Mithrandir41
Last Activity:
Jun 23, 2025 at 7:11 PM
Joined:
Feb 4, 2016
Messages:
788
Trophy Points:
93
Positive ratings received:
2,330
Neutral ratings received:
1
Negative ratings received:
0

Post Ratings

Received: Given:
Like 2,290 1,365
Dislike 0 6
Respectfully Disagree 1 0
heart 3 0
Miss Information 0 3
Epic 12 41
Agreed, ditto, +1 25 0
Gender:
Male
Birthday:
Sep 27, 1974 (Age: 50)
Location:
Valencia, CA
Occupation:
Aircraft Stuff

Share This Page

Mithrandir41

Friend, Male, 50, from Valencia, CA

Pyrate

In the middle of my reread of The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant after putting together a Trilogy from Grim Oak Press. The OG dark fantasy. Jun 21, 2025 at 10:20 PM

Mithrandir41 was last seen:
Viewing member profile saint.panda, Jun 23, 2025 at 7:11 PM
    1. Mithrandir41
      Mithrandir41
      In the middle of my reread of The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant after putting together a Trilogy from Grim Oak Press. The OG dark fantasy.
      1. Thad E Ginathom likes this.
      2. Thad E Ginathom
        Thad E Ginathom
        I think I read this once. Depressing. Joseph Conrad meets fantasy.

        (typical conrad theme: Some guy is having a terrible life doing stupid things. The book follows his many failures at changing that. (But the sailing bits are good))
        Jun 22, 2025 at 3:21 AM
        Mithrandir41 likes this.
      3. Mithrandir41
        Mithrandir41
        @Thad E Ginathom I think the original trilogy is depressing and inspiring in equal measure. But there is definitely some Heart of Darkness in play.
        Jun 22, 2025 at 1:30 PM
        Thad E Ginathom likes this.
    2. Mithrandir41
      Mithrandir41
      Bought a blue sound node (2024): hooked up a Modi-e to compare the output. it absolutely spanks the internal DAC
      1. zottel, schiit, atomicbob and 4 others like this.
      2. View previous comments...
      3. Mithrandir41
        Mithrandir41
        For reference, I used to have an Oppo HA-1 dac/amp, and the 9018 implementation in that was so bad it was just ruinous for the sound. The Stereotype of everything wrong with that chip. The Modi e is a real eye-opener on what can be done with careful design and actual listening.
        Feb 25, 2025
        atomicbob and schiit like this.
      4. Wilewarer
        Wilewarer
        Is 15 years old even archaic for a DAC? I think a lot of commonly-used chips people get good results with are not much newer, or maybe even older...
        Feb 25, 2025
      5. Mithrandir41
        Mithrandir41
        @Wilewarer Thus the quotation marks on "archaic". That being said, the first truly good ESS dacs I ever heard were using 9038s. The bluesound is a great streamer with a great app, but not a great dac on the whole.
        Feb 25, 2025
    3. Mithrandir41
      Mithrandir41
      After driving myself crazy trying to use the roon app and not finding my PC/server..It was surfshark.
    4. Mithrandir41
      Mithrandir41
      modi e > vali 3 (jan nos) >Meze 105 AER is a crazy good sounding and resolving system for under $600
      1. View previous comments...
      2. robot zombie
        robot zombie
        The problem is that I believe you, because the 2 was something really special, and Schiit knew it too. I wouldn't expect them to just stop when the grease is already bubblin. They really made their own of producing affordable small-FF components with bespoke designs that undercut everything under $$$$.
        Feb 17, 2025
        Mithrandir41 likes this.
      3. Mithrandir41
        Mithrandir41
        The V2 still sounds really good, but I always thought it was a little limp on the low end, lacking real dynamic impact. And that was remedied with the v3.
        Feb 17, 2025
        atomicbob and robot zombie like this.
      4. robot zombie
        robot zombie
        I definitely remember it being on the leaner side too. The thing that always captured me about it was its fineness, the kind of smooth oatmeal graininess, but the lack of bass made it paradoxically sleepy.
        Feb 17, 2025
    5. Mithrandir41
      Mithrandir41
      First time ever buying vinyl from merchbar.com; last time buying from them. I'd rather pay more on Amazon and actually get my product.
      1. View previous comments...
      2. loadexfa
        loadexfa
        That reminded me, I'm sick of waiting months for a couple albums and I cancelled them today (from merchbar). They got back and put in the refund today. Odd that they would respond to me faster but I agree it's annoying to require customer service to handle the refund.
        Aug 27, 2024
        Mithrandir41 likes this.
      3. Mithrandir41
        Mithrandir41
        I submitted for my refund last night. Pretty much everything on merch bar you can get on Amazon for around the same price, and you will actually receive it
        Aug 27, 2024
        loadexfa likes this.
      4. loadexfa
        loadexfa
        Yup, Amazon is where I ended up to get the albums I wanted.
        Aug 27, 2024
    6. Mithrandir41
      Mithrandir41
      Forgot I had Vali 2+ lying around. With a Telefunken I had gifted to me, man I forgot how good this thing could sound.
      1. Cryptowolf, Deep Funk, zottel and 6 others like this.
      2. View previous comments...
      3. Sqveak
        Sqveak
        What model tele? I'm curious for my 2+.
        Aug 4, 2024
      4. Ti_Leo
        Ti_Leo
        I love my Vali 2+ and I still in denial that it can be even better. I'm using a cheap RCA 6BQ7 tube, the only comparison I have is the OG tube, and the RCA 6BQ7 sounds better as it has some lower-mid boost or so, it sounds full and warm, and I love it
        Aug 4, 2024
        Sqveak likes this.
      5. Mithrandir41
        Mithrandir41
        @Ti_Leo RCA tubes are well known for their warm character. A great alternative to the ultra expensive telefunkens are Phillips PCC 88: nice mid-range presentation without softening the treblele too much
        Aug 4, 2024
        Sqveak and Ti_Leo like this.
    7. Mithrandir41
      Mithrandir41
      Just got the Van Hagar Volume 2 vinyl set and man, F. U. C. K. Is distorted in the right Channel and sounds like trash. What a bummer.
      1. View previous comments...
      2. Mithrandir41
        Mithrandir41
        @HotRatSalad the rest of the LPs are low noise/high quality vinyl. Apparently the above mentioned album has a production defect that renders it virtually unlistenable
        Jul 21, 2024
      3. HotRatSalad
        HotRatSalad
        Yes but now you probably have to return the whole box and the replacement might have an issue elsewhere. This is what I alluding to.
        Jul 21, 2024
      4. Mithrandir41
        Mithrandir41
        @HotRatSalad I get what you meant. I did a little research, and apparently this album is flawed from the manufacturer, so it should be the same across all boxed sets. I'll just be spending my time listening to the other records
        Jul 22, 2024
    8. Mithrandir41
      Mithrandir41
      Lent a Vali 2+ to a coworker, now he's buying one, plus a Modi 3+. It's good to share.
      1. Qildail, atomicbob, Merrick and 14 others like this.
      2. View previous comments...
      3. imackler
        imackler
        This is a great story. To find a fellow audiophile is a blast. But to be at their conception... Ha!
        Feb 13, 2024
        Mithrandir41 and Soups like this.
      4. Mithrandir41
        Mithrandir41
        @imackler When he told me he was running his headphones off the tower's head out, I was like "dude, I'll lend you something, tell me if you notice a difference". Done son. It is pretty satisfying.
        Feb 13, 2024
        Slade01 and imackler like this.
      5. Mithrandir41
        Mithrandir41
        BTW, he was looking at going the Topping route, but being the spiteful person I am, I convinced him otherwise.
        Feb 13, 2024
    9. Mithrandir41
      Mithrandir41
      First Law Fans: Amir is the Morveer of the audio world.
      1. YMO likes this.
      2. yotacowboy
        yotacowboy
        Microsoft Fans: Amir is the Zune of the audio world.
        Feb 1, 2024
        Case likes this.
    10. Mithrandir41
      Mithrandir41
      Who would have known an ancient Sony cdp-c445 (1995) headphone out could drive the piss out of HD 650s?
    11. Mithrandir41
      Mithrandir41
      Found an original Japanese pressing of Journey Frontiers at Amoeba Hollywood today. Dead quiet and sounds amazing.
      1. Qildail, HotRatSalad, Serious and 3 others like this.
      2. Mithrandir41
        Mithrandir41
        OG pressings from the 80's sound so great compared to most 180-200g modern vinyl.
        Jan 1, 2024
        Biodegraded, HotRatSalad and JK47 like this.
    12. Mithrandir41
      Mithrandir41
      Meze 109 pro: the headphone beyerdynamic wishes they could make
      1. zottel, Cryptowolf, Lyander and 4 others like this.
    13. Mithrandir41
      Mithrandir41
      Moving up from aircraft mechanic to manufacturing engineer. I'm excited for the change, and the pay bump.
      1. View previous comments...
      2. Cspirou
        Cspirou
        Oh nice. Are you a machinist?
        Oct 4, 2023
      3. EagleWings
        EagleWings
        Congrats!
        Oct 4, 2023
      4. Mithrandir41
        Mithrandir41
        @Cspirou, a general flight mechanic at lockheed's Skunkworks. Building stuff
        Oct 4, 2023
        JK47 likes this.
    14. Mithrandir41
      Mithrandir41
      For you Malazans, Toll the Hounds is a fantastic, cathartic, epic read.
      1. View previous comments...
      2. Mithrandir41
        Mithrandir41
        I feel like TtH was a bit more coherent than the last three books. It seemed like a lot of the things coming together made more sense even though it's still wild and a little obtuse. I like the anything goes the feeling and the weirdness that never goes away in the malazam books
        Sep 18, 2023
      3. zottel
        zottel
        I read the whole series some ten years ago. Worth it.
        Sep 19, 2023
        SoupRKnowva likes this.
      4. Mithrandir41
        Mithrandir41
        @zottel you should pick up the God is not Willing, it's heavy on the Karsa Orlong influence.
        Sep 19, 2023
        zottel likes this.
    15. Mithrandir41
      Mithrandir41
      Lamb of God is killing it in Riverside
      1. gsanger likes this.
    16. Mithrandir41
      Mithrandir41
      When you're running in a new dac, and it sounds like ass... Only to realize you're listening to the dac in your monitor on JRMC
      1. Merrick and Senorx12562 like this.
      2. View previous comments...
      3. Riotvan
        Riotvan
        @Armaegis better imaging ofcourse! Soundstage is best with an ultra wide ime
        Aug 4, 2023
      4. Mithrandir41
        Mithrandir41
        @Armaegis, nevermind. It was a "system sound" issue in my audio settings and I'm a dummy.
        Aug 4, 2023
      5. gixxerwimp
        gixxerwimp
        Monitors have DACs?
        Aug 4, 2023
    17. Mithrandir41
      Mithrandir41
      SW51+ in the house! Thanks to @HotRatSalad for a great deal!
      1. zottel, Cryptowolf, Jinxy245 and 12 others like this.
      2. View previous comments...
      3. YMO
        YMO
        Now play real music and not audiophile tracks.
        Jul 31, 2023
      4. Mithrandir41
        Mithrandir41
        @YMO you won't find Diana krall in my library, though I might have to cop to the Eagles.
        Jul 31, 2023
        YMO likes this.
      5. Lyander
        Lyander
        @YMO when I got a ZDT Jr. in on extended loan the first thing I played on it was music from Haruhi Suzumiya.
        Jul 31, 2023
        Taguro and YMO like this.
    18. Mithrandir41
      Mithrandir41
      Listening to Simon Phillips Protocol 3 on 45 rpm. It sounds way more extended in the highs than I'm used to from any 33 I've heard.
      1. Merrick likes this.
      2. View previous comments...
      3. Mithrandir41
        Mithrandir41
        I'm not an expert on the matter, I just know that the groove contours are a little different on a 45 than a 33. Regardless, it sounds damn good
        Jul 2, 2023
      4. Biodegraded
        Biodegraded
        Faster groove speed means a given frequency will have a longer wavelength. Might enable the stylus to better track the highs.
        Jul 2, 2023
        Mithrandir41 likes this.
      5. Thad E Ginathom
        Thad E Ginathom
        I suspect that it is like tape: faster=better.

        Is it, literally, faster=less-data-compression?
        Jul 2, 2023
        Mithrandir41 likes this.
    19. Mithrandir41
      Mithrandir41
      Debating whether I should get a new turntable setup, or stay digital and go higher end with the source (Yggdrasil territory).
      1. View previous comments...
      2. Mithrandir41
        Mithrandir41
        @Biodegraded , yeah, I still have all my essential vinyl. Sitting in a box. I bought my wife a rega p1 with built-in phono stage, but I'm looking for a higher end kit for myself
        Jun 25, 2023
        Cryptowolf, Sqveak and Biodegraded like this.
      3. wbass
        wbass
        I'd vote for a Technics 1500C for a TT. Save some money off the 1200 line by losing DJ features. For carts: 2M Bronze, DL103(R), or AT-ART9. I initially went for an equivalent Pro-Ject, but it didn't work out, and I returned for a 1200GR, which I was much more impressed by.
        Jun 25, 2023
        Sqveak likes this.
      4. wbass
        wbass
        That said, I think the Technics weak point is its tonearm. You could mod down the line with various drop-in arms, but you'd get quite a distance with the 1500C as is.
        Jun 25, 2023
    20. Mithrandir41
      Mithrandir41
      If you like pens, check out the Billetspin EDC Cam Pen. This is not bolt action, this is a cam inside the housing. Very cool stuff.
      1. Claritas, Sqveak and Qildail like this.
      2. Claritas
        Claritas
        Very heavy though (45g).
        Feb 9, 2023
      3. Mithrandir41
        Mithrandir41
        I prefer the higher weight of the zirc to the almost cheap feeling all titanium pins being so light. And it's virtually unscratchable
        Feb 9, 2023
      4. Mithrandir41
        Mithrandir41
        And that's not too disparage TI, but I definitely don't mind the extra grams.
        Feb 9, 2023
  • Loading...
  • Loading...
  • About

    Gender:
    Male
    Birthday:
    Sep 27, 1974 (Age: 50)
    Location:
    Valencia, CA
    Occupation:
    Aircraft Stuff
    Gear List:
    Computer, Soekris DAC2451 ,Singxer SA-1/Bottlehead Crack/SW51+ , HD650, Meze 109 pro, Verum 1 Mark II.
    Audio and Home Theater Geek. Marine (former active duty). Los Angeles Recording School Alumni and former assistant engineer at Roundabout Post Production in Burbank, CA. Avid Reader and licensed skydiver. General pop-culture geek. Living and working in the High Desert of Cali.

    Signature

    You either surf or fight!