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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

ETA ADA and Vali 3 make such a great combination. I'm listening to DSotM all the way through for the second time this week, very rare. Apr 23, 2024 at 7:09 PM

atomicbob was last seen:: Apr 24, 2024 at 10:54 AM

1. atomicbob
  Stopped by after a busy week only to see considerable thread pollution. Brings to mind Mose Allison "Your Mind is on Vacation"
  
  Apr 16, 2020
  1. jexby, Thad E Ginathom, Soups and 3 others like this.
  2. GoodEnoughGear
    I am surprised at the general level of mercy just now.
    
    Apr 16, 2020
    
    atomicbob likes this.
2. atomicbob
  Creative musicians, isolated yet connected: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gEzn0yU9cnw
  
  Apr 9, 2020
  1. insidious meme, Jinxy245, bixby and 1 other person like this.
3. atomicbob
  Repeat, I read gypsy doctor. I'm here to see Dr. Memory. Laugh, run away, that is an illegal program.
  
  Apr 3, 2020
  2. atomicbob
    Firesign Theater - I Think We're All Bozos on this Bus. Where Ah, Clem has managed to gain system access clearance and is talking with the system scheduler. Similar to today's world, it would appear nonsensical.
    
    Apr 4, 2020
4. atomicbob
  Never piss off an old engineer. He's liable to beat you over the head with your own data.
  
  Apr 2, 2020
  1. schiit, Deep Funk, ChaChaRealSmooth and 13 others like this.
  2. dark_energy
    ''Take your paper, roll it up and...''
    
    Apr 2, 2020
  3. Brian D
    Take care of yourself sir - you are a forum treasure!
    
    Apr 2, 2020
    
    Lyander and Thad E Ginathom like this.
  4. Syzygy
    Never piss on an old engineer, either.
    
    Apr 2, 2020
    
    Jinxy245 and Lyander like this.
5. atomicbob
  covid-19 major jazz loss (RIP): https://www.mercurynews.com/2020/03/31/jazz-legend-wallace-roney-dies-from-coronavirus-complications/
  
  Mar 31, 2020
  1. dmckean44, Jinxy245 and Case like this.
6. atomicbob
  Spent a few days creating an inexpensive and easy way to assess CPR metronome accuracy. Arduino + KY-038 + code tests well against 53220a.
  
  Mar 27, 2020
  1. Jinxy245, LetMeBeFrank and Biodegraded like this.
7. atomicbob
  Survived another day - now listening to Incoherent Blues, Oscar Peterson Trio + Clark Terry, with a jug of wine handy. Stay healthy all.
  
  Mar 25, 2020
  1. Case, Jinxy245, Syzygy and 6 others like this.
  2. JK47
    Jug of wine? I like your style!!!
    
    Mar 25, 2020
    
    atomicbob, Syzygy and wbass like this.
  3. atomicbob
    @JK47 : Woodbridge makes a very palatable 1.5L cabernet.
    
    Mar 26, 2020
8. atomicbob
  wasted bandwidth alert from amina
  
  Mar 24, 2020
  1. tommytakis, EagleWings, Ksaurav402 and 2 others like this.
9. atomicbob
  McCoy Tyner received the call to play at that great gig in the sky: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/06/arts/mccoy-tyner-dead.html
  
  Mar 6, 2020
  1. Brad Tombaugh, insidious meme, Case and 2 others like this.
  2. View previous comments...
  3. ufospls2
    Darn :(
    
    Mar 6, 2020
    
    atomicbob likes this.
  4. Stuff Jones
    Tyner's playing makes this great piece special IMO.
    
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qWG2dsXV5HI
    
    Mar 6, 2020
    
    atomicbob likes this.
  5. atomicbob
    Thank-you @Stuff Jones - will add this to my library
    
    Mar 6, 2020
10. atomicbob
  Entering semi-retirement like coming out of hyperspace into a meteor shower: coronavirus ground zero, stock drop, panic buying in PNW.
  
  Mar 2, 2020
  1. Brad Tombaugh, Thad E Ginathom, Jinxy245 and 2 others like this.
  2. View previous comments...
  3. abraxas666
    All the toilet paper and hand sanitizer are sold out at my local costco. Crazy stuff.
    
    Mar 2, 2020
  4. GoodEnoughGear
    Sitting on a plane with some dude coughing in front of me....
    
    Mar 2, 2020
  5. insidious meme
    That's no moon...
    
    Mar 2, 2020
    
    Jinxy245, crenca, LetMeBeFrank and 4 others like this.
11. atomicbob
  Finished my last week as FTE; part time begins next week. Maybe now I'll have some time (and energy) to work on the measurement backlog.
  
  Feb 28, 2020
  1. Brad Tombaugh, Sqveak, sphinxvc and 17 others like this.
  2. View previous comments...
  3. Jinxy245
    Official congrats sir! Enjoy your semi retirement & thanks for all you do.
    
    Feb 28, 2020
    
    atomicbob and joch like this.
  4. Thad E Ginathom
    Enjoy!
    
    Feb 29, 2020
    
    atomicbob likes this.
  5. atomicbob
    Celebration tonight! Grilling steaks outside in wind, rain and possibly a thunderstorm while enjoying Mark Ryan Crazy Mary Mourvedre. Yeah, I've been known to grill in the snow while wearing shorts and Hawaiian shirt.
    
    Feb 29, 2020
    
    sphinxvc, Jinxy245 and Thad E Ginathom like this.
12. atomicbob
  Final project milestones delivered. Website and email host migrated. Final approach to semi-retirement. Was made offer I couldn't refuse.
  
  Feb 24, 2020
  1. Azteca, Jinxy245, Lou Casadonte and 10 others like this.
  2. View previous comments...
  3. Biodegraded
    I hope they're throwing a big party for you on your last day!
    
    Feb 24, 2020
    
    atomicbob likes this.
  4. Lou Casadonte
    Congratulations!
    
    Feb 25, 2020
    
    atomicbob likes this.
  5. atomicbob
    Will be working 2 days / week for the remainder of the year mentoring and creating learning modules on psycho-acoustics, measurements and audio / acoustics in general. Full retirement sometime in the future, so no BIG party, but a smaller group will be celebrating 35 yrs and many patents.
    
    Feb 25, 2020
    
    Biodegraded and Lou Casadonte like this.
13. atomicbob
  Happy Valentines Day! 14 days to retiring from full time corporate who requested consulting 2 days / week for the remainder of the year.
  
  Feb 14, 2020
  1. SeanT, Jinxy245, hikergrl and 16 others like this.
14. atomicbob
  AAAAAAARRRRRRRGGGGGGHHHHHH. Could some moderator move my KTE May technical measurements from amplifiers to sources please?
  
  Feb 8, 2020
  1. Cakecake likes this.
  2. ChaChaRealSmooth
    Done
    
    Feb 8, 2020
    
    atomicbob likes this.
  3. atomicbob
    Thank-you!!!!
    
    Feb 8, 2020
15. atomicbob
  KTE May technical measurements posted: https://superbestaudiofriends.org/index.php?threads/kte-may-technical-measurements.8933/
  
  Feb 8, 2020
  1. Azteca, exocer, raif and 5 others like this.
16. zerodeefex
  I can't believe you had a flood too! I'm sorry to hear you went through that. We're still having our place repaired.
  
  Feb 6, 2020
  1. Thad E Ginathom and atomicbob like this.
  2. View previous comments...
  3. Thad E Ginathom
    No doubt PTSD lurks not far below the surface. It was utterly traumatic. For huge parts of a whole city.
    
    Feb 7, 2020
  4. Claritas
    Can't tell you how much I feel for all you guys. I lost 2/3ds of my book collection to a flood back in '09. Shitty events of this sort are nothing short of traumatic.
    
    Feb 8, 2020
    
    Thad E Ginathom likes this.
  5. Thad E Ginathom
    Books were the thing that hurt me deepest. Last year I met someone whose house was full to the ground-floor ceiling: she lost 400 books. I know musicians who lost old instruments, and poorer people who simply lost everything they had.
    
    Feb 9, 2020
    
    Claritas likes this.
17. atomicbob
  More T4 data and backstory added: https://www.superbestaudiofriends.org/index.php?threads/ecp-audio-t4-technical-measurements.8923/
  
  Feb 6, 2020
  1. yotacowboy likes this.
18. atomicbob
  Ok, I have got to quit hanging around the forums ... I owe you all quite a few Technical Measurements, especially the ECP T4.
  
  Feb 4, 2020
  1. ChaChaRealSmooth, ultrabike, Psalmanazar and 3 others like this.
  2. ChaChaRealSmooth
    You owe us nothing. The work you put in here is appreciated and done of your own goodwill. Anyone who thinks otherwise can go to HF.
    
    Feb 4, 2020
    
    sheldaze and Lyander like this.
  3. atomicbob
    Another ECP T4 suite has been run for 300R and 32R. Unfortunately I couldn't locate the stock tubes. T4 is currently equipped with the Mullard CV4024 I dearly love. Will have to do. Data vetting in morning. T4 + Holo May is yet another a time warp. Piano in upper registers is so natural rather than jangly. Solid bass with great definition. Magic Midrange.
    
    Feb 4, 2020
    
    Hammy and ChaChaRealSmooth like this.
19. atomicbob
  TFW you realize you wasted 3.5K on JA perfect Auralic Vega DAC when Holo Spring L3 at 2.5K brings far more joy.
  
  Jan 30, 2020
  1. E_Schaaf, Jinxy245, Psalmanazar and 4 others like this.
  2. Baten
    <3 the Holo Spring, best NOS-capable DAC out there imo. Glad to hear you like it too ;)
    
    Jan 31, 2020
    
    atomicbob likes this.
  3. Psalmanazar
    Best NOS dac ever!
    
    Jan 31, 2020
    
    atomicbob and Baten like this.
20. atomicbob
  Will be at Seattle Can meet, Highpoint Branch Seattle Library today 1000 ~ 1500, with Dante DDC, Bifrost-2, SW51+, and Focal Stellia.
  
  Jan 25, 2020
  1. FlySweep, bimmer100, Case and 7 others like this.
  2. bimmer100
    Nice talking with you, hope you can contact me at my site and chat more soon.
    
    Jan 25, 2020
    
    atomicbob likes this.
  3. atomicbob
    There were many who found the combination engrossing, time warping them to the future all to quickly.
    
    Jan 26, 2020
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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.