The All Purpose Advice Thread

I've read every post in the lyr 3 thread - took me two nights. It really does seem like a solid deal. And, I can use the diff for the HD800! Bam! Sell the Lyr3 if I decide to go with a Decware down the road (the audio road, and the literal road - they're like 10 minutes from my house). Going to Audition the Taboo mk4 soon. But being new to tubes, sounds like I need to relax and go with the Lyr for a bit. Only one tube to roll and play around with. Make sure this tube thing is for me.

Ken Rad I saw mentioned several times - thanks for the guidance man.

 

Can you please help me?
I want to buy a xlr cable to connect ragnarok to the yggdrasil. (at a "human" price )
Can you recommend someone to me?

thank you
regards

 

Look on Schiit's website. They have XLRs specifically for that purpose. I think they're $40.

 

These from Monoprice.

https://www.monoprice.com/product?c_id=115&cp_id=11509&cs_id=1150902&p_id=18671&seq=1&format=2

They are honestly a nice cable.

 

Blue Jean Cables

 

I used these (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00KO8VYMG/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o06_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1) and they seem to be working fine on my Jot to JBL sub & monitors.

 

Authentic Mogami 2534 cable - I purchased a single ended set of interconnects from them. They are legit.

https://www.amazon.com/Units-Balanc...529777813&sr=8-23&keywords=worlds+best+cables

 

What do you think of the xlr cable Analysis Plus MICRO Copper Oval-IN ?

 

Do whatever the f**k you want man.

 

yes, more use of the search function and less of the posting. There are a ton of threads and opinions.

 

Hi guys. So I am looking to overhaul my entire system, move on to hi-end, and hopefully I will be done upgrading (at least for a long while ). I will provide as much info as I can think of, if you want supplement info please tell me and quote my posts all time times, I don't want some good advice get lost in this thread. Hope I can get some solid advice here.

Background: Most of my money and attention is spent on open-headphones in the past, I have a few mid-tier cans, and so far I am somewhat satisfied with Beyerdynamic Amiron Home. So I consider myself to have a bit of experience in open-headphones. Yet for DAC/AMP I have so far only heard my own set-up extensively, having auditioned a bit of gear here and there, so I have little to no experience, hence I don't know where on the scale of performance my gear is at, don't know what is good, and don't know how much should I spend, but a very rough budget is ~$2500. Don't take the budget too seriously, go wild! I got my current DAC/AMP as they were on sale a while ago and really cheap. I am not involved with 2-channel as of now.

Current set-up: Beyerdynamic Amiron home (main), AudioQuest Nighthawk (secondary), Beyerdynamic DT990 600ohm, Philips Fidelio X1, Sennheiser HD598, Audio Technica PRO5MK2 (collections), Acoustune HS1551CU (IEM, seldom used). Computer > shielded USB > TEAC UD-301 > Cheap (proclaimed pro level) XLR > TEAC HA-501.
FYI XLR cable Amazon link: https://www.amazon.com/Cable-Matter...d=1529856280&sr=8-3&keywords=xlr+cable+matter

Sound preference (At least I think this is how to describe my preference): Slight warm tilt with powerful bass (give me that slam!), full of body. Yet clear and airy. Despise sibilance ("details"), but do like actual detail and good dynamics. Open and 3D soundstage is very nice. Ultimately I would like myself just forget about my headphone and feel like I am listening to live music, no mics and speakers, have the sound surround me.

Ideal goal: To have one box that does DAC and amping well, so that I have more space for other things like Stax in the future (this is not really important though). I know you guys are audio purists and would separate DAC and AMP, this is also absolutely fine, my main priority is sound after all. I would appreciate recommendations for all the things in between as well, including interconnects and power purifier/filter, USB to SPIDIF converter (why though?) etc. Don't think I will use a pre-amp.
Cherry-on-top, consider these last: Have tons of power so I can literally throw anything at it. The headamp doubles as a speaker amp. Have good balanced-out so if I play with Sennheiser cans (must go balanced?), then I have the option to.

Tube Vs SS: Heard that tubes are not very versatile with song choices, they can't handle fast songs. As my song choice is all over the place, seems like SS wins. I have an AudioQuest Nighthawk, given the impedance, seems like tubes are not feasible at all. Correct me if I am wrong. But I am very sure that tubes are a heater, I live in Hong Kong, so it might be a torture to have it beside me in summer.

Current dissatisfactions: The set-up so far seems to be quite boring for me, everything is at a similar volume, no nuances (microdynamics? No musicality? Both?), can't feel the music and the rhythm (my head don't bob with the music often), seldom get goosebumps. In this category I must say it is even worse than the speaker in my family's car. Also, when things just starting to get a complicated, the sounds are already starting to blend together, I guess this is bad separation? With the Amiron, sometimes the S sounds don't sound natural, slightly piercing at times (I think this is just the Beyer treble); the bass is a tad weak on the other hand, I don't get pumped up by supposedly energetic songs. Sometimes vocals sound very nasal, not sure which part is the problem.

Experiences and thoughts from research and auditions: (Take these with a grain of salt, I don't really know what I am talking about. These are just to help you figure out who I am, as I cannot describe very well myself)

1. Luxmann DA-150 (Auditioned with Amiron): Much more musical than my set-up and tonal balance seems more appealing to me. Seems to be quite better in nuances and dynamics. Was appealing to me. Worried about the limited input and output options. Cannot find comprehensive reviews.
2. Bryston BHA-1 (Auditioned with Amiron): Treble just too glary. Boring. Was unappealing. Unsure what the DAC and source are. Opinions about this are varied, don't know what to think.
3. Fostex HPA-8mk2 on USB(Auditioned with Amiron): Mid-centric. According to shop clerk, its extension in the extremes are not so good, don't know how to tell. Sounds appealing to me though. Cannot find comprehensive reviews.
4. Marantz HD-DAC1 on USB (Auditioned with Amiron): Too warm. Can accept, but not very good. Cannot find comprehensive reviews.
5. Chord DAVE on digital out from AK380 copper: My gear just sound weak, lacking power and authority. Not really an option for me though, given the price.
   • Auditioned with HD6XX: Very meaty sound (full of body?), not particularly attracted to it though.
   • Auditioned with Utopia: Sounds in your face! Slightly glaring treble. Not attracted to it as well.
6. Audio-gd NFB-27.77 (Researched): Was fairly confident that this would suit me until I saw the bad reputation of this brand on here, guilty in providing inaccurate specs and producing shitty products (S19). It looked perfect, all-in-one, neutral, the brand is reputated elsewhere in the interwebs to have good dynamics and smooth treble while pertaining detail, Z reviews said its little brother, NFB-28.38, was perfect (Z review does not give specifics, which is a shame), have abundant output options. Am doubtful about it now.
7. Oppo HA-1 (Auditioned with Oppo PM-1): WTF the piercing treble, took them off immediately, cannot get much out of this.
8. Schiit Gungnir Multibit, Yggdrasil and Bifrost Multibit (Researched): Mostly read about them on here, the only info I got is that they are top-notch, cannot find comparisons between the three and how they are top-notch. Is multibit worth it? What about NOS DACs?
9. Schiit Ragnarok (Researched): Some say its sound is lean, seems like a nope from me. But otherwise, it seems to be a very good option, an all-rounder (in the Schiit line up), its got tons of power and doubles as a speaker amp. Worried about the output impedance though, seems not be a problem from what I understand. The reason I am worried about this is that most speaker amps' headphone out is simply a heavy duty resistor to eat away most of the power, which messes up the output impedance. One guy said the processor adds noise and grain? Read from the Schiit shill thread that Schiit amps are all good and bad in their own way, not one does all things well. So depending on the final budget, maybe Ragnarok is not the best option?
10. Schiit Jotunheim (Researched): Did not think much about this, my hunch is that bright amp + Beyer = Disaster. And is it really an upgrade? It is cheaper than my current gear (MSRP).
11. Schiit Eitr (Researched): Only info I got is that it is better than plain USB, why? And if indeed so, why is it so much cheaper than other similar products?

The gear that I auditioned is not with my own songs and the sessions are brief, so I can't really provide my detailed impressions, my apologies if they are not really helpful for you to understand my audio preferences and goals.

Above are about all of the options that I am aware of, which is really not much. As I don't live in the US, buying Schiit and servicing might involve a bit of hassle, therefore I would really appreciate a variety of non-Schiit products so I can find out myself what can I get from where I live.

P.S. Mods please forgive and inform if I what I typed don't really suit here, e.g. terminology, still learning here.

 

Ditto,

advice = lurk, search function, read............................

 

For the terse reply, @jexby actually went and gave some stellar advice and seems to have read the entire post. Nice one, man!

I missed that you have an larger budget, @Hogcryat. If wanting an AIO is for convenience's sake or a transportable thing, then maybe invest in a proper discrete DAC and amp, then get something like a Micro iDSD or Schiit Fulla for elsewhere.

+1 Multibit. Rocking a Bifrost Multibit and it's a pronounced improvement over pretty much all other DACs I've tried (note: that's not a long list ), and eventually planning to go with Gungnir Multibit or Yggdrasil eventually.

To sum up general impressions on here, Bifrost Multibit isn't much of a step up from the Modi Multibit, and moving higher up the Schiit multibit ladder gives you good returns.

I don't hate Beyer, I had/have a DT880/250 that I rather like, but the Amiron isn't nice, really. Haven't tried the 990 yet but measurements of it are discouraging. Ymmv. Definitely suggest getting better headphones unless you have a sentimental attachment to your current cans.

HD650 is remarkable for the price, I hear it gets better with better upstream gear. The Auteur is a pair of cans I've been wanting to demo since announcement, and it's been proclaimed a proper successor to the HD650, which is high praise. Impressions aplenty on here.

Fwiw, the Klipsch HP-3 was touted as another HD650 successor, but as someone who's heard both I'd say it's quite a different beast, though not in a bad way: BIG bass that you can shelve down with some easy mods, treble can be a bit stabby at times, nothing some 1-ply won't fix. Surprisingly open stage, fast, and good (but not great) imaging. Things are a bit hazier sounding than on my old Fostex, but that's a fairly minor nitpick.

Controversial suggestion: the Airist RDAC is apparently competitive with the Modi Multibit/Bifrost Multibit for $350, but there's a high likelihood that the design was ripped from @sosolar, maybe get one of his Hibiki DACs if you'd rather not support the MD/Airist collab.

Lastly, Schiit gear is usually much cheaper than competition because they just cut out the middleman and sell direct, which would explain why the Eitr (among others) is so good for not a lot of cash.

Please do introduce yourself! You seem to have a fair bit of experience with gear. Also, Z Reviews is.... I used to watch his videos until I got to hear some other gear he reviewed and found my impressions didn't match his, exactly (I'm being polite).

 

Hi all. I'm currently looking for a companion headphone for my Stax L300 - something closed or semi-open. Looking for a warmer/bassier tilt that the 300's are missing, and second priority is good soundstage/imaging. Price range is around 300~400. Currently what I'm looking at is:

• ZMF Blackwood (if there's a chance I can find one used or b-stock for under 400)
• LLF Paradox/Slant (I've found a paradox for 300 but can't find a slant anywhere)
• E-MU Teak - considered x00 but teak seems to be a little bit better. New for 500 or used for just over 400

Other HP's I've considered are 99 Classics and 1540's.

Any thoughts/opinions on this? I may also use this headphone for gaming when it gets too loud for Stax. The Blackwood, Paradox, and Teak are rare enough that it's quite difficult to get comparisons between them.

Thanks!

 

@msommers if DC offset is truly the issue, I've used one of these with excellent results in the past. No other current-limiting filtering, surge protection, etc.

https://avahifi.com/products/humdinger-dc-line-blocker

 

$1900? Are you talking about the limited Auteur? I'm talking about the Blackwood:
http://www.zmfheadphones.com/order-the-zmf/zmf-blackwood-1

 

I think he means the ZMF modded planars named Blackwood, not the Auteur Blackwood. The planar Blackwoods go for $800 new i think.

EDIT: What he said ^

 

Yeah, it's kinda frustrating that he named them the blackwoods. He might as well make a new headphone and call it the ZMF Ebony or ZMF Purple Heart, just to throw people off,