The All Purpose Advice Thread

So I am looking at upgrading my DAC, I have been reading quite a bit and I really like what I see about R2R DACs, but I don't really know what models that are worth getting, I already own a Bifrost Multibit it is okay nothing too special and a bit too warm for my liking.
So what will it be hooked up to? Well I am going to use it for both speakers and headphones, my speaker amp is a Hegel H80 with a dead DAC in it (it was super cheap because of that) and my speakers are the Martin logan Motion 15's, my headphone amp is a corda classic FF and a Feliks audio elise and my headphones are HD 800, srh 1540 and HE 500's.
I have tried the Gungnir Multibit, but it is a tiny bit too warm for me, but other than that I really liked it.
I need to be able to get the DAC inside EU and I can max pay 1600€ for it.

 

I'm surprised that you felt the Gungnir Multibit was too warm. What was the associated gear when you auditioned it?

 

@Hifi-Freak , you might try the Metrum Acoustics Amethyst. @Hands has posted some impressions of it.

 

I tried it with the gear I listed and then a friends K612, HD600 and HE 560's. everything hooked up to the corda classic FF

 

Can anyone please recommend me an all-in-one AMP/DAC for my HD650 and Fostex TH-X00?

My budget is around £400, I'd prefer solid state if possible and of course easily available in the UK.

The Jot with DAC module looks nice but it's so expensive in the EU. In the US it's £378.75 with DAC module, from Schiit EU it's £520! Not quite sure where they get their pricing from.

 

I am looking to possibly get a ToTL-ish IEM as a treat to myself. As someone who is away from home for work at least 2-3 weeks per month, I use them a lot. Currently I have an Etymotic ER-4XR that gets most of my use and I do like it, had the ER-4p w/ S cable before that. I don't like to carry a lot of electronics around so I play them straight out of a Pixel XL phone which sounds fine to me, and I never need to go about 60% volume on it. It has a 4.8 ohms output impedance though. Budget up to $1200. Also I'm listening to V2 VBR MP3's and/or spotify streaming, but I can't distinguish from lossless wav in ABX with my gear.

Considering either an Andromeda, UERR, or Perfect Seal Deca. I'm kind of leaning toward the Deca honestly, because it's 40 ohm impedance seems like it would work better with the 4.8 ohm output, although I've been reading about how some of you prefer the Andromeda with high impedance sources. I realize the last two are Ciem's, which isn't something I've tried before, but would be willing to do.

I was also looking to perhaps try a Dynamic Driver IEM to see if it's something I'd prefer, but can't really identify any good ones aside from the senn ie800, which doesn't seem highly regarded. Thought about the Periodic Beryllium but they're very new and still a bit unkown.

Thanks in advance.

 

Based off your signature, if you want to try dynamic drivers you can try the MG5 HX from FutureSonics. The MG6 is more fun sounding.

I liked the Andro out of a Lehmann buffer clone, which has ~5 OI, but even with similar OI sources can sound different IMO. UERR is darker than Andro out of low (>1 OI) so it should be even darker out of ~5 OI, just FYI. (Andro becomes 'brighter' with higher OI.)

 

If I have ie800s and enjoy the sound signature a lot (though admit the bass isn't all that precise) what iems above that would I enjoy?

What are SBAF's best regarded iems? I've been reading through a lot of different threads and mostly see the andromedas coming up again and again.

What about Noble geear or something? Opinions seem mixed.

Thanks in advance.

Oh and about customs innerfidelity seems to love the JH13Pro? Sorry I'm a bit under read on these, focus far more on over ear.

 

Has anyone tried both Bottlehead Crack+Speedball and LHLabs GO2A Balanced Mode with HD600/650? I enjoy listening GO2A+HD600 combo but have not tried Crack+Speedball with HD600 and many people says that it is the best combo under $1000. Not sure how much I am missing by sticking with Go2A balanced mode instead of BH option.... Any comment would be greatly appreciated.

 

Some random suggestions:
Grace M9xx
Chord Mojo
you could also find an older Meier or Violectric amp with a built-in dac

 

Probably because UK customs charge 20% VAT on top when importing goods + shipping and handling?
Edit: 3.7% Duties + 20% VAT + international Shipping & Handling to UK..

 

You might want to audition one of those Soekris commercial dacs that are soon to be released.
Diy version that I have is less warm than Yggdrasil (which I feel has some artificial warmth in mid-high bass), that in turn is considered less warm than Gungnir Multibit.

 

Hi all!

Looking for a new DAC to complement my system. Pared down my headphones to the Fostex X-00 Ebonies plus an incoming pair of IEMs (not sure what yet), and I'm using a Fostex HP-V1 portable tube amp purchased from one of the excellent members here. I have an iFi Micro iDSD (not the BL version), whose DAC I find a bit too warm when paired with my current rig. Also starting to hear treble weirdness another member said came with the PCM1793 chips, but could be power of suggestion. Gah.

I'm tempted to pick up a Fostex DAC as a joke just so I can say I'm a Fostex fanboy (not really), but in all seriousness I'm considering either an LH Labs GO2A or the well-regarded Schiit Modi Multibit. I'm hoping to balance the system out to something with a slightly dark, relaxing tilt, but with as much low-level detail as my budget can afford (~$300 or less? Grad school is a pain in the wallet). I'm also more than happy to abstain from buying anything at all if the DACs I'm considering are more side-grades to the Micro iDSD than proper upgrades; I'll probably just pinch my pennies until I can afford a used Gungnir Multibit in a couple years (or whatever is best value at that price point then), haha.

Form factor/transportability is not a concern, but I'll admit I'd prefer one that runs off USB and has an internal power supply since I've got way too many power cables for my liking taking up listening space. Yes, living quarters are somewhat cramped.


Cheers,

Kevin

 

I have seen those, but there is no real info about them from people who have heard them and I don't want to blindly buy anything that doesn't have a review of some sort, hell just buying blindly is a bit "scary", plus I don't really need the headphone outputs. Though I will keep it in mind, thanks

 

There are also the Denafrips R2R series that should be reaching SBAF'er hands soon for reviews.

 

I tend to have good seals with universals so I don't mind.

Idk I'm struggling with which sound sig I want. The ie800s I find very fun to listen to (I know theyre super not reference) but I also like reference sound as I have HD800sdrs currently and a Utopia on the way.

All my headphones are dynamics right now which I enjoy. Though I don't have a ton of experience otherwise.

 

https://www.amazon.com/FOSTEX-converter-headphone-amplifier-HP-A4BL/dp/B019VTXPBQ