The All Purpose Advice Thread

Also what are you doing with the scotch tape?

 

With Schiit tube amps I would use a rubber band.

 

Well aside from the obviously sketchy stuff that I usually do with scotch tape...

I’ve read that it’s best to use something like scotch tape or a post it note with some grip to get a purchase on the top of the tube... that’s what I’m essentially replacing with the tube puller I posted...

 

So I don’t know if you’ve used amps like the Schiit Mjolnir 2, but the tubes are “below the waterline” with only the top but sticking out. It’s tough to get a purchase with just your fingers...

https://www.schiit.com/products/mjolnir-1

 

Good point---For those subterranean tubes with enough showing a piece of 3m shelf liner and the built in tube puller work. I usually have all different size pieces hanging around. Works good on jars with tight lids as well.

Otherwise why not just take the top off, do some rolling for a few days, then choose your favorite, replace top and be done with it?

 

There is no "just take the top off" on a Mjolnir. That's crazy talk.

 

Huh, why not? Oh, I see, a C style case that forms the front top and bottom, kind of a pain in the ass, I agree.

 

Quick question (not sure if this is the right place but i figure it's safe to ask here lol), what are some good choices for a tube amp that would run a pair of 396A / 5670 tubes? (with adapters would be ok too?). Im really loving my WE 396A JW 2C51 50's tube, and im thinking of buying a matched NOS pair and then get good amp for it. Ideally a tube amp under 1K that would really work well with HD650 / 580s.

Took a look through the HD650 threads and discussions with amps but not sure which ones would work / work well with a pair of 396A. The one on the list so far i think would work would be the Schiit Valhalla 2 but not sure if there are better options. (especially since transformer based / SET types of amps might work better for me than OTL?)

For reference i'm currently running the MCTH with the WE 396A tube. appreciate any insights & directions!

 

EC Aficionado.

Uhmm, can the Lyr run with these?

 

Mjolnir 2 sounds great with WE 396As and would bring some nice slam to the HD650. If you are looking for a more thick/syrupy tube sort of character though MJ2 is not that.

 

ah yea i’m looking for something more of that lush midrange / vocal magic.

also, much as i love the eddie current stuff they’re pretty hard to find and outside of my sub 1k price budget.

 

Let me know if you get a shortlist together. I have the MJ2 and love it, but want to see how close I can get to warmpoo without actually being in warmpoo. Or, as they say, lush midrange magic.

 

This may have been answered before, but I'm out of town on my phone so search function is limited.

I'm a getting a second DAC and need to split/switch the AES XLR output of my DEQ2496. Can I use either of these? Looking for something cheap and compact.

https://www.markertek.com/product/s...r-balanced-audio-passive-a-b-switch-3-pin-xlr

https://www.amazon.com/Sescom-SES-AES-EBU-Y-Impedance-Matching-Y-Splitter/dp/B00A6ZE0EQ

 

My gutcheck feeling is that the second one is what you want since it at least means maintaining impedance for AES signals.

 

I'm looking for a new dac circa $500-1000. Priorities are blackest blackground possible, and 100% accurate timbre (or as close to perfectly natural/realistic/believable/human as possible). This will be for my hd650s; I'm not a speaker guy.

 

"Accurate timbre" means different things to different people. To help us get a better idea of your taste, what dacs have you tried? What did you like/dislike about them? Which amp(s) do you have or plan to get? Any other broad taste comments (not limited to the dac)?

 

Ok, a dac that will fit your definitions of timbre may be a request that is hard to fill. Can you point me to the girl that has the most natural smile?

Your best bet is to use the search function to read the numerous thread s here on 650 dac matching. Most folks will not know you have a Vali or that you tested cans to arrive at the 650. So the more detail and what you have used, liked, tried, disliked, etc, the better someone might be able to offer a suggestion.

Like your headphone process the best piece of advice is to do the same thing with dacs, try them. Cause I know chances are my girl with the best smile will probably not be your pick.

 

You read my mind faster than I could

 

In my opinion, timbre is either right or not since it either sounds like the instrument in real life or it doesn't. Though I take your point.

Ok, most recently, I have tried the micromega mydac as suggested by a friend. Unfortunately it was much too forward/aggressive sounding, and added this strange "milky" texture to all the instruments. I am reliably informed that wonky timbre is a feature of cirrus dacs. For those who haven't tried the mydac, a friend of mine says that its timbre reminds him of Callia. So whatever that is, it's not for me.

I have also tried the Topping E30 (yeah, I know) and to be honest there were no glaring issues there considering the price.

Most recently I have acquired a bifrost 2, which is nice, but a bit too thick, did not have as realistic of a midrange as I had expected from an r2r dac, and the blackground was nothing to write home about. Overall a decent dac however.

My first dac was a Meizu dongle, which if anyone has tried it, has one of the most pleasingly natural tonalities I've come across though the resolution is obviously completely lacking. If I could find meizu tonality with the resolve of any of the other dacs, my search would be complete.

As far as amps are concerned, I tried a vali2+ which was ultimately compressed towards loudness and had something going on in the upper midrange that I didn't care for. I'm now using a custom tube OTL amplifier similar to the valhalla 2 but without its compromises of negative feedback and a white cathode follower. It sounds gorgeous and I have no intention of changing amps anytime soon. So as you can see, the last thing to complete is a proper dac, and I will reiterate that my priorities here are blackground and natural sound. The technicalities don't have to be so strong so long as the timbre is nailed.

Thanks, appreciate any suggestions.

 

One challenge with this is aural memory tends to be shorter than we think and unreliable.

You might like an iFi DAC, not thick, good timbre, and they do a great job with DS chips (I generally prefer R2R/Multibit but iFi has been an exception for me so far). I don't listen for blackground, hard for me to say how well they do in that regard. Considering your location, probably much easier to return if you don't like it than Schiit.

The HD 650 is an excellent choice IMO, despite falling into the "budget" category, they are really solid performers, sound fine/good on most gear, and scale exceptionally well.