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Loaner Candidates - Fall/Winter 2016

Discussion in 'Loaner Requests' started by sphinxvc, Aug 30, 2016.

?

What stuff to get for loaner program

Poll closed Oct 6, 2016.

  1. RedNet Ethernet to AES / SPDIF

    25 vote(s)
    36.2%

  2. Lynx E22

    23 vote(s)
    33.3%

  3. Ether Flow

    7 vote(s)
    10.1%

  4. Ether Flow C

    5 vote(s)
    7.2%

  5. ER4SR

    8 vote(s)
    11.6%

  6. Musette DAC

    25 vote(s)
    36.2%

  7. Headroom Standard Amp

    11 vote(s)
    15.9%

  8. Perfect Seal Deca

    6 vote(s)
    8.7%

  9. Torpedo 3

    26 vote(s)
    37.7%

  10. Sony MDR-Z1R

    24 vote(s)
    34.8%
Multiple votes are allowed.
Page 2 of 4
  1. sphinxvc

    sphinxvc Gear Master (retired)

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    Musette in the lead (almost), sweet.

    LOLZ @Kunlun
     
    sphinxvc, Sep 7, 2016
    #21
  2. ButtUglyJeff

    ButtUglyJeff Stunningly beautiful IRL

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    I'm rooting for the Musette. I love mine and hope the rest of you like it too...
     
    ButtUglyJeff, Sep 7, 2016
    #22
  3. Clemmaster

    Clemmaster Friend

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    Ethernet to USB, have you lost your mind?! :p

    @drfindley : the Rednet won over a Lynx AES-16e in a Thunderbolt PCI-E expansion chassis (powered by Teddy Pardo 12V psu) connected to mac mini via Corning fiber thunderbolt cable (for galvanic isolation).
    I did that comparison couple months ago. The Rednet simply puts you there. Both were noticeably better than USB, obviously.
     
    Clemmaster, Sep 7, 2016
    #23
  4. drfindley

    drfindley Secretly lives in the Analog Room - Friend

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    @Clemmaster How did you connect the RedNet? PCIe external ethernet card? Or built-in ethernet of the Mac Mini?

    The other thing I'm wondering is if something like the Apogee Symphony II or Ensemble would provide the same thing. I wish I understood better what RedNet is doing over just changing the output method to AES.
     
    drfindley, Sep 7, 2016
    #24
  5. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    typo - see poll, which is correct.
     
    purr1n, Sep 7, 2016
    #25
  6. Clemmaster

    Clemmaster Friend

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    I'm using a generic Apple Thunderbolt to Ethernet adapter for the Rednet. The built-in Ethernet is connected to my router.

    It's hard to know if the Rednet is so good just because it is AOIP or thanks to the advanced reclocking technology it incorporates (JetPLL).
     
    Clemmaster, Sep 7, 2016
    #26
  7. daytripper

    daytripper Friend

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    Deca! :punk:
     
    daytripper, Sep 7, 2016
    #27
  8. OJneg

    OJneg The Most Insufferable

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    OJneg, Sep 7, 2016
    #28
  9. gbeast

    gbeast Mighty Moral Power Ranger

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    its nice that you can change your vote!

    No love for the Ether Flow huh.
     
    gbeast, Sep 7, 2016
    #29
  10. OJneg

    OJneg The Most Insufferable

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    Check da meet impressions. No reason to lose money on this sort of mediocrity.
     
    OJneg, Sep 7, 2016
    #30
  11. thegunner100

    thegunner100 Hentai Master Chief

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    Agreed. Ether Flow is not worth trying.
     
    thegunner100, Sep 7, 2016
    #31
  12. Colgin

    Colgin Friend

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    I know you were not a huge fan of the Elear. Between the two though what would be your preference, Elear or Ether Flow.
     
    Colgin, Sep 7, 2016
    #32
  13. Xecuter

    Xecuter Brush and floss your amp twice a day

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    If im prepared to pay for shipping to Australia can some down under brothers have a bit of a play too?
     
    Xecuter, Sep 7, 2016
    #33
  14. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    On Ether Flow, see here:

    http://www.superbestaudiofriends.or...6-sherman-oaks-11-to-4.2688/page-5#post-75432
    http://www.superbestaudiofriends.or...6-sherman-oaks-11-to-4.2688/page-6#post-75441

    Also from a PM to supplement impressions above:

    Q: Thanks for providing your impressions of the Ether Flow. When you mention sibilance, is it similar to the HE1000 in that regard? I generally liked the HE1000 but the sibilance (and lack of 'bite') disqualified it for me. It was an ear-opening experience though, so glad to have auditioned it.

    A: It's worse! The HE1000 had this twangy splash treble. The Ether FLOW was peaky ringing. I went back to a HD650 and HD580 we had on hand. Really not missing much.​

    If they get a lot of votes and make a comeback, I'd be willing to grab one with our funds. But honesty, I'd rather not.
     
    purr1n, Sep 8, 2016
    #34
  15. Hands

    Hands Overzealous Auto Flusher - Measurbator

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    I always found HE1K to have less pleasant treble than the Ether. Did the Flow make it worse???
     
    Hands, Sep 8, 2016
    #35
  16. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    Depends. There was some product variation with the HEK. Jeff's sounded the best I've heard. He traded for his HEK somewhere. The first one I received required major TP treatment. The second one a little less. Schiit's original pair at shows was nasty lean and steely, until I told Jeff about it so he could replace it to show HFM in the best light.

    But taking the mean HEK (slightly modded) or the best HEK, both FLOWS had peaky treble spikage. Something I have not heard in a long time. You will hate it. I guarantee that if we got them, we would see a nasty low treble ridge in CSDs. We are talking about painful sibilance here.
     
    purr1n, Sep 8, 2016
    #36
  17. Hands

    Hands Overzealous Auto Flusher - Measurbator

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    Someone did offer to lend me theirs in a few weeks, so we'll see. :)
     
    Hands, Sep 8, 2016
    #37
  18. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    Not just that, Jude's measurements also show V shaped FR. Emphasis in bass and a bump in treble. Not my thing.
     
    purr1n, Sep 8, 2016
    #38
  19. thegunner100

    thegunner100 Hentai Master Chief

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    I'd probably take the Elear. It was more tolerable and I prefer the sound of dynamics over orthos. That being said, I only listened to either of them briefly and through different amps (Rag for Elear, Jotun for Flow).
     
    thegunner100, Sep 8, 2016
    #39
  20. ButtUglyJeff

    ButtUglyJeff Stunningly beautiful IRL

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    The Elear's treble is quite pleasing. For my first hour of listening, my thoughts on treble involved descriptors that are quite opposite. I would think of words like "sparkly" and "smooth" and "sweet" and "bite". Its usually a good sign that the treble is in just the right spot...

    Now the staging and bass are a completely different issue so far....
     
    ButtUglyJeff, Sep 8, 2016
    #40
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