2021 Golden Schlong Nominations

Gold for iFi Zen Dac Signature! I am still blown away by how good this 260€ DAC is. Like WTF... I did some in depth impressions here, I just had to:

https://www.superbestaudiofriends.o...signature-review-and-measurements.9608/page-4

Great entry level reference and a no brainer for EU based folks like myself.

 

SW51 again. VE. Can't think of a better value and it's excellent.

 

Vali 2+ - V/E dominates the budget line of tube amps. It borderlines buttrape the Vali 2 plus that Topping shit that it isn't funny for a low price.

SW51+ - L/V/E yeah....

Moondrop Starfield - V/E Hard to fault this $100ish IEM when other IEMs that cost more than this gets basic stuff wrong.

Bifrost 2 - L/V/E yeah we know.

My Body Hair - V/E @rhythmdevils recommended for damping material.

 

Schiit Jotunheim 2 - V if not E as well.

 

Schiit Jotunheim 2 EV
Soekris DAC 2541 EVL
Audeze LCD-X (ver 2021) EV

 

I nominate the thread-killing hacker for the Brown Starfish Award, along with the usual dishonor on their cow.

 

Schiit Freya+ EV(L?)
Can i nominate a tube? Tung sol 6SN7 new production for EVL if so.

 

I havent bought one yet but Im glad Schiit delivered on Lokius.

“The Decision to Clear the Decks” thread seems to have been a victim of the recent hack, but in it was an unseemly number of people admitting to regularly using Apple Airpods Pro. Id prob use one myself if I used iems.

Not going to lie… The headphone I used the most this year was Samsung Galaxy Buds Live. Probably for many of the same reasons some people are using Airpods Pro: convenience. Value Id argue is great (especially at regular sale prices) versus how often I do use them. fyi these are earbuds since no insertion. I heard the apple airpod (bud) 3rd gen and it still doesnt have bass while the Galaxy Buds Live do! Samsung’s hearing aid shape allows a good seal which Im guessing is the difference.

Brown starfish = hacker.

 

Too bad no one else has heard the DUNU Zen Pro, they deserve the Golden Schlong for E. Maybe next year.

 

Schiit LIM

Apple AirPods Pro.

 

SW51+ the hype is real with the 6XX (even though mine hums and others report a hum)

 

Haven't heard much new this year, but I picked up Bifrost 2 and Jotunheim 2 and feel like they're deserving of some year-end recognition.

Jotunheim 2 for EV
Bifrost 2 for EV, and I suppose now L at this point for being a continued higher-performer in its bracket.

 

Apple AirPods Pro it missed last year, and it still rules this year

 

ECP Walnut X.3, for excellence and value, also again Airpods Pro for value

 

Fulla ESS for value for sure.

 

Ha, also used AirPods Pro a lot this year, so another nom, for both V and L.

 

ETA Gen G for VE.

 

Elekit TU-8600 (E)

And just throwing this out there after noticing amongst the tube fans there's quite a few of us running these for our power tubes: the Linlai brand generally, and only if longevity comes to fruition (I'd love to get 5000 hours out of mine), but for a new brand to kind of knock the knees out from under the generally less well regarded Chinese tube brands, is refreshing. And they sound good. Yes, they're more expensive than the eastern European/Russian stuff, but they're not ELROG or Takatsuki or EAT $$$ either.

 

- Audeze LCD-X 2021 for EV. Great build quality and sound at reasonable price compared to its peers.
- Schiit Jotunheim 2 for EV. $400 amp that can make pricier amps look bad.
- Schiit Lokius for V.