The All Purpose Advice Thread

Main setup is liquid Platinum modi multibit and 6xx balanced. Would it be better to get LCD-2C or get a Gungnir Multibit ? I wouldn't mind getting a balanced DAC and getting into big boy dac territory. Would love to hear next level DAC. What's a good move between Modi Multibit and Gungnir Multibit ?

 

The key question is what would be ‘better’ for you — what would you like to improve?

 

Given that the Schiit DACs are gonna get an upgrade in the form of new USB pretty soon and Audeze not being that great of a company, I'd say neither right now. Im on the same boat as you, owning LP+Modi MB+650. I'm on track to receive the Verum 1 which is supposedly better value than pretty much all current planars, so I'll see how that goes and report back. Also the Gungnir Multibit is, IMO, way too big/overkill for the LP while the Bifrost is still dubious value vs Modi Multibit, but all the rolling change may put the Bifrost with the new USB a class above Modi Multibit with both the dithering/analog v2 change and the USB upgrade removing any etch that it has.

 

It's a good time to be in audio for sure. IS Audeze that bad? (Hifi-man lol) I've been intrigued by planars and lots of good opinions with Audeze on Cavalli amps. Planars seem iffy at best lots of quality issues it seems ? I'm hoping Bifrost Multibit will get a nice upgrade but I'm not opposed to trying a good Delta sigma dac either.

 

I really like the sound I have now, I guess more of it, and the cheapest route to it. I guess kind of already did that...

 

Indeed, I think you got it

I'm Modi Multibit, MCTH (cf. your LP) & HD6XX and in no hurry to upgrade until there's something very much better in any part of that chain for not ridiculous money.

 

Planars are weird in the sense that pretty much most of the manufacturers are chasing stat-like qualities by making their diaphragms lighter (thinner diagphrams+same qc control as with thick diagphrams= channel balance being all over the place), etc... while the stuff they had a couple years ago thats perfectly fine get discontinued or rereleased at the same prices (hifiman) even though it probably costs way less to make now (the debacle with massdrop folks revealing that the lcd2c was supposed to be a massdrop collab for $599).

 

I was just reading about all the planar fiascos and how all this has developed. Seems crazy to make them so thin and unreliable and not sound as good. SO the LCD2C for $600 on sale isn't even that good of a deal then. Good info !

 

Would you advice me something better for a better price? I liked the idea of iCan Pro, that it can be future proof if I would decide to try different cans in future. But cost is high, even in Europe, where is also harder to get.

 

If this is the case, you may not find yourself liking planars too much; I recently heard the LCD-4 and I ripped it off my head before a song finished because I couldn't stand the way it did transients (cymbals sounded constipated, slow attack and barely any ring) and the LCD2C is even darker sounding, which may or may not be your preference.

Obviously you may not value the same things I do. Ultimately unless you know or are able to articulate what you prefer, you pretty much just have to try it yourself (I personally found the Modi Multibit tonality too dark; I would entertain the idea of the Gungnir Multibit or other DAC) or be happy with what you got.

 

Has anyone directly compared the Metrum Amethyst vs Holo Cyan? I'm looking for a NOS dac/amp combo in their price range for an office setup. HPs are Eikon, Atticus, and HD800/650. Thanks!

 

Not direct, but owned these in sequence. The headphone output on the Amethyst was its weakest feature. I took Amethyst to a meet event, and reviews were scattered - mostly due to how the headphone was effected by the "amplifier" in the Amethyst. Once people connected their own amplifiers, they had a much better sense of the Amethyst sound, which was good!

If you are planning to use the headphone jack, please consider the Cyan. It gives a much higher quality (impact, volume, etc.) and better sense of the DAC sound, when used direct to headphone.

Beyond that, it comes down to preferences, which are harder to explain. I prefer the NOS sound of a Metrum over a Holo. To my ears, the Holo straddles the line between OS and NOS, giving just a slight NOS flavor. The Metrum has more of a pure NOS character. So that's another factor, which could favor the Cyan. If you aren't sure you want NOS, Holo gives you more options.

 

I'll be the alternate opinion to that after hearing the LCD-2C. I feel people who were early adopters at the $599 price did themselves a huge favor. I'm super anti - "early adopting". But my ears then told me "Damn, I should have jumped on". Fun bass, opens up at lower volumes compared to other planars I've heard, and a very comfortable "heavy" headphone to wear...

Its a fun alternative, especially if you already own an HD580/600/650. A nice 1-2 combo for rock and jazz. Classical and other complicated orchestral might be smart to look elsewhere...

 

I am not sure that anyone else can help you much with deciding whether your money would be better spent on a new dac or a pair of 'phones. Too apples to oranges, and too dependent on your financial situation. In most situations, I think the actual difference in the sound actually reaching your ears will be much greater with a change in transducers than a change in dacs. This can be a good or bad thing though. Depends on how much you like what you have. My own situation is somewhat illustrative but may or may not be helpful.

As someone without a lot of money for audio, my pursuit of better headphones was abandoned when I realized that without spending 10x (or more) the $ that I had tied up in my hd600s, I might get different, but probably not better. I spent a couple hundred on a pair of hd6xxs to get a little different signature and called it a day. That is why, when I came into a little money unexpectedly, I decided to spend it on an upgrade to Gungnir Multibit from Modi Multibit, rather than trying to chase improvements in headphones. It was transformative to my listening experience, (only really listen with my Jot and once in a while the ho of my integrated), but will it be for you? Who knows? Fwiw, the whole experience has mostly cured me of upgradeitis though. As recommended above, try to hear for yourself as many of your options as you can. Good luck.

 

@StrangeBrew one more consideration - are you driving the Modi Multibit exclusively from your Oppo or also using USB from a computer? If the latter, consider an Eitr in the USB chain. Eitr being coax-out only, you'd then have to take the Oppo's output to Modi Multibit via TOSlink, which might be a slight downgrade (I haven't compared coax- vs optical-in from the same source myself, but I'm sure there are some impressions somewhere). This would improve computer output and tick your 'cheapest route to more of the sound you have now' boxes; and if down the road you decide on a DAC upgrade, the Modi Multibit + Eitr will I'm sure still have good resale value.

If you're not using USB - congratulations, and see all the good advice above.

 

Modi multibit is fed from oppo via coax. I've been pretty happy using the oppo as a transport. It will also feed Modi Multibit DSF to PCM so that was cool to find out.

 

Looking for a new open dynamic can to pair w/ incoming crimson. Mainly for metal/classic rock. Preferably under 1k

 

Haven't you already heard/owned most of them?

There's not much new under the sun there except for the Aeolus.

What's the quality of the recordings anyway? Do you need any treble roll?

 

Auteur is nice with the Crimson. Not under $1k, and I recall you’ve been there, done that. I have s pair of HD800 S incoming to try. I’m not optimistic, but curiosity got the best of me. Let me know if you want a report back.

 

Requirements:
AK Chip
5V Input or Battery Powered (Or Both)
Display would be nice
Supports DSD
Balanced Out nice but not necessary
2V RMS preferred
RCA out preferred
Measures well