Yes, bigger speakers are more expensive to make, store and sell, but I don't think it's fair to go from 10k to 20k for an upgrade from 10" to 12".

I think there are enough people who have the space and care more about sonics than speaker size and are fine with big woofers, as long as it doesn't break the bank. Subwoofers are dumb.

 

You realise that doing that properly requires doubling everything up internally, right? Effectively you need dual DACs inside to be fully balanced, unless you're doing some cheating trick with opamps or similar right at the output. It'd be great, but expect to pay for that sort of thing. An SE version of the guts from a Gungnir Multibit would give more of an audible improvement than a balanced set of Bifrost Multibit guts.

(Edit: Just saw you making noise about Mjo 2 elsewhere, that's one edge case where it'd help, of course.)

As to the colour options, read the Schiit diary on why they don't offer that as standard. The arguments have been had, and settled- however cool it would be to have.

 

Now all we need is an audio genie...

 

A single ended counterpart to the jotunheim with the same technicalities and magic but with a more sweet dark-neutralish tonal signature.

Or a schiit jotunheim with tone control.

Maybe a schiit high performance solid state amp with the ability to change the sound with tubes but not actually tubes.

And I would love schiit to release a budget digital transport with spidif out so it can input to the Modi Multibit.

 

An Ipod with TRRS/3.5mm jack, better DAC/amp and iTunes mobile that runs bit perfect stuff and hi res.

 

Massdrop HE-400s with Focus pads or equivalent and good Q/C for $169

 

They could easily do that. Too bad they did not because before I purchased the Fiio M3 I first checked Sansa's/Sandisk's products.

 

Room 'expanding' panels.

Thinking hard about getting a Genesis G7.2f, but plenty worried about the size of my room.

 

http://schiit.com/products/yggdrasil

 

With speakers, as well as headphones? (I ask because I am mostly concerned with digital having these qualities with speakers.)

 

Listening to Oasis right now.

I'd kill for this box.