The All Purpose Advice Thread

Discussion in 'Advice Threads' started by purr1n, Sep 26, 2015.

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  1. señorhifi

    señorhifi Friend

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    I have around 1000€ to blow on my first major upgrade in headphones, but I really need some advice with this. I know the entry level to mid-fi stuff more or less well, but nothing beyond that.

    Currently this is what I have: HD650 KISS, K712, FiiO K5 (less resolving than Magni3, but wider and warmer), Modi 3.

    I was thinking about picking up anything from this stuff:

    - Modius + Jot2 (+ save some budget which is always welcome, no need to blow it all)

    - Gungnir DS + Jot2 (would have to stretch quite a bit, will do if worth it over the option above)

    - Gungnir DS + Asgard3 (slight stretch, this might be a good middle ground, I can always get Jot2 later on)

    - Gungnir MB, but I will use it with my FiiO K5, until I get after some time a Jot2.

    - 2nd hand HD800 + Asgard3

    - 2nd hand Focal Clear Pro + Asgard3

    - new Focal Clear Pro, but I use it with the stuff I got
     
    Last edited: Jul 17, 2021
  2. Walderstorn

    Walderstorn Friend

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    Looking at all I had, and have, if I already owned the 600's/650's I would keep that pair, and get sw51 new/used and bifrost2 new/used (or whatever DAC sound u r looking for).

    Not only they do work very well together, even separated you would still be able to upgrade /sidegrade one of the ends and keep the other, or vice - versa.
     
  3. señorhifi

    señorhifi Friend

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    Yes, I think I will keep the headphones (def keeping HD650KISS forever). The previous post is too diffused, I was thinking out load there. I will narrow it down to:

    - Modius + Jot2
    - Gungnir DS + Jot2
    - Gungnir MB (+ a purchase of Jot2 in a year or so)
    - open to whatever you wanna suggest

    The headphones, I will pass. I won't like them based on the FR alone. Maybe Focal Clear, but that one IMO seems to be a bit redundant with the HD650KISS around.

    I think the real question I have is the silence on SBAF around the Gungnir DS. Is it a bad DAC? Maybe it's just not worth it with the Modius and the Gungnir MB around? If Gungnir DS barely is any better than the Modius, I will just get Modius and save a lot of money.

    I don't know guys, what do you think?
     
  4. dasman66

    dasman66 Self proclaimed lazy ass - friend

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    I don't think its considered a bad DAC, but it seems that most think the Bitfrost is very similar and a much better bang for the buck. The bitfrost somewhat cannibalizes gungnir sales.

    Personally, I would do a Bitfrost/SW51+ or Bitfrost/Jot2 if you want solid state
     
  5. jnak00

    jnak00 Friend

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    I agree. This is what I currently have - Bifrost 2 and SW51+/Jot 2. Both amps are great in their own ways.
     
  6. shuto

    shuto Acquaintance

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    I need to get a longer power cable for my Jotunheim 2 - something around 10-12 feet. Is there anything in particular I should consider, that aren't too expensive? I have a basic 12 foot one I bought last year, but wasn't sure if there's a risk in using a potentially inferior cable.
     
  7. Metro

    Metro Friend

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    It won't make any difference for a low power component like Jotunheim. If you want to obsess over it, you can get an inexpensive hospital grade or heavy gauge (14AWG) power cord from Monoprice:
    https://www.monoprice.com/product?p_id=27283
    https://www.monoprice.com/product?p_id=5292
     
  8. Luckbad

    Luckbad Traded in a unicorn for a Corolla

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    Resurrecting myself to ask a question. Also, hey! I avoid forums of basically any type now...

    Anyway, we're going to be going back to the office soon.

    I need a transportable dac/amp or dap for IEMs. They're not super sensitive.

    If it's a DAP, it needs to support Tidal.

    If it's not a DAP, it just needs to be easy to transport between work and home and have good USB.

    Looking for something that is bang for the buck. Smooth, clean. No digital nasties. No grain. Doesn't have to be top tier in terms of micro stuff as I'll mostly be listening to electronic music via dark IEMs while I work. Real Music tends to be for night time listening at home.

    Thanks!

    EDIT: My own research currently has an LG V60 phone as a frontrunner even if I can't use it on Google Fi.
     
  9. That St Kilda Guy

    That St Kilda Guy Acquaintance

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    I like advice on new Senns please.
    I have the following phones.
    Focal Clear Professional, Audeze LCD-2 Fazor, Senn HD650, Beyer DT880 600 Ohm, Philips X2HR.
    I purchased my Sennheiser HD650's back in 2003/4, but I can't really remember. I guess you could call them vintage!
    When the pads died on them, I replaced them with Dekoni Velours.
    I'm interested in an updated Sennheiser HD pair and I know there are many options out now including Drops varieties.
    Suggestions would be appreciated on 600/6xx/58x/660 or new 650's
     
  10. ChaChaRealSmooth

    ChaChaRealSmooth SBAF's Mr. Bean

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    My advice is just to get new Sennheiser pads (personally I think the Dekoni pads suck for Senns) for your HD650.

    If you can snag them, the @ext1 modded JAR Sennheisers are worth checking out, although it should be noted that the JAR stuff isn't really a new idea; more like a bunch of mods that are known to work (mass-loading the driver, playing with the front/rear damping).

    Both the HD660 and HD58x are going to be slightly worse and different-sounding.
     
  11. Beefy

    Beefy Friend

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    My @AudiophileNinja cable arrived yesterday. Love the custom box and clever swag inclusion. But most importantly, the cable is really nice for the price! Same thickness as the stock cable, but much better handling and length. No apparent sonic change, and I can actually coil the cable when I'm not listening, whodathunkit? Highly recommended.

    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
     
  12. señorhifi

    señorhifi Friend

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    What would be the best headphone amp you heard, at around 300-600$, that sounds the most 3D (widest stage, combined with depth and good imaging)? I am inclined to say Valhalla2 maybe? Anything non-Schiit to consider?
     
  13. yotacowboy

    yotacowboy McRibs Kind of Guy

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    uhh, SW51+.
     
  14. señorhifi

    señorhifi Friend

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    Do you know of anything that is not a tube amp, that still manages to have depth, width, imaging? Also seems like the SW51 is kinda hard to buy (bummer because many recommended it to me).
     
  15. yotacowboy

    yotacowboy McRibs Kind of Guy

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    I think he's still open to orders:

    http://www.z-ampo.tech/head-amp-shortest-way

    otherwise, a somewhat distant second for me in my setup was Jot2. It doesn't do any of the tube majiks that SW51 does, but gets a lot of the technicalities right. What it misses out on is purity in tone and convincingness.
     
  16. señorhifi

    señorhifi Friend

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    How about the iFi Zen Dac? A friend here (can't remember his name) said he prefered the iFi to the Modi3 over USB. It's also small and has a build in headphone amp (underpowered, but might be ok for IEMs). It also uses BB chips which AFAIK, are know to have less digital nasties. IDK, I would consider it for portable(ish) use.
     
  17. Senorx12562

    Senorx12562 Case of the mondays

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    Are you looking for a dac, a hp amp, or both? You're kind of all over the place.
     
  18. RedFuneral

    RedFuneral Facebook Friend

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    Is it possible to set Windows to automatically adjust samplerate based on what's playing so I can bounce between music, games, and my browser without it performing conversion?
     
  19. señorhifi

    señorhifi Friend

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    Nah that's it, I think I am set on what to get. I will try to go for a slight step up from what I have right now with Modius and Jot2. SW51 is on the radar as well. BTW when I mentioned the Ifi Zen Dac, that was just in response to Luckbad's post. I suggested it to him (reading through it now, it sounds like I am asking for myself).

    I will shut up now, make a purchase and listen :D Thanks for all the suggestions (especially SW51, it wasn't even on my radar until now).
     
    Last edited: Jul 21, 2021
  20. EagleWings

    EagleWings Friend

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    Only have experience with Zen Dac Sig and not the Zen DAC V2. Zen DAC Sig has better tone and timbre than the Modius. Modius is not a bad option if you listen to synth/electronic/house type music.
     
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