Justin S
Last Activity:
Mar 26, 2024 at 8:24 PM
Joined:
Mar 14, 2018
Messages:
210
Trophy Points:
93
Positive ratings received:
1,565
Neutral ratings received:
0
Negative ratings received:
0

Post Ratings

Received: Given:
Like 1,506 1,255
Dislike 0 3
Respectfully Disagree 0 0
heart 10 41
Miss Information 0 0
Epic 36 74
Agreed, ditto, +1 13 21
Gender:
Male
Location:
Toronto
Occupation:
Filmmaker

Share This Page

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
      Garmin 245 training watch + 1Mii 101 bluetooth receiver + Koss Portapros = pretty sweet little running setup.
      1. Jinxy245 likes this.
      2. Justin S
        Justin S
        They weirdly indicate towards the space of a recording really well. They're not immersive, they're like a good sketch. Perfect while I get myself back into running after 3 years of inactivity.
        Oct 8, 2022
    2. Justin S
      Justin S
      Buy back or move forward? My old MAD Ear+ HD (parafeed, Class A) + a ton of 12A*7 tubes is for sale. I regret selling it. Was it that good?
      1. Justin S
        Justin S
        I've been really digging the BHA-1 and thought to get a Lyr+ in the future for a different flavour. Also - my main headphones are now the LCD-X which I imagine won't play well with the EAR+....but tubes! I did love this amp with the HD600/650s and Grados. Sold it to be responsible while I explored other things.
        Sep 19, 2022
      2. CEE TEE
        CEE TEE
        Never got to hear one of those...do you really miss it or want to try something new? I usually know when I really miss tube amps and have bought 3 of them again. :)
        Sep 20, 2022
        Justin S likes this.
      3. Justin S
        Justin S
        @CEE TEE , this is indeed the question. As much as it pains me, I think I am better off moving forward. Something like the Piety will likely play better with both my LCD-X and Sennheisers :-)
        Sep 20, 2022
        CEE TEE likes this.
    3. Justin S
      Justin S
      Just got my Yggdrasil LIM back from a self inflicted RMA. First couple bars out of it in my 2ch system were instantly recognisable as the Yggdrasil.
      1. Cryptowolf likes this.
      2. Qildail
        Qildail
        The term "self inflicted RMA" sounds... expensive. Thankfully it came back as good as ever it seems.
        Sep 17, 2022
        Cryptowolf and Lyander like this.
      3. Justin S
        Justin S
        @Qildail , I bent the s/pdif jack by pushing the Yggdrasil back into a cabinet. They fixed it up perfectly and sent it back to me with a very thorough QC report. Great customer service.
        Sep 17, 2022
      4. Justin S
        Justin S
        It's such a great DAC. I've been running a BF2/64 in that system for 4 weeks while the LIM was in my office and while it went on its RMA field-trip. The BF is a good good DAC, but the LIM puts everything together with flow and in a way makes everything sound like it's in the right place. It even makes TV watching more engaging - when score or music become a dominant element, the Yggdrasil makes you lean in.
        Sep 18, 2022
    4. Justin S
      Justin S
      Noob quirk: Every time I review something I like, I proclaim, "I'll be keeping this" then I end up moving on. Must stop saying this.
      1. View previous comments...
      2. Justin S
        Justin S
        Ahahahah, Cee Tee: Bifrost 2, Soekris 2541, Jotenheim 2. All purchased twice, all sold again :-) it's been a couple years of lust and heartbreak.
        Sep 17, 2022
        nithhoggr and CEE TEE like this.
      3. CEE TEE
        CEE TEE
        Yer not a newb!
        Sep 17, 2022
        nithhoggr and Justin S like this.
      4. Justin S
        Justin S
        Well a noob in how I review stuff. I'm pretty excitable.
        Sep 18, 2022
    5. Justin S
      Justin S
      With the ZMF fenestrated lambskin pads, I feel like I finally really get the HD650s (6XXMs). Having a hard time concentrating on work.
      1. zottel, Cryptowolf, Jinxy245 and 2 others like this.
      2. View previous comments...
      3. gixxerwimp
        gixxerwimp
        Sep 12, 2022
        Justin S likes this.
      4. crenca
      5. Justin S
        Justin S
        On top of all the increased resolution and clarity, the slight angle to the pads puts things pleasantly out front. The 650s are back in rotation. I would be super curious to hear how the Focal pads work.
        Sep 13, 2022
    6. Justin S
      Justin S
      ZMF Senn pads arrived. They're very good and much better than Dekonis. Fenestrated suede on the 600s and fen. lamb on the 6XXm are my faves
      1. shambles, Joshvar, edd and 3 others like this.
      2. Justin S
        Justin S
        They really refresh the sound of the 6XXMs for me. They present a pronounced improvement to clarity and weirdly to the resolution. They don't mess with the mids, other than to bring them a bit more forward, which I like.
        Sep 8, 2022
        shambles, Joshvar and Tchoupitoulas like this.
      3. shambles
        shambles
        Yep, that is also the combination I settled on - perf suede on 600 and perf lamb on 6XX seemed to work best and as you said, big improvement to clarity with no significant downside
        Sep 8, 2022
        Justin S likes this.
    7. Justin S
      Justin S
      Weird wiggling membrane be damned. I am utterly loving the LCD-Xs.
      1. Justin S
        Justin S
        Like I am having a speaker-like listening tonight. Hilo->BHA-1->LCD-X, All balanced. Remarkable.
        Sep 3, 2022
      2. Justin S
        Justin S
        Hilo headphone amp is very good, but no match for the BHA-1.
        Sep 3, 2022
    8. Justin S
      Justin S
      I think burn-in with the LCD-Xs is a thing. 2 weeks in they are now more phat and speaker-like. I don't think this is just brain burn-in.
      1. FlySweep and Qildail like this.
    9. Justin S
      Justin S
      Pi2AES-Lite = + greatness. VS USB = more clear, easier, and more integrated. Pi2AES-L->S/PDIF->Hilo etc. Have OG Pi2AES. Will make fight.
      1. Qildail likes this.
    10. Justin S
      Justin S
      Quite impressed with the LCD-X 2021. Makes me wonder what the RD version is like.
      1. caute
        caute
        Had a chance to listen uncritically at the Texas Audio Show. They're more neutral, the mids more present, and has almost, almost the same bass quality/quantity. Vocals stick out more (in a good way), the soundstage is more level. Absolutely worth the expense, IMO.
        Sep 8, 2022
    11. Justin S
      Justin S
      I hope for SBAF to work this through. I'm a new Friend and know nothing, but that SBAF is a fun, valuable, real place on the internets.
    12. Justin S
      Justin S
      I horse-traded to get my old Jot 2 back. So far, JOT2>>BHA-1 for fun factor with LCD-X. It's less "refined" but who cares. MOAR FUN.
      1. zottel, Jinxy245, Qildail and 5 others like this.
      2. View previous comments...
      3. Justin S
        Justin S
        I like the Jot 2 with the Yggdrasil. I like the BHA-1 better with the Lynx Hilo. It is perhaps heresy, but I am leaning towards the Hilo/BHA-1 with the LCD-X. I'm going to live with this for a few weeks while I RMA my Yggdrasil for a damaged S/PDIF jack (I'm a dummy).
        Aug 25, 2022
      4. wbass
        wbass
        I'd like to hear the Jot 2, and I'm contemplating re-ordering an LGX (at sale price) just in case it really is all that with planars. But damned if I didn't AB with the BHA-1 and prefer the Bryston. And a previous audition with a Phonitor suggested it was very resolving. SBAF heresy!
        Aug 25, 2022
        Justin S likes this.
      5. Justin S
        Justin S
        The effect of the BHA-1 is cumulative, I think (still with the Hilo/LCD-X2021)) I just switched back to the JOT2. I find it more upfront and visceral than the BHA-1, but the depth and the refinement of the BHA-1 really draws you in. I am always surprised at how early impressions change over time with audio equipment.
        Aug 26, 2022
    13. Justin S
      Justin S
      Listening to a bunch of electronic stuff (Pole, Keith Whitman, Jon Hopkins) with new LCD-Xs (LIM->BHA-1). First real planars - fuuck.
      1. View previous comments...
      2. Justin S
        Justin S
        Fun turn of events. The guy who bought my Jot2 is looking for a Rebel Amp, which I have. Did some horse trading and my old Jot 2 is on its way back to me.
        Aug 20, 2022
        RestoredSparda likes this.
      3. Justin S
        Justin S
        @yotacowboy, that's some epic shit. Makes me want to fight with a sword. How does this stuff work with your LS3/5 setup? I bet it's great!
        Aug 20, 2022
      4. Justin S
        Justin S
        @Deep Funk. That older LP5 stuff is gold on the LCD-X. Beautiful.
        Aug 20, 2022
        Deep Funk likes this.
    14. Justin S
      Justin S
      LIM->BHA-1 HD800S vs HD6XXM! I'll be damned but the 6XXM is what I want to put on my head. Headstage is different than imaging. 6XXM = in it
      1. View previous comments...
      2. Azimuth
        Azimuth
        BHA-1 and HD800S does not seem like a good combo to me.
        Aug 19, 2022
        Justin S and Gazny like this.
      3. Justin S
        Justin S
        @Armaegis My BHA-1 is a newer model (2019). Bryston said it is already lower gain. I'm at about 11:00 in low gain. I still getting used to it. It's not as slamming as the Jot2, but it is much clearer. Starting to fool around with a pair of LCD-X right now, too. @Claritas yeh. all tradeoffs. its about figuring out what I can live with.
        Aug 19, 2022
      4. wbass
        wbass
        FWIW, I think the BHA-1 is solid with the HD800S. Not quite the depth of the DNA Starlett but a touch of tube-like warmth. BHA-1 such a weirdly polarizing amp... I find it works nicely with most HPs.
        Aug 19, 2022
        Justin S likes this.
    15. Justin S
      Justin S
      Sonoworks reliably crashes Davinci Resolve. Bummer. I would have thought it would be production friendly.
    16. Justin S
      Justin S
      Back from vacay. Big switcheroo. New BF2/64 to home system, move LIM to the office, replace Lynx Hilo. An hour in - the LIM is a sexy beast.
      1. Cryptowolf and brencho like this.
      2. Justin S
        Justin S
        Bf2/64 in my home speaker system is no slouch at all. Definitely more detail and "air" than the OG Bf2. Bass is a little loose, but I bet this tightens up in the next week. It's not a LIM but there is a family resemblance there.
        Aug 14, 2022
        Syzygy, zottel and gixxerwimp like this.
      3. Justin S
        Justin S
        The LIM + BHA-1 make the HD800S s sound warm blooded and on the side of full bodied which is amazing. How does this work - flat response, but moar moar than anything else? It's nice to be back home monkeying around with gear on a Sunday.
        Aug 14, 2022
        brencho, zottel and yotacowboy like this.
      4. Justin S
        Justin S
        A day in, it sounds amazing. It really messes up my desk, but I'll figure it out. I bent the S/PDIF jack on the LIM (being a dummy) so I'm sending it in for repair. I'll try to get the 12dB mod done to the BHA-1 at the same time.
        Aug 15, 2022
    17. Justin S
      Justin S
      On vacation in BC and checking in on SBAF. Listening to my daughter's K72's from my laptop. Experiencing hifi withdrawl.
      1. View previous comments...
      2. Biodegraded
        Biodegraded
        Might've seen you, I live in the west end by the park. Best wishes to your wife's bro & don't get caught by the Parksville tide!
        Aug 8, 2022
        Justin S likes this.
      3. Justin S
        Justin S
        Perhaps! We were at the end of Barclay there. It was a great visit. Pride was a blast, the food in the neighbourhood was great.
        Aug 8, 2022
        Biodegraded likes this.
      4. gixxerwimp
        gixxerwimp
        Grew up in Vancouver and on The Island. So weird to see these places mentioned here :D
        Aug 8, 2022
        Justin S and Biodegraded like this.
    18. Justin S
      Justin S
      Getting closer with the HD800S s. Swapped the Rebel Amp for a BHA-1 today. LynxHilo->BAL->BHA-1->BAL->HD800S. More space, dynamics, clarity.
      1. internethandle and Tchoupitoulas like this.
      2. View previous comments...
      3. internethandle
        internethandle
        I only have experience with Valhalla 2 to BHA-1 with the 800 but I’m still happy with it in a USB nervosa -> LIM -> BHA-1 -> HD-800 chain. I didn’t like it as much when I had A2/OG Yggdrasil — too grey and the sharp transients/treble energy were too much with the 800 vs. LIM’s more even handed/“nutritious” tone.
        .
        Jul 29, 2022
        Justin S likes this.
      4. internethandle
        internethandle
        I still do wonder about “awesomesauce” amps by DNA and EC with the 800 — conventional wisdom is that the 800 pairs best with tubes, and while BHA-1 is one of the few SS amps that folks seem to have a consensus around for being a good match with it, you can tell it’s not on the same level from folks’ comments (not to mention BHA-1 is just generally polarizing).
        Jul 29, 2022
        Justin S likes this.
      5. Justin S
        Justin S
        Totally polarizing. I am certainly not as experienced as people reporting they don't like the BHA-1. For me, I feel that it synergizes well with the HD800S. I like the idea that the tone of the LIM is "nutritious". I am leaning that way. I love it in my home system. Off to BC for a couple of weeks and I'll see how I feel when I return.
        Jul 29, 2022
        internethandle likes this.
    19. Justin S
      Justin S
      YFS Litz "Super 30" HD800 cable from Kevin hooked up and playing music. I am kind of blown away at how different it is from the stock cable.
      1. jexby and Qildail like this.
      2. View previous comments...
      3. Justin S
        Justin S
        @gixxerwimp - tried looking under the hood on the BAL jack, but it''s all heatshrink-wrapped. I'm going to try a few DIY cables in the fall as well: Neotek OCC, and a crazy Deulund Tinned Copper cable. I also have some pure silver I thought to try, but I'm not sure that would be a good mix with the HD800S s.
        Jul 27, 2022
        gixxerwimp likes this.
      4. gixxerwimp
        gixxerwimp
        I haven't used the stock cable since very soon after getting the HD800 so have no recollection of how it sounds. A phat Cu cable compliments the face tweeter IMO.
        Jul 27, 2022
        Justin S and rhythmdevils like this.
      5. gixxerwimp
        gixxerwimp
        Just pulled it out for another look, it's above the Y-split that I find a bit stiff (I think he used heatshrink). The "dual-track" cable in webbing is fairly flexible. Inside the XLR is covered, it was the inside the REAN TRS connectors that I saw "bare wires" from both polarities. It was converted from 2.5 to 3.5mm for me, and wires are now covered with heatshrink.
        Jul 27, 2022
        Justin S likes this.
    20. Justin S
      Justin S
      1. View previous comments...
      2. Justin S
        Justin S
        Looking forward to some listening reports of the BF 2/64.
        Jul 22, 2022
        gixxerwimp and Chris Allingham like this.
      3. gixxerwimp
        gixxerwimp
        Jul 23, 2022
      4. Azimuth
        Azimuth
        Want!
        Jul 24, 2022
        Justin S and gixxerwimp like this.
  • Loading...
  • Loading...
  • 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.

    Signature

    ----------------