The All Purpose Advice Thread

If you can spring $200 more, the Leckerton UHA-6S.mkII has the noise floor thing down and has really good synergy. Of course, the HD 800 won't be awesome, but that likely isn't your primary. It doesn't require drivers of any sort, either.

 

You should probably also look at the first gen geek outs.

 

Thanks! Yeah I've almost bought a used Leck here a few times. The use of this thing is going to be rare though (like 10 hours a month tops) and won't need to be elite in SQ, just better than a phone or laptop, so I'm hesitant to spring that much. A simpler and cheaper USB powered device seems like a better fit for this situation

@aufmerksam I've considered LH, but what models? Only thing I can find on Amazon under $200 is the IEM 100, and it's still $169. I know the V2 is all the rage but out of budget.

 

Anyone heard/heard about Leo Research tube amps?

 

The 450 was widely regarded as the sweet spot for DAC uses and general purpose iem and easier to drive headphones. Check your PM...

 

If you're interested, I can post something in the DIY section on this topic later. I'm currently in the process of converting my single-ended HD800S cable to balanced and had no prior experience making cables either.

 

That would be wonderful. Thank you so much for your help. Look forward to see your post and get some guidance from it.

 

Turns out the local hearing aid center cleans hearing aids and ciems for free. Super tiny vacuum got it right out. VERY HYPOTHETICALLY RELIEVED RIGHT NOW.

 

Hey guys, I have an incoming Lyr 2 for for an 800 S. Can someone advise me on a good tube pairing that wont kill my wallet? I'm not too keen on a bright signature so I'm a bit wary of the Golden Lions. Honestly. if they're not that bad I'm all game. In terms of amps was their a better pairing that I could had done other than the Mjolnir 2 for under $1000? Figured that since I can still return the amp, I might as well get some opinions while I still can. Thanks.

 

What I'm about to say is in regard to a modded HD800 with Mjolnir 2, so please take with grain of salt, but just chiming in incase you don't find someone with the 800S/Lyr2 exact combination. Likely is still fairly relevant.

In terms of brightness/fatigue, I actually find the LISST have the smoothest treble, that I can listen to the longest, without it getting too fatiguing. Sounds surprising, but it's true. Tubes I currently have for comparison are Amperex orange globes, Russian 6H23n-EB (Premium), and the stock ones. Of those the orange globes are the next best in terms of treble fatigue

Edit: Also welcome, don't forget to introduce yourself! http://www.superbestaudiofriends.or...bers-introduce-yourself.17/page-52#post-68538

 

Thanks Pooch! I'll definitely consider the LISST. I'm surprised because I also heard they're overly bright. Hopefully they just need time to adjust. I definitely want to check out tubes though so I'll look into the Orange Globes as well.

 

I contacted them about it, they said its only for $500+ headphones, which at the moment, ill not be buying. I think im going to go back to the store, try out the Grado SR80e again, and if I like them as much as I think I did, ill buy them.

 

Maybe try Lumoid instead, they have a mix of high-end audiophile headphones with some cheaper options sub-$500. Not a great selection, but it's a start.

 

@Ryu posted this Grado deal in the Deals thread: http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=100006521 50068511 40000070&IsNodeId=1&SubCategory=70&Manufactory=68511&SpeTabStoreType=10

Edit: I don't think you'll be happy long-term with Grados. They were my first "nice" pair of headphones, and I've since sold them for gear featured on our leaderboard now. But if you must, you can save some coin at that link.

 

I mean, I've used nice headphones, like the nvx xpt100/hm5 and modded t50rp

 

Hmmm, does your store have the Senn HD598? I would take that over the sr80e, although I suppose it is slightly more expensive, usually around $125-$150. I still own this one, and really like it. It scales up to a degree with better amp/dac too. Oh, but if you are intending this to run from your smarphone, then the Senns are maybe not the right choice. They really need _some_ amp to get their bass in gear.

 

They had 558. So basically the same.

 

I've heard the 558, and as I recall, it really was very close to the 598. It is in any case tuned with a little more bass, can't rem if the highs were different. I would just recommend giving that one another listen, they have a very organic tonality IMO.

 

IDK, ill try it, but I feel like it will be not so interesting, like my T50RPs and HM5's. I liked the grados. But Ill try them both

 

Picked up the Grado's open box for $90. Ik they were $75 on Newegg, but here I'll get better service, support a local shop, and have them now. I quite like them so far.