The All Purpose Advice Thread

Technically all Schiit amps are output transformerless because none of them have output transformers. But I suspect you're asking about "true" OTL with no solid state current buffer stuff mixed in?

What kind of sound are you looking for?

 

Thank you very much. Yes. I am looking for alternative to bottlehead headphone amp. I was told that Bottlehead OTL amp is one of the best match with HD600 hence interested in trying OTL amp.

My preferred sound is neutral, high clarity and airy sound .. Ety ER4S sound with slight bass boost would be my most favorite sound Sig. I mainly listen to accoustic, folk, female vocal and heavy metal.

 

Thank you...Any particular tubes do you recommend to replace with?

 

And, is Schiit Vali 2 also good match? I found that price is very good for tube amp...

 

The Vali 2 is good, the Valhalla 2 is very good. Or the Vali 2 is very good, the Valhalla 2 is very very good.

If the only headphones you use are the HD600, get the Valhalla 2. It's a better match. If you want to use a wide variety of headphones, get the Vali 2.

 

Hi Guys,

In terms of detail retrieval and bass are the HD650 better than an Ether or Ether C?

The rig used is a Schiit Bifrost Multibit - Schiit Mojo 2 with stock tubes

Thanks

 

Can someone reiterate on this?

Why a USB to SPDIF converter rather than just using a USB or SPDIF cable directy to your source?

 

In my experience with both sources that output SPDIF directly (Raspberry Pi with Hifiberry DIGI+ and the souped up Pi2media 503SPD2 I'm testing now) and the Transient USB converter, it's more a question of using the Gungnir Multibit's SPDIF input instead of its USB input. If you need a USB --> SPDIF converter to do that, great. If you can use a good source that outputs SPDIF without conversion, also great. Either will outperform the Gungnir Multibit's USB input by what is in my experience a significant and noticeable margin. There are microscopic differences between different converters, of course, but there is a significant difference between the Gungnir Multibit's SPDIF input and its USB input.

Edit: Just for context, I'll provide this disclaimer: Does my Gungnir Multibit become a piece of crap DAC when the USB input is used? Hell no. It's still very nice in many ways. But it gets even better via SPDIF.

 

Great, I just saved a lot of cash, the Ether is 5 times the price of the HD650 in the UK!

 

Hello guys,

I was happily living my audio life with my combo LCD3F/EC 4-45/AMR DP-777 for a while but after returning 3 times my LCD3F due to driver failure, I'm fed up...

I try to find an alternative headphone to fit my rig and with the same spirit/time than my LCD3F without selling any kidney. Anyone tried LFF Enigma with an EC 4-45? (quite difficult to find someone who own this can in France...)

Thanks!

 

While the Enigma is a good headphone, I'm not really sure it compares to a LCD3F. The headphone you probably want (which is sadly nearly unobtainable) is a Code-X. It would likely be an awesome fit with the EC 4-45. Sorry to bring up one of the more difficult headphones to find.

 

Life is a bitch...

I was aware of the Code X but it's seems easier to find life on Mars than buying a second hand Code X!

 

Hi SBAF
Would like to read your suggestions for a high quality dac/amp, small footprint, no need for tons of power just enough to drive "easy to drive ortho" such as Hifiman EDX/Audeze EL8. No real budget but USD500/700 would be ok. I'm curious about Ifi products
Thanks

 

Hi folks, moving a thread

My mid-term plan is to get a set of monitors for my desk...probably the Genelec 8010s and the 7040 sub. I have no desktop gear at the moment.

I've been thinking something like the Emotiva Stealth DC-1 would fit the bill, as I need XLR out to the monitors. I know Cambridge plays in this space with the DacMagic Plus and for a few hundred more the Azur 851D...but they do that upsampling thing.

My other options are to get a unbalanced to balanced converter and use the Mojo, or get a cable for the GOV2 (though that feels like a really flimsy solution to me).

Are the desktop combos worth looking at?

@Priidik mentioned running simply with RCA to XLR cables. Any downside to that?

 

Just clarifying before pulling from the depths of memory: you are committed to a single dac/amp box, yes? Based on your gear in signature, you have serviceable dacs and amps. Are you keeping those, looking to replace those entirely, looking for a different flavor, or looking to create a second (or third) listening station? (several have rigs at home, work, significant other / secret lover...)

 

I seriously can't wait for that show. Somebody has a timemachine I can borrow?

 

no single dac/amp box, can be separated. Don't pay attention to my signature, just want to hear some suggestions I plan to keep my mojo for the moment but if there is a better option (more appropriate to EDX) I would love to read more about it
@jexby , nothing urgent I can wait for sure september to buy anything else