Justin S
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Mar 26, 2024 at 8:24 PM
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Filmmaker

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Justin S

Friend, Male, from Toronto

Pyrate Contributor

ZMF Classics are bananas. w Lry+ and a Ken Rad, cable and mesh tweaks, early Massive Attack is glorious... It's all there. Mar 22, 2024 at 10:35 PM

Justin S was last seen:
Mar 26, 2024 at 8:24 PM
    1. Justin S
      Justin S
      HD800S arrived this afternoon. Hilo->Lokius->Rebel Amp->HD800S. Early listening impression is that they're like mini-monitors in my system.
      1. Qildail, Thad E Ginathom and netforce like this.
      2. View previous comments...
      3. Justin S
        Justin S
        Tales of the massive never-ending borderless soundstage do not match my experience. The staging is just pleasantly out of my head with excellent instrument separation. When I listen my P3XDs, I put them in a near-field triangle about 4-5 feet out - the 800Ss are like that. With my current chain, they're less lusty sounding than the Harbeths, but pretty great.
        Jul 18, 2022
        Thad E Ginathom likes this.
      4. gixxerwimp
        gixxerwimp
        I think "4-5 feet out" is the equivalent of "massive never-ending borderless soundstage" when you're talking about headphones. Most are like "4-5 inches out" if you're lucky.
        Jul 19, 2022
        Justin S and Thad E Ginathom like this.
      5. Justin S
        Justin S
        @gixxerwimp Point taken. When I listen to my old AKG 600ohm K240 monitor headphones, it presents a very distant stage - it's unnatural. When listening nearfield with mini-monitors, it sounds quite "naturally" outfront as it does with the 800S s.
        Jul 19, 2022
        gixxerwimp likes this.
    2. Justin S
      Justin S
      Lokius has EQ-converted me. Quick bypass vs my dials is a pretty small delta but the long listen is transformative.
      1. Qildail, Cryptowolf, zottel and 3 others like this.
    3. Justin S
      Justin S
      Lokius in! Fun. A couple "Gentle Tweaks" to the midbass and high end and the HD600s are more full and open.
      1. shambles, Cryptowolf, Gazny and 2 others like this.
      2. Justin S
        Justin S
        Some weirdness: the Hilo outputs 1v at the +0dBV trim level. Hilo-> Bal @ +0dBV-> Lokius-> SE -> amp creates distortion. With the bypass on, the distortion goes away. If I feed Lokius SE using a BAL to SE Cable from the Hilo (Lynx spec: 1 to shield, 2 to RCA tip, 3 to RCA ring, no shield at RCA) everything sounds really good. What could be happening here?
        Jul 7, 2022
    4. Justin S
      Justin S
      Decided to give up my RMA'ed OG Clears. I worry they're too delicate for daily drivers. Looking at LCDX and 800Ss. Want smart fun.
      1. Gazny and rlow like this.
      2. View previous comments...
      3. Justin S
        Justin S
        @roshambo123 , I have a pair of 800S s inbound. In my short audition with them, the sound signature is really interesting to me. Also the fact that Senn continues to support their headphones decades in, and the reported durability of them were all deciding factors. What amp are you using with them? I am planning to reterminate a Neotech OCC cable with 800-cup jacks.
        Jul 14, 2022
        roshambo123 likes this.
      4. roshambo123
        roshambo123
        Mjolnir 2 and Jot 2. Both are good pairings I think for HD800S / SDR.
        Jul 14, 2022
        Justin S likes this.
      5. Justin S
        Justin S
        @roshambo123. Thanks! I have been looking at the MJ2. I had a JOT 2 while ago and sold it, hastily, when it didn't sound right with my Hilo. I hadn't understood how the gain staging worked with the Hilo at that point. I have a Rebel Amp right now and will see how it sits with the 800Ss.
        Jul 14, 2022
        roshambo123 likes this.
    5. Justin S
      Justin S
      Won a backyard chili competition with friends. I did chili paste from scratch with shortribs. Chuffed to be crowned the Chili Kween 2022.
    6. Justin S
      Justin S
      NDH 30. As a 600s and KH120As kind of guy these look appealing.
    7. Justin S
      Justin S
      Awaiting my OG Clears from an RMA. It's love but they're fussy. Considering selling to do a planar. LCD, DC, HFM? I'm an HD600 guy.
      1. Qildail likes this.
      2. View previous comments...
      3. ChaChaRealSmooth
        ChaChaRealSmooth
        If you can swing them I'd recommend the ZMF Atrium if you want "fun" but not in an unnatural way
        Jun 11, 2022
        Justin S likes this.
      4. Justin S
        Justin S
        The Atrium make me wince a bit, but I will look into them. Fun but natural is the right spot for me. It's perhaps a bit of bluster about planars - I have been a dynamic guy my whole life. All that vibrating membrane stuff weirds me out :-)
        Jun 11, 2022
      5. ChaChaRealSmooth
        ChaChaRealSmooth
        I just can't get along with most planars. Something about all of them sounds strange to me. Or maybe I'm used to dynamic "grain" and think anything else is weird.
        Jun 12, 2022
        Justin S likes this.
    8. Justin S
      Justin S
      Kind of digging the Dekoni Fenestrated Sheepskin on my 600s. The openness and bass are like a new pair of headphones. They feel speaker-y.
      1. Cryptowolf likes this.
      2. Justin S
        Justin S
        Oh. Pluses and Minuses. On the right tracks they're spacious and yummy. On busy stuff, things get noisy and wall-of-sound-y.
        Jun 4, 2022
    9. Justin S
      Justin S
    10. Justin S
      Justin S
      Clears are on their way to Focal for repair. Once acclimatized, the 6XX(M)s with the Rebel Amp are a tiny slice of holy f**k.
      1. View previous comments...
      2. yotacowboy
        yotacowboy
        Yeah, isn't this amp based on an AMB design?
        May 23, 2022
        Justin S likes this.
      3. Justin S
        Justin S
        I think there are a few impressions. I'll find the thread and put something together this weekend. Yes - they based their design on the AMB with permission. It's a really nice sounding amp and offers up a pretty good sense of space.
        May 27, 2022
      4. Justin S
        Justin S
        Jun 3, 2022
    11. Justin S
      Justin S
      Dreaded rattling with the Focal Clears started. 100Hz tone at 70dB = right driver rattle. headphones.com are excellent and RMA received.
    12. Justin S
      Justin S
      Back and forth with the 600/6xxs/Focal Clears with the Hilo>Rebel Amp. I am feeling like the 600s are King in this chain. Quiet and loud.
      1. FlySweep, Cryptowolf, Qildail and 4 others like this.
    13. Justin S
      Justin S
      Poltava, Kyiv, Chelm, Riga, Biruliskiai, Koeln, Louisville, Mississauga, Concord, Toronto. The Rebel Amp I ordered from Artem is here!
      1. View previous comments...
      2. Qildail
        Qildail
        That's a hell of a trip for sure. Enjoy!
        May 13, 2022
        Justin S likes this.
      3. gixxerwimp
        gixxerwimp
        Wow, when did it ship out? Before the, ahem, "Special Invasion Operation"?
        May 16, 2022
      4. Justin S
        Justin S
        No - it shipped May 1. I actually received it before a HomeDepot order placed at the same time. It's a good sounding amp. Back to back with the Lynx Hilo headamp, it is thrusty-er and stages with more relief.
        May 17, 2022
        gixxerwimp likes this.
    14. Justin S
      Justin S
      Spoke to Artem at Rebel - says they're operating normally. Hard to believe. Ordered and looking forward to it- happy to support those guys.
      1. Cryptowolf likes this.
    15. Justin S
      Justin S
      Anyone using the Torpedo III with OG Clears? I am speaking with a USAM member who has one for sale. I am interested.
      1. View previous comments...
      2. Justin S
        Justin S
        Ended up going nice solid state - nothing too ostentatious. Thought I would give Class A a whirl with the Rebel Amp.
        Apr 28, 2022
        zonto likes this.
      3. zonto
        zonto
        @Justin S, haven't heard of that amp. Let us know what you think when you get it in.
        Apr 28, 2022
      4. Justin S
        Justin S
        I will do. Might be waiting a while for it. I sold the Jot 2 but still have the Erish 2 for comparison.
        Apr 28, 2022
    16. Justin S
      Justin S
      After much reading, I am interested in the Lyr but terrified by the reports of fried headphones. Is this overreported?
      1. View previous comments...
      2. Justin S
        Justin S
        This all makes sense. I have a note into PCX to see if they have any NOS tubes kicking around on their shelves. I have had very good experiences purchasing tubes from them in the past. I had the Raytheons for the Freya and you're right - they were not a good fit with Freya/speakers. I regret selling all the tubes with it, though. I had a good collection going.
        Apr 20, 2022
        rlow likes this.
      3. Justin S
        Justin S
        Drat - I made the decision to pick up a new one and they're 10-12 weeks out from shipping. While this supply chain stuff is a drag for consumers, I can't imagine how hard it is on manufacturers like Schiit.
        Apr 20, 2022
      4. Azimuth
        Azimuth
        The Lyr 3 and even Vali 2 can “pop” on first turn on. How much depends on how fast the tube warms up. I usually turn it on unplugged and wait. But it is more what tube + amp rather than the amp itself.
        Apr 21, 2022
        Justin S likes this.
    17. Justin S
      Justin S
      OG Clears with the Hilo are quite moving. I know there's moar there, though. I've read the Clear thread. Any favorites with a neutral-y DAC?
      1. Justin S
        Justin S
        I just dug out my Geshelli E2 from my for-sale pile and it a step in the right direction - thicker, tames the 1k beasties, but stages a little close for what I am searching for. I am talking to Al about building a Mapletree OD300 SET and, conversely,looking at the Bryston BHA-1.
        Apr 15, 2022
        Cryptowolf likes this.
    18. Justin S
      Justin S
      Week 2 for Hilo. Monitors = amazing, OG Clears = things I haven't heard before but a bit itchy. 600s are amazing. Thinking LP for Clears.
      1. View previous comments...
      2. Riotvan
        Riotvan
        Apr 11, 2022
        Justin S likes this.
      3. Justin S
        Justin S
        Whoa. It's like another headphone with those settings. They're more 600-y. I will investigate this further!
        Apr 11, 2022
        Riotvan likes this.
      4. Riotvan
        Riotvan
        Yeah i couldn't go back to stock...
        Apr 11, 2022
        Justin S likes this.
    19. Justin S
      Justin S
      With the Hilo, different recordings sound really different. I don't really believe in "neutral" but this is something new to me.
      1. wbass likes this.
      2. View previous comments...
      3. Justin S
        Justin S
        Thanks MellowVelo and roshambo123. I'm going to put more time in with the Hilo - it's the shiny new thing right now - and then do some comparisons and write them up in a thread.
        Apr 2, 2022
      4. Justin S
        Justin S
        Thanks, Vtory. That's what I'll do. I know it's an older DAC but still in production. I haven't been around that long, so I did not see the Changstar thread or the chart.
        Apr 2, 2022
        Vtory likes this.
      5. MellowVelo
        MellowVelo
        Apr 5, 2022
        Justin S likes this.
    20. Justin S
      Justin S
      OG Clears to the 6XXMs and 600s on the Hilo. The headamp bosses the Senns around well! Vs Clears= more yummy mids, less dynamic. What veil?
      1. Cryptowolf likes this.
      2. Justin S
        Justin S
        As good as the Hilo internal headamp is with the Focals, the Jot2 brings the musical and slam to the Senns. With the Clears, the Jot 2 is less than the Hilo headamp.
        Apr 1, 2022
        Qildail likes this.
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  • About

    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Toronto
    Occupation:
    Filmmaker
    Gear List:
    Home system: PI2AES with SBAF ABNN>AES> Yggdrasil LIM>SE>Heed Obelisk SI III>Harbeth P3ESR XDs + REL t7i.

    Work: USB | S/PDIF (PI2AES Lite) ->MOTU Ultralite MK5/Geshelli J2S -> Monitors: Genelec 8020s + 7040a

    Headphones: USB | S/PDIF (PI2AES Lite) -> MOTU/J2 (SBAF ABNN after SMPS)- > Lyr+. ZMF AUTEUR CLASSIC, HD 6xxM (sbaf kissmod), HD600, Modded DT770s.

    Previous equipment. Harbeth P3ESR Standards, Harbeth C7ES3s, Neumann KH120As, Dynaudio M20s. Project Debut III/Graham Slee pre, Soekris 2541 (2x), RME ADI-2 DACfs, Bifrost 2, Holo Spring1 LV2, Schiit Fulla, BF2 (2x), BF 2/64, Gungnir Multibit Multibit A2, Heed Dactillus, Denafrips Ares, Auralic Aries, AudioLab M-DAC, Rega R-DAC, OG Schiit Freya, Schiit Magni 3, OG Burson Soloist, MassDrop LCX, Burson Fun, ZDT Jr., BHA-1, Lynx Hilo

    Previous Headphones: ZMF Aeolus, HD800S, LCD-X 2021, Focal Clear, Focal Elex, OG Sennheiser 650, Sennheiser 58x Jubilee, OG AKG Sextetts, Nhoord Red custom build, Symphones Magnum V8 custom build, Elleven Acoustica G1 custom build, Elleven Acoustica R1 custom build, Hifiman He400i, AKG K702.
    I am a filmmaker. I have also owned and operated a couple different animation/video-post studios and have been buying and trading gear since the 90s. I am relatively new to hifi.

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