Loaner Gear Request/Progress Master Thread

Discussion in 'Loaner Programs' started by ChaChaRealSmooth, Aug 7, 2021.

  1. Josh Schor

    Josh Schor Friend

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    Excellent, thank you
     
  2. Erroneous

    Erroneous Friend

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    Since Zach seems to like us, it would be awesome to get a loaner going of the new ZMF Caldera once it releases.
     
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  3. Souldriver

    Souldriver Almost "Made"

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    Agreed, arent a few things coming from ZMF soon? The OTL, atrium closed, mystery other projects?
     
  4. Gazny

    Gazny MOT: ETA Audio

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    I would like to see the new Amp and Sound Jinx, I like its size and topology
     
  5. Tchoupitoulas

    Tchoupitoulas Friend

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    This post is in response to @ChaChaRealSmooth ’s query in a profile post:

    I decided to do something half-way useful (I hope) over morning coffee: I tallied the number of people who signed up for 2022 loaners. I’ve excluded loaner tours outside the US.

    Before I provide those details, I’d like to answer ChaCha’s question directly: yes, I’d love more loaners, but then I’m one of the more frequent loaner tour participants, and I realize that it makes sense for there to be more bang-for-buck (i.e. more popular) loaners given the amount of work that goes into lining them up and arranging them. FWIW, I’m particularly excited about loaners for rhythmdevils’ modded headphones, the new ZMF, and the new Raal circumaural headphones (I’d be happy to loan out my Raal TI-1a transformer interface box thingy for these headphones if this tour were to happen - I’ve corresponded with RD about this).

    Ok, to the tally. The full list, below, is by category. I’ve not given the data much thought but a few of the more obvious patterns that stand out immediately are:
    • There’s a good deal of interest in certain headphones, including those that are closely connected to the community historically (ZMF, Senn) or that come out of the community (rhythmdevils’ modded LCD-X and ETA headphones)
    • There’s also a good amount of interest in high-end DACs
    • IEMs are of less interest, although the ones that gain a reputation for being good bang for the buck are fairly popular
    • There’s a decent but not great amount of interest in dongles and transportable DAC/amps


    The most popular loaners are as follows:

    rhythmdevils modded Audeze LCD-X: 37 people signed up for it
    ZMF Atrium: 35
    Yggdrasil LIM: 28
    Drop HD8XX V2: 23
    Holo Spring 3 KTE: 18
    ETA Mini-Closed & Mini-S: 17
    ZMF HD6XX series earpads (3 kinds) + Grado adapter: 15
    ECP Walnut X.3 DAC: 15


    The full list:

    Headphones:
    LTS V3: 8
    Grado RS1X: 8
    Drop HD8XX V2: 23
    Drop + Hifiman HE-R7DX: 3
    ZMF Atrium: 35
    OLLO Audio Studio Headphones (SX4 and SW4): 4
    ETA Mini-Closed & Mini-S: 17
    rhythmdevils modded Audeze LCD-X: 37
    rhythmdevils modded vintage Yamaha orthos: 4


    IEMs:
    UM 3DT IEM: 3
    Moondrop Kato and Aria iem’s: 12
    Dunu Zen and Zen Pro: 14
    Fiio FD-7 Beryllium driver DD iems: 7
    Timeless 7hz ortho iem: 9
    Drop + Etymotic ERX iem: 3
    Audeze Euclid planar magnetic iem: 7
    Drop + JVC HA-FWX1 IEM: 4


    Portable/Transportable audio gear:
    Cayin RU-6 R2R & Lotoo Paw S1 dongles: 12
    iFi Diablo: 12
    Quad Dong Tour '22: 8


    Phono Stages:
    Tavish "Vintage 6SL7 Phono Stage: 8
    Schiit Mani 2 Phonostage: 4


    Speakers:
    Vera-Fi Audio Vanguard Speakers: 13


    Accessories:
    ZMF Beyer+ earpads: 3
    ZMF HD6XX series earpads (3 kinds) + Grado adapter: 15


    EQs:
    Schiit Loki Mini+ EQ: 5
    Lokius: 14


    DACs:
    Holo Spring 3 KTE: 18
    Yggdrasil LIM: 28
    Holo May KTE (interest check): 13
    ECP Walnut X.3 DAC: 15
    Josaudio TDA1541 DAC: 6


    Amps:
    LSA “Discovery Warp One” Class D power amplifier: 10
    Decware Zen Taboo mkIV headphone/speaker amp: 14
    Singxer SA-1 Class A balanced headphone amp: 9
     
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  6. crenca

    crenca Friend

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    Excellent work and summary @Tchoupitoulas . In the amp category, I bet a healthy amounts of folks would want to get ears on the new Schiit Lry +. In dacs, again I wager a number of folks would want to hear the newest BiFrost.
     
  7. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    The key is curating what the members would be interested in. Feedback from members here helps. We don't have go reach out to manufacturers to get tons of random stuff. I liked how we used to save up the community warchest for something cool or interesting and then pass it around. Or if somebody discovers something worthy to pass around. To be honest, I felt more comfortable when we bought more stuff ourselves. I am glad that we tried new approaches. Sometimes we need to try different ways to see what works and what doesn't.

    I'll get to work on Lyr+. I started on but at the end didn't bother with Modi 3E and Mani 2. The reason is they are dirt cheap so anybody can buy themselves. Also too much Schit. I've heard people bitch about too much Schit. So what you guys get is no Schiit unless you guys beg for it. If you guys beg for it, then it's not my fault that SBAF has too much Schiit.

    So who wants the Lyr+ first?
     
  8. jexby

    jexby Posole Prince

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    Lyr+ first, moi si vous plait.

    have some 6SN7 laying around to try for grins.
     
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  9. Josh Schor

    Josh Schor Friend

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    loaner of IFI neo streamer
     
  10. yotacowboy

    yotacowboy McRibs Kind of Guy

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    I had a thought that might need more fleshing out. Would it be possible to request a more-or-less permanent loaner of a SS amp that could be a "reference" "neutral" amp that becomes a known variable for use in various meet scenarios? I'm side-eye-ing something like the BHA-1 (ahem, legendary 20 year warranty)... My thinking is this: use SBAF coffers to buy a used BHA-1, put it on an extended loaner tour (with the caveat that no written reviews are required for participation) with the sole purpose being to allow friends to spend as much time as necessary to understand it's respective flavor? In other words, breed familiarity. With the hopes that if that amp were used in certain meet comparisons with other up-stream and down-stream components, there's at least a tiger we've attempted to catch by the tail. More specifically, It'd be interesting to me to have a relatively neutral amp that doesn't suck trying to power things like hd800, or planars, that can be used as a tool to help evaluate DACs.
     
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  11. rhythmdevils

    rhythmdevils MOT: rhythmdevils audio

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    I like the idea, but can we pick a different amp than the BHA-1? I hated that amp. Big, dry, dull, bleh. Sorry, no offense. I do like the idea though. And I don't have any better ideas for a SS amp. Except maybe. what I've read about the GS-X mini. And there's a DIY SS amp I heard that is exceptional and in the $500 range but we'd have to have someone build it. I don't know what it's called. But that DIY amp would be a great reference amp for all headphones. It's also small and easy/cheap to ship compared to the BHA-1.
     
  12. Pancakes

    Pancakes Friend

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    I can build for us.
     
  13. rhythmdevils

    rhythmdevils MOT: rhythmdevils audio

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    It's @uniqusrname 's Solid State amp that he's built for a lot of people in India I believe. I heard it the other day and it is one of the best solid state amps I've ever heard. A bit of sweetness to it's tone, no SS nasties, great imaging and resolution, and I bet it would play well with all headphone types. It's all discrete and I believe costs $500 to build. Or that could be the cost including labor. It would be the best reference SS amp I can think of, and small so shipping would be accessible to everyone. It sure as hell beats the BHA-1 (no offense) :)
     
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  14. MellowVelo

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    I like this idea. If the DIY amp doesn’t work out, I think that the GS-X Mini is a strong contender. It’s my daily amplifier and is quite enjoyable for a solid-state amp. It could serve as a useful reference.
     
  15. Pancakes

    Pancakes Friend

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    I would donate my time to SBAF so no labor would figure into the price.
     
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  16. Clemmaster

    Clemmaster Friend

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    I vote for the Phonitor E.
    It’s a great, versatile amp with good power (will drive anything short of HE-6/Susvara) and great technicalities.

    There’s one available on AudioGon for $700 (+$50 shipping), which is as low as I’ve ever seen.
    I sold my SE because I have too many amps and I always wanted a E (balanced in/out), instead. If it could drive the Susvara, I would buy that one and sell the Oor…
     
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  17. GuySmiley'sMonkey

    GuySmiley'sMonkey Almost "Made"

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    Edit: Deleted an ill-considered post
     
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    Last edited: Jan 23, 2023
  18. Souldriver

    Souldriver Almost "Made"

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    Some SS i am thinking that may be worth a look:

    RNHP

    Lake people G111

    Violectric v550

    Pass HPA-1
     
  19. penguins

    penguins Friend, formerly known as fp627

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    Another vote for the cheapest working phonitor we can find. Relatively inexpensive when used, widely available, and works with most things that take need less power than something very power hungry such as an HE6 series HP. There are some better SS amps, especially DIY, at a similar price out there IMO, but they aren't as widely available, have more pronounced various SS "flaws", etc.

    Only downside I can think of is the case / housing dents somewhat easily from what I've been told and while not a particularly heavy amp, the box is "slightly" big - i.e. shipping costs.

    Having someone build the amp for us though also may not be a bad idea - could definitely save on costs and shrink the size a bit. And I also agree that some very short impressions wouldn't hurt. If anything, maybe not for "cut through BS" reasons, but just to help provide triangulation for each person's preferences.
     
  20. yotacowboy

    yotacowboy McRibs Kind of Guy

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    I'm not offended if anyone thinks the BHA-1 isn't the most soulful sounding amp (I've never heard one, so I can't comment), but that's kind of the point. SS amp of a known quantity, that intentionally won't hide technicalities of upstream gear, and can suitably drive almost all downstream headphones. No wonky impedance mismatch issues; no hissy intolerance of efficient/high sensitivity cans. But maybe limit this to only headphones, no IEMs or earbuds? Think more like well performing pro-gear, which leads towards the Phonitor amps, too. Moreover, the idea of an amp being covered by a 20-year warranty is highly appealing if this thing is getting shipped all over the place, and we don't necessarily want to deal with shipping services covering any damage/failure; if it gets busted, just send it back to Bryston.
     
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