The All Purpose Advice Thread

That amp also appears not to have a USB input if that is important to you.

 

OK, that's a deal breaker for an integrated amp.

Also explaining to my wife speaker must be like 3-4 feet from the wall has triggered unexpected WAF issues. I'll probably have to consider Bookshelf ^^. I'll try to BR03 and Titus EZ. I keep Elac Debut reference in mind...

 

This may help assuage your fear of placing the speakers closer to the wall!

http://arqen.com/acoustics-101/speaker-placement-boundary-interference/

 

That's very different from what I've read elsewhere (like Cardas site) interesting. I'm not sure I would want them on the plasterboard wall of my living room though, I'll have to seriously consider mounting.

 

Not suggesting you mount them in the wall like in a studio. I don't., but close to the front wall is not the evil that many fear.

The Cardas method of speaker placement is only one opinion. There are a number of "rules" for speaker placement but in my 40 years of using the "rules" was upended when I tried moving them closer to the front wall and this was the most ear opening. Try as many as you like and go with what you like. I am just offering suggestions that have made my setups better over the years.

Here is another idea. https://sonicscoop.com/2017/12/14/t...t-tip-speaker-manuals-get-completely-wrong/2/

 

@Bitter , a slight wrinkle to consider if you end up with speakers that are rear-ported is you'll want to have those away from the wall a little to cut the interaction between port and wall. The recommendation on page 1 of @bixby 's link above ('previous page' link at bottom of article) is at least the port width. I've also seen >2x the port width and at >1x the port length; but whatever, not much, and if you end up close, listen to see if you hear differences either side.

If you haven't seen them already, other places here that are worth exploring for speaker/amp/etc. the two-channel advice thread and the speaker advice thread.

https://www.superbestaudiofriends.org/index.php?threads/the-two-channel-advice-thread.3191/

https://www.superbestaudiofriends.o...eral-speaker-advice-and-recommendations.4062/

 

I've had the LCD4/Qutest and Ayre Codex/V280 as my desktop system for the last year. I'm selling off that system and moving to a different flavor. I want to see how the other half lives so I am building a system with an easy to drive high impedance headphone and I want to pair it with a tube amp. I picked up the ZMF Aeolus (may try the Auteur at some point too), the Schiit Bifrost 2 and am considering amplifier pairings. I also picked up a Linn Sekrit DS and will compare using that as a source vs my mac mini. I will compare using the Linn DAC vs the Bitrost2 as well. I will admit that part of the decision to make this system overhaul has to do with comfort and aesthetics. That is part of the experience and is a factor in my purchasing decisions.

Here are some options I am considering:

1) Decware CSP3 - Since I do not need the power to run planars the extra money for the Taboo seems unnecessary. Also, Steve Deckert and some others on the Decware boards said that the Taboo sounds better when using the all tube line stage of the CSP3 as a preamp. I like the aesthetics, size, Decware's reputation and the fact that is handmade in the US with a lifetime warranty. Seems like this OTL option might be a good fit but I will have to wait about 6 months for it to be built.

2) Schiit Lyr3 - this would make for an appealing stack with the Bifrost 2, is reasonably priced and might be a reasonable stop gap until the CSP3 can be built. When the CSP3 comes in I could compare both and sell the one I like less. Who knows? Is the Aeolus/Bifrost2/Lyr3 a great combo? Is there a better Schiit pairing? Valhalla2?

3) ZMF Pendant - I like the potential system synergy with the ZMF headphones but it takes up a lot of desk real estate and is significantly more than the CSP3. I also bought a second hand one of these recently and had to return it due to some severe static noise issues. The owner said it was caused by a bad tube but it spooked me a bit. I've read a few posts about some having noise issues with this amp. Do people have noise issues with certain tube amps in office settings with routers, wifi printers, etc?

What other tube amps should I consider if all I care about is optimizing for the ZMF Aeolus or Auteur (possibly the Bifrost2 as well)? How do ZMF headphones perform on OTL vs SET vs Push/Pull amps? Price, aesthetics, size and sound quality are all factors. I am definitely not a DIY guy and don't have a ton of interest in going far down the rabbit hole of tube rolling. Thanks in advance.

 

FYI, you should probably post this in the all-purpose advice thread. And before you do that, you should introduce yourself in the new member introduction thread: New Members - Introduce Yourself | Super Best Audio Friends. I'll give you some advice, but you should go do those things.

Anyways, I am relatively new to exploring system synergy with ZMF's, but I've tried some of the same amps and dacs that you have. In fact, I'm sort of in the same situation as you: I have an Aeolus and Auteur, and I'm looking to optimize the way those sound.

As far as the Lyr 3 goes, it is an "ok" pairing with the Aeolus. Bass hits fairly hard, and there is a nice coherence to the sound. However, when paired with the bifrost 2, it is fairly laid-back sounding. Doubly so if you're using the Auteur with this combo or the stock aeolus pads on Aeolus. In my experience, the Aeolus does better with amps that have higher output impedance. With my SW51+, the Aeolus opens up significantly, and sounds considerably more nuanced than it does with the Lyr 3. Valhalla 2 is certainly an option to consider: it should significantly expand the staging on the Aeolus, as well as improve layering and separation. But it has some notable drawbacks, like somewhat etchy treble and a lack of bass heft and macrodynamics. I wouldn't pair Valhalla 2 with Auteur - would just be a bit too bright for me, personally.

Chachasmooth recently assembled a list of amps that he thinks go well with ZMF headphones(ZMF Compendium | Page 5 | Super Best Audio Friends). On the cheaper side, there's stuff like SW51+, Lyr 3, and Magni 3+, and on the more expensive side, there's Donald North Audio amps and the ECP DSHA-3F. I feel like the Pendant is certainly worth looking into, though from what I've read about it, it's an amp with a fast, very linear sound, something you might or might not be looking for with an amp. As far as noise issues go, I actually emailed Zach about that, and they supposedly only exist with the first set of units - more recent units don't have that issue. So if you buy one new, you should be good (FYI though, Pendant price is going up $500 dollars on Jan. 1).

In my mind, I'm fairly certain that the Pendant will be an excellent pairing with the Aeolus, and several people both here and on head-fi have described liking the pairing. The excellent driver control of the Pendant and bass macrodynamics it brings to the table should, in theory, help shore up some weaknesses of the Auteur, but some might also find the very linear, neutral sound is too bright with the Auteur (especially with certain pads). In fact, with the SW51+, an amp that I'm told has a fairly similar sound signature to the Pendant, I occasionally find the Auteur to be a little zingy in the upper registers when using Auteur Lambskin pads. Of course, your mileage may vary.

 

Just some thoughts from the ZMF maestro himself:

https://www.head-fi.org/threads/zmf-aeolus-impressions-thread.890441/page-25#post-14662338

https://www.head-fi.org/threads/zmf...ck-zmf-flagship.911505/page-181#post-15603264

https://www.head-fi.org/threads/zmf...ck-zmf-flagship.911505/page-244#post-15871413

Lyr 3 suits me because I use it with planars as well as Auteur (and soon VC). Reeaalllly curious what Schiit has in store for the Lyr successor in 2021. But like @dematted mentioned there are higher output impedance amps that may suit you better if not also considering planars.

 

Thanks for the membership tips and your thoughts on my post @dematted. I just posted in the new members thread and will also post this in the forum you suggested.

 

@snatex The Liquid Platinum is also a very good match with the Aeolus.

 

What are the best high end tube amp pairings for the ZMF Aeolus in the $1.5k-$3k range? DNA? How long are the lead times on these?

 

(Repost as I mistakingly made a thread)
Hey everyone,

So lately I've been looking for a better Amp to power the quirky SR007s I picked up from purr1n, I saw a Mjolnir Baldur going for 800$ is that a good price for it, and do y'all think it's a good match for the SR-007s? Or should I look for something else?

Thanks for your time!

 

Hello everyone, a newbie here. Need some advice about upgrading from the Lyr 3. I am currently using it with the RME ADI-2 as the dac and the ZMF Aeolus, and have tube rolled quite a bit. I am planning to get a Verite open soon. Is there a tube amp <$1000 (used market) that could be considered an upgrade from the Lyr 3. Going over multiple forums the names that usually come up are the Feliks Echo, Hagerman Tuba and the SW51+. My concern is same as the comment above: that all these may prove to be only marginally better than the Lyr. Are there any that you think may be considered an upgrade? Your thoughts will be appreciated. Also any recommendations for SS amps are also welcome.

 

Don’t buy the Feliks Echo. It’s not a bad amp by any means. But it’s not a great one either, especially for the asking price. It has a couple of tonal quirks (wooly bass, slightly strident lower treble) that make it ideal neither for the 800 nor the 650. And the overall technical performance isn’t remarkable (decent stage, rounded transients, slightly dull macrodynamics and not so great resolution). If you can get it for $300, it won’t be a bad choice, provided you can live with its tonal quirks. I’d take a Lyr3 over this.

 

My Vali 1.0 died which I've been using with Drop/Senn HD58X headphones and Modi MB. My other amp is a Liquid Spark and my other phones are AQ Nighthawk Carbon and Oppo PM3s. Any inexpensive amp recommendations?

 

Thank you! Do you or others here have thoughts on the LTA MicroZOTL MZ2? For some reason there aren't many forum posts about this amp, just a few glowing reviews on gear websites.