MellowVelo
Joined:
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heart 2 40
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Epic 13 74
Agreed, ditto, +1 23 48

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Gender:
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Location:
Chicago

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MellowVelo

Friend, Male, from Chicago

Pyrate Contributor

To all who celebrate Christmas and all who yearn for renewal, may this season bring the birth of new and hopeful possibility. You are loved. Dec 25, 2023

    1. MellowVelo
      MellowVelo
      Eddie Current website is back online, for anybody who was concerned…
    2. MellowVelo
      MellowVelo
      Darlington Labs MP-7 is really special. I feel like an evangelist who needs to share the good word. I’ll post proper impressions soon.
      1. Azimuth, JayC, HotRatSalad and 2 others like this.
      2. Azimuth
        Azimuth
        Please do. I’ve been thinking of upgrading. I feel like the MM-6 needs cleaner top end…less murky.
        Nov 13, 2022
        MellowVelo likes this.
      3. MellowVelo
        MellowVelo
        @Azimuth will do. I haven’t heard other DL models, but I don’t perceive a murky top end on the MP-7.
        Nov 13, 2022
      4. MellowVelo
        Dec 2, 2022
        Azimuth likes this.
    3. MellowVelo
      MellowVelo
      Honest question: does anybody here like Yggdrasil MIL? If so, what do you like about it? I haven’t heard it, but I’m genuinely curious.
      1. Azimuth and RestoredSparda like this.
    4. MellowVelo
      MellowVelo
      Darlington Labs MP-7 has arrived. I’m looking forward to comparing it with Mani 2, but first, I need to recover from COVID. :(
      1. Cryptowolf, JayC, HotRatSalad and 3 others like this.
      2. View previous comments...
      3. JayC
        JayC
        Haha, I had the same with the Mani 1, I sold it immediately and I completely agree with the bass, its thick and detailed but doesnt bleed. I've had three iterations of the MP-7 so I've also seen it progress over time, mostly with the bass

        Do you think you want to post your findings on the thread? Could be interesting for others too
        Nov 9, 2022
        MellowVelo likes this.
      4. MellowVelo
        MellowVelo
        Yes, I’m definitely planning to post my impressions. Could you also post an update about how the MP-7 has improved with subsequent iterations? I think that people would find this interesting, and it speaks to Keith’s commitment to continually improve his products.
        Nov 9, 2022
      5. JayC
        JayC
        oh definitely, I created that comparison thread with the intention of doing a lot of side-by-sides with other units and there's something to be said there about iteration comparison. I had some setbacks in getting that done, but I'll be picking that up again in the coming days
        Nov 10, 2022
        MellowVelo likes this.
    5. MellowVelo
      MellowVelo
      I might upgrade the power supply for Sonnet Echo Express SE I, which powers Lynx E22. Looks like I need 12V, 5A. Any recommendations?
    6. MellowVelo
      MellowVelo
      Schiit Mani 2 is in the house. Still warming up, but very initial impression is that the bass hits much harder than OG Mani.
      1. Qildail and HotRatSalad like this.
      2. MellowVelo
        MellowVelo
        First spin: “Random Access Memories” by Daft Punk.
        Oct 14, 2022
        CEE TEE likes this.
    7. MellowVelo
      MellowVelo
      Has anybody heard the Ayre P-5XE phono stage? I’m really curious about this one. I might have a lead on a good deal.
      1. wbass
        wbass
        Haven't heard but was curious myself a couple years ago. Those balanced inputs/outputs especially appealing. In a big compare of phono stages, I found the big difference, unsurprisingly, to be between tube and solid-state.
        Sep 27, 2022
        MellowVelo likes this.
    8. MellowVelo
      MellowVelo
      Blue Jeans Cable now makes headphone cables. Not listed yet on website, so email them. Got 10’ w/ Canare L-4E6S and XLR for less than $100.
      1. penguins, wbass, Merrick and 11 others like this.
      2. View previous comments...
      3. MellowVelo
        MellowVelo
        @SoupRKnowva nice! I didn't see the page because it's not listed in the menu. Canare L-4E5C is standard, but if you want the slightly larger Canare L-4E6S, you can request it for a few bucks more. I had a great email conversation with Andrew at BJC. He's super knowledgeable and helpful.
        Apr 28, 2022
        SoupRKnowva likes this.
      4. roughroad
        roughroad
        So, what do you think of the HP cable so far?
        Apr 28, 2022
      5. MellowVelo
        MellowVelo
        @roughroad I haven’t done an A/B comparison (life is too short), but the Focal Elear sounds as expected. I purchased the cable because I wanted a particular length and termination. Canare starquad is well regarded for headphone cables. It’s durable and non-microphonic. Lots of folks on SBAF use it.
        Apr 28, 2022
    9. MellowVelo
      MellowVelo
      Enjoying Elear w/ Utopia pads. Pads restore upper mids, add air in treble, and remove bass bloat. Am I missing anything compared to Utopia?
      1. View previous comments...
      2. Boops
        Boops
        As with everything, the amp/source/chain/synergy matters a lot, but all things being equal, you'd be missing resolution, micro.
        Apr 26, 2022
      3. zonto
        zonto
        You're missing beryllium and swagger. ;)
        Apr 26, 2022
        Boops and MellowVelo like this.
      4. ChaChaRealSmooth
        ChaChaRealSmooth
        Driver timbre is noticeably different between the two. Utopia also has incredibly smooth upper treble; still never heard a headphone with better performance there. Utopia also scales like mad with better gear since it's so resolving
        Apr 27, 2022
        MellowVelo likes this.
    10. MellowVelo
      MellowVelo
      The Dynamic Range Database is back. Like other measurements, DR isn’t everything, but it’s a helpful tool for comparing different masters.
      1. MellowVelo
      2. Merrick
        Merrick
        Here's how I see DR. High DR doesn't guarantee a mastering will sound good, because there are other ways to bork a mastering, but a low DR almost always guarantees the mastering will suck because if the DR level is low enough there is no saving it.
        Apr 22, 2022
        Justin S, Cryptowolf, Friday and 3 others like this.
      3. MellowVelo
        MellowVelo
        Well said. Many older CDs have high DR but also sound thin and brittle. I seek out masterings with high DR, but I have to actually listen to know whether or not it sounds good.
        Apr 22, 2022
    11. MellowVelo
      MellowVelo
      I finally set up my membership on Patreon. This place has given me so much; I’m glad to give back and continue building our community.
      1. MellowVelo
      2. dematted
        dematted
        I just did the same! Very much feel the same way. Cheers :).
        Apr 13, 2022
    12. MellowVelo
      MellowVelo
      Thinking of trying Focal Clear OG. Does it really clip at moderate volume levels? I find this hard to believe, but now I’m kinda spooked.
      1. View previous comments...
      2. edd
        edd
        I used Decibel X but I think I’ve had similar readings from other apps in the past
        Jan 11, 2022
        MellowVelo likes this.
      3. MellowVelo
        MellowVelo
        @edd Thanks. I downloaded Decibel X. The results were really insightful. After getting settled and finding my typical long-term listening level, I measured the SPL around 60-65 dB. I also tried listening around 80 dB. Frankly, I would never listen at that volume. It was really uncomfortable for my ears.
        Jan 11, 2022
      4. MellowVelo
        MellowVelo
        Long story short, I don’t think that I’ll have any driver excursion issues with the Focal. Thank you to everybody who contributed to this conversation.
        Jan 11, 2022
        Justin S, penguins and edd like this.
    13. MellowVelo
      MellowVelo
      Thinking about a Rag 2 with a phono card. Does anybody know if the phono card is based on the MM circuit in the Mani rev. 1 or rev. 2?
    14. MellowVelo
      MellowVelo
      Got a Shure V15 Type III cartridge for my Dual 701 turntable. Holy shit. How does a cartridge released in 1973 sound this good?
      1. Azimuth, Qildail and Merrick like this.
      2. Azimuth
        Azimuth
        I have a special place in my heart for 701's.
        Oct 14, 2021
        MellowVelo likes this.
      3. MellowVelo
        MellowVelo
        The 701 really captures the magic of direct drive, and the tonearm was basically designed for the V15 Type III. A winning combination, if there ever was one.
        Oct 14, 2021
        Azimuth likes this.
    15. MellowVelo
      MellowVelo
      Got the Headamp GS-X Mini today. Gilmore haters take note: this amp offers refinement and resolution in spades. Solid state is all grown up.
      1. zonto, Jinxy245, YMO and 5 others like this.
      2. MellowVelo
        MellowVelo
        And I say this as somebody who once paid full price for a GS-X mk2 and regretted the decision immensely.
        Apr 13, 2020
        gridmaster likes this.
      3. brencho
        brencho
        nice man, that's what i hear. i'd like to hear one sometime!
        Apr 13, 2020
        MellowVelo likes this.
      4. jexby
        jexby
        would like SBAF ears on this as well. especially those that have heard BW2, 3F, Rag.
        Apr 14, 2020
        FlySweep and MellowVelo like this.
    16. MellowVelo
      MellowVelo
      Three takeaways from day 1 with the Audio Zenith PMx2: (1) Tone is life. (2) Tone is life. (3) Tone is life.
      1. westermac, obsiCO, AdvanTech and 6 others like this.
      2. Vtory
        Vtory
        Congrat. Which amps do you pair with pmx2? I've seen several folks were struggling about how to (better) amp it.
        May 13, 2018
      3. MellowVelo
        MellowVelo
        Mjölnir Audio Pure Bipolar (aka SuSy Dynalo mk2). I haven’t tried the PMx2 with any other amps, but I like what I’m hearing. Think of the synergy between HD650 and Jotunheim, but Pure Bipolar offers more refined treble, better resolution, and no glare.
        May 13, 2018
        Vtory and captkirk like this.
    17. MellowVelo
      MellowVelo
      Two long-term goals recently achieved: 1. Gain admission to a PhD program 2. Build a hifi system before returning to school
    18. MellowVelo
      MellowVelo
      Parenthood and audiophilia often feel like mutually exclusive pursuits. I’m grateful when I can find a few minutes to just be in the music.
      1. Imraan, FlySweep, Soups and 6 others like this.
      2. View previous comments...
      3. Soups
        Soups
        i think i appreciate my music listening time more due to the young kid constraint. kinda like food when you're hungry. their needs also put a good check on on my audiophoolery spending.
        May 11, 2018
        MellowVelo likes this.
      4. MellowVelo
        MellowVelo
        @Soups, I agree. The kids make me appreciate the time, and their needs encourage me to be content with my gear.
        May 11, 2018
        Imraan and Soups like this.
      5. Cspirou
        Cspirou
        That's not to say I don't get play time due to kids. The mb42x was bought so the kids could listen to music in their room. They like Peppa Pig and Lisa Loeb.
        May 11, 2018
        MellowVelo likes this.
    19. MellowVelo
      MellowVelo
      Audio Zenith PMx2 incoming. It came down to PMx2 or Focal Clear as an upgrade to my trusty HD650. Can't wait to hear it on my home rig!
      1. Lyander, DigMe and brencho like this.
    20. MellowVelo
      MellowVelo
      Got the Shure SE846. So far, these sound nice out of the ZX2. Pretty natural frequency response. Next up, custom sleeves from Sensaphonics.
      1. View previous comments...
      2. MellowVelo
        MellowVelo
        Since I live in Chicago, I can go directly to Sensaphonics and have them make the molds, instead of going to an audiologist.
        Dec 4, 2017
      3. TomHP
        TomHP
        Make sure you play around with some of the filter mods suggested on HF.
        Dec 4, 2017
        MellowVelo likes this.
      4. MellowVelo
        MellowVelo
        I didn't know about the filter mods. I'll check it out.
        Dec 4, 2017
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  • About

    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Chicago
    A mountain-climbing, ocean-swimming Californian living on the prairie.

    Signature

    Digital: MacBook Pro > JRiver Media Center 30 > Lynx E22 > Schiit Yggdrasil A1
    Analog: Dual 701 > Ortofon Super OM 40 > Darlington Labs MP-7
    Headphone: NITSCH x ecp Audio DSHA-3FN > Focal Utopia
    Two-channel: Pass Labs X2.5 > Bryston PowerPac 300-SST (x2) > Wharfedale Denton 80th Anniversary