E_Schaaf
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E_Schaaf

MOT: E.T.A Headphones, from Staten Island, NY

Pyrate BWC

What are some of your earliest memories regarding noticing good or bad sound quality? Jan 16, 2024

    1. E_Schaaf
      E_Schaaf
      Did a level-matched comparison of three DACs at work today. Mine at $400, one at $14k and another at $20k. I liked my M22B best. *shrug*
      1. drgumbybrain, Jinxy245, 9suns and 2 others like this.
      2. View previous comments...
      3. E_Schaaf
        E_Schaaf
        Monarchy M22B / Lumin X1 / Balanced Audio REX. Price was inversely proportionate to my preference. Chain was into a REX II Preamp (this was used to match levels) -> PrimaLuna Dialogue HP Power Amp -> Focal 1038 Be
        Oct 19, 2018
      4. bengo
        bengo
        Lumin is an ESS based delta sigma design, I never heard one that I preferred to the Modi Multibit
        Oct 20, 2018
      5. bixby
        bixby
        just goes to show how the brain gets used to some things and other things sounds different yet not necessarily better.
        Oct 21, 2018
    2. E_Schaaf
      E_Schaaf
      Every time I bring a new headphone home I end up listening to the HE-6 90% of the evening. It's a great feeling to love what you have.
      1. bengo, luximal, Jinxy245 and 13 others like this.
      2. Vansen
        Vansen
        Welcome to the HE Mafia.
        Oct 18, 2018
        E_Schaaf likes this.
      3. frenchbat
        frenchbat
        That's called, getting out of the cave.
        Oct 18, 2018
        E_Schaaf likes this.
    3. E_Schaaf
      E_Schaaf
      Potentially seeking Periodic Be or FD01 IEMs second-hand... Or an Aurisonics. LMK if you want to sell!
    4. E_Schaaf
      E_Schaaf
      Anyone have experience with a Decware Z-Rock? I like the idea of a smooth downslope for when the mood is right.
    5. E_Schaaf
      E_Schaaf
      I'm pleased to report that Upscale will be the first dealer (and likely distributor if all goes well) of Feliks Audio amplifiers in the USA!
      1. Jinxy245 and Erikdayo like this.
    6. E_Schaaf
      E_Schaaf
      Perforated Eikon pads turn the HE-6 basically into a tactile transducer. I can literally feel my temples and pinnae vibrating with bass.
      1. Lyander likes this.
    7. E_Schaaf
      E_Schaaf
      Anyone have experience with vintage high-end cassette decks? Interested in tape sound but lost in troves of arcane technology.
      1. View previous comments...
      2. E_Schaaf
        E_Schaaf
        How about a slightly more budget-friendly alternative? Hoping to keep it under $500. Maybe a high-end pioneer? Or a mid-tier Nak
        Oct 2, 2018
      3. Azteca
        Azteca
        I have a Nakamichi 582. I got a good deal on Craigslist. Three-head, dual capstan. Very good deck. Research on TapeHeads.
        Oct 2, 2018
        Sqveak and E_Schaaf like this.
      4. Azteca
    8. E_Schaaf
      E_Schaaf
      Hanging out with LCD-4 this weekend. 100 ohm version. Takes almost as much power as HE-6. Excellent bass quality, but less slam than LCD-2.1
      1. Jinxy245 likes this.
      2. E_Schaaf
        E_Schaaf
        Still suffers from LCD staging claustrophobia, though localization and separation are a bit better than the other LCDs. Smoother and less grain overall, though lacking a little excitement vs LFFs. Not as dark as LCD-2.1.
        Sep 29, 2018
      3. E_Schaaf
        E_Schaaf
        LFFs are substantially more open with better tactility. If someone offered to trade the 4 with my 2.1 I would... but not worth the cash, and I won't miss it when it's gone. 2.1 gets me 90% of the way there, and I prefer the LFF signature regardless.
        Sep 29, 2018
    9. E_Schaaf
      E_Schaaf
      We'll have the Abyss Diana here at Upscale next week if anyone wants to stop by and have a listen. Bring your own amp if you like!
      1. Jinxy245 likes this.
      2. E_Schaaf
        E_Schaaf
        AB-1266 Phi coming in a couple weeks.
        Sep 26, 2018
      3. Cspirou
        Cspirou
        What kind of power requirements does it need?
        Sep 26, 2018
      4. E_Schaaf
        E_Schaaf
        Diana is 40 ohms and 91dB / mW. Pretty typical planar, I'll take the demo pair home a few nights and try it out and report back. Probably likes SS or hybrid power.

        AB-1266 Phi is 42 ohms and 88dB / mW. So probably does well with similar amps, just takes a bit more juice.
        Sep 26, 2018
    10. E_Schaaf
      E_Schaaf
      HE400 just in for $100. I feel like there's definitely some modding potential here. I prefer this sig to Sundara, that's for sure. Ideas?
      1. Azimuth, OldDude04 and Jinxy245 like this.
      2. View previous comments...
      3. OldDude04
        OldDude04
        I recently got a pair of HE-4XX for a work setup and pad rolling made a noticeable difference. I tried MrSpeakers Alpha pads, ZMF Ovals, HM5 pleather and sheepskin. I ended up with the sheepskins. I'm thinking the next step is to mod the outside grill to open them up just a bit. What mods were you thinking of trying?
        Sep 25, 2018
      4. E_Schaaf
        E_Schaaf
        Nothing in particular planned, I was going to make incremental changes / trial and error. Materials include rug liner, felt, foam, dynamat... I'll cut and place different shapes here and there, trying to optimize bass response and tone down that sparkle just a tad. Maybe bass lens?
        Sep 25, 2018
        OldDude04 likes this.
      5. OldDude04
        OldDude04
        If you could, let me know if you come up with any game changers for them, I'm interested in modding mine as well.
        Sep 25, 2018
        E_Schaaf likes this.
    11. E_Schaaf
      E_Schaaf
      Picked up a pair of JBL L55's from Craig at Eddie Current. I have returned to speakerland!
      1. View previous comments...
      2. Cspirou
        Cspirou
        I really wanted to be there. I got my brother-in-law to pick up a bunch of stuff for me though since he lives right by there. Did not know about the L55s!
        Sep 22, 2018
        E_Schaaf likes this.
      3. E_Schaaf
        E_Schaaf
        It's kinda funny, I have speakers in this apartment before I have any furniture.
        Sep 22, 2018
      4. JK47
        JK47
        Speakers are furniture, they can be used for shelves, bench's, bed's. They're the Swiss Army knife of the furniture world.
        Sep 23, 2018
        BenjaminBore and zonto like this.
    12. E_Schaaf
      E_Schaaf
      Anyone have leftover sorbothane or dynamat? Help a friend out...
      1. View previous comments...
      2. MisterRogers
        MisterRogers
        I might too, in Aurora. Let me check
        Sep 21, 2018
        E_Schaaf likes this.
      3. E_Schaaf
        E_Schaaf
        Just need enough to satisfy my curiosities of what it can be used for in various configurations with open back planars. I'm sure something like 10x10 is plenty!
        Sep 21, 2018
      4. famish99
        famish99
        If it's headphone modding then yah... I've KISS modded like 3 pairs already and still have 75% of the first sheet left. You can PM me if you want me to send an unused sheet to you for the cost of postage.
        Sep 21, 2018
        E_Schaaf likes this.
    13. E_Schaaf
      E_Schaaf
      What's the modding potential like on the old HE400? How crazy have people gone with them?
      1. E_Schaaf
        E_Schaaf
        "natural" isn't what I'm going for (I'll be using them as a "fun" can mostly for electronic and instrumental hip-hop), just trying to maximize the listenability of the V
        Sep 20, 2018
        GoodEnoughGear and Jinxy245 like this.
    14. E_Schaaf
      E_Schaaf
      1. Jinxy245 likes this.
    15. E_Schaaf
      E_Schaaf
      So much insider news I've learned in my first week... Let's just say RMAF should be *great* this year, in more ways than one.
      1. Brad Tombaugh and Jinxy245 like this.
      2. insidious meme
        insidious meme
        Probably except for your sanity and pocketbook. But hey, party on Denver!
        Sep 13, 2018
    16. E_Schaaf
      E_Schaaf
      Made it to LA. Looking forward to seeing old faces and hearing new things. Come visit Upscale Audio sometime, I start working on the 10th.
      1. E_Schaaf
        E_Schaaf
        World's largest selection of tubes and tube gear! If that's not enough bait I don't know what is.
        Sep 4, 2018
      2. BillOhio
        BillOhio
        ^Strippers.
        Sep 4, 2018
    17. E_Schaaf
      E_Schaaf
      What would the ideal headphone retail display look like to you?
      1. E_Schaaf
        E_Schaaf
        I'm imagining a 2D grid where x axis value indicates a bright to dark sound sig and where y axis indicates MSRP.

        So bottom left is brightest cheapest and top right is darkest most expensive.

        Each transducer type - dynamic, planar, stat has it's own grid.

        Patch bay to connect sources with amps and dac bypass option for aux / analog input
        Aug 28, 2018
        Case likes this.
      2. E_Schaaf
        E_Schaaf
        This puts unmodded HD650 close-ish to bottom right or center... where it's most easily accessible.
        Aug 28, 2018
      3. JustAnotherRando
        Aug 28, 2018
        Lyander and E_Schaaf like this.
    18. E_Schaaf
      E_Schaaf
      Maybe the reason I dig the IE80 so much is because it vaguely reminds of ZMF Eikon with less resolve and extension. Potential upgrade paths?
    19. E_Schaaf
      E_Schaaf
      In a dramatic turn of events I will soon be returning to SoCal. Accepted a job offer to overhaul the headphone department at Upscale Audio!
      1. obsiCO, FlySweep, Jinxy245 and 20 others like this.
      2. View previous comments...
      3. insidious meme
        insidious meme
        You really have to make up your mind.
        Aug 23, 2018
        E_Schaaf likes this.
      4. gaspasser
        gaspasser
        Oh lawd, not the Inland Empire! It isn’t really considered SoCal, is it? Seriously, congratulations
        Aug 23, 2018
        E_Schaaf likes this.
      5. brencho
        brencho
        Nice that's on my commute man. I'll swing by sometime, just tell me when.
        Aug 23, 2018
        E_Schaaf likes this.
    20. E_Schaaf
      E_Schaaf
      Unless you're going for a Gungnir Multibit or Yggdrasil, what's even the point of purchasing a non-"vintage" DAC?
      1. View previous comments...
      2. manatworks
        manatworks
        ^this, as much as i love processor3, it’s such a monsterous 2-box set up (dac+psu) that make me rearrange the whole rack when put it in the chain.
        Aug 17, 2018
      3. E_Schaaf
        E_Schaaf
        All good points here. Not trying to make a sweeping claim, just reflecting on price/performance with vintage DACs compared to contemporary designs.
        Aug 17, 2018
      4. MrTeaRex
        MrTeaRex
        Contemporary DACs of good quality and above are more accurate while vintage stuff can be more pleasing. Just depends on the goal.
        Aug 17, 2018
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  • About

    Home Page:
    https://www.etaheadphones.com/
    Location:
    Staten Island, NY
    Occupation:
    Sonic Optimizer

    Signature

    skunkworks headphone enthusiast - discovering new sounds