zottel

Flicking the input switch on the Jot 2 switches seamlessly between ESS card and RU6. Perfect.

The two are remarkably similar. I didn’t think it would be so hard to tell the difference.
The ESS card is a little, little bit brighter, and I think I hear a bit more smoothness in voices with the RU6, but that might well be expectation bias.

Headphones directly from RU6 vs. from Jot 2, that’s a different story, that difference is easily recognisable.

RU6 is like my GF = It is heavenly with anything I throw at it.

Oh my god, I’m still unable to pick up my jaw from the floor. RU6 NOS + external upsampling is so much better than anything I’ve heard before! Plankton galore.

I had never considered using RU6 in NOS with external upsampling, would be a cheap way to get into that game.

@Biodegraded The RU6 provides a good portion of extra sub bass for the Timeless compared to the Bolt. Very satisfyingly so, sounds totally great. Mid and upper bass are similar.
I didn’t try the broken Sparrow yet, but I don’t think it will produce any meaningful sound, anyway.

How about the *texture* of the mid-bass? Timeless mid-bass is somewhat "soft/pillowy/floppy" and lowest mids a bit lean; I'm interested in sources that minimize the perceived disconnect between.

I hear no disconnection with the RU6 (don’t have the Bolt at hand right now). But, TBH, I’m not sure if I would hear it even from a source that is known to sound disconnected.

And????

Hehe, didn’t post at first because I was strongly underwhelmed and considered returning them. Not much detail from the Bolt, better from Jot 2, mushy bass and too much of it, tinny treble, recessed mids.
Now I’m finally convinced that break-in is really a thing, at least during the first few hours. And not only mental break-in. The sound has completely changed since the beginning, fortunately. :)

Listening from the Bolt now, getting wonderful detail, especially in the bass. This can’t be mental break-in.
The rest might be, though: The treble is becoming less and less tinny, instruments sound less plasticky, mids are more pronounced. I’m thoroughly enjoying them now. \o/

Easily done!

Neither Amazon nor Cayin have confirmed shipment, though, although I ordered around 9am already. :(

for 7Hz, should have ordered a iFi GO bar instead of that RU6

They won’t necessarily be played together, though I’m still intrigued what sound they’ll produce as a team. :)

A used Mojo 2 would fit in the budget, too. Sigh. Too many options.

Timeless + cayin ru6 should be around that budget and fill in two of those three needs perhaps?

Thanks for the tip with the RU6! It hadn’t been on my radar, and as I always wanted to dip my toes into R2R, this is a great idea. Another option. X-)

About to move into a new house with hard floors. Gonna be echo city.

At least you can put rugs on floors. It’s the concrete ceiling I’d worry most about if I wanted to turn our living room into a listening room. I don’t, because the rest of the family don’t care about hifi and don’t like my music. :)

Yeah, we are definitely getting some rugs.

Not sure yet if I should trust what I think I hear, or if that only means going down a rabbit hole that will cost me lots of money for stuff that only happens in my head.

I should call this my endgame and stop reading this forum immediately. Or anything else hifi-related.

Earnestly, while I liked other gear a lot before, there was always that nagging suggestion in the back of my mind that other stuff must be much better. Now I can read about an SR-1a, e.g., and think: “Sounds interesting, but my main HP is so great, why bother?”
There’s still quite some nagging about DACs in my head, though, and possibly amps.

Yaaaais, join the light side.

You might like Anna von Hausswolf. She is on bandcamp.

@Cryptowolf This is really cool stuff, thanks for the tip!

Simon Preston's recording of Bach's Organ Concerti on DG is exciting stuff. Incidentally, some of them are Bach's transcriptions of Vivaldi string concerti; and Bach wipes the floor with him.

It does!

She's not wrong :-)

Definitely lots of bling-bling.

got a refund? hope you find another good deal

Save it for Focal's service, should suffice for the headband at least.

Maybe I should have another guy run into my car for that.

I hope it sounds as good or better than my simulations did. Looking very much forward to it.

First impressions: Less resolving than I remember the Sparrow, a bit muddy. But it has nice tonality, more than good enough for the occasional mobile use.
I won’t have time for a comparison with my Jot 2 ESS until tomorrow or even Thursday, unfortunately.

Some short A/B today versus Jot 2 ESS: Jot is clearer, provides more detail, all in all better for my taste.
The Bolt is a bit murky, but adds some enjoyable sweetness the Jot doesn’t have. I wouldn’t use it as my daily driver, but on business trips, on holidays etc., it will do its job and be good at it.

More great groove: Weigh by Phish, Cornflake Girl by Tori Amos (a bit slower, but still), Season Song by Blue States, U-Boot by Käptn Peng & Die Tentakel von Delphi, Silverdome by Lettuce, and for some really nasty mind-boggling, try First Tube by Phish.

I’m glad you changed it. Cheers

Yeah that sucks, but good on you for being sensitive to it.

You made the right call and it's why I avoid symbol/brand tattoos. Imagine having to remove a tattoo because some unsavory group co-opted it.