rlow

Other reviews also seem to agree that this is the opposite of the Denafrips sound (more analytical/incisive/resolute) but without the harsh drawbacks (a la most Sabre DACs) apparently.

Desktop friendly dimension with global voltage selector makes it travel friendly.

So when's the loaner tour?

I visited a friend who has an inexpensive setup with small book shelf setup nestled between 4 monitors. It was pretty pleasant. I like my headphones, but the best sounding ear pads for me are also the most uncomfortable.

@SoupRKnowva maybe some coaxials above the monitors on the left and right pointed towards you?

@SoupRKnowva, just replace the two monitors with a Dell 38" ultrawide and then you won't have that problem. If you're using dual 24" monitors you may gain resolution this way too. :)

…and it’s a completely different sounding song!!!( in a good way in this case). Wow this hi-fi stuff really is the shit! ;-)

Last night I moved from my main rig (DNA, Holo, Yggdrasil, Utopia, ZMF, etc.) to my Shanling dap w/ jar650 and played some of the same songs. I thought the same thing - how this singer/music sounded so bland, how different it sounded without any headstage of any kind, etc. I had to switch to music I had not heard on the main rig recently! :)

I usually wear BT buds for my commute, but sometimes break out a pair of Nair and plug directly into the phone. And dang, I shake my head realizing how much I'm missing. You need contrast in order to appreciate how good you have it. There is reason for keeping low-midfi stuff around haha

So good.

All the songs are good but I really dig New Gold and Skinny Ape.

Some of the features on it were unexpected, but yeah it's a great one from end to end. Better balanced than Song Machine which had highs but also lots of lows.

@ChaChaRealSmooth , since it's been a little "controversial" here, send it my way - I will cut through the bullshit like a hot knife through butt-butt-er... ;)

@ChaChaRealSmooth you poor, poor bastard. Hope you’re getting the post-traumatic support you need. ;-)

I was pleasantly surprised at CanJam by the Vali3. With a Modi (IDK if multibit or not) feeding the Bokeh open it was one of the most pleasant experiences I've had.

We need this again: https://youtu.be/6fqbKVkhz6U?si=LsZwz2KNjx--QU3B

How about overall instrumentation altogether. All the popular music sounds like now is a very stripped down version of a song. There is hardly anything there. I blame these "search for the greatest singer" contest shows. A band like Chicago or Three Dog Night would not survive in today's climate.

@rlow, epic Randy - I'd forgotten how great he was.

What's the speaker rig these days?

Yep still the LS6. Just can’t let go of them, they’re so damn good. Tried P3ESR and they get close, but just not there. Where did you see/hear about the revisions?

On the Graham Audio facebook page (and there is a Graham owners private group on facebook that shares stuff). I may have spoke too soon though, because the design they show it on is the 10th Anniversary model they are rolling out. Not sure if it will trickle down or not https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=871605451636959&set=a.392270382903804

Oh shit, those are awesome. Going to be way, way too far out of my price league, but would love to hear the LS6 with TL port (the 5/9 looks great too). I bet it will tighten up the bass considerably (one of the LS6’s weaknesses IMO).

We believe in fun, we are not your normal web-forum. ;)

im pretty sure we've never had a dislike button for profile posts, which I have always lamented lol

Toss it right

@HotRatSalad Was listening to VH I and II. Fair warning will be next!

One break…coming up!

whaddya think the teachers gonna look like this year?? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TwDFCSEEICg&ab_channel=ThousandPoundDogGarage

Yeah it’s pretty good. Even the tracks that I wasn’t thrilled with on the light side I’ll like on the dark side, or vice versa.

And that’s with HD800 S (with EQ applied to kill the treble peaks and boost the bass).

I have this same problem with the Tyrs, using both headphones and speakers.

Exactly what I found. I can listen much louder (for better or worse) than I could with any other amp. And with the HD800 to boot.

I guess I'm confused as I haven't EQd headphones for a long time, maybe ever.

Sorry, I was suggesting if you go for HD800S, make sure to try some EQ. Definitely recommended to tame the treble peaks and give them a bit more low end.

I have a pair of HD800S on the way actually! (just ordered today) Owned an HD800+SDR back in 2016, but sold them in favor of the Utopia. Figure I should try the HD800S at home and decide if I still want to pursue Utopia synergy or just get rid of them and free myself of the mental turmoil. :)

Bow-chicka-wow-wow

Don’t come a-knockin when the walls are rockin

(OT: I love how proverbs are similar, but different in different languages. The German version of what @Collusion said is „Ist die Katze aus dem Haus, tanzen die Mäuse auf dem Tisch.“ “When the cat’s out, the mice dance on the table.”)

That's awesome, @rlow . I am intrigued by the MJ3. How would you say that it compares to the Lyr with the HD800Ss? Are you using the stock pads?

@Justin S no detailed comparisons yet. A bit tricky to do because Mj3 shines with balanced output and also gets the balanced outputs from my Yggdrasil as well, whereas Lyr is SE for both.

A steal

The Saphires were special. I'd pondered through trying to hack together a clone w/ those unobtanium Peerless corundum tweeters and a quad of eminence alphas, but I'm lazy. these new Caladans are hard to beat price-wise.

Will be very interested to get ears on these at CAF.

I hear it. The 2003 remaster is stunningly transparent. It was originally released on hybrid SACD. The redbook layer is great and quite dynamic, but the SACD layer retains full dynamic range. It's one of the best remastering jobs I've ever seen.

Hear it. Sounds like guitar amp hum/fuzz. Think I might have heard it cross into left channel briefly at low level too

Just as a data point, the same version on Qobuz seems to not have this issue.

@Justin S good to know about the LCD-X. Think I’m too spoiled with Aeolus with Eikon pads - way way more sub bass (though prob too much). @Gazny yeah will have to keep an ear on distortion. Found @Resolve’s PEQ settings…seem to be working well.

If it sounds good definitely do it.
Id suggest exploring different volume levels too

Yeah, any can with more neutral bass sounds light coming from ZMFs. Same thought with my Utopia when I've tried ZMFs on loaners, especially with respect to subbass. Ironically, thought the HD800 SDR was bass light compared to the Utopia when I demoed back in 2016 or whenever it was.