The All Purpose Advice Thread

Does anyone have suggestions on good places to buy matched pairs of tubes in the UK (or EU)? Should I just play the ebay gambling game, or are there better, or even just different, options?

 

@k1arg 5s search: List of tube vendors:

http://www.superbestaudiofriends.org/index.php?threads/list-of-tube-vendors.2750/

 

Last time I used Brent Jessee in the States (http://www.audiotubes.com), but shipping did run me $35.

I've been meaning to try Langrex in the UK (https://www.langrex.co.uk/), but haven't yet.

Brent Jessee's selection is pretty hard to beat, though....

 

R2R design have been ongoing for 30+ years, it's as good as it will get.

 

Adding more components is going to color the sound. I would rather set the volume at a higher level on the amp and have to turn overall volume down via the player on the computer or phone whatever. YES, you would be losing some rather insignificant bits sliding down a tad from max bit perfect volume in the software, but I would think this would be less colored than adding more stuff to the chain.

And you can try it now to see if you hear any degradation. Then, there are folks who like having lots of links in their chain, haha.

 

You may get some suggestions if you clarify what you plan to use as a source for the time being? Laptop at the library or a dap or phone? Not sure Fulla works with all phones or daps. Micca Origen has spdif but what source do you plan to use to deliver spif? Have you heard a pi and dac hat? Is it really as good as the hype? Not sure if buying a bunch of lower cost devices to eliminate usb will guarantee better sound compared to well implemented better usb dac. And will you carry #2 to the library?

 

Thanks! Believe you me, I would rather less in the chain. I'm hesitant to use Roon's volume control but I think you are right, it may be my best option in a case like this. I appreciate your input.

 

@bigfatpaulie Another option is adding a Saga. It's reported to be pretty transparent and would gain you remote volume control without adding much colour, if any.

Out of curiosity, what DAC do you have now and what are you going towards?

 

Yeah, Saga/Freya are what I thinking. I just wasn't sure if there was a better option.

Currently I have a DAVE but I am considering a Kilmax amongst others.

 

Before going with Klimax, I'd check out this thread in which @Torq ...well just read it

http://www.superbestaudiofriends.org/index.php?threads/life-after-yggdrasil-watering-the-ash.4036/

 

Thanks @Changeling !

His review actually prompted me to seek one out for a listen. I should be getting one in home in a few weeks for a demo.

 

I'm guessing you read the original Klimax DSM/1 impressions but not the latest Klimax DSM/2 (DS/3) - they're rather different in outcome.

 

No I just wanted him to read your thread.

 

I'm pretty sure I read the 'latest' version... What Am I missing here?

 

You're probably not missing anything.

I incorrectly interpreted @Changeling's comment to be referring to the much-less impressive showing that that Klimax DSM/1 gave. As long as you read the one on the Klimax DSM/2 (DS/3) it's all good as that is the currently shipping product.

 

Thanks - you guys had me worried there for a minute: Did I make the dealer bring one in for nothing?!

Thanks for taking all the time @Torq for putting that thread together. It's awe inspiring.

 

I’m waiting for the Schiit Eitr before pulling the trigger on a transport, but I’ve been curious about AOIP. I had a few questions that I hope someone familiar with Dante AOIP could answer.

1. Does Dante route all audio from the desktop? Can I go from listening to Foobar to getting audio from a web browser?

2. If you can only set one sampling rate at a time such as 44.1, what happens if you play media with a different sampling rate? Do you get a simple error message, or would it lock something up?

3. Most details about the Eitr haven’t been announced, but does anyone know if from the current information if it will have some sort of Ethernet capability?

 

Yes.

Assuming Windows (since you mention Foobar) then you can choose the Dante Virtual Sound Card as your output for any ASIO or WDM-capable source(s). Given several different sources you can route them to different sound-cards/devices if/when/as you need to.

The latest versions will follow, more or less reliably, the source sample rate - provided you keep the DVS config application open. For music you're probably going to want to keep exclusive access for just your player application. And if you're not then I'd question bothering with AOIP in the first place.

I've not used it in a while, but previously if the auto-rate following failed (and then prior it to being available at all), you'd just get silence if the source rate differed from what you'd specified for DVS. There were some limitations with WDM-based applications not being able to handle 176.4 and 192 KHz output, but that may have changed.

I've not seen any credible rumor that suggests it will do Ethernet-anything.

And while I cannot find it right now, I seem to recall reading at least one post from appropriate parties that had suggested doing Ethernet was just not the kind of thing that Schiit wanted to tackle at all.

 

Thanks for the reply. I have been reconsidering the decision to get a portable solution, as I think that I won't REALLY be pleased with it as a bang-for-buck proposition. I have heard decent gear, and I'd rather have a decent amp to drive my 650's than mess around with portable stopgaps that wind up costing me extra money in the long run.

To get to the point, I think I'd be much better served by buying an amp, using the line out of my iPod Classic for a little while till I can pick up a DAC like the M2U (gotta spread those purchases out a bit...) . That way I can use USB with my MacBook pro for a little while, then build a Pi to use as my source. I still have as my objective, a setup where I can put away the electronic/visual distractions and actually enjoy studying or relaxing in peace.

SO... what amp for my HD650's becomes the issue. I have read through a lot of the applicable threads and am kind of at an impasse as to whether or not I should break with consensus or travel the more normal path. I have been considering taking the Psalmanazar route and getting a Asgard 2. I cannot stand treble funk at all and from what I have read, the Joti might be a bad match for me (even if it powers the HD650's well in a mechanical sense). I owned the Valhalla 2 before and it was good, but the dry treble slowly drove me to ever more intense disdain.

Can anyone comment on the Asgard 2 more than has already been said on these boards? For one of Schiit's most popular amps (by sales), there is not much feedback about it here. I haven't trusted the "other site" since I was a teen, but am beginning to see how, even here at SBAF, certain flavor preferences can guide group thinking. Not bashing, just looking for some help with figuring things out.

 

I haven't heard the Asgard 2 and don't mind HD650 with Jot balanced but another option which I really like that might fit your tastes is Vali 2. Don't underestimate it because of its cost. It's more dynamic than Valhalla 2 but with better, maybe sweeter, treble depending on tube choice and stages almost as well too. IMO, It's one of Schiit's best amps.