The All Purpose Advice Thread

Always the best option.

 

I have a Gungnir (A1, to the best of my knowledge) and I've been wondering about the SE out question also. I used the balanced out in my old 2 channel system, and now the SE outs for headphones. Overall I'm happy with the sound but there's the nagging thought that I should try a transformer just to see. If that's worst nervosa I have then I think that's not too bad. Maybe after I get my SW51.

 

I use my A2 (also to the best of my knowledge), in the opposite fashion, i.e., se for speakers, balanced for headphones, as my headphone amp is balanced but my preamp/speaker amp SE only. While it is impossible to compare the sound between the two with all components downstream from the dac (especially transducers of course) being different, I too am happy with both. In context, it sounds to me like it is merely nervosa working on you to try a transformer, which is a pretty expensive buy to my mind, for what is a difference somewhere between small and nonexistent. But, if it makes you happy maybe it isn't that expensive. Consider taking @zonto's advice above.

 

A little bit of nervosa, or FOMO (I like that one) but it's also a little bit of wanting to experiment. If I don't notice any difference, then I can probably sell it to the next nervous person and move on, secure in my choice. Either way, it's not keeping me up at night, thanks.

 

Hey, even if it only tells you that you didn't need to spend the money, and it costs you a couple hundred to figure it out, if it increases your ability to enjoy your music, maybe for you that is a bargain. I am in no position to disagree, and certainly not to criticize. But I would buy a cat shirt and music. Enjoy your tunes, dude.

 

I like my ZMF Atticus but need something with better isolation so I can listen at regular levels while my wife is watching tv and not hear any of it. I'd like to stay around $7-900 so I can sell/trade the Atticus and not spend too much. My other headphones are the Auteurs, so something complementary would be nice but not required. I'll be happy with good enough sound and good isolation.

 

Aeon Closed is where I'd go for that, with the disclaimer that I haven't heard the new ones.

 

I found the Aeon 2 closed to be a substantial upgrade sonically over the original. Sadly, I haven't heard any of the ZMF for comparison.

 

Drop x DCA Ether Cx?

 

I have an ether CX, they are a comfortable, well built close back, but they have significant dynamic compression at lower volume levels.
My understanding is the aeon 2 closed no longer has this issue, so I’d probably prefer that if buying now.

 

Hi ,

i m new here and a new owner of Starlett thanks to Donald. Now I m enjoying. Anyway , I m planning to buy a dac for Starlett. A friend recommend me to buy Denafrips Ares 2 due to my limited budget. So I hope friends here may advise me what dac should I get ? Thks.

 

Anyone try the aeon flow open x on drop yet? Tempted to try em since they are so much lighter than my lcd2 classics....

 

Schiit Bifrost 2 is an easy recommend for those on a budget.

 

Sorry for the banal question but looking for gear suggestions: I've been planning on getting a Fulla for a while as a one-box thing to fit my use case but factoring in courier costs buying that new iFi Zen DAC locally is going to be the less pricey route even accounting for VAT.

Has anyone so far been able to compare this to other well-known AIOs? For reference I'm very familiar with Micro iDSD silver and have extensive store-demo familiarity with AQ Dragonfly Black and Red (as well as extensive months-long loans of Chord Hugo and Mojo). Used to have a FIIO porta-thing too but that was ages back and I knew jack-all about my preferences then that it's effectively useless as a baseline. My having very good experiences with iFi's stuff so far in both home and demo settings is also skewing my preferences somewhat, but I'm willing to course-correct if need be.

This will also serve as my main DAC until I get a steady job post-graduation so I can afford a "proper" one, but I'm not too antsy about minutiae in audio these days so my threshold is "not diarrhea but pairs well with my desktop rig". Amp is a G1217 Sunrise III with whatever tubes I can get my hands on, headphones are Senn HD600 and Klipsch HP-3 with a Meze 99 in and out of the house as I lend it around. I don't aim for "neutrality" but would prefer something dynamic with good attack and inoffensive treble. Layering>headstage size, microdetail would be great but I want to keep my expectations reasonable.

Lastly, would prefer something on the cheaper end of the spectrum, haha

 

They are supposedly great fun. Personally I'm sad the less V-tuned aeon closed is not on drop

 

yeah I've decided I want to try aeons just for weight and see how they compare. now just down to getting a used aeon 1 since they can be had so cheap, aeon x for minor improvements and "new" (leaning this way), or the aeon 2 for the supposed increased detail and nifty folding feature.

**update - ordered the drop version

 

Thinking about getting my SO setup with some custom IEMs. She's got teeny-tiny ears and almost all universal IEMs don't work for her. Does anyone have any recommendations for sub-$500 CIEMs? True wireless would be a huge plus, too. The UE 5 CSX look like a pretty decent deal, but open to all suggestions. Thanks in advance!

 

So I took the HD600 out of my box, and it sounds good like I remember. Was thinking about picking up the HD6xx since it's close to a HD650.

I currently have the THX AAA 789, which is pure SS Amp. Works great with HD600 but source you needed to be careful. Should be a slightly better match with the HD6xx.

I was thinking of getting another amp with it. People were saying Valhalla 2 was great with the HD650/HD6xx and also HD600. Some people prefer the Lyr 3.

I know Lyr 3 has some great improvements/different things over the Valhalla 2, but it is also a hybrid. I already have a pure SS amp, and I was thinking of something 180 different. If people was in my shoes, would you go with the Valhalla 2, or Lyr 3?

I know by saying this I might ruin things, but I was leaning on Valhalla 2, but I can be persuaded to Lyr 3.


Edit: Nevermind, I don't think either is what I'm looking for.

 

If I were you, most likely I'd go for Lyr 3.

 

I'm looking for something similer. Something small, AIO, relatively cheap, preferably with USB and optical input, not necessarily battery powered. It doesn't seem like there are many options out there aside from what seems to be a plethora of Fiio/Topping type stuff. Schiit Fulla, AQ Dragonflies of various flavour, iFi Zen, iDSD, or Hip Dac, and not much else.

Aside - any idea why there's almost no discussion on Fulla 3, anywhere?