System Synergy - Special Sound

417
@Changeling

atomicbob said: ↑
"I've heard the Phonitor at meets. The crossfeed system did not impress me to the level Waves NX has. It is a competent headphone amp though doesn't tick enough boxes in my preference list for me.

Two other headphone amps you may wish to add to your list are the Hafler HA75 (does have a 12AX7 in the voltage gain position) and the 535SE which have threads on this forum. Both are interesting to me."

This one's really interesting, with import charges and shipping it adds up to $1300.
The (current) reason would be to add a bit of tube flavor and more power.
I'm not convinced the ADI-2 needs it, should I decide to keep it, but I'm looking forward to your thoughts.

Changeling, Jun 24, 2017

 

418
@Changeling

It seems like Waves NX can now be bought with specific headphone EQ included.
I'll try the updated version later this week.

http://www.waves.com/plugins/nx

Changeling, Wednesday at 6:23 AM

 

419
@k1arg

I've just put a polarity-flipping cable into my chain, and though I'm just a few hours in, this shit is for real. I'm not sure I have the right vocabulary, but I'd describe the difference as somehow more focused, especially transients. It's almost like things are a bit faster and clearer, but not quite the same as what I have come to associate those terms with by comparing headphones described hereabouts as fast/clear relative to others. This is most noticeable with lower frequencies, but there is also something subtly different in the treble, particularly when the music simultaneously has a lot going on all over the frequency spectrum (which is the normal case for me). The treble seems a bit smoother, or less harsh in the limit. E.g. when there are simultaneous kick drum and high hat / crash hits, the cymbals now shimmer more naturally through the decays.

For the record, I'm listening to Audirvana+ -> GoodHertz CanOpener with its polarity flipper enabled (which I prefer to Waves nx) -> Sonarworks with unlimited profile -> Gungnir Multibit -> Torpedo III (maxed out, with International Servicemaster (aka GE?) 12AZ7 tubes) -> HD650 / Utopia.

I'm currently leaving out a sub-sonic bass boost as avoiding clipping on music like Witherscape's Marionette around 1:40 just requires dropping by too many dB. I normally use Audirvana+'s ReplayGain, which combined with a -2dB cut in CanOpener is enough to prevent clipping without further reduction in Sonarworks. But with a SSBB, it takes a lot bigger cut to avoid clipping for material like Witherscape which is DR13, only needs -2.1dB to hit ReplayGain's -14dB target, still has 0.97 peaks, and has a lot of signal in the sub-bass region. Maybe it'd be fine if I didn't have such dodgy power which I suspect causes volume sensitive ~100Hz hum and other crap.

Last edited: Wednesday at 2:13 PM
k1arg, Wednesday at 2:07 PM

 

420
@atomicbob

Changeling said: ↑
"This one's really interesting, with import charges and shipping it adds up to $1300.
The (current) reason would be to add a bit of tube flavor and more power.
I'm not convinced the ADI-2 needs it, should I decide to keep it, but I'm looking forward to your thoughts."

Have spent many hours with both HD650 and HD800 on ADI-2 alone. I think Schiit MB + Sagaheim provides slightly better synergy for the HD650 but HD800 is a better match with the ADI-2. Too many measurements and experiments in the queue ATM. When time permits I'll try to get in some A/B/C between GuMB, Auralic Vega and ADI-2 on the ZDSE with HD650 and HD800.

atomicbob, Wednesday at 3:53 PM

 

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521
@Luckbad

I have a notion of what that setup sounds like, except the main filter I'm using is Irish whiskey instead of red wine. Apparently enough that I didn't notice the DAC was askew until posting this.
<IMAGE>

Luckbad, Jan 13, 2018

 

522
@captkirk

That looks like a 3-4 finger filter. Respect.

captkirk, Jan 13, 2018

 

523
@Elnrik

Luckbad said: ↑
"I have a notion of what that setup sounds like, except the main filter I'm using is Irish whiskey instead of red wine. Apparently enough that I didn't notice the DAC was askew until posting this.

If you like that filter, try this one. One of my favorites."

Elnrik, Jan 14, 2018

 

524
@wrestler

I've read only till page 9 here and this thread is a goldmine, possibly one of the best on SBAF. Wonder why it isn't tagged on resources here https://www.superbestaudiofriends.org/index.php?pages/FeaturedContent/

wrestler, Jan 19, 2018

 

525
@Senorx12562

Luckbad said: ↑
"I have a notion of what that setup sounds like, except the main filter I'm using is Irish whiskey instead of red wine. Apparently enough that I didn't notice the DAC was askew until posting this.
View attachment 11528"

You were probably askew at a complementary angle.
Senorx12562, Jan 28, 2018

 

526
@atomicbob

Thunderstruck! This system rocks!


We are fortunate to have some exceptionally capable, inexpensive components available, though the Focal Clear in this system is rather expensive by comparison to the other components:


A less expensive alternative that retains much of the impressive performance as the system above though Sonarworks compensation is needed, in my opinion:


I have spent many hours listening to both of these systems and will continue for some time into the future. Absorbing, immersive, non-fatiguing. Wow!

atomicbob, Mar 4, 2018

 

527
@msommers

Of the various amps that you've listened to with the HD650 in this thread, what do you feel has the best synergy using Sonarworks?

msommers, Mar 4, 2018

 

528
@atomicbob

msommers said: ↑
"Of the various amps that you've listened to with the HD650 in this thread, what do you feel has the best synergy using Sonarworks?"

Liquid Crimson or Zana Deux depending on mood, preference at the moment. MCTH will join the other two seen here as being in frequent rotation.

atomicbob, Mar 4, 2018

 

529
@batriq

@atomicbob That looks beautiful.

I had to move the Saga out of the BiMB+Joti system, and I'm not enjoying it the same.

I'm going to try BiMB+Vali2 next. One thing is that the Vali2 produces one pop sound in the headphones in the first ~30 seconds of warm up. Is that normal?

batriq, Mar 4, 2018

 

530
@Ash1412

batriq said: ↑
"@atomicbob That looks beautiful."

I had to move the Saga out of the BiMB+Joti system, and I'm not enjoying it the same.

I'm going to try BiMB+Vali2 next. One thing is that the Vali2 produces one pop sound in the headphones in the first ~30 seconds of warm up. Is that normal?

Ash1412, Mar 4, 2018

 

532
@Carlos CPA

atomicbob said: ↑
"Thunderstruck! This system rocks!

We are fortunate to have some exceptionally capable, inexpensive components available, though the Focal Clear in this system is rather expensive by comparison to the other components:

A less expensive alternative that retains much of the impressive performance as the system above though Sonarworks compensation is needed, in my opinion:

I have spent many hours listening to both of these systems and will continue for some time into the future. Absorbing, immersive, non-fatiguing. Wow!"

Thanks very much for this newest post, @atomicbob!

What are your thoughts on how this amp/DAC pairing would sound with the LCD2C?

I am currently over the moon with my black Saga/Joti/Bifrost Multibit rig hooked up to the LCD2C. For listening to EDM and rock, this system has demonstrated tremendous synergy.

However, I want to move the Saga/Joti/Bifrost Multibit to my home office and buy a PMx2 to use with this rig. I would move my BW2/Yggdrasil to the living room and use my modded HD800 and the PMx2 there.

Thus, I would keep the LCD2C at my workplace office. Would these headphones work well with the CTH/Modi Multibit/Eitr? Or will I be disappointed by this pairing after hearing the LCD2C through Saga/Joti/Bifrost Multibit? If I recall correctly, @purr1n said that the CTH could color the sound too much with the LCD2C, and that an amp should ideally be very neutral to pair well with the LCD2C.

Rather than the CTH, should I instead be considering getting the Cavalli Liquid Carbon v2.0 or the MassDrop x Alex Cavalli Liquid Carbon X to use with the LCD2C? Or is there another neutral amp that I should be considering?

Carlos CPA, Mar 14, 2018

 

533
@gaspasser

Changeling said: ↑
"Still haven’t found out what’s causing the dropouts with CanOpener for me. Will investigate and post back."

I had this issue in Windows 10 with CanOpener in 64-bit JRMC and after some google-fu, I found out the culprit was my antivirus program was scanning the music files as they are being used. This bogs down the processor and causes the dropouts. I changed the settings of the antivirus program and no dropouts now.

Gaspasser, Mar 18, 2018

 

534
@atomicbob

Carlos CPA said: ↑
"Thanks very much for this newest post, @atomicbob!
What are your thoughts on how this amp/DAC pairing would sound with the LCD2C?"

Not being an Audeze fan I will let someone else answer this if they have heard the combination.
atomicbob, Mar 18, 2018

 

535
@Elnrik

Gaspasser said: ↑
"I had this issue in Windows 10 with CanOpener in 64-bit JRMC and after some google-fu, I found out the culprit was my antivirus program was scanning the music files as they are being used. This bogs down the processor and causes the dropouts. I changed the settings of the antivirus program and no dropouts now."

@bixby

Maybe this could help?
Elnrik, Mar 18, 2018