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IMPORTANT: New Members Read This Don't Be a Measurement Fascist Merv's Top 5 Headphones - 2023 Edition $1000 Challenge

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atomicbob

dScope Yoda, Male, from On planet

Pyrate BWC MZR

Holo Audio Cyan 2 passes the Pink Floyd DSotM test. On to Animals. Apr 15, 2024 at 9:22 PM

atomicbob was last seen:: Apr 16, 2024 at 12:36 AM

1. atomicbob
  Spark Museum Bellingham WA USA - mini vacation part 2: https://imgur.com/a/7ND7mml
  
  Oct 29, 2018
  1. kixx, manatworks, ultrabike and 6 others like this.
2. atomicbob
  Took a mini vacation celebrating 6 months post cardiac surgery and still alive: https://imgur.com/a/eBGa6CW
  
  Oct 29, 2018
  1. Mdkaler, jexby, yotacowboy and 26 others like this.
  2. View previous comments...
  3. atomicbob
    @Elnrik - yes, very enjoyable getaway from corporate responsibilities. It was too short, of course.
    
    Oct 29, 2018
  4. Elnrik
    Yeah. Vacations always are. Even if it's a month, it's too short.
    
    Oct 29, 2018
  5. Elnrik
    I was reading your balanced out guide, and like a kid I got silly excited with it. It's just where my head is today. Good guide.
    
    I was thinking "Squiggles and triangles! WOOO!! Pretty. Me likey. " hehehe
    
    Oct 29, 2018
3. atomicbob
  dScope digital device deep dive: https://imgur.com/a/KvpLohR
  
  Oct 22, 2018
  1. Lyander, Cryptowolf, Elnrik and 1 other person like this.
  2. famish99
    I do wonder how much of measured clock drift of the FS725 could be attributed to the time reference of the frequency counter itself. I look forward to your findings.
    
    Oct 22, 2018
    
    atomicbob likes this.
  3. atomicbob
    The 53220A frequency counter timebase is externally referenced to a Jackson Labs Fury. The Fury has an Allan Variance of 4 x 10^-12 at the sample time interval being used for the drift measurements.
    
    Oct 22, 2018
    
    famish99 likes this.
4. atomicbob
  Technical measurements for two excellent $100 headphone amps are now posted - see comments below for links
  
  Oct 15, 2018
  1. westermac, Elnrik, Jinxy245 and 9 others like this.
  2. atomicbob
    https://superbestaudiofriends.org/index.php?threads/monoprice-cavalli-liquid-spark-technical-measurements.6909/
    
    https://superbestaudiofriends.org/index.php?threads/schiit-magni-3-technical-measurements.6950/
    
    Oct 15, 2018
    
    Elnrik, Biodegraded, Lyander and 1 other person like this.
5. atomicbob
  Welcome to the Machine + Atomic Unicorn + Macallan Ed #2 = quantum cerebral expansion
  
  Oct 11, 2018
  1. Cryptowolf, Merrick, Jinxy245 and 6 others like this.
  2. PTS
    The unofficial official video is delightfully unnerving.
    
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fn1R-5p_j5c
    
    Oct 12, 2018
6. atomicbob
  It's been a busy month, part of why I've been MIA on forums. Here is but one example: http://www.aes.org/sections/pnw/
  
  Oct 7, 2018
  1. Cryptowolf, Azteca, Elnrik and 15 others like this.
  2. View previous comments...
  3. atomicbob
    @bixby - yes it is really that simple. If the recordings were kept to -3dBFS then all DACs would behave reasonably well. With SW volume attenuation there is the issue of attenuation algorithm, which is preferable to how badly some DACs mangle data above -3dBFS.
    
    Oct 8, 2018
    
    Cryptowolf likes this.
  4. atomicbob
    Find past meeting recaps here: http://www.aes-media.org/sections/pnw/pnwrecaps/index.htm
    click on more to find meeting summary, pictures, ppt decks and audio, occasionally video.
    
    Oct 8, 2018
    
    Thad E Ginathom likes this.
  5. Azteca
    Right on, Bob! I have found myself talking a lot about loudness in class. Ian Shepherd's youtube videos have been a big help in illustrating the differences to students. Thankfully the trend is headed the right way but still much to be done.
    
    Oct 9, 2018
7. atomicbob
  Blanking period over ... coming off cardiac meds now - new adventure.
  
  Aug 10, 2018
  1. Lou Casadonte, Cryptowolf, BenjaminBore and 19 others like this.
  2. View previous comments...
  3. Case
    Ahhh, Bob, wishing you some deserved calm...https://youtu.be/AsIjyJvhR9A
    
    Aug 10, 2018
    
    atomicbob likes this.
  4. atomicbob
    So you are suggesting that Thunderstruck by Steve 'N Seagulls might not be a good idea right now? Structures from Silence on my CD to acquire list, thank-you. Also enjoy Gary Stroutsos Within You Without You.
    
    Aug 10, 2018
    
    Case likes this.
  5. Ringingears
    Hoping all is going well and you are feeling better.
    
    Sep 2, 2018
8. atomicbob
  Once again, many thanks to our moderators, often unsung heroes, who keep the aisles neat and tidy for the betterment of all.
  
  Jul 24, 2018
  1. a44100Hz, Deep Funk, monacelli and 20 others like this.
9. atomicbob
  Molybdenum - the answer to life, the universe and everything. Rubidium, a good fiver less but more timely.
  
  Jul 19, 2018
  1. Azimuth, Lyander, JustAnotherRando and 1 other person like this.
  2. JustAnotherRando
    Its number also matches the count of elements which share its relevant property.
    
    Jul 19, 2018
    
    atomicbob likes this.
10. atomicbob
  is going atomic ... adding a rubidium time reference to the lab.
  
  Jul 17, 2018
  1. Cryptowolf, Soups, Lyander and 12 others like this.
  2. View previous comments...
  3. atomicbob
    SRS Laboratory Reference. It looks like this: http://www.thinksrs.com/products/fs725.html
    Nothing exotic other than phase noise < 130 dBc at 10 Hz,
    <140 dBc at 100 Hz, etc.
    
    Jul 17, 2018
    
    Lyander, AdvanTech, drgumbybrain and 1 other person like this.
  4. JK47
    PFFFFT !!! still not this https://tinyurl.com/ycfar555
    
    Jul 17, 2018
    
    atomicbob and 9suns like this.
  5. atomicbob
    In attempts to acquire an F-C at O'Reillys I have always managed to arrive slightly too late. Someone had already obtained the only one in stock moments before. Then no one can find the individual as if they simply vanished.
    
    Jul 18, 2018
    
    JK47 and Elnrik like this.
11. atomicbob
  edited https://www.superbestaudiofriends.org/index.php?threads/new-schiit-modi-multibit.6591/page-3#post-217250 appropriately.
  
  Jul 14, 2018
  1. drgumbybrain and Jinxy245 like this.
12. atomicbob
  cleanup aisle General Audio Gear Discussion : ytfd123 advertisement posts
  
  Jun 20, 2018
  1. Ringingears, westermac, Case and 5 others like this.
  2. insidious meme
    I hope we all did reports of the poster.
    
    Jun 20, 2018
    
    Ringingears likes this.
13. atomicbob
  Presentation last night: http://www.aes-media.org/sections/pnw/pnwrecaps/2018/bsmith_lies_damn_lies_may2018/
  
  May 31, 2018
  1. Jinxy245, Case, LetMeBeFrank and 9 others like this.
  2. View previous comments...
  3. atomicbob
    @ergopower and @Taverius - posted here first https://superbestaudiofriends.org/index.php?threads/tutorial-lies-damn-lies-and-usb-dac-technical-measurements.5770/
    
    May 31, 2018
    
    Azimuth likes this.
  4. ergopower
    Missed that, thanks
    
    May 31, 2018
  5. LetMeBeFrank
    Bob, you are doing great work. Thank you.
    
    May 31, 2018
14. atomicbob
  I greatly underestimated the length and depth of recovery. Week 3 is more sleeping than being awake. Takes 12 weeks for heart to fully heal.
  
  May 16, 2018
  1. Huhnkopf, StopWhispering, bixby and 8 others like this.
  2. View previous comments...
  3. Thad E Ginathom
    You had actual surgery, right? For anything more than the shortest, most trivial of ops, the anaesthesia, along with post-op pain control meds, can take an amazingly long time to wear off. Also, if you lost much blood, that means that every small thing you do is exhausting, for a while.
    
    May 17, 2018
  4. Thad E Ginathom
    Please excuse my lack of clarity about what they actually did to you: none of the above might apply. But...
    
    Rest up. Get well :)
    
    May 17, 2018
  5. atomicbob
    Thank-you all. The note here is just to let everyone have a progress report. Procedure was atrial ablation of both atriums. Had one / two catheters in all four chambers for either mapping or ablating. General anesthesia with respiratory assist via intubation.
    
    May 17, 2018
    
    Thad E Ginathom and Elnrik like this.
15. atomicbob
  Lyr3 technical measurements up: https://superbestaudiofriends.org/index.php?threads/schiit-lyr-3-technical-measurements.6271/
  
  May 7, 2018
  1. Imraan, LetMeBeFrank, Case and 6 others like this.
  2. View previous comments...
  3. rott
    Thank you good sir, something to keep in mind if/when I get a chance to try the Clear.
    
    May 8, 2018
  4. Skyline
    I'm hoping we'll see some Lyr 3-centric systems in your system synergy thread. :P
    
    May 8, 2018
  5. atomicbob
    how about this one:
    https://superbestaudiofriends.org/index.php?threads/system-synergy-special-sound.54/page-28#post-202006
    This is the system to which I have listened during recovery and took to Bottlehead meet. Also a bit of time with Focal Clears on same DAC / Amp.
    
    May 8, 2018
    
    Skyline likes this.
16. atomicbob
  Still Alive! (think The Croods here). Home now.
  
  Apr 26, 2018
  1. Huhnkopf, Luckbad, Azimuth and 35 others like this.
  2. View previous comments...
  3. atomicbob
    Last couple of days were a bit rough after all the pain meds wore off. Starting to feel a bit less grumpy. Can lift between 4.5 and 9.0 kg now. Even beginning to have ability to focus and concentrate. Thank-you everybody for all the good wishes. Best news of all: NSR since the procedure. No afib events so far.
    
    Apr 30, 2018
    
    Luckbad, Ringingears, Thad E Ginathom and 4 others like this.
  4. Elnrik
    That's great to hear! Keep on keeping on man!
    
    Apr 30, 2018
    
    Thad E Ginathom likes this.
  5. Ringingears
    That’s great @atomicbob! No afb is fantastic. Keep going man.
    
    Apr 30, 2018
17. atomicbob
  Won't be posting responses or answering PMs for a bit. Not ignoring anyone. Break time for main event.
  
  Apr 24, 2018
  1. bixby, Thad E Ginathom, Koth Ganesh and 18 others like this.
  2. View previous comments...
  3. Koth Ganesh
    Take care and best wishes for a speedy and complete recovery
    
    Apr 25, 2018
  4. atomicbob
    Thank-you all. All the good thoughts and wishes will help carry me through the new adventure.
    
    Apr 25, 2018
    
    L'Orfeo likes this.
  5. Thad E Ginathom
    All the best, Bob :)
    
    Apr 25, 2018
18. AllanMarcus
  Sir, good luck later this week.
  
  Apr 23, 2018
  1. Cryptowolf, Case, atomicbob and 5 others like this.
  2. atomicbob
    Thank-you. I will probably refrain from posting much during recovery as I am expecting to have a rather hazy mental state for a period of time.
    
    Apr 24, 2018
  3. AllanMarcus
    I think "hazy mental state" describes 73% of the posters! :-) Again, good luck.
    
    Apr 25, 2018
19. atomicbob
  A big THANK-YOU to the staff responsible for making edits possible for friend status members.
  
  Apr 22, 2018
  1. AllanMarcus, Cryptowolf, ButtUglyJeff and 17 others like this.
  2. BillOhio
    Agreed
    
    Apr 22, 2018
    
    dmckean44 likes this.
  3. ButtUglyJeff
    Ah, the shame of my poor grammar and spelling can now remain hidden from the world...
    
    Apr 23, 2018
20. atomicbob
  Sign of a synergistic system - intended to listen to a particular song, only to get sucked into the whole album - repeatedly.
  
  Apr 21, 2018
  1. nithhoggr, Priidik, luckybaer and 19 others like this.
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About

Gender:

Male

Location:

On planet

Occupation:

acoustic research scientist

Gear List:

See information section for my opinions

My enjoyment of particular recreational music systems is inextricably intertwined with my personal preferences. The following lists are representations of my tastes in music, components and listening levels. The section on music is only a sample of my library but should provide sufficient insight into my musical preferences. I am rigorous and exacting with component measurements. That doesn’t automatically make my opinions worth anything without context. Use the following information to decide how well your own preferences converge or diverge with mine when I make comments about equipment in the forum. DO NOT blindly assume a positive comment from me about some component or headphone will automatically translate to auditory happiness on your part. Likewise you may find yourself enjoying something that I don’t. Consider (learning) your own personal preference.

Music
50s, 60s & 70s jazz
Louis Armstrong, Charles Mingus, Thelonious Monk, Sonny Rollins, Miles Davis, Duke Ellington, Cannonball Adderly, Les McCann & Eddie Harris
Recorded by Columbia (Frank Laico, Fred Plaut), Bluenote (Rudy Van Gelder), Contemporary Records (Roy DuNann)

More recent jazz artists
Wynton Marsalis
Dave Grusin
Dave Brubeck
Bela Fleck
Chick Corea
Christian McBride
Wycliffe Gordon
Ingrid Jensen
Steve Treseler
Terell Stafford
Ronnie Earl
Steve Gadd Band
Charlie Haden
Brad Mehldau

Medeski, Martin & Wood
Medeski, Scofield, Martin & Wood
Ill Considered
Snarky Puppy
Pat Metheny

Artfully deviant
Steve’n’Seagulls - Thunderstruck
Two Cellos - Thunderstruck

A class by himself
Santana

60s & 70s rock
Emerson Lake & Palmer
Blood Sweat & Tears
Pink Floyd
Jethro Tull
JJ Cale
Little Feat
Dave Matthews Band
Chicago
Queen
Cat Steven – Tea for the Tillerman
Grateful Dead
Lead Zeppelin

Tangerine Dream
Bruce Becvar
Gary Stroutsos

Classical composers
Mozart
Bach
Beethoven
Respighi
Vivaldi

Special
Canadian Brass

Listening Levels dBSPL
60~70 quiet, background listening
70~80 recreational and critical listening
80~90 rocking out, often with libations at hand
90~100 Santana Black Magic Woman / Gypsy Queen, ELP Tank - drum solo

I tend to listen at quieter levels where electroacoustic transducers exhibit greater linearity. Higher levels are more likely to have greater distortion and require higher power amplification. The result is substantial deviation in opinions by listeners attempting to compare headphones when they are listening at different levels.

DACs
Treasured
Holo Audio KTE Spring2
Schiit Bifrost2
Matrix Audio X-Sabre Pro
Lavry DA11

Enjoy
Schiit Yggdrasil A2
Schiit Gungnir MB A2
Soekris 1421

Work (recording, editing, acoustic measurements)
Lavry DA11, AD11
RME ADI-2 Pro

Rather not listen
Auralec Vega
Resonessence Labs Concero
Topping D30
Objective DAC

Universal Turd
Audio-gd S19

Amps
Treasured
Eddie Current Studio B
Eddie Current Zana Deux SE
ECP Audio DSHA-3F
ECP Audio T4
Shortest Way 51+
Cavalli Liquid Crimson

Enjoy
Cavalli Liquid Platinum
Schiit Lyr3 with PSVane 6SN7
EC ZDT Jr after hum reduction modifications
BottleHead Crack (PS modified, no speedball, e80cc driver)
Cavalli MCTH
Schiit Magni3+
Schiit Vali2 with 6CG7
Project Sunrise with 12BH7 and Linear Power Supply

Rather not listen
Objective 2
Topping anything

Headphones

Treasured
Sennheiser HD800-Jmod
Focal Stellia
Sennheiser HD600

Enjoy
Sennheiser HD650
Focal Clear
HiFiMan HE-500

Rather not listen
Most anything planar except for the HE-500

System
I developed a VST chain dubbed Immersion Virtualization System which I employ for my recreational listening. This has a substantial influence on my perception of component performance. See the IVS descriptions in the following links:

https://www.superbestaudiofriends.o...-synergy-special-sound.54/page-14#post-129407

https://www.superbestaudiofriends.o...-synergy-special-sound.54/page-29#post-221217
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Organizing chaos for seven decades.