Merrick
Last Activity:
Mar 25, 2023 at 6:35 AM
Joined:
Jan 6, 2016
Messages:
3,445
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113
Positive ratings received:
11,968
Neutral ratings received:
10
Negative ratings received:
15

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Received: Given:
Like 11,468 9,395
Dislike 13 18
Respectfully Disagree 10 5
heart 0 1
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Epic 281 459
Agreed, ditto, +1 219 181
Gender:
Male
Location:
Portland, OR

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Merrick

A lidless ear, Male, from Portland, OR

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Holy shit the Darlington phonos are FANTASTIC Mar 10, 2023

Merrick was last seen:
Viewing latest content, Mar 25, 2023 at 6:35 AM
    1. Merrick
      Merrick
      Holy shit the Darlington phonos are FANTASTIC
      1. View previous comments...
      2. Merrick
        Merrick
        @JK47 @MellowVelo Currently borrowing an MM-6 while I wait for my MP-7 order to arrive. I ordered on a while back but canceled and took a detour for a bit with the Tavish Adagio.
        Mar 11, 2023
        MellowVelo likes this.
      3. MellowVelo
        MellowVelo
        Glad to hear you’re back in the queue for the MP-7. How was the Tavish?
        Mar 11, 2023
      4. Merrick
        Merrick
        @MellowVelo It was good! Very liquid presentation. I wrote up more about it in the Tavish thread.
        Mar 11, 2023
        MellowVelo likes this.
    2. Merrick
      Merrick
      The feeling when you add a piece of gear to your system that you know you'll want to use forever. Nagaoka MP-500, welcome to the family!
      1. Entropy, MellowVelo, Qildail and 14 others like this.
      2. JayC
        JayC
        Congrats! I thought about this one for a long time too as an upgrade from the MP110 but decided that I want to try MC (AT33PTG/II).

        I’ll always be curious though..
        Mar 9, 2023
        Merrick likes this.
      3. Merrick
        Merrick
        @JayC I have an AT33ML/OCC, which I believe is the predecessor to yours. I prefer the Nagaoka personally but they’re both great.
        Mar 10, 2023
      4. JayC
        JayC
        Thats interesting! Would be nice to hear more about the comparison. There isnt enough analog content here so it would be a really nice addition to the cartridge thread..

        The prices of turntables and elements have gone crazy in the last 2 years though.. I remember looking at the MP500 for ~550 euro and now its 899! Heck, my clearaudio concept was 1300 back then and its now 1750
        Mar 10, 2023
    3. Merrick
      Merrick
      Ahh, CFA Vega. Hello again, old friend. Falling in love all over again.
      1. Cryptowolf, Sqveak, joch and 5 others like this.
      2. Merrick
        Merrick
        I was a fool to ever let these go.
        Feb 28, 2023
        Cryptowolf likes this.
      3. jexby
        jexby
        Black housing or white (sorry meant silver) ?
        Feb 28, 2023
        Cryptowolf likes this.
      4. Merrick
        Merrick
        @jexby Silver, the original Vega.
        Feb 28, 2023
        Cryptowolf, Gazny and jexby like this.
    4. Merrick
      Merrick
      Used prices on OG CFA Vegas are ridiculously low for what was a $1k+ flagship IEM just a few years ago.
      1. Cryptowolf, SoupRKnowva and joch like this.
      2. View previous comments...
      3. Cryptowolf
        Cryptowolf
        I own a Vega and enjoy it. I bought the EE Odin as my TOTL IEM. The cost to refine what the Vega offers defines diminishing returns
        Feb 27, 2023
        FlySweep, Gazny and Merrick like this.
      4. Tachikoma
        Tachikoma
        @Gazny (real) electrostats ftw. I have a janky KSE1500 recabled with a stax plug (original cable broke), and it sounds amazing out of my Stax amps.
        Feb 28, 2023
        Cryptowolf, Merrick and Gazny like this.
      5. zottel
        zottel
        Must. Resist.
        I had a look and found a 1st gen Vega for € 380,– in Germany. I always think how nice it must be with those little things, nothing large and heavy to lug around, but actually, I never use those I have because I don’t like the feeling in the ears.
        Mar 1, 2023
        Cryptowolf likes this.
    5. Merrick
      Merrick
      Has anyone heard both the RE2000 and the Dunu Zen Pro? How do they compare to one another?
      1. purr1n
        purr1n
        Dunu Zen Pro fixed the V-shape and over aggressive upper mids, but it took away some of the magic of the Zen. Have not heard RE2000.
        Feb 16, 2023
        Merrick likes this.
    6. Merrick
      Merrick
      Looking at DAPs in the $400-$600 range, it seems like it’s more effective to buy a recent Android phone and a dongle than get a DAP.
      1. View previous comments...
      2. caute
        caute
        I have nothing of value to add, except to lol at the Hiby's marketing team on this egregious name, "HiBy RS2 Hi-Fi Audio Player Medium-end DAP with Darwin Architecture"

        Hi-Fi, but also Medium-end? wat. it's generally assumed that higher priced offerings provide better sound, but outright saying medium-end? It's not like ppl gonna feel happy about getting 2nd or 3rd best... very odd strategy.
        Feb 10, 2023
      3. caute
        caute
        I hereby ask @schiit to rename the 2/64 to the "The Schiit Bifrost 2/64 Hi-Fi Medium-end DAC with Multibit Architecture" to get ppl to just skip it and go Yggdrasil. The Yggdrasil+ Fully Modular Hi-FI It's Really High-End We Promise True Multibit™ DAC.
        Feb 10, 2023
      4. Stuff Jones
        Stuff Jones
        Another option is the cheap DAP + easy to drive IEMs route. Every time I go to my Shanling Q1 + MD Plus combo (for air travel) I wonder if I really need more (need being the key word there).
        Feb 12, 2023
    7. Merrick
      Merrick
      ifi Zen One Sig initial impressions: Nice detail, good tonality, a bit dark, so far presentation feels 2D. This is from the Pi2AES coax.
      1. View previous comments...
      2. Merrick
        Merrick
        @JK47 I bought it used and the seller didn’t mention updating the firmware, so I’m guessing whatever the original firmware is. I did check iFi’s site and the only firmware updates are Bluetooth and USB XMOS updates.
        Feb 6, 2023
        JK47 likes this.
      3. Merrick
        Merrick
        Well, damn it, the USB on this sounds considerably better than the other digital inputs. Given that this is the most expensive Zen DAC and it seems to be specifically because of the extra digital inputs, I am having a hard time understanding the rationale for this device.
        Feb 6, 2023
        sheldaze and Lyander like this.
      4. Merrick
        Merrick
        The USB input sounds much more like how Marv described the Zen DAC v2, which was the thread that got me intrigued to try this DAC. I figured the Pi2AES would be a better source than USB, which is why I went for the Zen One specifically, and now it seems like it was thrown in as an afterthought. Maybe the coax sounds better from the balanced output, but in SE the USB spanks it.
        Feb 6, 2023
        Lyander likes this.
    8. Merrick
      Merrick
      Good morning, Mr. Benson! I can see you're doing well. If I had me a shotgun, I'd blow you straight to hell.
    9. Merrick
      Merrick
      I was today years old when I discovered how fantastic Berlin (the band) are.
      1. crazychile, Wilson, Qildail and 2 others like this.
      2. YMO
        YMO
        I feel like a slut every time I listen to their first album (which is the only album that I liked from them).
        Jan 21, 2023
      3. Azimuth
        Azimuth
        I used to work with Ric Olson.
        Jan 22, 2023
        Wilson, internethandle and Merrick like this.
    10. Merrick
      Merrick
      You may think he loves you for your money, but I know what he really loves you for! (It's your brand new leopard skin pillbox hat)
      1. Skyline, caute and Wilson like this.
      2. View previous comments...
      3. gixxerwimp
        gixxerwimp
        Jan 19, 2023
        caute likes this.
      4. Merrick
        Jan 19, 2023
        Wilson, caute and gixxerwimp like this.
      5. caute
        caute
        Never thought I would see both Dylan and Death Grips in the same comment section on SBAF, but I'm not complaining.
        Jan 20, 2023
    11. Merrick
      Merrick
      Compiled all the final take tracks from The Cutting Edge box and created alternate versions of Dylan's "electric" albums. Sounds so unique!
      1. Wilson, Qildail and Tchoupitoulas like this.
      2. Merrick
        Merrick
        The differences are sometimes subtle and sometimes immediate--it's so cool to hear these albums I've listened to a million times in a new context.
        Jan 15, 2023
        Tchoupitoulas likes this.
    12. Merrick
      Merrick
      7Hz Timeless completely killed any interest I have in future wired IEMs. AirPods killed interest in future wireless IEMs.
      1. Entropy, zottel, Cryptowolf and 8 others like this.
      2. View previous comments...
      3. Merrick
        Merrick
        @fraggler Yeah, 7Hz sound more audiophile than AirPods. AirPods are so supremely convenient, with the most features, that they completely cover the true wireless needs in my life.
        Jan 2, 2023
      4. Merrick
        Merrick
        @fraggler I’m the same, I prefer over ear whenever possible (and speakers beyond that tbh). IEMs are for situations where over ears would be clunky/prohibitive.
        Jan 2, 2023
      5. wbass
        wbass
        I just got in the Let's Shower S12 and Audeze Euclid. Both showing promise thus far. Both reminding me that I dislike having something stuck in my ears for more than an hour. Which then dissuades me from wanting to spend $$$ on IEMs. And, yeah, over-ear always better in every way. And speakers more so.
        Jan 2, 2023
        zottel, HotRatSalad and Merrick like this.
    13. Merrick
      Merrick
      May 2023 be the year we are so happy with our existing systems that we have no urge to make changes or upgrades!
      1. View previous comments...
      2. gixxerwimp
        gixxerwimp
        You guys are too sophisticated for me. I'm waiting for bacon to fall out of the sky.
        Jan 1, 2023
        Qildail, Merrick and yotacowboy like this.
      3. yotacowboy
        yotacowboy
        Ares Cerat Kassandra Ref DAC into Piety feeding HD600. Done!
        Jan 1, 2023
        JK47, gixxerwimp and Merrick like this.
      4. LetMeBeFrank
        LetMeBeFrank
        Don't see myself changing my 2ch system for a long time. Maybe when 8k is a thing I'll get a fancy avr.
        Jan 1, 2023
        Cryptowolf and Merrick like this.
    14. Merrick
      Merrick
      He’s NOT the messiah; he’s a very naughty boy!
      1. gixxerwimp
    15. Merrick
      Merrick
      NHT SB-3s finally arrived. They sound tremendous! Articulate, detailed treble and mids with deep, full bass. Spacious as well!
      1. Jinxy245, Pocomo, Qildail and 10 others like this.
      2. gixxerwimp
        gixxerwimp
        Dec 22, 2022
        Jinxy245 and Merrick like this.
      3. Merrick
        Merrick
        @gixxerwimp A trade off I would make every time! I remember those days. My son is three now and I do have tower speakers in the living room. I have to stop him from pretending to grapple onto them and climb them like he’s Batman.
        Dec 22, 2022
        Jinxy245 and gixxerwimp like this.
      4. gixxerwimp
        gixxerwimp
        We'll move (back) to Canada in a few years and I'll have a "real" house, instead of a tiny Asian apartment. Will be hitting peeps up for reccos then
        Dec 23, 2022
    16. Merrick
      Merrick
      The new Willow series on Disney+ is seriously awesome. Gets what made the movie special without being just nostalgia bait.
    17. Merrick
      Merrick
      After many years, finally upgrading my office speakers (my most used transducers) to the NHT SB-3.
    18. Merrick
      Merrick
      There's a kid who had a big hallucination
      1. Kernel Kurtz, rlow, YMO and 1 other person like this.
      2. rlow
        rlow
        Too much turkey probably.

        He shouldn’t have had the final cut.
        Nov 26, 2022
      3. Biodegraded
        Nov 26, 2022
        Kernel Kurtz likes this.
      4. HotRatSalad
        HotRatSalad
        Making love to girls In magazines...
        Nov 26, 2022
        Merrick likes this.
    19. Merrick
      Merrick
      Did not think in 2022 that I would be burning music to CD-Rs. Time is a flat circle (like a CD-R).
      1. Gazny
        Gazny
        That is the closest thing I have heard this week.
        What Cdrs did you get?
        Nov 22, 2022
      2. Merrick
        Merrick
        I had a pile of Verbatims in a box in the garage. I also have some higher end ones but moved them and forgot where I put them, ha.
        Nov 22, 2022
        Gazny likes this.
      3. tommytakis
        tommytakis
        I <3 CDs
        Nov 22, 2022
        Jh4db536, Biodegraded and Merrick like this.
    20. Merrick
      Merrick
      Miles Davis night—Kind of Blue feels appropriate.
      1. Qildail
        Qildail
        Silly me still has that sealed waiting for the (next) turntable...
        Nov 9, 2022
        Merrick likes this.
      2. Merrick
        Merrick
        I've got the Ryan K. Smith mastered mono mix release from IIRC 2013, sound spectacular!
        Nov 9, 2022
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  • About

    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Portland, OR
    Gear List:
    Source: Pi2AES, Yamaha PX-3 with Nagaoka MP-500 cart
    Phono Pre: Tavish Adagio
    DAC: ifi Zen One Signature
    Headphone Amp: Schiit Vali 1, NITSCH Magni Piety
    Headphones: JAR650, JAR660, 7Hz Timeless, Koss Porta-Pro, Sennheiser ie600, Campfire Audio Vega
    Speakers: NHT SB-3
    Pre-amplifiers: Schiit Freya N
    Power amp: Adcom GFA-555 II
    Portable: iBasso DC03 Pro, Schiit Fulla E

    Signature

    HP/IEM: JAR650 v1.5 | JAR660 | Senn ie600 | CFA Vega | 7Hz Timeless | PortaPro
    AMP: Vali 1 | NITSCH Piety I Adcom GDA-555 II
    DAC: ifi Zen One Signature
    Turntable: Yamaha PX-3 w Nagaoka MP-500 cart Speakers: NHT SB-3