The All Purpose Advice Thread - Part 2

Discussion in 'Advice Threads' started by shotgunshane, Mar 27, 2022.

  1. WoodyLuvr

    WoodyLuvr Friend

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    It has been quite some time but I liked the Dekoni Fenestrated Sheepskin pads with the HD800 but do be warned that there will be an ever so slight loss in bass impact (slam & punch) due to lack of seal with these pad designs vs the Sennheiser OEM's ones. Maybe Dekoni has upgraded and solved this by now. Maybe someone more knowledgeable will pipe up and verify that or not. I wouldn't be surprised that there are some new pads in town that are better as well.
     
  2. That St Kilda Guy

    That St Kilda Guy Acquaintance

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    [QUOTE="nithhoggr, post: 391812, member: 4947"]What's the least bad option for third-party pads for the HD800? The official pads have been out of stock for months, and my pads are really falling apart.[/QUOTE]
    My understanding is that it's the:

    Dekoni Audio Elite Hybrid Earpads (closest to stock I believe)
    Of course, the OEM's are the best . I only changed mine because 3rs party fits better
     
  3. That St Kilda Guy

    That St Kilda Guy Acquaintance

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    Hi SBAF Brains Trust

    I’ve slowly been reducing how many audio components I own and increasing the quality of the ones that I keep.

    I’ve sold my RME ADI-2 fs, Topping E30 and am keeping my Bitforst 2 with the new 2/64 card.

    I’ve sold my Xduoo TA26, Darkvoice, Vali 2+, Lyr 3 and Jotenheim 2 to fund a Burson Soloist 3X GT and keeping my Bottlehead Crack with Choke and Caps installed

    And want to sell my Bluesound Node 130 for a Pi2 Mercury V2 when it becomes available.

    As synergy is a primary concern among other things, If I was to sell my Bifrost 2. Would you opt for a Denafrips Pontus 2, an Audio-GD R1 Full Clock, R8 - MK2 or something else?

    I am aiming for a fully balanced system from end to end.

    Lastly, which connection should I use between the streamer (when it becomes available) and the DAC? I want a pure fully balanced (discrete) R2R DAC. The budget is under US$1750 for the DAC

    The headphones I use are found in my signature list.

    Cheers and Beers
     
    Last edited: Sep 15, 2022
  4. TheloniuSnoop

    TheloniuSnoop Friend

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    https://www.head-fi.org/threads/senn-hd800-ultimate-maxx-mod.879024/post-15457967
     
  5. nithhoggr

    nithhoggr Author of the best selling novel Digital Jesus

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  6. dasman66

    dasman66 Self proclaimed lazy ass - friend

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    Any recommendations for reasonably priced RCA interconnects (beyond the normal BJC rec)
     
  7. atomicbob

    atomicbob dScope Yoda

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    I prefer RCA cables made with Mogami 2964 and either Amphenol or Neutrik-Rean RCA connectors.
    Worlds Best Cable is one vendor that produces those combinations.
     
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  8. Biodegraded

    Biodegraded Friend

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    World's Best Cables (available through Amazon) make interconnects using combinations of Canare, Gotham & Mogami cable and Amphenol, Eminence, & Neutrik/Rean connectors (maybe others too). Prices aren't bad.

    Edit: ^ Scooped!

    Also, Performance Audio will custom build with Mogami & Canare cables, Amphenol, Canare, Neutrik connectors:

    https://www.performanceaudio.com/ac...om-audio-cables/custom-rca-to-rca-cables.html
     
  9. JonCharles

    JonCharles Friend

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    Which thread would I be best advised for getting good help setting up my new Mercury Streamer/Pi2AES? I'm very close to smashing it out of frustration and would like to at least give it one more good go before I pronounce it unusable for anyone but modern tech prodigies.
     
  10. HotRatSalad

    HotRatSalad Friend

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    https://www.superbestaudiofriends.o...instructions-for-complete-f'ing-morons.11731/

    https://www.superbestaudiofriends.o...-to-pi2aes-throw-away-your-pc-or-laptop.8878/

    Don't give up ! I have a strong computer background (not Linux) and I had to really learn through trial and error. After really learning moode inside and out I really love my pi2aes. I only use it as a file transport though don't stream.
     
  11. dasman66

    dasman66 Self proclaimed lazy ass - friend

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    don't smash... just send to me instead:D

    but seriously... @HotRatSalad gave good links... and once itts setup, it's pretty much set/forget about it.
     
  12. That St Kilda Guy

    That St Kilda Guy Acquaintance

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    I
    Dekoni
    Anyone?
     
    Last edited: Sep 16, 2022
  13. JonCharles

    JonCharles Friend

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    I got the streamer working well with MoOde somehow. And it works and sounds very nice. Thanks for the encouragement, I almost gave up. Things just seemed to fall into place after I gave it another go. I have one question. I have my device set as Allo DigiOne and this seems to work fine thus far. Mercury Streamer and Pi2AES aren't on the list, so should I be using something else?
     
  14. Royaume

    Royaume Acquaintance

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    I could give specific reactions to some of the things you have said, but instead:

    Don't upgrade unless you are dissatisfied with your current setup. Share with us your current setup and tell us specifically what isn't up to scratch. Your post contains an implicit suggestion that you need to upgrade but you don't. Unless you do.

    Remember it's headphones -> amp -> DAC. In that order. Unless you share what headphones you intend to drive, we can't give any usefull advice.

    Bal vs SE doesn't matter. Just buy gear that sounds good to you and fuss over details later. Balanced stuff is a secondary consideration.

    Dont assume that more expensive is "higher quality".

    Ask specific question r.e. synergy. Not broad open-ended questions. It is true that some DACs and amps synergize with each other, but again, the headphone takes priority in determining what amp you will need.
     
  15. dasman66

    dasman66 Self proclaimed lazy ass - friend

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    pg 15 of the manual... and covered in the links @HotRatSalad provided... but in general, if its making sound then you're good
     
  16. JonCharles

    JonCharles Friend

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    I feel really dumb for asking this, but which manual would this be? I haven't found a manual for MoOde specifically.
     
  17. HotRatSalad

    HotRatSalad Friend

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    HiFiBerry Digi+ Pro

    That's what I was told when I asked.
     
  18. Michael Kelly

    Michael Kelly MOT: Pi 2 Design

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    the manual on our web site. Either the PI2AES or Mercury page.
     
  19. caute

    caute Lana Del Gayer than you

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    Piggybacking off the RCA reco, are World's Best Cables good for XLR interconnects, too? I want to go Pangea, but it's a hefty price to pay for some cables, perhaps another thing to upgrade to in the future lol
     
  20. fraggler

    fraggler A Happy & Busy Life

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    I think I saw this asked before, but any recommendations for some good office headphones that are maybe in the $50 range? I am blessed that I was able to open up an office for me and my partners, but we are shouting over each other on calls. Need reasonable noise attenuation and decent mics. If we had the cashflow, I would just grab some Sony ANC sets, but the outlay for the office has killed all of the excess cash.
     

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