The All Purpose Advice Thread

Vali 2 or Liquid Spark for the K7XX? I want to keep the sound spacious, but something like treble heavy would be a deal-breaker for me.

I currently have the Aune B1. It's a nice amp, but portable and (I suspect) with less clarity than one of these desktop folks.

 

Any advice on running long data cables past speakers and a subwoofer?

I've been considering upgrading the dac in my 2-channel system to a Bifrost MB, now that the setup is at a point where I feel I could appreciate the improvement, and this got me revisiting how I connect it to my source (a desktop, ~13 feet away). Currently I'm using the optical out on my motherboard, although it's probably not doing me many favors.

My problem is that between the dac and source is a subwoofer and a speaker about a foot or so away from the only reasonable path a cable could take. As such, I've been trying to figure out how to get a better direct connection to the dac while mitigating the issues of the large electromagnets uncomfortably within restraining order distances. I've got a few options:

1. USB, although it would have to be at the max length for usb 2.0
2. Coax, as I've got an eitr I could use. Less worries about cable length, and can get good shielding at a decent price
3. Pepper spray, although I question the science behind this one applied here
4. Keep using optical

What reading I've done hasn't really helped point out which would work best in this situation, so I figured I'd turn to those with experience. Any thoughts would be appreciated!

 

Usually just making sure the cables cross perpendicularly is enough.

The distance is more of a concern, but hey you have an eitr so, that also solved.

Just make sure that spdif coax meets any power cables at 90deg, I seriously doubt anything else will cause issues.

 

Above your price range, but Sony WI-1000X and Bose QC30 have very decent noise cancellation.

 

I'm after a pair of great sounding, bluetooth IEMs for my iPhone. I've been tossing and turning about getting something fancy like a Solaris but if I'm being honest with myself I'd rather have the convenience of my iPhone, bluetooth and Apple Music when I'm on the go. I use Apple Music because it sounds much better streaming over the air than Spotify.

Looking at the RHA CL2 planars and happy to spend that kind of cash but haven't heard much about them used via their wireless cable. Apparently they scale / burn in well but everyone seems to be using Sony DAPs and 4.4mm cables.

Yes I know LDAC is better but I'm not willing to move my life over from Apple. I will gladly take any suggestions though. I've looked at the CIEMs from UE as well (since they have a BT cable made for them by Jaybird) but my last demo with the UE6 / 18+ / Live was extremely underwhelming.

 

An alternative to BT cables is a small Bluetooth receiver such as Radsone EarStudio ES100 or FiiO BTR3 that you can use with any IEM. These probably provide better sound quality than BT cables currently on the market, and you would be free to choose an IEM you want without compromise. The ES100 is more versatile and higher power. The BTR3 has a more premium construction.

 

Anyone has an experience with Modi MB and portable DAP as digital transport (FiiO 5ii, Shanling 0/1)? I would appreciate your advice.

 

I used an AK100ii optical into one for a few months. Works fine, sounds fine.

 

Did anyone tried Chord Qutest DAC? Connected to iFi iCan Pro? I am thinking about buying end-game solution HeadAmp + DAC combo which will be future proof for variety of Headphones. Now I am owning Audeze LCD-2C and planning to by Hifiman Arya or HE6se.

Or is there existing any similar in sound quality solution, but for less the prize?

Thank you.

 

You will probably have to be more specific (re advice about what?) to get any useful advice, or maybe any advice at all.

 

Radsone EarStudio ES100 sound quality is much better than I expected when I bought it for $99 a year ago.
It supports Bluetooth HD and balanced 2.5 connection. I like my PXC 550 a lot, particularly with True-fi, but MSR7 and T5p.2with Radsone EarStudio ES100 sound a lot better than PXC 550. The same goes for MD+

 

As much as you would like to find "end game" at the start, best advice is it takes time. It requires better understanding of what you like, in audio terms, which senior members can respond to. Cannot establish that know-how and vocabulary on day one.

I owned the Chord Qutest. I've heard the iFi iCan Pro, connected to my own system, using my own headphones. I think these two would be a horrible "end game" setup. At most, if you truly love to own a Chord, I would recommend Hugo 2. Then try to keep your headphones below Abyss, HE6, LCD4, etc. LCD2C is fun, but it also lacks resolution to tell an "end game" system.

I would recommend to get something cheap, keep it for a lot of years (whatever time is necessary, to build your knowledge) and listen to a lot of things and read a lot more.

 

Thank you. But for better understanding of my post, I am not a newcomer in Hi-Fi. I am in this hobby for around 10 years. I was listening for many years mainly to speakers as now I am enjoying my PMC speakers, which I am owning for 2 years now and I didn`t have a need to change them ever. So PMC are probably very close to my end game in speakers. The only thing, which should I change in future can be better amplification. But I don`t really have this need at the moment as it is already making me happy and I can`t get tired by them. I want to listen to them more and more. And the longer I am owning them, they are making me more happy.

In the headphone world. I start experimenting with HP also few years ago. as I love night listening sessions and I don`t want to crash my relationships with my good neighbours. I tried some cheap amps, but I was always worried, how the better ones can fill my expectations. I quite know, which kind of sound am I finding. I want one warm HP and one with similar to my PMC soud. Now I have on table LCDC2 and HE-6. But, I don`t have a good amp. That`s why I am finding something now. Why I asked for the advice was the situation in which I am right now.
I just bought Chord 2 Qute for 750€, what was for me very reasonable price and I am expecting, this can be a DAC which should stay in my system for a longer time as from what I was reading about it, I am expecting, it should not be a bad one.
And now I am finding a good amp. As I have now hungry HE-6, that`s why there comes iFi iCan Pro, which should be able to feed them. But, the HE-6 is not my end-game. As the LCD-2C is not as well. Actually who knows. I like LCD-2C and I know, they are not best in delivering high end details. But I like their color. I want to own tho HP`s. One warmer, funny ones as LCD-2C for intimate listening sessions. And one more bright ones, more spacious, more open, for the days when I will want different taste like the warmer one. As I said, I am finding the sound similar to what my PMC`s are delivering to me. I am kinda expecting that something like new Hifiman Arya, or HD800s or some of the electrostats can be able to deliver this to me.

And here`s the deal. I really don`t want to buy a new amp every half a year.
From what I read, iCan Pro should be very flexible unit. And I want to have opportunity to try more types of HP`s in the future, not amps. That`s why I choose iCan Pro. So now I am curious. Why do you think, Chord 2Qute with iCan Pro will be a horrible match?

The fact, that it was my first post here, doesn`t mean I am a total newbie in the Hi-Fi. I just was never active there. And I read a lot. Actually I am reading SBAF for a very long time, but never been active.

 

I honestly was the same way but I agree with @sheldaze, experience is mostly gained by mistakes made rather than time. I spent a lot of money on BA iems and planars before I realized that I preferred the humble 6xx to them all. Not saying that is the recommendation for all, but it's easy to think you have "the" idea to only find that you are completely wrong.

I will say that it's popular to use a speaker amp like the Vidar to power the he6 though.

 

@malenak

I too am an HE-6 owner. To really reach endgame there, you have to commit to absolute madness and also be willing to mod the headphones a little (at minimum, replace the stock grills, get thicker pads). My setup uses a Prism Lyra dac and a Benchmark AHB2 speaker amp with adapter cable.

I reviewed the iCan Pro some time ago. It's a competent amp, though personally not a favourite as I did not have much use for all the variable knobs. If you would like to be future-proof (as much as that is possible), you might consider the iESL to match with it which will give you even more ability to alter the sound and also let you play with stax headphones.

As for dacs, I am not fond of Chord. My top picks in no particular order: RME ADI-2 Pro (or ADI-2 DAC without the built-in amp), Prism Lyra, Schiit Yggdrasil

 

@malenak I owned HE6, Chord 2Qute, and Chord Qutest (NOT the same DAC). Repeating what was said just above - HE6 is a commitment. I plugged it direct to a speaker amplifier, and loved the sound. I do not think a feature-rich amplifier such as iCan is required. And I did not think the iCan was as clean or clear as many other amplifiers. Again, if you like the Chord sound, a Hugo 2 would have worked well for most headphones. Then it could have been used to feed a speaker amplifier into HE6. Perhaps what you are currently using for your speakers would have worked both for speakers and your HE6.

I also did not realize you already made commitments to both headphones and sources. In my history of Chord DACs, I truly disliked Mojo, Hugo, 2Qute. I thought Hugo 2 was good into headphones, and Qutest was an improvement to 2Qute. But I have since gone back to sources I prefer, such as Gungnir. I think you'll get better suggestions next time if you state what you already have. With 2Qute and HE6, I have no experience how to connect the two. Perhaps a Vidar and a Saga, but I do not know this setup. And there are many PMC speakers, so that does not give an insight into what you already have - a pre, an amplifier?

 

Qutest: When it comes to Qutest and Hugo 2, they have very good technicalities (resolution, transparency, separation, layering, imaging precision). But they can be a bit analytical and revealing, and may not have sufficient body and warmth. The bass authority is a bit on the polite side as well. I would suggest demoing one before picking one up. If you like an analytical sound, you will like it (you can find used units on Head-Fi for a good price). But if you like a more analog sounding DAC, you may want to look else where.

iCan Pro: Regardless of the headphones you currently own/will own in the future, I just cannot recommend the iCan Pro. Sure, its a Swiss knife of an amp with so many features. But what good is it, if it doesn't sound amazing for the asking price. It does have a lot of power and good driver control. But the transparency is meh and the soundstage is not large.

 

@famish99 Oh, I definitely see your post. And of course, you can be right. Maybe I did not find my taste at all for now.
@sheldaze What I already own is PMC twenty.21 paired with REL t5i, feeded with Cambridge CXA80 through Atohm Zef Max. I am owning Hifiman HE400i, Audeze LCD-2C and I have now there also a HE-6 on loan. My headamp is (I am ashamed, cause you get them a shit there) Audio Gd R2R 11.

 

He said in his last post he has already bought the 2Qute.

 

I don't think the iCAN is a bad amp, I just don't think it's worth the cost unless you can use all the variable bass/crossfeed/tube/etc functions. If you like playing and tweaking and have a whole bunch of different headphones that you want to tailor to, then it's certainly worth considering.