darmok
Last Activity:
Jun 30, 2025 at 4:38 PM
Joined:
Mar 19, 2023
Messages:
267
Trophy Points:
93
Positive ratings received:
1,178
Neutral ratings received:
3
Negative ratings received:
2

Post Ratings

Received: Given:
Like 1,044 146
Dislike 1 1
Respectfully Disagree 3 3
heart 18 12
Miss Information 1 1
Epic 33 32
Agreed, ditto, +1 83 34

Followers 2

Gender:
Male
Location:
Tree Town

Share This Page

darmok

Almost "Made", Male, from Tree Town

Contributor

Why are my speakers distorting?! Frantic cable and component swapping ensues, during which I eliminate all possible causes except for... Jun 30, 2025 at 3:56 PM

darmok was last seen:
Viewing forum list, Jun 30, 2025 at 4:38 PM
    1. darmok
      darmok
      Why are my speakers distorting?! Frantic cable and component swapping ensues, during which I eliminate all possible causes except for...
      1. darmok
        darmok
        ... you guessed it: the recording. Goddamnit, LSO Live, would you please hire a real recording engineer for once?
        Jun 30, 2025 at 3:57 PM
      2. Gazny
        Gazny
        The crux of good sound, bad sound!
        Jun 30, 2025 at 5:30 PM
    2. darmok
      darmok
      Well, I've more or less reproduced all of Schiit's Asgard X measurements on my unit. There's a very minor issue in high gain, but that's it.
      1. atomicbob likes this.
      2. View previous comments...
      3. darmok
        darmok
        Oh funny, I didn't hear hum, but the rest of that I agree with. Haven't tried MJ3 yet but this all has kinda put me off of it. I guess it's a good reminder that different isn't better and Pietus is still awesome.
        Jun 29, 2025 at 6:33 PM
      4. Lyander
        Lyander
        I'd argue that you might be doing more good to share these impressions in thread since only ever saying nice things about a product is a great way to lose sight of the ground. I remember you were much less enthused about the Magni Unity than I was (I mean it IS a Magni) and tbh I get it-- preferences account for a lot. Hell, some people prefer Spotify to YT Music :P
        Jun 30, 2025 at 8:50 AM
      5. RestoredSparda
        RestoredSparda
        Yeah, start a thread @darmok. I'll try to share some impressions as well. I forgot we don't have a thread for Asgard X yet.
        Jun 30, 2025 at 8:54 AM
        Biodegraded and Lyander like this.
    3. darmok
      darmok
      Mimir + TA-66 + DT 1990 OG is a really fantastic combo, if you’re into that sort of thing. The ZMF perf suede Beyer pads are also excellent.
      1. joch, Lyander and SofaSamuraiX like this.
      2. joch
        joch
        Is this the 250R version?
        Jun 26, 2025 at 11:22 PM
      3. ilikebananafudge_
        ilikebananafudge_
        What does "if you're into that sort of thing" mean in this context?
        Jun 27, 2025 at 6:36 AM
      4. darmok
        darmok
        @joch DT 1990 Pro OG was only 250R

        @ilikebananafudge_ ”if you can accept the brightness”. Not everyone likes Beyers…
        Jun 27, 2025 at 7:03 AM
        ilikebananafudge_ likes this.
    4. darmok
      darmok
      Day two of Asgard X: it’s perhaps a bit less congested after leaving it on, but still much more than Pietus, and the Mesh card still sucks.
      1. View previous comments...
      2. darmok
        darmok
        @schiit Back to back with Pietus, Jot 2, Vali 3, the Asgard X just seems to struggle. Everything’s there, but the relative balance of everything changes so quickly I can’t keep track and it just reduces to a wall of sound. e.g. when the guitars come back in Displaced at about 5:00, they just sound really flat and tin-can-ish on Asgard X.
        Jun 26, 2025 at 5:48 PM
        pure5152 likes this.
      3. darmok
        darmok
        @schiit Everything also sounds about 10x slower than it is on Asgard X, which is usually a side effect of a distortion profile I just don’t get along with. Again, this could be the intended tuning! I’m not passing judgement on that part since I’ve heard this kind of thing before and know some folks like it. I just don’t!
        Jun 26, 2025 at 5:49 PM
      4. darmok
        darmok
        @schiit So long story short, I’ll shoot an email over for a RMA, and if I decide not to swap it for another one, maybe I’ll see about transmogrifying it into a Valhalla 3 :-)
        Jun 26, 2025 at 5:50 PM
    5. darmok
      darmok
      Feeling like my desktop setups are becoming DAC bound. dac1421 is the best thing I’ve got; what’s the next level from there?
      1. View previous comments...
      2. penguins
        penguins
        wrt to bright lights on devices - have you tried just taping them over?
        Jun 25, 2025 at 8:35 PM
        Lyander likes this.
      3. darmok
        darmok
        @penguins oh yeah, I’ve got plenty of little bits of electrical tape on things. The annoyance I have with the Soekris DACs is that (a) it’s hard to get all the bleed around the LED numeral display and (b) if you’re using it as a headphone amp or preamp, you kinda need to see that sometimes, but it never times out!
        Jun 26, 2025 at 5:54 PM
      4. penguins
        penguins
        Wonder if there is a "update" that can be applied to the Soekris DACs for this (given that downloadable filters, they can be end user updated, etc). I have had a few Soekris DACs myself and the lights don't bother me, but they're definitely on the brighter side.
        Jun 26, 2025 at 8:23 PM
        joch likes this.
    6. darmok
      darmok
      Asgard X is hot stuff! Now I can really tell why it has that giant-ass heatsink.
      1. View previous comments...
      2. darmok
        darmok
        @pure5152 weirdly, I tend to hear differences right away, then as I spend more time listening I’ll talk myself out of it, then eventually I’ll relax and get back to less focused listening and hear all the things I originally heard again. Very rarely does my impression of a DAC change much in the end. Amps tend to be harder to pigeonhole, especially since it takes time to work through the DAC and headphone synergies.
        Jun 24, 2025 at 6:53 PM
        Lyander likes this.
      3. pure5152
        pure5152
        interesting! I think I'm the opposite, I tend to hear differences in amps more apparently but it can take some time for me to really get a grasp of certain dacs. of course I think it also depends on the character of the dacs/amps and such-- like I feel it's easier to feel the difference between rounded tube amps and neutral solid state amps, and also between non-schiit delta sigma amps and comboburrito filter dacs
        Jun 24, 2025 at 7:02 PM
      4. SofaSamuraiX
        SofaSamuraiX
        @darmok I agree with you, find it hard to believe it's close to Gungnir 2, the difference in hardware is too great. But it was in an Asgard X.
        Jun 25, 2025 at 4:09 AM
    7. darmok
      darmok
      (removed post with theory I just disproved)
      1. SofaSamuraiX likes this.
      2. View previous comments...
      3. Thad E Ginathom
        Thad E Ginathom
        But... It's fun being wrong!
        Jun 21, 2025
      4. darmok
        darmok
        Jun 21, 2025
        Thad E Ginathom likes this.
      5. Thad E Ginathom
        Thad E Ginathom
        Oh Good! :)
        Jun 22, 2025
    8. darmok
      darmok
      Decided to take a chance on the Shanling EH1 since the EC Zero T is pretty good. It’s nice! Smooth Cirrus sound but plenty of punch.
      1. View previous comments...
      2. darmok
        darmok
        @likearake My recommendation is the FiiO DM13. Outside of not handling pre-emphasis correctly (none of the new portables do) it’s the most consistent and the build is the best for a portable.
        Jun 23, 2025
        likearake likes this.
      3. darmok
        darmok
        EC Zero T has really nice but slippery glass hardware, and I’m still not certain whether I like the sound. The Moondrop is an OK alternative too, but it always sets the emphasis flag on S/PDIF which will cause some DACs to incorrectly apply de-emphasis. Just as a portable on its own, it’s fine too.
        Jun 23, 2025
        likearake likes this.
      4. likearake
        likearake
        Thanks! Really appreciate your thoughts.
        Jun 23, 2025
    9. darmok
      darmok
      Yay, more unnecessary Schiit on the way: Asgard X w/Mesh card and finally picked up a G-horn for the work desk, where I've got the RP-160Ms.
      1. View previous comments...
      2. pure5152
        pure5152
        nice-- I also have an Asgard X coming in (my silver one finally shipped). am excited to compare it with the magni unity, which I still feel is incredibly underrated here. I can post impressions but am hesitant because I use only the OAE1 nowadays, which doesn't seem to be well-loved here (but I still love for its holographic layered soundstage and natural tonal balance to me after brain burn-in)
        Jun 20, 2025
        ilikebananafudge_ and lerrens like this.
      3. darmok
        darmok
        @pure5152 Yup, I ordered silver too and mine also shipped today. I'm actually pretty curious about the OAE1; might have to try that out at some point!
        Jun 20, 2025
        pure5152 likes this.
      4. pure5152
        pure5152
        the oae1 is weird b/c the angled drivers cause a phase shift in the treble (it gets reflected from outer to inner ear, causing a timing delay)— as a result it sounds pretty muffled/muddy on first listen, but after the brain adapts it does start sounding more holographic and natural. the downside is once acclimated all other 90deg drivers start sounding flat/"off"— still worth a listen just to experience it I think!
        Jun 20, 2025
        lerrens likes this.
    10. darmok
      darmok
      Shanling EC Zero T: not quite sure all is forgiven from the disastrous EC Mini, but it's a real contender now
      1. neogeosnk likes this.
    11. darmok
      darmok
      Been a minute since I logged in. Not dead, just busy, and alas it’s easier to keep up with discords than separate forums.
      1. joch, Case, atomicbob and 1 other person like this.
    12. darmok
      darmok
      DSO last night was lightning in a bottle. Prokofiev 1st VC was pure fireworks and Shostakovich 10th was just brutal. Glad I could be there.
      1. darmok
      2. GanGreinke
        GanGreinke
        I grew up in their youth orchestra, working with members who are still there to this day. They really are a wonderful orchestra, and Orchestra Hall is an amazing concert hall!
        May 12, 2025
    13. darmok
      darmok
      Considering a spring-cleaning/moving sale. Would anyone be willing to sanity-check prices before I post? PM if so.
    14. darmok
      darmok
      Mimir wipes the floor with Modius straight from the SE outputs. If someone told me this was the new Bifrost I’d have believed them.
      1. FlySweep, Royaume, Azimuth and 5 others like this.
      2. View previous comments...
      3. joch
        joch
        @Qildail I'm on the same boat, too much Schiit

        @darmok Do you prefer the Mimir over the Modius E via transformers?
        Apr 28, 2025
      4. darmok
        darmok
        @joch I haven’t tried MImir with transformers yet, but I don’t really feel like I need to. Mimir is ahead in all aspects to Modius E + PI-2XX.
        Apr 29, 2025
        FlySweep likes this.
      5. FlySweep
        FlySweep
        Balanced out impressions? Let me know if I'll need a cigarette for after.
        May 1, 2025
    15. darmok
      darmok
      Thomas de Hartmann Rediscovered (Pentatone). Wow. Wow!
      1. zottel likes this.
      2. zonto
        zonto
        Pentatone is great. Easily one of my favorite classical labels.
        Apr 27, 2025
        darmok and zottel like this.
    16. darmok
      darmok
      I will never be able to make sense of what Schiit calls a new version (e.g. Saga 2, Gungnir 2) versus a new product (Kara, Mimir).
      1. Azimuth likes this.
      2. View previous comments...
      3. SofaSamuraiX
        SofaSamuraiX
        Product line advancement/refresh vs new product.
        Apr 25, 2025
      4. SofaSamuraiX
        SofaSamuraiX
        Unless that was rhetorical, if so, sorry for being gullible and interrupting!
        Apr 25, 2025
      5. Azimuth
        Azimuth
        It all started because the number 4 is not unlucky in some cultures. And that is why the + and the ++ and then just the name. It mostly is confusing on the used market because some just sell and list as a “Yggdrasil”and there are many versions now.
        Apr 26, 2025
    17. darmok
      darmok
      Holy Schiit! Insta-buy. Didn’t even read the FAQ first. Hope this thing supports USB volume or that @schiit can be cajoled into adding it.
      1. View previous comments...
      2. roderickvd
      3. darmok
        darmok
        @roderickvd drat. That response is both true and irrelevant: it doesn’t say why they chose not to implement it. Hopefully we’ll get more clarity or a firmware update at some point.
        Apr 25, 2025
      4. roderickvd
        roderickvd
        You see we’re teaming up there ;-) seems USB hardware volume control was not yet fully understood. And so perhaps not considered. Hope this helps.
        Apr 25, 2025
    18. darmok
      darmok
      The ability of iFi devices to more or less sound the same regardless of the source or power supply is underrated in my opinion.
      1. Biodegraded
        Biodegraded
        Nonetheless, they still want you to buy their USB conditioners and power supplies :) (but of course you can use those in front of non-iFi things too).
        Apr 20, 2025
        roderickvd, darmok and Lyander like this.
      2. Lyander
        Lyander
        Used to think I was deaf for struggling to differentiate but yeah, Thorsten did seem to do a great job with those units. Barring the need for greater power delivery it's kinda just a case of nervosa no?
        Apr 20, 2025
        darmok likes this.
    19. darmok
      darmok
      I’m curious about whether the Schiit guys have done any prototyping with Cirrus DACs. These dongles stomp all over Modi+ and Modius.
      1. Pocomo, Merrick and rhythmdevils like this.
      2. View previous comments...
      3. internethandle
        internethandle
        Probably not given the in-house development of their own delta-sigma solution.
        Apr 17, 2025
      4. Lyander
        Lyander
        @internethandle forgot about that, genuinely rather exciting to eventually try out. Still, wonder why they specifically went with ESS after the AKM shortage a while ago
        Apr 18, 2025
        darmok likes this.
      5. ColdsnapBry
        ColdsnapBry
        I much prefer Cirrus and Texas Instruments DACs over ESS stuff, it's just way more natural sounding.
        Apr 18, 2025
        roderickvd and darmok like this.
    20. darmok
      darmok
      Value gem: seller Clairmont Cable on eBay. No-nonsense headphone cables made from Gotham wire and Neutrik connectors. Exceptional sound.
      1. lithium, FlySweep, Qildail and 7 others like this.
  • Loading...
  • Loading...
  • About

    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Tree Town
    Honorary member of ORFAS