The All Purpose Advice Thread

Discussion in 'Advice Threads' started by purr1n, Sep 26, 2015.

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  1. Thenewerguy009

    Thenewerguy009 Friend

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    Usually when the light fades, it means the tube is nearing the end. Never heard of the light turning blue.
     
  2. 701c

    701c New

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    Hi! Could anybody recommend a good portable dac/amplifier? I will be using it with a pair of tralucent audio ref.1 too's and a pair of FitEar "fitear" IEMs. Also, has anyone had any experience with practical devices XM6? I was thinking about buing one. Thanks!
     
  3. maverickronin

    maverickronin Friend

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    I used to have one. I don't think the XM6 isn't the good choice for most IEMs. It has too much gain and you'll probably have to use the digital volume control in your player software to turn the volue down quite a bit if you want any play on the volume knob.

    The other features are great, but I think it works better with less sensitive portable or even full size headphones rather than especially sensitive multi-BA IEMs. I sold it a bought a Leckerton UHA-4 instead. It has lower gain and digitally controlled volume chip so it's much better for low volume listening with BA IEMs. It's DAC is only 48/16 but I mostly use it as a portable amp or playing streaming music from random office office computers so that's not an issue for me.
     
  4. Garns

    Garns Friend

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    Ime tubes with buzzing generally don't get better. However often buzzing is caused by 50hz AC heaters and you have the high frequency heater drivers in the AF so that should not be the cause. So could be EMI interference? Does the buzzing change depending on which channel the tube is in/how close it is to other gear?

    By the way that blue glow isn't necessarily a fault. Xec had some 2A3 that glowed blue I think. There's a page about it here:

    http://www.jacmusic.com/techcorner/ARTICLES/English/blueglow/blueglow.htm
     
  5. jexby

    jexby Posole Prince

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    am not going to pretend to have heard your IEMs, but the new iFi xDSD is checking a lot of boxes (features and sonic qualities) when comparing to LH Labs GO2A SE and GO2Pro Special Edition, both unicorn versions no longer in production.

    the xDSD is more polite, gentler treble top with a bit more centralized instrument placement-
    but overall is a mega value at current price and does more right than wrong in an updated, consumer friendly form factor to boot.
     
  6. Thenewerguy009

    Thenewerguy009 Friend

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    Would tube shields help with EMI interference?
     
  7. cskippy

    cskippy Creamy warmpoo

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    Update on RCA tube noise. As soon as I turn off the amp the noise stops yet the music continues to play and die out.

    I was using the stock rectifier tube. I replaced it with a Mullard and no more noise...huh.
     
  8. fraggler

    fraggler A Happy & Busy Life

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    You had the iDSD Black, too? How does the xDSD compare?
     
  9. jexby

    jexby Posole Prince

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    heard the nano iDSD BL version, and this is very similar overall.
    looking over my nano iDSD notes, would be hard pressed to pass a blind test difference between xDSD and nano iDSD BL in most circumstances (ie. average source quality: laptop USB or iPhone/iPad).

    except can't compare using balanced 3.5mm TRRS which xDSD has, since nano iDSD does not.
     
  10. ductrung3993

    ductrung3993 Facebook Friend

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    Used. But i got it now, just had to play around with cables. Was a bit complicated when not being sober though....

    For another question: what would you guys recommend as a cheap amp for Paradox? I al looking at Magni 3 at the moment.
     
  11. Thenewerguy009

    Thenewerguy009 Friend

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    Were the RCA cables not properly fitted?
     
  12. BillOhio

    BillOhio Friend

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    So... Headphones do NOT burn in, DACs DO warm up... how about tubes? I got a pair of new JJ 2A3-40s in this morning, should I expect some differences after some hours?
     
  13. kirayamato

    kirayamato Friend

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    if they were new from what I experienced if there is a change its not much but definitely they usually need 20 mins to reach their optimum sound I Think the best person to answer this is @atomicbob
     
  14. Elnrik

    Elnrik Super Friendly

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    All my 6SN7s definitely changed after about 30 hours or so. Some lost treble glare, others became kinda flat. Not sure how 2A3s behave.
     
  15. kirayamato

    kirayamato Friend

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    for the HEXV2 what do you guys recommend the lyr3 or jotunheim both with their inbuilt dacs so basically budget is max 750$ if you have any other options
     
  16. Taverius

    Taverius Smells like sausages

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    Seems to finish at most 50hrs in, often earlier.

    But yah they change a bit.
     
  17. TwoEars

    TwoEars Friend

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    Though call. Unless you want to play with tube rolling I'd probably just go for the jotu with the multibit. The HEX is a very nice headphone (I owned the v1 for a while) but it doesn't change drastically with what you feed it, it gets better with more power but overall it's the kind of headphone that sounds a little bit the same no matter what kind of dac and amp you have. Not exactly like that but for its price point it has some of that characteristic.
     
  18. barelyincollege

    barelyincollege Nice Pit Bull

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    Can anyone recommend a wireless MMCX cable that they've had good experiences with?

    I'm torn, because I like my Pixel 2 XL too much to give it up, but its 3.5mm dongle doesn't work reliably enough to use it on a regular basis.

    I'm aware of the Plussound and Sony LDAC cables, have read mixed reviews on the Shure and Westone cables, and the rest seem to be cheap products from China. Are there any others that I should look into? Thanks!
     
  19. Ice-man

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    I've rolled quite a few NOS and new production tubes and I've found 40 hours usually will do the trick to settle tubes in.
     
  20. BillOhio

    BillOhio Friend

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    I'm on a new set of JJ 2A3-40s. For the first day and a half the sound was pretty glossed over but by now that's gone away. I like these tubes on the Af. @Melvillian had heard another pair and considered them to be warm, but I like these as I'm hearing them now.
     
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