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The All Purpose Advice Thread

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

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  1. fatboycarney

    fatboycarney New

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    @ibzrg1570 Thanks for the feedback. Interesting on the X2 I would think the wider soundstage might be a big deal for movie watching.

    Any other thoughts on large soundstage headphones vs HD600?
     
    fatboycarney, Sep 8, 2016
    #2321
  2. Gravity

    Gravity Friend

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    I completly forgot about this one. Thanks!
     
    Gravity, Sep 8, 2016
    #2322
  3. ultrabike

    ultrabike Measurbator - Admin

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    The HD600s is my main set of cans. I use a simple Focusrite 2i2 as Amp/DAC. All the above recommends to drive the HD600s should work fine. I liked them also from a Bottlehead Crack BTW. They pair well with many systems and they scale well with higher end systems.

    If I was you, I would not worry to much about soundstage and let the DSP do the magic there. The better the cans, the easier the DSP task should be.
     
    ultrabike, Sep 8, 2016
    #2323
  4. Hands

    Hands Overzealous Auto Flusher - Measurbator

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    Glad I could help. They respond really well to mods too. Some Dynamat in the right place helps bring down distortion in the low-end, and some additional damping inside the cups helps clean things up. But they're still great budget cans even stock.
     
    Hands, Sep 8, 2016
    #2324
  5. MarcoGV

    MarcoGV Acquaintance

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    In addition to the excellent CAL!, already recommended by @Hands , if your brother needs better isolation, you may consider the Onkyo ES-FC300. The ES-FC300 is on sale for $40 on amazon, in violet or white. (I have a white one; https://smile.amazon.com/ONKYO-large-headphones-headband-ES-FC300-W/dp/B00CB7WUGM/) The ES-FC300 looks like a small over-ear, but it is actually a large on-ear. It was displaced from InnerFidelity's Wall of Fame by the Noontec Zoro II HD, which I have never heard. The Noontec Zoro II HD is available in several colors, starting at $55.95 on amazon (https://smile.amazon.com/Noontec-Headphone-Professional-Comfortable-Adjustable/dp/B00MWRR8OA/). Note that cable failures have been reported for the Onkyo, which uses a rather unusual connector to the earcups.
     
    MarcoGV, Sep 8, 2016
    #2325
  6. Hands

    Hands Overzealous Auto Flusher - Measurbator

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    I can vouch for the Onkyo and Zoro II HD as well. Both are solid choices as well.
     
    Hands, Sep 8, 2016
    #2326
  7. Ryu

    Ryu Friend

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    Can anyone identify these tubes? I got them as the stock tubes for my Bottlehead Crack. Another quick question, Is there a way to properly wash these? I would imagine these are the same thing as car headlights and since I touched it with my fingers I need to clean it properly to remove the oils from my hands.

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]
     
    Ryu, Sep 8, 2016
    #2327
  8. Armaegis

    Armaegis Friend

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    Usually a microfiber cloth and breathing on it is good enough (like you would cleaning glasses).
     
    Armaegis, Sep 8, 2016
    #2328
  9. imackler

    imackler Key Lime Pie Infected Aberdeen Wings Spy

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    @ultrabike Anything you particularly like about the Focusrite?
     
    imackler, Sep 9, 2016
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  10. ultrabike

    ultrabike Measurbator - Admin

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    It's a decent DAC (2 channel). It's a decent amp (2 channel). It's a decent ADC (2 channel). It has decent mic pre-amps (2 of them). It has decent balanced/unbalanced outputs. It has decent balanced/unbalance inputs (it does balanced better than unbalanced in general though). It's has decent pre-outs. It's relatively low latency. The ASIO driver works well with Windoze (and the solution works well with Linux). It's practical and small. It has not broken down on me. It does not look like shit (IMO). It does not sound like shit (IMO). It can drive my cans louder than I like. It does not need a wall-wart (practical). It all works (power an all) using a single USB cable. It's affordable.

    One problem though is that it requires a computer to work. So I had to buy a Monoprice (Fiio clone) stand alone amp/DAC for my TV to drive my powered monitors (cheapo TV only had line-outs). Otherwise this would have done this task awesomely for that as well... This may not be a problem if you use an HTPC.

    Now. Is it the pinnacle of audio awesomeness. No. But it's very good IMO.

    If one is looking for a practical and well made external audio interface (inputs and outputs + mics) for a computer, on the go, at an affordable price... I think the 2i2 is pretty competitive.
     
    Last edited: Sep 9, 2016
    ultrabike, Sep 9, 2016
    #2330
  11. Armaegis

    Armaegis Friend

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    The Focusrite VRMbox is also a fun little device that's about $100 msrp. It's small with a big volume knob on top, accepts coax input (but still needs usb to function/power), and has a nifty speaker emulation package.
     
    Armaegis, Sep 10, 2016
    #2331
  12. twerk

    twerk New

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    Hi guys. I'm after a cheap portable amp/DAC to use with my Shure SE215s while I'm at work. Budget it $100.

    So far I've narrowed the options down to:
    Audioquest DragonFly Black
    Schiit Fulla
    CEntrance DACport Slim

    If you have any other suggestions please feel free. Thanks!
     
    twerk, Sep 13, 2016
    #2332
  13. cocolinho

    cocolinho Acquaintance

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    2nd hand Geek out V1?
     
    cocolinho, Sep 13, 2016
    #2333
  14. sorrodje

    sorrodje Carla Bruni's other lover - Friend

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    @twerk : you can plug your shure SE215 to every headphone output you want. You should better spend money to upgrade your SE215 instead of buying a dac/amp. My 2 cents.

    DAC/AMP matters for very sensitive and low impedance IEMs or Multi BA where crossovers can mess up things if Output Z is inappropriate but NOT for something like a SE215 . I know that first hand, I use my own SE215 daily from my phone.
     
    sorrodje, Sep 13, 2016
    #2334
  15. twerk

    twerk New

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    It will occasionally be used with my TH-X00 (and maybe even my HD650) as well, if that makes a difference. Not at work, but when I'm out and about in hotels etc.

    The SE215 will be used 80% of the time with it though. I really enjoy the sound signature of the SE215s, even though they are so cheap. I've tried $300 IEMs that I don't like as much.
     
    twerk, Sep 13, 2016
    #2335
  16. sorrodje

    sorrodje Carla Bruni's other lover - Friend

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    Same for me and there's a reason why I keep my pair and bought another spare one. That does not justify to buy a dac/amp for it though.

    Just find a good and cheap desktop amp for your headphones. add a dac later if needed and use your Shure from the HO of your phone/tablet/PC/Whatever. My 2 cents.
     
    sorrodje, Sep 13, 2016
    #2336
  17. TwoEars

    TwoEars Friend

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    @twerk @sorrodje

    Has anyone compared the line of Shure in-ears headphone vs the line of in-ears from Etymotic Research? I've had Shure 215's for the longest time but I'm kind of curious of Etymotic Research, there's a new ER4 out that looks interesting.
     
    TwoEars, Sep 13, 2016
    #2337
  18. sorrodje

    sorrodje Carla Bruni's other lover - Friend

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    I owned a pair of ER4p and borrowed a pair of HF5. Interesting sound but too bright and lean imo and the fit is as usual the key point. I had to put the er4 straight into my brain to have a decent sound and it was borderline painful. Moreover and despite the analytical Sound sig, I found those er4 was lacking resolution. I sold theml quickly.

    but iems are a very personal thing. I'm skeptical about the fact my experience could translate well to anyone.
     
    sorrodje, Sep 13, 2016
    #2338
  19. DigMe

    DigMe Friend

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    Yeah, indeed about it being very personal. I previously had a lower end pair of Shures - either 2xx or 3xx series, I wish I could remember. I used them for a while as my live music monitoring IEM's but I found them kind of wooly compared to others if that makes any sense. Didn't feel like I got the high-end presence.

    In the lower-end IEM price range I liked the Westone 10 series more. The only Etymotics I have tried are the ER6i's. I do like the isolation of the Ety's. Right now I use the Westone UM Pro 20's. I do like that the Westones are American made but that's not the deciding factor for me.

    brad
     
    DigMe, Sep 13, 2016
    #2339
  20. Armaegis

    Armaegis Friend

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    SE215 to ER4 is a little bit like HD650 to K701.

    Very very different sound signatures. The Shures are easy going and simply plug 'em in and forget. The Etys are quite a bit more aggressive, and require that deep insertion that your mother warned you about from strangers.
     
    Armaegis, Sep 13, 2016
    #2340
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