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
      New avatar because the synergy of the Nak 500 with the ZMF Eikon is f*cking bonkers and I'm a saturation addict.
      1. View previous comments...
      2. E_Schaaf
        E_Schaaf
        Don't get me wrong, this thing is by no means transparent. Very thicccccc, punchy, warm, rated only down to 40 hz but I have some tapes that go far below that and on the Eikon the extension is effortless and easily heard.
        Feb 12, 2019
        Lyander and philipmorgan like this.
      3. E_Schaaf
        E_Schaaf
        This unit is in perfect shape - incredible for its age. I bought it from a Nak collector who had previously owned the 600, 700, 1000, and 505. He said he sold the rest and only kept this 500 as he couldn't hear a dramatic difference in sonics compared to the 1000. I also have a 505. I think I like this older 2-head 500 better.
        Feb 12, 2019
        philipmorgan likes this.
      4. E_Schaaf
        E_Schaaf
        kinda sad that this thing will kick the living shit out of the Brooklyn DAC+ or the PS Audio DirectStream in terms of dynamics, and I only paid 200 bucks for it and also got a free parts deck thrown in.
        Feb 12, 2019
        philipmorgan likes this.
    2. E_Schaaf
      E_Schaaf
      Considering getting a cat but worried about claws + woofers. Anyone ever have issues with cats and gear?
      1. View previous comments...
      2. Thad E Ginathom
        Thad E Ginathom
        Magneplanars, cats, scratching posts.

        OH MY GOD!
        Feb 6, 2019
        bengo, E_Schaaf and monacelli like this.
      3. m17xr2b
        m17xr2b
        Still, get a young one from a shelter, don't support breading for money.
        Feb 6, 2019
        E_Schaaf, Case, atomicbob and 5 others like this.
      4. atomicbob
        atomicbob
        If you provide the cat with several decent alternatives for scratching and cover them with catnip, s/he will leave the furniture and speakers alone. However, as a heat seeking missile, your warm components are a target for sitting or laying.
        Feb 6, 2019
    3. E_Schaaf
      E_Schaaf
      Will be spending the week with EC Af and ECP T4. Any particular pairings I should report back about? Have access to a wide assortment.
      1. View previous comments...
      2. Lyander
        Lyander
        I recall Ray saying that the Klipsches did well out of the Af, which is the reason the amp is on my list of "eventually"s alongside a Gungnir MB or DMS (depending on what I end up prioritising I guess). Was just as surprised to hear, but eh.

        Will be looking to see if anyone local has a 3F or T4 I can demo, thanks for the tip!
        Feb 4, 2019
        Jinxy245 likes this.
      3. famish99
        famish99
        Well everyone has their preferences, I just thought plankton and microdyna wasn't super great with the X00 PH + Af.

        I would say my counter-opinion is that I run the 6xx most of the time despite owning both Clear and 800S.
        Feb 4, 2019
        Ash1412, Jinxy245 and Lyander like this.
      4. Lyander
        Lyander
        Senn 6-series is insane, really. Others beg to differ but those were the first headphones that really rendered me speechless. Only reason I'm investing in a biodyna system is because I want something "lively" as a flavour can, haha.

        But yeah, preferences. Just hoping to hear from others so I don't have to demo like 20 amps, fun as that would be.
        Feb 4, 2019
        Jinxy245 likes this.
    4. E_Schaaf
    5. E_Schaaf
      E_Schaaf
      Made a noisy jukey track last night (link below). 90 seconds of WTF?! Enjoy.
      1. E_Schaaf
      2. Syzygy
        Syzygy
        Yeah, but, does it have intersample overs? Pfffft. :P
        Jan 30, 2019
    6. E_Schaaf
      E_Schaaf
      Crazy how similar the HP-3 can sound to Eikon with 3-ply TP + Ori pads. Eikon still has better texture midrange on up, but similar tone.
      1. Lyander likes this.
      2. View previous comments...
      3. E_Schaaf
        E_Schaaf
        I'll take the HP3 home this week for more pad rolling + modding and report back. I really enjoy them TP + Ori though. I just kinda threw it together not expecting much but am thoroughly impressed. Easy to drive too, sounds good even from my phone.
        Jan 29, 2019
        Lyander likes this.
      4. Lyander
        Lyander
        Haha, I'll admit pad rolling is about the only way I've yet to dick around with the Klipsches! Not much spare cash to try new stuff out blindly since I'm currently a full time student, might have to sell some stuff off or get a part time job.

        On that note, looking forward to your findings! And yup, the HP-3s are amazing for listening off one's phone in bed :))
        Jan 29, 2019
      5. Lyander
        Lyander
        The performance with vocals are about my only gripe with these really, but I'm hoping tweaking upstream gear could help with that when I get back to working on my system. I'll see what pads I can get my hands on for now and report back with findings! Might be cool to post your thoughts in the HP-3 thread just so it's easier to find maybe.
        Jan 29, 2019
        E_Schaaf likes this.
    7. E_Schaaf
      E_Schaaf
      Had a delightful mastering project over the weekend. Will release on Bandcamp / Spotify / Tape soon. Definitely broke some mastering rules.
      1. Broberto, Ash1412, Syzygy and 6 others like this.
    8. E_Schaaf
      E_Schaaf
      Customer calls for a new DAC+Amp for his Utopias. Keeps mentioning the O2 because "it measures so well"... Dude, don't go there.
      1. Azimuth, dubharmonic, Case and 3 others like this.
      2. View previous comments...
      3. E_Schaaf
        E_Schaaf
        This guy was using a Benchmark DAC1 previously, pulling double duty as an amp. Don't know how his ears could take it.
        Jan 16, 2019
      4. Vtory
        Vtory
        It sounds like that he doesn't have wisdom to listen to good advice. Then he must learn things through his first-hand failures, like I did several years ago haha.
        Jan 16, 2019
      5. netforce
        netforce
        Had a guy the other day ask how pretty much every dac from the Chord Dave to the Questyle QP2R dacs all compare to the Dragonfly Red. Probably had to go through 10 dacs with him.
        Jan 16, 2019
        E_Schaaf likes this.
    9. E_Schaaf
      E_Schaaf
      Anyone have positive experience with OEM headphone drivers for a custom DIY project? Not looking to use Tx0 variants, other suitable donors?
      1. View previous comments...
      2. Azimuth
        Azimuth
        I think you need a serial number or proof of purchase for TH900 or TH600 drivers, but I was going to suggest this as well.
        Jan 4, 2019
      3. Lyander
        Lyander
        @Azimuth you do, but all that'd require is knowing someone willing to let you "use" their serial number, haha. I believe E_Schaaf might be in a position to do so :P
        Jan 4, 2019
        Azimuth likes this.
      4. E_Schaaf
        E_Schaaf
        I'm unfortunately not sure I even know of a member here who still owns a TH-900. But if someone would generously allow me to use their serial numbers, I'd make it worth their while somehow.
        Jan 8, 2019
    10. E_Schaaf
      E_Schaaf
      Picking up a Nakamichi RX-505 tomorrow morning at a good price. So hyped! Might run my DAC into it to get a feel for the coloration.
    11. E_Schaaf
      E_Schaaf
      Gonna jump on a Nak for Christmas. Question is, which one? I've found BX-300, 582Z, 700 II, 600 in good shape at the right price.
    12. E_Schaaf
    13. E_Schaaf
      E_Schaaf
      1. Azimuth, Cspirou, JoelT and 2 others like this.
      2. View previous comments...
      3. brencho
        brencho
        Thanks for coming by man, was fun, gotta repeat soon
        Nov 17, 2018
        E_Schaaf and Cspirou like this.
      4. Cspirou
        Cspirou
        Damn, should have tried the HE-6 with the Liquid Platinum
        Nov 17, 2018
        brencho and E_Schaaf like this.
      5. E_Schaaf
        E_Schaaf
        @jexby pretty sure there's an LFF 5LE for sale here. Its got its own character and doesn't embarass itself whatsoever next to the 5 and 6. With some tracks it's my preference, with others not.
        Nov 17, 2018
    14. E_Schaaf
      E_Schaaf
      Focal Elegia just arrived @ Upscale. Will take home the demo pair over the weekend for impressions.
      1. jexby, HAL9000 and Lyander like this.
      2. HAL9000
        HAL9000
        Nov 16, 2018
    15. E_Schaaf
      E_Schaaf
      Given my M22 is in limbo for the time being, I'm looking for other vintage DACs - Gen V, SFD-1, EAD 7000, Classe DAC-1, open to suggestions
      1. zerodeefex
        zerodeefex
        your amp is on the fritz?
        Nov 15, 2018
        E_Schaaf likes this.
      2. E_Schaaf
        E_Schaaf
        Monarchy M22B DAC, not the Pioneer M22 amp. The output is constantly clipping and I can't seem to figure it out (emailed Monarchy for schematic). Right now I'm back to using my V800 DAC which is kinda meh, hoping to get rid of it and some other stuff.
        Nov 15, 2018
      3. zerodeefex
        zerodeefex
        sell the V800, use a newer Modi MB while you continue your search. The current Modi MB is like a TransDAC V2.
        Nov 15, 2018
        Jokko and E_Schaaf like this.
    16. E_Schaaf
      E_Schaaf
      Modded FD01 ticks more of my boxes than Utopia.
      1. SoupRKnowva, james444 and DigMe like this.
      2. View previous comments...
      3. famish99
        famish99
        Can you list a couple of those boxes?
        Nov 12, 2018
        Jinxy245 likes this.
      4. E_Schaaf
        E_Schaaf
        FD01 has a slightly thicker and weightier sound with better low end extension and texture, richer, more saturared mids, and treble with a smooth rise and fall as opposed to a bunch of little spikes and dips. Of course not remotely as resolving, but more enjoable tone and easier to engage with music as opposed to particular sonic qualities.
        Nov 12, 2018
        Jinxy245, famish99 and Imraan like this.
      5. Cellist88
        Cellist88
        I find them too dark for classical at times. It might be the old mastering or what...but i do sometimes wish for a less darker sound at times.
        Nov 13, 2018
    17. E_Schaaf
      E_Schaaf
      Suddenly my home system is hard-clipping. Eitr>M22B>Sys>any amp>L55 causes this, and the SYS volume control is all over the place. HELP?!
      1. E_Schaaf
        E_Schaaf
        probably an issue w/ M22B, only plausible explanation. I'm just in denial, my fav DAC I've had at home save for the Theta Gen V
        Nov 9, 2018
      2. gepardcv
        gepardcv
        Restart everything, including rebooting the source.
        Nov 9, 2018
        JK47 and E_Schaaf like this.
      3. E_Schaaf
        E_Schaaf
        Ive isolated every component and it's clear the issue is the M22B. I dont know why it's doing this though, must be a transformer or capacitor problem that developed randomly.
        Nov 9, 2018
    18. E_Schaaf
      E_Schaaf
      Loaners I need to leave comments on - xDSD, Sundara, Auteur... TL;DR I only miss the Auteur. More to come
      1. Elnrik, Jinxy245 and Lyander like this.
    19. E_Schaaf
      E_Schaaf
      Modded the HE-400 with a friend yesterday. Sounded quite excellent by the time we were finished, save for a little tizz. $100 well spent.
      1. Jinxy245 likes this.
      2. E_Schaaf
        E_Schaaf
        Everything done by ear. 3 small strips of dynamat applied on the outside under lip of the cups. Fine-mesh rug liner applied ear-side. LFF pads, modded with ear-facing adhesive felt and felt rings under the pad lip. Really cleaned up the whole spectrum without being overdamped. Very very nice.
        Oct 28, 2018
        FlySweep likes this.
    20. E_Schaaf
      E_Schaaf
      Just hooked up the system I normally use for my headphones to my L55's. Holy shit!!! Might have to take a break from HPs til the ZMFs arrive
      1. Jinxy245 and Lyander like this.
      2. Ringingears
        Ringingears
        Speakers! They are hard to beat with the right gear. Enjoy.
        Oct 22, 2018
        Jinxy245, AdvanTech and Lyander like this.
      3. Thad E Ginathom
        Thad E Ginathom
        Blunt and heavy works. Or just some idiot sticking their thumb in the wrong place :(
        Oct 23, 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