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ChaChaRealSmooth
Last Activity:
Jul 5, 2020 at 9:59 PM
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Gender:
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Birthday:
January 8
Location:
La Mirada, CA
Occupation:
Lifeguard

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ChaChaRealSmooth

SBAF Gearmaster, Male, from La Mirada, CA

Staff Member Friend

Trying to sift through the noise on HF to see if there's anything worth checking out for loaner is taxing and irritating. Jul 3, 2020 at 2:35 PM

ChaChaRealSmooth was last seen:
Jul 5, 2020 at 9:59 PM
    1. ChaChaRealSmooth
      ChaChaRealSmooth
      Trying to sift through the noise on HF to see if there's anything worth checking out for loaner is taxing and irritating.
      Jul 3, 2020 at 2:35 PM
      1. EagleWings, Jinxy245, Jerry and 1 other person like this.
      2. View previous comments...
      3. ChaChaRealSmooth
        ChaChaRealSmooth
        On the other hand, if we have on pretty good authority (and reason to believe) that it's legit, then we'd consider it.
        Jul 3, 2020 at 4:52 PM
      4. rlow
        rlow
        Vox I think may be FPGA delta sigma, but I could be misremembering that. I would agree that without a trusted ear having heard it, too much $$$ to gamble.
        Jul 3, 2020 at 4:56 PM
        ChaChaRealSmooth and monacelli like this.
      5. Gazny
        Gazny
        The NectarSound Headphone seems cool. Nectar Hive is a Electrostatic headphone seems cool that it is diy made in a garage. Seems pair with the Bottlehead electrostatic amp. Might be too niche as it isn't mainstream.
        Jul 3, 2020 at 10:29 PM
    2. ChaChaRealSmooth
      ChaChaRealSmooth
      Ballade No. 1 in G minor is the best song Chopin wrote. It's also too fucking hard to play.
      Jul 1, 2020 at 7:33 PM
      1. Jinxy245, Vtory and RobS like this.
    3. RobS
      RobS
      might be joining the matrix club soon bro
      Jun 30, 2020 at 8:35 PM
      1. Phantaminum, Claud and Vtory like this.
      2. View previous comments...
      3. RobS
        RobS
        Sounds like my next DAC lol. Thanks man! Do you think it might be a bad pairing with a Valhalla 2 and HD650 also? I'm gonna use this DAC mostly for speakers and was trying to find something really neutral
        Jun 30, 2020 at 11:26 PM
      4. RobS
        RobS
        Oh and does it lack warmth? I don't like warmth but also don't want sterile.
        Jun 30, 2020 at 11:27 PM
      5. ChaChaRealSmooth
        ChaChaRealSmooth
        Never heard Valhalla 2, but I think it will be a tremendously athletic pairing. Tonality is roughly on par with the Gungnir A2.
        Jun 30, 2020 at 11:30 PM
        RobS likes this.
    4. ChaChaRealSmooth
      ChaChaRealSmooth
      I still don't understand why people expect us to be a "serious" audiophile site. Just read our banner.
      Jun 29, 2020 at 2:56 PM
      1. Jinxy245, YMO and RatSalad like this.
      2. Deep Funk
        Deep Funk
        Because some members here have unobtainium audio gear. Thing is, if you know how to hunt and bargain you can get good deals. Niche hobbies...
        Jun 29, 2020 at 4:02 PM
      3. Pogo
        Pogo
        I beg to differ; this site offers a rational analysis of gear while maintaining a fine balance of WTF are you coming from? Vs reasonable discussions. Far more informative than other audio sites and far more entertaining. Good job to all on here, collectively it works.
        Jun 29, 2020 at 5:34 PM
      4. ChaChaRealSmooth
        ChaChaRealSmooth
        Don't get me wrong; SBAF should always be serious about good sound (and we always have been). But we're really like your local pub; we have regulars, we shitpost, and some people here have more say than others. Boohoo
        Jun 29, 2020 at 6:59 PM
        Jinxy245 likes this.
    5. ChaChaRealSmooth
      ChaChaRealSmooth
      Seems that THD+N needs to be rethought. I don't think it's completely useless, but that number alone tells me nothing.
      Jun 26, 2020
      1. atomicbob, Vtory and Lyander like this.
      2. View previous comments...
      3. E_Schaaf
        E_Schaaf
        Think an OG LA-2A compressor has good distortion measurements? Fuck no! But it'll make almost any dry vocal track sound better in the studio, I can almost guarantee that. Compression is something to re-think too, but audiophiles aren't ready to talk about that.
        Jun 26, 2020
        Vtory and ChaChaRealSmooth like this.
      4. Vtory
        Vtory
        "+N" part specifically useless. I don't like the idea of "Total", either.
        Ratio of H2 to H3 (or maybe extended to H4) is imho far more important indicator to me.

        Also power-induced harmonics (60n hz for integer n) typically make results unreadable without indicating much info.
        Jun 26, 2020
        ChaChaRealSmooth likes this.
      5. atomicbob
        atomicbob
        Jun 27, 2020
        Vtory likes this.
    6. ChaChaRealSmooth
      ChaChaRealSmooth
      LinusTechTips video on LCD-GX is....just awful. I learned literally nothing except that he uses a Schiit Hel.
      Jun 24, 2020
      1. RobS likes this.
      2. View previous comments...
      3. YMO
        YMO
        I like Linus when he sticks to PC stuff.
        Jun 24, 2020
      4. spwath
        spwath
        @EagleWings did that guy just review a pair of speakers never having seen or heard them before, using just a fr graph?
        Jun 24, 2020
        nithhoggr, Lyander and EagleWings like this.
      5. LetMeBeFrank
        LetMeBeFrank
        They don't have a real audio writer unfortunately.
        Jun 24, 2020
        Lyander likes this.
    7. ChaChaRealSmooth
      ChaChaRealSmooth
      Biggest lie: "just one more song"
      Jun 23, 2020
      1. Jinxy245, Deep Funk, MichaeLeroy and 4 others like this.
      2. Cspirou
        Cspirou
        The biggest lie is the cook time to caramelize onions in recipes
        Jun 23, 2020
      3. Elnrik
        Elnrik
        The biggest lie is when she says "I'll just be a minute".
        Jun 23, 2020
      4. Gaspasser
        Gaspasser
        If you get into vinyl it becomes: “just one more side”
        Jun 23, 2020
        JK47 and ChaChaRealSmooth like this.
    8. ChaChaRealSmooth
      ChaChaRealSmooth
      The Hypervolt is actually quite a good massage gun. I wouldn't pay full price for one, but it does work quite well.
      Jun 21, 2020
      2. YMO
        YMO
        *Google it* "Looks like a vibrator" Hehe
        Jun 22, 2020
    9. ChaChaRealSmooth
      ChaChaRealSmooth
      Very proud that my sister has received her masters and is now going to start work as an accountant at EY.
      Jun 19, 2020
      1. Claud, rtaylor76, Lyander and 15 others like this.
    10. ChaChaRealSmooth
      ChaChaRealSmooth
      I think the dog prefers the SR1a. Maybe it produces more ultrasonics that he likes?
      Jun 15, 2020
      1. Soups and Senorx12562 like this.
      2. M3NTAL
        M3NTAL
        They are loud as helk in a room. I'm sure they are capable of the upper extension, but would your source material have anything ultrasonic
        Jun 15, 2020
    11. ChaChaRealSmooth
      ChaChaRealSmooth
      One of those days where the system just clicks. I'm not crying, I promise.
      Jun 8, 2020
      1. Deep Funk, bixby, dubharmonic and 5 others like this.
      2. bixby
        bixby
        I get those days here in the Rockies occasionally, when our arrid climate gets some moisture. System always sound better north of 20% humidity.
        Jun 9, 2020
    12. ChaChaRealSmooth
      ChaChaRealSmooth
      Ordered all of Chopin's works + some of Liszt's works for the piano. Give me 5 years and I'll play them okay-ish.
      Jun 8, 2020
      1. Deep Funk, Jinxy245, sheldaze and 4 others like this.
      2. sheldaze
        sheldaze
        I don't think my hands are big enough to play all the Polonaises. You mentioned the Moonlight from Beethoven. A life-time goal for me might be to play each of the 32.
        Jun 8, 2020
        ChaChaRealSmooth likes this.
      3. ChaChaRealSmooth
        ChaChaRealSmooth
        I'm no great shakes at the piano; just enjoy playing and unfortunately Chopin is my favorite composer (his work is hard to play though). Still working on Moonlight (the 3rd movement is not easy).
        Jun 8, 2020
        sheldaze likes this.
    13. Claud
      Claud
      Good to hear that Cha Cha. Owning the Matrix is a great experience. No DAC envy.
      Jun 5, 2020
      2. rlow
        rlow
        Claud, to reply to a profile post, click the “Comment” link under the original profile post. Otherwise you look like you’re posting a brand new profile post on the other persons profile (and also starting a new post on the “New Profile Posts” page which is completely out of context). Using the “Comment” link is how I am posting this reply to your new profile message.
        Jun 5, 2020
        famish99, Claud, JK47 and 1 other person like this.
      3. Claud
        Claud
        Thank you rlow! A good day for me is a good dump and learning something new.
        Jun 5, 2020
        aamefford likes this.
    14. ChaChaRealSmooth
      ChaChaRealSmooth
      On the plus side, the X-Sabre Pro survived yet another expensive DAC showing up. No urge to change DACs.
      Jun 4, 2020
      1. atomicbob, Lyander, MrTeaRex and 3 others like this.
    15. Claud
      Claud
      So it ain't as quiet and musical as our Matrix DACs?
      Jun 3, 2020
      2. ChaChaRealSmooth
        ChaChaRealSmooth
        I wouldn't say that. In many ways, it's the antithesis of the X-Sabre Pro. Need to listen more though and going to give it another day to see if a second day of warming up changes anything.
        Jun 3, 2020
      3. ChaChaRealSmooth
        ChaChaRealSmooth
        But if you're talking about the USB sound, the XSP is light-years better.
        Jun 3, 2020
    16. ChaChaRealSmooth
      ChaChaRealSmooth
      Morpheus USB input is the worst-sounding one I've heard out of recent DACs. Just say no and use something else.
      Jun 3, 2020
      1. Vtory, sheldaze, rlow and 2 others like this.
      2. View previous comments...
      3. neogeosnk
        neogeosnk
        I concur, worse than $99 chifi stuff.
        Jun 3, 2020
        JK47 likes this.
      4. ChaChaRealSmooth
        ChaChaRealSmooth
        Obviously, I won't be listening to the USB for comparisons, but I'd say it's pretty inexcusable for something this expensive.
        Jun 3, 2020
      5. insidious meme
        insidious meme
        Ruh roh. Bad news for that Firegon guy.
        Jun 3, 2020
        rlow likes this.
    17. ChaChaRealSmooth
      ChaChaRealSmooth
      Someone explain to me how looting and destroying businesses (which is some families' livelihood) protests police brutality.
      Jun 1, 2020
      1. YMO, Deep Funk and pure5152 like this.
      2. View previous comments...
      3. Lyander
        Lyander
        Jun 1, 2020
        tommytakis and purr1n like this.
      4. YMO
        YMO
        @ChaChaRealSmooth Koreans never forget Koreantown after LA Riots. Can't trust the cops to protect your stores, so need to protect yourself. When I was a kid back in NYC a lot of Asians where with the White/Jews/Italian voters in getting Rudy as Mayor back in the 90s. The one story people don't want to talk about is the # of Asian leaning Conservatives, which it is very interesting to me.
        Jun 1, 2020
        crenca likes this.
      5. purr1n
        purr1n
        LeBron's an idiot. He'd see all Pacific Rim countries be vassals to China if he could make money off of it. I hope to see more people affected speak out - realizing what's at stake.
        Jun 1, 2020
        YMO likes this.
    18. ChaChaRealSmooth
      ChaChaRealSmooth
      Well, the LA riots have just turned personal for me and my family. Hope that everyone else is safe during these troubled times.
      May 31, 2020
      2. View previous comments...
      3. fp627
        fp627
        Ugh... so disappointing to hear. Hope all of you are safe.
        Jun 1, 2020
      4. crazychile
        crazychile
        After Proud Boys got arrested for being attacked by Antifa, they stopped showing up. Too bad. They were good at making Antifa think twice before attacking little old ladies.
        Jun 1, 2020
      5. boredpanda
        boredpanda
        So sorry to hear! I hope you and yours stay safe.
        Jun 2, 2020
    19. ChaChaRealSmooth
      ChaChaRealSmooth
      Thought: if the HD 6XX didn't exist, and the HD 650 still sold for $500 everywhere, would it still be considered good value?
      May 30, 2020
      1. Deep Funk likes this.
      2. View previous comments...
      3. ChaChaRealSmooth
        ChaChaRealSmooth
        I do think it might lead to a bit less idiocy regarding "HD 650 killers" because right now, it seems that many don't appreciate the HD 650 for what it is and see it as some entry-level can. That being said, it would be a hard sell at meets; the HD 650 sounds super underwhelming in meet conditions (stuff like Utopia or SR1a sounds super impressive).
        May 30, 2020
        Enigmatic, rott, Jinxy245 and 3 others like this.
      4. Deep Funk
        Deep Funk
        Yes. The 250-500 Dollars/Euros region is still a good place for headphone purgatory. Plenty of choice.
        May 31, 2020
      5. fp627
        fp627
        I don't use my 6xx much, but they're a good reference / tool in the tool box. For $500 though, it's a tool I could live without.
        May 31, 2020
    20. ChaChaRealSmooth
      ChaChaRealSmooth
      Thoroughly enjoying trying to learn the 3rd movement of Moonlight Sonata. Also, frustrating as heck.
      May 25, 2020
      1. Jinxy245, crenca, FallingObjects and 4 others like this.
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  • About

    Gender:
    Male
    Birthday:
    January 8
    Location:
    La Mirada, CA
    Occupation:
    Lifeguard
    Gear List:
    Circumaural Headphones:
    AKG K7XX
    Focal Clear (stolen by family)
    Focal Utopia
    Hifiman HE-560 V1
    Raal Requisite SR1a
    Sennheiser HD 599 (stolen by family)
    Sennheiser HD 600 (JAR mod)
    Sennheiser HD 6XX
    Thinksound On2
    Verum 1
    ZMF Auteur (cocobolo)
    ZMF Verite (cocobolo)

    IEMs:
    Drop x JVC HA-FDX1

    Headphone Amps:
    DNA Starlett
    Feliks Euforia
    Schiit Asgard 3
    Schiit Jotunheim R

    Speakers:
    Klipsch Heresy III

    Speaker Amps/Preamps:
    Feliks Euforia
    Schiit Aegir

    DACs:
    Matrix X-Sabre Pro MQA

    Turntables:
    Audio Technica AT-LP120
    Dancer, musician, audiophile, and an expert in all things I like. I don't actually know much about audio other than I like music.

    Main headphone rotation (no particular order):
    1. ZMF Verite
    2. ZMF Auteur
    3. Focal Utopia
    4. Raal Requisite SR1a

    Interact

    Content:

    Signature

    Dances chachacha IRL as smooth as he plays the piano, which is to say that both suck.