Merrick
Last Activity:
Mar 27, 2024 at 5:12 PM
Joined:
Jan 6, 2016
Messages:
3,612
Trophy Points:
113
Positive ratings received:
13,286
Neutral ratings received:
12
Negative ratings received:
15

Post Ratings

Received: Given:
Like 12,568 10,200
Dislike 13 23
Respectfully Disagree 12 8
heart 42 31
Miss Information 2 10
Epic 341 533
Agreed, ditto, +1 335 314
Gender:
Male
Location:
Portland, OR

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Merrick

A lidless ear, Male, from Portland, OR

Pyrate

The design of the Vali 3 is beautiful and I want one, but I’m not sure I have any use for it. Mar 17, 2024

Merrick was last seen:
Mar 27, 2024 at 5:12 PM
    1. Merrick
      Merrick
      Got fired today. I view it as a blessing in disguise. For anyone in the PNW, don't shop at Mud Bay.
      1. View previous comments...
      2. Hammy
        Hammy
        That sucks! Today looked good this morning with the rain washing away the smoke. Then the day went to shit. A Mud Bay just opened in Sherwood last December. I've never been there. Don't have any pets. I'll avoid it on principle and lack of pets.
        Sep 18, 2020
        Azimuth and Merrick like this.
      3. Thad E Ginathom
        Thad E Ginathom
        Sep 19, 2020
        Merrick likes this.
      4. Merrick
        Merrick
        Thank you all for the well wishes! I’ve been taking courses to get a Google certificate in IT support, which is where I was planning to take my career anyway. Getting fired is simply accelerating that plan.
        Sep 19, 2020
        bixby, atomicbob, Jinxy245 and 2 others like this.
    2. Merrick
      Merrick
      Bill and Ted Face the Music is most excellent.
      1. Deep Funk, Gazny, FlySweep and 9 others like this.
      2. Deep Funk
        Deep Funk
        Yes, thank you.
        Sep 2, 2020
        Merrick likes this.
    3. Merrick
      Merrick
      The SHM-SACD of Beggar’s Banquet has exquisite mastering.
      1. Jinxy245 likes this.
      2. Boops
        Boops
        Is the is the ABKCO records 2010 release?
        Aug 24, 2020
      3. Merrick
        Merrick
        It’s a more recent Japanese SACD release. Some have argued it’s the same mastering as the ABKCO release but IMO the SHM has more detail and texture.
        Aug 24, 2020
        Boops likes this.
    4. Merrick
      Merrick
      It’s a Magma kind of night.
      1. insidious meme, YMO and Deep Funk like this.
      2. View previous comments...
      3. insidious meme
        insidious meme
        Lol, you're not. I'm more into the more melodic stuff but I do have Koenjihyakkei on vinyl.
        Aug 22, 2020
        YMO and Merrick like this.
      4. Merrick
        Merrick
        Sunn O))) as well
        Aug 22, 2020
      5. insidious meme
        insidious meme
        Wut, no Univers Zero or Thinking Plague?
        Aug 22, 2020
    5. Merrick
      Merrick
      Man, the stock cable on the Elegia sure does suck.
      1. View previous comments...
      2. nishan99
        nishan99
        Portable™
        Aug 18, 2020
        pure5152 and Merrick like this.
      3. Merrick
        Aug 19, 2020
        gixxerwimp likes this.
      4. gixxerwimp
        gixxerwimp
        I use the shorty that came with my Clears on occasion and keep it in the travel case for convenience. I don't think they're that cheap to make, just poor design decisions. My favourite way to describe using them is like wrestling with a hungry python. When I got Stellia, they didn't even make it out of the fancy box.
        Aug 20, 2020
        Merrick likes this.
    6. Merrick
      Merrick
      From a purely sonic standpoint, is there any portable DAC/amp that can compete with a Geek Out V2+ Infinity?
      1. purr1n
        purr1n
        XDuoo XD-05 plus with good opamps, but not really portable, more like size of big phone but thicker.
        Aug 15, 2020
      2. Merrick
        Merrick
        @purr1n Semi-portable is fine. This is more for listening on trips rather than around town, I have airpods for casual listening. I’ll check the xDuoo thread for opamp recs. Thanks!
        Aug 15, 2020
    7. Merrick
      Merrick
      Goddamn, the new Fantastic Negrito album is exceptional.
    8. Merrick
      Merrick
      God, Tommy is a brutal album. A story about a child traumatized into sensory deprivation, sexually abused and exploited for his talents.
      1. Jinxy245 likes this.
      2. View previous comments...
      3. Merrick
        Merrick
        The 2011 remaster is a remaster of the 1996 remix, which is the mix I fell in love with. Much cleaner than the 1973 mix! The demos are indeed fantastic too.
        Aug 13, 2020
        LetMeBeFrank likes this.
      4. LetMeBeFrank
        LetMeBeFrank
        I did not know that! The version I always knew was the original CD release that my father had, which was pre 96.
        Aug 13, 2020
      5. Merrick
        Merrick
        To be accurate, the CD release of the 2011 is the remix, the downloadable version is the original mix. The remix removes the reverb and double tracked vocals, and depending on the song pushes the vocals forward. Unfortunately the mastering isn’t as good as it has been for the original mix.
        Aug 13, 2020
    9. Merrick
      Merrick
      Anyone else hoping for a Modius Multibitius for under $300?
      1. Gazny, YMO, Soups and 5 others like this.
      2. View previous comments...
      3. Azimuth
        Azimuth
        I think to do real balanced is why they had to go with different chips. It still could happen with the AD5781.
        Aug 12, 2020
      4. YMO
        YMO
        I am, that would get rid of my Eitr > RDAC setup on my desk. All in one setups are my preference except amps.
        Aug 12, 2020
        fraggler and Merrick like this.
      5. Superexchanger
        Superexchanger
        @Pogo put the new "Lupa" 8-knob EQ on top of the stack, for reasons which I assume are obvious :)
        Aug 13, 2020
    10. Merrick
      Merrick
      Looking forward to the upcoming Schiit DAC/amp pairing, Biggus and Dickus and Incontinentia and Buttox.
      1. nishan99, Jinxy245, Sqveak and 5 others like this.
      2. View previous comments...
      3. abisai2
        abisai2
        Darmok and Jalad IMO! @ Tanagra
        Aug 11, 2020
        rlow and Merrick like this.
      4. Sqveak
        Sqveak
        You forgot Naughtius and Maximus.
        Aug 11, 2020
        Jinxy245 and Merrick like this.
      5. Azimuth
    11. Merrick
      Merrick
      I always knew the Geek Out modules sounded good, but it took me hooking one up to a real amp to make me see how good.
      1. Merrick
        Merrick
        Hooking my GOV2+ Infinity up to a Liquid Platinum and Lyr 3 really brought out the best in the device and I'm annoyed I spent so much time listening to the onboard amplification.
        Aug 10, 2020
    12. Merrick
      Merrick
      Gungnir MB A1 balanced out to the stock Liquid Platinum with HD580s is just spectacular.
      1. View previous comments...
      2. Melvillian
        Melvillian
        HD580 is great. I can imagine it being a good pairing
        Aug 9, 2020
        Merrick likes this.
      3. Hammy
        Hammy
        I don't have to imagine, I can listen to exactly that chain with the HD580 but with Gold Lion tubes in the LP. It's good. But I like Audeze LCD-2 style headphone sound in that chain better.
        Aug 9, 2020
        FlySweep and Merrick like this.
      4. Merrick
        Merrick
        @Hammy An LCD-2 style headphone is on my list to get, but not in the cards at this moment.
        Aug 10, 2020
    13. Merrick
      Merrick
      That moment when you order cheap 3 ft XLR cables on Amazon Warehouse and receive never opened or used 25 foot XLR cables for $5 a pop.
      1. crenca, OldDude04, Riotvan and 2 others like this.
      2. ChaChaRealSmooth
        ChaChaRealSmooth
        So you're going to put your stuff as far apart from each other as possible right? For ultimate isolation and AuDiO qUaLiTy
        Aug 6, 2020
        OldDude04, Merrick and Riotvan like this.
      3. Riotvan
        Riotvan
        @ChaChaRealSmooth is this what they mean when people want audio all around the house?
        Aug 7, 2020
      4. Thad E Ginathom
        Thad E Ginathom
        Just order a few connectors and chop them up
        Aug 7, 2020
        Gazny, Azimuth and Merrick like this.
    14. Merrick
      Merrick
      First surprise from the Liquid Platinum: In balanced mode the pot is dead silent with the FDX1 until 11 on the dial.
      1. View previous comments...
      2. Merrick
        Merrick
        Doing more serious listening and I’ve had the amp running all day. I’m not detecting any distortion with the FDX1 at reasonable listening levels. I’m running the pot between 8 and 10 o’clock depending on how loud the track is mastered.
        Aug 5, 2020
        HotRatSalad likes this.
      3. Merrick
        Merrick
        I’m also surprised at how spacious this combo sounds for an IEM. I love the FDX1 but other than Andromeda I’ve never experienced a seriously spacious IEM. The LP doesn’t elevate the FDX1 to Andro levels of head stage, but it is more spacious than I thought the FDX1 was capable of.
        Aug 5, 2020
      4. Merrick
        Merrick
        That being said, while this does sound good I would not call it an optimal pairing. The Lyr 3 in low gain with the TS tube brings out the best in the FDX1 far more.
        Aug 5, 2020
    15. Merrick
      Merrick
      Heaven help me, I couldn’t resist the ridiculous sale price on the Liquid Platinum. Going to compare against Lyr 3.
      1. View previous comments...
      2. MLegend
        MLegend
        I'm curious to hear your thoughts comparing the two amps, but I would recommend holding off the cap mod for the LP. Spend some time with the LP in stock form with whatever tubes and see if you like the way it sounds. If you don't, then maybe consider having the caps upgraded by Ksorota. I'm not sure I made the right decision by having the caps swapped in my LP.
        Aug 4, 2020
      3. Skyline
        Skyline
        I'm skipping the mods purely for warranty reasons. 5 years is generous and I don't want to muck that up.
        Aug 5, 2020
        MLegend and Merrick like this.
      4. Merrick
        Merrick
        @Skyline Good point, I’ll do the caps mod five years from now.
        Aug 5, 2020
    16. Merrick
      Merrick
      Jeez, Gen 5 USB is still garbage compared to a good SPDIF source.
      1. View previous comments...
      2. rlow
        rlow
        The RPi (at least RPi 3) is such a terrible USB source, even Gen5 couldn’t do much with it. Unison manages to make it possibly passable, but IMO, still not great.

        Edit: Typing almost the same thing as rtaylor, too slowly :)
        Jul 28, 2020
        JellyRhino likes this.
      3. Merrick
        Merrick
        @rtaylor76 @rlow That's totally fair, and a better USB source could change the equation, but the RPi setup works best for my main system, so for me that's the USB source that mattered most.
        Jul 28, 2020
        Azimuth and rlow like this.
      4. Azimuth
        Azimuth
        I found Unison to be just a bit better than a HiFi Digi+. There was just a a tad more detail and clarity with Unison.
        Jul 28, 2020
    17. Merrick
      Merrick
      I’ve got 2 problems with the Gungnir MB: 1. I want this quality of sound everywhere & 2. Lack of sleep as I’m listening late into the night.
      1. View previous comments...
      2. robot zombie
        robot zombie
        Everything sounds best late at night. The sleep deprivation is part of it, but it's kinda chicken/egg. You get sleep deprived because it sounds great and then it sounds better because you're sleep deprived but comfortable.

        Not even kidding. The closest I think I've gotten to total transcendence has been those moments when I can barely keep my eyes open but the music is making me want to fight it.
        Jul 26, 2020
        Kouon, FlySweep and Merrick like this.
      3. Roman
        Roman
        Yeah, definitely miss my Gungnir Multibit. BF2 is good but.. not that good.
        Jul 26, 2020
        Merrick likes this.
      4. ChaChaRealSmooth
        ChaChaRealSmooth
        If I had my DAC's sound everywhere I would not be able to listen to music at all while working. It pulls my attention too much.
        Jul 26, 2020
        Merrick likes this.
    18. Merrick
      Merrick
      I wish Ayre had released the Pono as a branded DAP instead of making it a Neil Young vanity project.
      1. hikergrl and YMO like this.
      2. View previous comments...
      3. Merrick
        Merrick
        @k4rstar The player does have a high OI, so it’s not suitable for OI sensitive BAs like CFA IEMs. The Andromedas sounded pretty mushy out of it. It’s great for DD IEMs or cans, and planars that aren’t so insensitive that they need speaker taps to power them. The Pono can put out a good amount of power in balanced mode but even in SE it can power a good amount of cans.
        Jul 25, 2020
        k4rstar likes this.
      4. Hammy
        Hammy
        I've been a fan of the Pono from the beginning. It managed to combine the spacious Sabre sound with an amp section that enhanced and worked with that sound. Synergy.
        Jul 26, 2020
        Merrick likes this.
      5. Hammy
        Hammy
        I use a variety of headphones with the Pono. All with balanced cables. Latest is a Audioquest NightOwl which sounds really neat with the Pono.
        Jul 26, 2020
        Merrick likes this.
    19. Merrick
      Merrick
      Is there a full sized headphone equivalent of the FD-X1? I legitimately prefer these over every over-ear I can recall hearing.
      1. FlySweep and JellyRhino like this.
      2. View previous comments...
      3. YMO
        YMO
        My only advice is bug @tommytakis and make him flip his pair. : /
        Jul 24, 2020
        Merrick likes this.
      4. FlySweep
        FlySweep
        @Merrick yea.. a well driven FDX-1 is pretty special. Reminds me of the Elex in many ways. Not surprisingly, I enjoy the Elex a ton, as well. Been keen on hearing the Elex w/ the Lyr 3 (seems there's some great synergy there too). It's either the Lyr 3 or a good budget ss.
        Jul 24, 2020
        Merrick likes this.
      5. Merrick
        Merrick
        Sadly the Elex is out of my price range. C’est la vie!
        Jul 24, 2020
    20. Merrick
      Merrick
      Gungnir Multibit in the house!
      1. View previous comments...
      2. Merrick
        Merrick
        I like the first part of this, the dark road of spending not as much!
        Jul 22, 2020
      3. Merrick
        Merrick
        I do have a SW51+ ordered but I would have ordered that even if I didn’t get the Gungnir. I have HD580s and the FD-X1, and unless I come across an insane deal on a modded pair of HD800s, I’m not super inclined to get more headphones. And upgrading my turntable will cost me more than I could possibly afford right now.
        Jul 22, 2020
      4. Merrick
        Merrick
        It’s been on for 11 hours now and the magic is creeping in. I’m listening to Revolver and hearing details I’ve never noticed before. More than that, the music has an immediacy and realism to it that no other DAC I’ve owned has come close to, including the OG Bifrost MB. I’m going to be spending many nights rediscovering my music collection. And if this is the warm up period, I can’t wait for the final sound.
        Jul 22, 2020
        Soups likes this.
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  • About

    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Portland, OR
    Gear List:
    Source: Pi2AES
    DAC: Yggdrasil GS2
    Headphone Amp: Schiit Ragnarok
    Headphones: ZMF Auteur, ETA O2, Sennheiser IE 600, Koss Porta-Pro
    Speakers: NHT SB-3
    Power amp: Schiit Ragnarok
    Portable: iBasso DC06 Pro, Schiit Fulla E
    Turntable: Yamaha PX-3 linear
    Cart: Technics ECP-205C-IIL
    Phono: Schiit Mani 2

    Signature

    HP/IEM: ZMF Auteur Blackwood | Senn IE 600 | PortaPro
    AMP: Schiit Ragnarok (1)
    DAC: Yggdrasil+ GS2
    Turntable: Yamaha PX-3 w/Technics ECP-205C-IIL cart
    Speakers: NHT SB-3