The All Purpose Advice Thread

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

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  1. muse

    muse Facebook Friend

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    Any suggestions as to where to get them? I've been scouring through Ebay and there are plenty of options but the price varies so drastically for similar named/labeled tubes, it means I'm either missing something, or that there are plenty of ripoffs in the making.
     
  2. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    1. What headphones are you using?
    2. Can you describe the nature of this distortion?
    No. Such a thing does not exist at any price.
     
  3. primetime877

    primetime877 New

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    Interesting. Would would you say is close, cheap as possible, I'm thinking around the Vali 2 price or maybe $50 more.

    I'm using the Audioquest Nighthawk, it's not distortion that is too bad but I do notice with the NH which have very low distortion levels that the Vali 2 can be a bit mushy, slightly higher distortion in the bass, I'm just looking for something that is cleaner, but also not harsh in the treble.
     
  4. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    At that price range, Magni 2 Uber. Clean, not harsh, natural highs (per your source). definitely tighter bass than Vali 2 (I agree with you that bass is on the mushy side with Val 2).
     
  5. trung225

    trung225 Facebook Friend

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    Hier is where I bought my 6N23P:
    http://www.ebay.de/itm/182016977966
     
  6. Noodlz

    Noodlz Almost "Made"

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    Question: (not sure if this is even the proper place to ask this...so forgive me if this seems like a dumb question)

    Can I use the Schiit Vali 2 as a Pre-amp for Microphones? I'm thinking of connecting a condenser mic to the vali 2 (Single 3pin XLR to RCA) and then from vali 2 out into an audio interface mic in (RCAs into 3pin XLR mic in). Or is this a terrible idea?
     
  7. Priidik

    Priidik MOT: Estelon

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    You probably need phantom power for your mic. Vali 2 does not give you that.
    Also gain is probably too low for mic amping. (usable as some sorta buffer perhaps)
     
  8. cskippy

    cskippy Creamy warmpoo

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    Terrible idea. I'm sure someone more qualified can give you the specifics as to why, but no where in the description of Vali 2 does it say MIC preamp.
     
  9. Armaegis

    Armaegis Friend

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    Mic preamps typically have 60+db of gain and much better noise figures, feeding into a high impedance load. Utterly different applications here.
     
  10. Noodlz

    Noodlz Almost "Made"

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    ah thanks for the advice guys. i was just wondering if i should give it a try instead of buying a tube pre-amp for my microphone, looks like i should just buy an actual mic pre instead.
     
  11. Armaegis

    Armaegis Friend

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    You can get an ART tube preamp for $20 if you snoop around.
     
  12. Noodlz

    Noodlz Almost "Made"

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    @Armaegis thanks~ was looking at that. might splurge and buy a GAP pre73 mk3 tho lol (might be overkill for my mxl v68g but from what i read its supposed to be pretty nice lol)
     
  13. Claritas

    Claritas Friend

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    A couple of ideas: You can borrow my Beresford Caiman II and see if you like it. Also, Zach might still have one of those cheap French NOS battery DACs and I'm sure he'd loan it. I haven't heard the new Bifrost yet, but I'd take either the Beresford or the Mousai over the old Bifrost Uber. I just found it really bland.
     
  14. Darsus

    Darsus Insatiable bowels - Member

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    Any expiriences with Chinese HD580/6X0 pads? Do they alter the sound very much?
     
  15. Hands

    Hands Overzealous Auto Flusher - Measurbator

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    Chinese pads can be fairly close. The pair I got wouldn't actually fit and stay in place on my HD650, but I know others have had good luck.
     
  16. Armaegis

    Armaegis Friend

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    Unless you're getting that GAP for a stupid good deal, I'd really consider spending the money on a mic first. You're into Neumann money at that point.
     
  17. Mystic

    Mystic Mystique's Spiritual Advisor

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    Has anyone heard the EMU-Teak? Should be comparable to the Fostex th600, thx00 and denon d5000.

    Massdrop has them for $450. Trying to decide if I should hop on them or wait for another thx00 drop.
     
  18. MrTie

    MrTie Friend

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    I'm at a bit of crossroads with too much gear and unsure as to what is going to be my best way forward.

    What I have:
    Cans:
    HD800(SDR mod)
    Dacs:
    Bifrost Uber
    Bifrost Multibit
    Amps:
    Valhalla 2
    Lyr 2

    Options A: Sell Valhalla and a Bifrost, buy a planar as a compliment to the HD800

    Option B: Sell Lyr and both Bifrosts, buy a Gungnir Multibit.

    Option C: Sell Lyr, Valhalla, and a Bifrost buy a Moljnir 2 or cinemag Torpedo III

    Option D: Sell lyr, val, Bifrost Multibit buy a black widow.

    Option E: Sell everything use my stx as DAC buy vali 2 and a better turntable.

    Opinions, other options?

    I really like the HD800, but I'll fully admit it's a cold analytical scalpel and even with EQ and mods there some of my music that just outright sounds bad on it. I'm really tapped out on my fun budget so if I went with high end DAC or high end Amp, it would be about a year before I could justify it's compliment. As far as my sonic preferences coming from the speaker world I am a detail and speed whore over natural mids, lushness, or romance.
     
  19. therealjay

    therealjay New

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    You could try rolling a warm tube in either of your amps. Might take the edge off and cost a whole let less then the other options. One thing I know for certain is changing the DAC isn't going to make the HD 800s any warmer by any appreciable amount.

    If you wanted to stick with the 800 for sure I'd imagine you could also go up to another amp. Something like a Bottlehead Crack might give you the sound you're looking for.
     
  20. Thujone

    Thujone Friend

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    @MrTie, I would go with Option B, personally. Then get some different tubes if you don't want the HD800's to sound as analytical, maybe something like the Amperex Orange Globes.
     
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