The All Purpose Advice Thread

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

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  1. Jinxy245

    Jinxy245 Vegan Puss

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    The only ones I've heard of are from Essence, they make a big deal of utilizing HDMI in and such. I remember Tyll liking it but I may be mistaken & I haven't heard it myself. I believe it's Sabre based, and although I thought there was a thread here somewhere, I couldn't find it just now.

    http://www.essenceelectrostatic.com/product/hdacc/

    Good luck...FWIW, I agree you'd probably be fine with some good Schiit if all else fails.
     
  2. rlow

    rlow A happy woofer

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    Schiit obviously have some improvements to make in their manufacturing and packaging procedures if they’re letting birds ship along with their DACs. Not sure I would trust them with my TV audio. I hear Topping DACs have been measured as having zero bird content - clearly superior.
     
  3. Senorx12562

    Senorx12562 Case of the mondays

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    I'm impressed that it survived the trip.
     
  4. Warrior

    Warrior RIP 2021

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    I was considering Topping just because I want to know how something that measures so well sounds. ;)

    @Jinxy245 that dac is pretty interesting, HDMI and all. Plus a display, not that I need it, but displays and a dac for my TV feels right. Lol. Reminds me of my old avr that I used to have.
     
  5. aamefford

    aamefford Nothing like chamberpot coffee

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    My modi multibit is currently doing tv duty. Works great.
     
  6. Senorx12562

    Senorx12562 Case of the mondays

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    For $400, i'd bet you can do better, including the modi mb.
     
  7. Kernel Kurtz

    Kernel Kurtz Friend

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    When my Gungnir Multibit arrives, the Modi Multibit is going to be pressed into home theater duty. I expect it will be a substantial improvement over whatever sort of DAC is in my Yamaha AVR, for 2 channel stuff anyway.
     
  8. Warrior

    Warrior RIP 2021

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    I still have my avr in my house in NY. My mother-in-law to be rents there. Sadly, she doesn't use it, just collecting dust. It's a Denon AVR 53XX or something like that. I used to love the sound from that. Used it mostly for home theater, it was a 5.1 setup. Axiom Audio speakers with a.nice sub. Miss that setup. Didn't take it to Florida because when we first moved, it was in an apartment. I should ship them down here now that we bought a house here. My girl isn't into the home theater sounds unfortunately. So not really motivated to ship and set up. We have a spare room, I should make it into a nice entertainment room.
     
  9. Kernel Kurtz

    Kernel Kurtz Friend

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    I never really listen to music on my 5.1 system, sometimes the occasional Youtube video, but it does the job OK for watching TV/movies and whatever incidental music that brings. Some of the sources I use are stereo only so we will soon see what sort of improvement a multibit DAC will make to those use cases.

    I know some people who have systems optimized for both AV and 2-channel, but I prefer to keep those separate for now. That could change though....
     
  10. Warrior

    Warrior RIP 2021

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    When I was younger, I thought 5.1 channel was best for audio. I haven't had a proper 2 channel audio setup in decades. I thought the newest ideas were best, and of course more is better, so 6 speakers are better than 2 for audio, and everything else. I was wrong. The surround sound for music is less than ideal, and 100% artificial sounding. What do kids know though? Lol
     
  11. Senorx12562

    Senorx12562 Case of the mondays

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    I bought a ht setup when I started the family thing which meant I was spending more time in front of the tv than ever before. Never liked it for music. Couldn't justify two systems though. Now that my son is grown and gone and my wife is just gone, I've gone back to 2 channel, never to return. Still can't justify 2 systems, but I would rather use 2 channel for tv/movies than ht for music.
     
  12. Kernel Kurtz

    Kernel Kurtz Friend

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    You got that right.
     
  13. chrolls

    chrolls New

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    So based on the helpful recommendation of this site, I upgraded my Vali 2 a while ago with a EH6922 tube w/balanced triodes and low noise and microphonics for $24. I use it with my HE4XX 's, another purchase I made due in no small part to the recommendation of SBAF :) I'm in the mood for an upgrade, and I just happened upon the following tube that I believe was very highly regarded, and I thought usually cost a good deal more (paging Ice-Man!):

    https://www.ebay.com/itm/Amperex-6D...274221&hash=item2cd9b1ce0e:g:TZwAAOSwRHtbeG~g

    It's $23.50. Now, essentially, I don't really know what I'm doing. Like, I can fake seeming like I know what I'm talking about sometimes, but that's mostly due to just sponging off what others that seem to know what they're talking about have said. I still feel at the mercy of other people's impressions, and any help I can get is greatly appreciated. So is this deal worth it? Would the difference even be that discernible given my setup, as opposed to say if I had say some high impedance dynamics? Better plankton, etc.? Thx in advance for the help!
     
  14. chrolls

    chrolls New

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    Welp, I went ahead and bought it. If anyone has any advice yay or nay, I could still cancel it, so...
     
  15. Biodegraded

    Biodegraded Friend

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    A number of people (including me) have reported good results with that tube in the MCTH. I don't know if it was tried with the Vali 2, but I recall @mrflibble was one who gave impressions with numerous tubes in that amp, so search his posts in that thread.

    Price-wise I think you did ok based on other examples of those I've seen on ebay - but used tubes are a lottery, so you'll have to wait until you hear it to know for sure! Heerlen factory, Holland, April 1970 manufacture. To figure out how I concluded that, have a look here:

    http://www.audiotubes.com/mullcode.htm
     
  16. chrolls

    chrolls New

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    Great! Thank you muchly :)
     
  17. Warrior

    Warrior RIP 2021

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    Been using amps on my ps4, Soundblaster E5 and rha (forget the model but there new dac/amp maybe dac one?), with my iems. Pretty cool. Going to try hooking the dac portion to see if there's a difference, but I doubt it will be much. Also, bought some longer cables for my tv/cable experience for nighttime movies, will try that later tonight. It's mostly so I don't wake my girl, as she sleeps peacefully while I suffer my bouts of insomnia.
     
  18. chooga

    chooga New

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    Hey guys. I'm planning to upgrade my headphone amp. I am currently using the Aune X7s. When pairing with my E-MU Teaks, I found the bass too boomy and loose for my taste, and even preferred the bass part of Teaks out of my phone. I also found the XLR output inconvenient (for my HD650s and especially switching with my SE tube amp) and prefer SE options.

    I will be using it with HD650 (daily driver), AD2000, E-MU Teak, and possibly ER4SR.

    I actually placed an order for the HeadAmp Gilmore mk2, but it is currently on backorder and won't be available for roughly 2 weeks. I can also go for the Lake people G109-S at a similar price.

    Can anyone advise the differences between the mk2 and G109-S and how it pairs with my headphones? Especially with my HD650s and AD2000s. Thanks.
     
    Last edited: Aug 24, 2018
  19. mrflibble

    mrflibble Friend

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    I tried the Philips version of that tube (same tube, just different branding) and found it too forward for the Vali 2. The tube gives a flatter soundstage, even on MCTH.

    I don't know if all the Herleen factory A-Frame ECC88's sound the same. I used to own a Valvo branded one and I don't remember it sounding as forward and flat as the Philips. I no longer have that tube for comparison.

    The ring getter version of the Herleen ECC88 is reported to be more laid back and likely a better match for the Vali 2. They were manufactured in the 60's whereas the A-Frames were manufactured in the 70's. There are also some disc getters with a single support (I have one), they were manufactured around 1969 and sound in-between the ring getter and A-frame.

    Having said all that, the 6922EH is a great tube for Vali 2 and unless you are unhappy with it's sound / synergy I do not think it is worth further tube rolling in this amp.

    I was using Gungnir Multibit with HD650. YMMV.
     
  20. aamefford

    aamefford Nothing like chamberpot coffee

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    I have the Tungsram PCC88 in my Vali 2. I like it a lot there, and it is my default tube there. Oddly, I did not like it in the Liquid Crimson at all.

    EDIT:
    Wow, sorry for the non-sequitor. The link took me to a “we found something similar” page for a Tungsram PCC88. Nothing to do with the OP.
     
    Last edited: Aug 24, 2018
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