The All Purpose Advice Thread

Discussion in 'Advice Threads' started by purr1n, Sep 26, 2015.

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  1. ckhirnigs

    ckhirnigs Friend

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  2. TamHo

    TamHo New

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    My Zen can 6xx from Ifi but if you can find one, you should try the Arcam rhead. It sounds better than the Zen can 6xx, magni 3 , mjolnir 1, asgard 3 and jottunheim 1 to my ears
     
  3. Tekker

    Tekker Facebook Friend

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    Thanks. In what way does it sound better than those other amps?
     
  4. TamHo

    TamHo New

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    The rhead sounds more nuanced, realistic and wider. I bought it secondhand with the same price as the other mentioned amps
     
  5. aamefford

    aamefford Nothing like chamberpot coffee

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    (mod added quote for context after moving posts into this thread)


    I haven’t heard the Elegia, and it’s been a long time for the aeons. Why do I post? To let yo know that Adorama puts eth Elegia on 1 day sale for $399 about every other week. They are on today.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Nov 14, 2021
  6. Pancakes

    Pancakes Friend

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    Dude you've literally posted this question on every site under the sun. If others haven't made your mind up for you by now, it's never going to happen. Buy them both, return the one you like least.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Nov 14, 2021
  7. ColdsnapBry

    ColdsnapBry Almost "Made"

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    Since I've upgraded to the Bifrost 2, I've noticed that my Asgard 3 isn't keeping up, also the RCA out on the BF2 is dedicated to my SW51+/Hagerman Tuba.

    I'm looking for a $500ish solid state that has balanced in that would have great synergy with the ZMF Aeolus and Sennheiser 6XX. Any suggestions on what I should be looking for? @Erroneous mentioned in a previous thread that SS synergize with Aeolus if it's a bit neutral, has good dynamics and mostly gets out of the Aeolus's way.
     
  8. jnak00

    jnak00 Friend

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    Jotunheim 2 is good with Bifrost 2 and Aeolus. And HD6XX from what I recall.
     
  9. nonverbal

    nonverbal New

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    Hi,havent post for awhile but I need some advice.
    I've been out of any audiophile gear for years,and recently sell my apogee groove(Used with HD6xx/Grado hemp),now use my iFi hipdac with my headphone,but the headroom/separation is terrible on the combo(especially with HD6xx,under 4.4 pentaconn is better but still cant surpass Apogee groove)
    I think should get an new dac/amp combo(I think iFi hipdac is not sufficient ofr my need so will replace it,I prefer small footprint machine;still searching anything under $1500) but wondering if I should get new headphone,I mainly listen to classical(about50%),metal(progressive and speed metal)30,others 20%
    So the question is:
    1.Recommendation of DAC/amp combo into one machine ?Seems less choice but I have very limited place to deal with.
    2.Should I buy new headphone?I wonder if Orthos can bring me new experience ,or anything like HD800s.
    Thanks.
     
    Last edited: Nov 14, 2021
  10. fraggler

    fraggler A Happy & Busy Life

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    If you are able, I'd recommend getting some time auditioning both more headphones and more amps/dacs. I know the pandemic makes things tough, but that is really the only way you might figure out the best way forward. No amp/dac will magically transform your headphones, but if the HipDAC isn't cutting it, you may be shortchanging whatever headphone you might get. Maybe reach out to some fellow Taipei residents if you know any. Personally, I enjoyed both my HD650 and my HD800 headphones out of the iFi iDSD Micro BL. Even moreso out of my SW51 and Bifrost 2 combo. I listen to maybe 50% classical if that helps.
     
  11. Senorx12562

    Senorx12562 Case of the mondays

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    Haven't heard the hip dac, but I seriously doubt whether it will drive the Aeon with any authority (especially SE) , as it is pretty demanding of current (much moreso than the 400S), but the Focal should be OK in that regard. Whether there is any synergy there w/r/t sq I can't say ofc. As you have heard elsewhere, pretty hard to know without listening. But unless you are willing to up your amp game, I would advise against the Aeon.
     
  12. pk500

    pk500 New

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    Yeah, my amp is a concern with the Aeon's. Your advice is much appreciated!
     
  13. ColdsnapBry

    ColdsnapBry Almost "Made"

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    Just adding my experience on the Mr Speakers Aeon OPEN. It really aggravated my tinnitus, even though it was open it sealed a lot and I would assume the closed would so so more. I won't get into the frequency response, as you're looking at the closed and I had the open. But the frequency response annoyed me almost as much as the tinnitus it caused.
     
  14. nonverbal

    nonverbal New

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    Actually it's quite easy to audition amp/dac or headphone here in Taipei,but it's not easy to find any suggestion about the dac/amp combo under 1500USD when surfing internet,weird for me.I'll take HD800s into consideration too.Thanks for your reply!
     
  15. nonverbal

    nonverbal New

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    Hi ColdsnapBry,
    Uh, I think it's @pk500 who ask the experience with Dan clark aeon X,but I have interested in it too,and I also have tinnitus problem.(Years ago I cant sleep because tinnitus is there allday,the situation is much better after medical treatment)
    Your experience is helpful,seems I should just ignore Aeon X,thanks.
     
  16. pk500

    pk500 New

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    Thanks for the feedback. Closed X sold out at Drop, so I went with the Elegia's for something different in my collection. We'll see how they agree with my ears and brain.
     
  17. VonAtlas

    VonAtlas New

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    I've been enjoying Final Audio's iems, and curious about their full sized headphones. I saw the Sonorous iii pop on Drop, and I'm curious what people's impression are for the price.
     
  18. econaut

    econaut Almost "Made"

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    Are there any alternatives to the Dragonfly Cobalt by now?

    That means:
    • not battery powered
    • ideally with a balanced output
    • soundwise sidegrade or upgrade
    Many thanks :)


    EDIT: Just got the answer from Audioquest that there are no plans for a Dragonfly with balanced output.
     
    Last edited: Nov 23, 2021
  19. loadexfa

    loadexfa MOT: rhythmdevils audio

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    I’m unclear on your goals. I haven’t heard anything by Dragonfly so I can’t comment on what would be similar. Are you interested in a small desktop all in one (DAC/amp)? Which headphones/IEMs do you plan to use? Budget? Why no battery? Both iFi and Chord have some interesting AIO units but they have rechargeable batteries, good for portable use and clean power.
     
  20. Tchoupitoulas

    Tchoupitoulas Friend

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    I've not heard the Cobalt so I can't compare the sound quality but you should take a look at the Lotoo Paw S1. It's excellent, for the price and for what it does, with sensitive BA and BA-hybrid IEMs like the Andromeda 2020 and the original Solaris. I'm not sure how well it would drive DD IEMs or headphones.

    Its main liabilities are those you'd expect for this kind of device: it doesn't offer the best resolution, and its sound quality is best when plugged into a laptop; it's appreciably worse from a tablet and, in turn, a phone.

    There's also a new S2, which has just been released.
     
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