The All Purpose Advice Thread

HD650 is a wonderful headphone and definitely an upgrade to K7XX, but do not expect slamming bass from it. Also soundstage is way smaller, thus K7XX is way better for gaming.

If you want slamming bass I second @Artasia : TH-X00.

I haven't heard the Elex.

 

So I am interested in single-ended sound. Do single ended SS amps come close to single ended tube amps? Anyone have a recommendation for a good single ended SS or hybrid amp besides the Schiit Asgard?

 

Hi SBAF, usually a lurker in these forums but I'd like some advice in my mid-fi adventure. Upgrading from HD598 to HD650 headphones was the best choice I ever made. I got them in second hand in a bundle with a Yulong U100 amp/dac combo, and I believe the dac chip is broken so now I'm using a FiiO X3ii as a DAC using line-in into the Yulong as an amp, and I even noticed improvements from just that upgrade. As a UK student my funds and personal frugality are limited to second hand markets, but they haven't let me down yet. It's hard to get Schiit here by the looks of things.

If I've learnt anything about reading these forums it's that a decision is nearly impossible to make from the conflicting information and opinions. If I could find a cheap Chord Mojo and call it a day I'd be labelled a mentally deficient marble enthusiast.

Basically what I'm trying to say is I love the warm bass of HD650s and find them immensely fun to listen to - they have been my main (and one of the only) sources of happiness this year. Planar magnetics seem interesting where the extension and impact of the bass regions are concerned, I'm just too stupid and frugal (where apparent flaws are to be found in products) to come to any conclusions on what to do for amp/dacs or new headphones to enhance my experience. I'm in no rush when it comes to searching for things in second hand form. Any advice on purchases to look for or life advice appreciated! Budget isn't entirely certain but maybe £250 for an amp/dac or up to £500 for a pair of stand-out headphones.

 

Anybody have thoughts on Yggdrasil A2 v. KTE Holo Spring L3 + KTE SU-1 (upgraded SU-1). I've been trying to decide between the two, but haven't found any comparisons of them (with Yggdrasil yes, but none with A2).

I'll be using them with an ampsandsound Kenzie Encore Deluxe and Focal Clear's/HD800S'. Budget isn't a concern; only quality.

Thanks!

 

Wait....

Holo Spring is leaner sounding than Yggdrasil Analog 2?

f**k...

 

Well I guess I'm sticking with Yggdrasil and RME. I still want to hear it some day as I LOVE the aesthetics lol!

 

I’m not qualified to answer your question in general terms, but I will say there are at least two of us in here that use ZDS with HEK (I think @SoupRKnowva and I forget who else used this for a while). It doesn’t hit hard and it can exhibit distortion with very high volume source material such as compressed electronica, but I find ZDS+HEK is usually detailed, revealing, just very slightly sweet/warm. Stage on HEK seems taller than wide, but not bad. It never gets loud enough to be really dramatic (working on M22 for that). Still, much nicer than most of what I’ve heard paired with HEK. I think the mismatch is overstated most of the time. I don’t know how an OTC, like Aficionado or a DNA would sound with HEK. I wish a more knowledgeable member would give some views on this question, as I often wonder myself.

 

I do love my HEK, I don’t use it with a ZDS though, I had a ragnarok for a while, but it was too big so I swapped it out for a Jotunheim.

 

Misrembered!

 

Wow, that settled my decision for upgrading my Gungnir Multibit to Yggdrasil A2 in the near future.

I wonder what Gungnir Multibit 2 will sound like in this comparison, though.

 

Yeah, I'm wondering if the gap between Yggy2 vs Gumby2 is the same as Yggy1 vs Gumby1.

 

Indeed, I am wondering the same. I figured now is not the perfect timing for making Yggdrasil vs Gungnir Multibit decisions and therefore went with Metrum Onyx so that I can compare face to face with Modi Multibit. I know, a little unfair, but I am primarily interested in a general closed-form OS vs NOS comparison which should be doable regardless of different performance tiers.

(Guys like Marv or Hands seem to take a clear stand for one or another - liking or not liking particular aspects of OS/NOS sound - and therefore want to find out myself which way to go in the future. Something tells me that the more relaxed Metrum NOS character would win in the end over the more lively/immediate Yggdrasil/Gungnir Multibit... but lets see, this is only the beginning of the clash!)

 

hi guys whats the best high-end cable for the he1000 v2?

 

I hear Dana Cable is really expensive

 

haha friends wants one within a 500$ budget I wouldn't pay much for one myself ( wants it for aesthetics and wouldn't mind it being great quality so ya )

 

Serious answer:

I've had good luck with BTG Audio, although Brian can be pretty slow to fulfill orders. 6+ weeks sometimes. Quality wire and construction though.