The All Purpose Advice Thread

I use a pyst USB straight into my Emotiva PT-100, so probably not the best representation of it's capabilities but I've never heard any bad stuff from the USB. I say give it a shot and if you don't like it, get the Digi+.

I've never had a problem hot-plugging USB into my RPi3. I swap my Logitech wireless keyboard from that to my Shield all the time and the pi never skips a beat.

 

Answering @Mystic - I use an RPi with the hifiberry digiplus board, usb drive for music in, coax to a Gungnir Multibit out. Volumio as the player software. I control volumio from my phone or iPad - works a champ. Volumio software is maybe expert or master class, not pro level. Pretty darned good, but not polished. I haven’t tried anything else because I just don’t have the time and drive to figure out the probably easy Unix / Linux install stuff.

 

I use a pi based moOde player with a pi2 design (@Michael Kelly) I2S - SPDIF hat controlled through a phone app. Really easy interface for hassle free listening.

 

I haven't touched the cables much after getting everything sorted, but I don't remember the Pi rebooting when dis/reconnecting USB out to Eitr. My Pi Zero W is powered by a 5V wall wart.

Direct link to my RPi + pCP tutorial:
https://www.superbestaudiofriends.o...uide-for-the-nervous.3969/page-16#post-207688

 

I am considering upgrading my DAC but have been going crazy thinking about all the possibilities...

My current desktop set-up is : SMSL SU-8 > 1. BH Crack > 6xx or Beyer T1.2 or
2. Liquid Platinum > DenonD7200 or T1.2 or 6xx or
3. Burson Soloist SL Mk2.

In a perfect scenario, I would like to find something around $750 to $1000. But for the features that make sense for me to rationalize upgrading, I am looking at something that could be $1600+. I am not opposed to buying used.
I don't hate the DS sound from my SU-8, but was intrigued by the sound of Modi MB. Ultimately though, I thought hi-res wasn't the best on it. And it can't do DSD.
I like redbook, but listen to as much 24-bit and DSD as I can get my hands on.
Ideally, it seems that I should find something balanced seeing as I just got the Liquid Platinum.

So my preferences, in descending priority would be:
1. A clear upgrade over the SU-8 sound-wise [resolution, sound stage, timbre, or tone etc.
2. Prefer balanced output
3. Prefer DSD decoding
4. R2R or multibit might be nice.

The thing is, not any of these alone would be a deal-breaker. For instance, I see most everyone saying that a Gungnir MB sounds amazing. Even though it doesn't do DSD, I could decode DSD with the SU-8 and use the Gungnir for PCM. Or the Chord Qutest doesn't have balanced output and converts DSD to PCM internally, but some people say it doesn't matter. I have seen several people say the Holo Spring DAC would fit my needs (mb, balanced, true dsd). But they apparently have crappy usb and folks say a SU-1 would be advisable. And the SU-1 is $400. Ouch. Soekris DAC1541 seems like it could fit the bill, but doesn't do native DSD. Ultimately, if converted DSD sounded good, that's all that should matter, right?
The RME ADI-2 DAC seems to fit the bill, but it's DS, so I don't know if it would be different enough [#1.] to justify the $1100 price. Not to mention that I already have a solid state amp.

BTW, There are no retail stores where I live to try any of these out before I buy.

Anyways, my head is spinning! Any advice would be appreciated.

 

I need some socket savers for a tube tester, any recommended brands?

 

@gonz0znog
What about the x-sabre pro (non mqa). It is slightly different than the newer mqa version but should sound pretty much the same. Ticks most of your boxes and is just within your budget. Can also be found second hand quite easily, since some folks are upgrading for the new mqa version (and who needs mqa anyway...)
There is a loaner going on for the latest mqa vesion here, so more more impressions should be abailable soon...

 

I've noticed these come up as recommended in the MCTH thread after a bad Chinese saver blew an amp. I've not used anyany sockey savers myself though .

https://www.tubemonger.com/Default.asp

 

I'm completely new to the audiophile world, and am eager for some advice for my first pair of headphones (and its dac/amp combo if possible). Thanks in advance!
I enjoy jazz, classical (both piano pieces like liszt and orchestral like Tchaikovsky), instrumentals(folk perhaps, like bagpipes or bamboo flutes), female vocals (whitney houston is hands down my fav), male vocals (kinda like andrea bocelli), 80's rock music like journey, and also listen to movie soundtracks(Hans Zimmer, Joe Hisashi). I play the trumpet myself (jazz and orchestra) so I would say I am used to having sound bright perhaps, but since i never had high end headphones I cannot tell.

My budget limit would be under 500$, but I would prefer the entire headphone+dac+amp +accessories combo to be under 400$
I've currently narrowed my headphone choices down to the HE-4xx, HE400i, HD6xx, Dt880, and a used HE560 I found online that is of the same price as an HE4xx (I've also had people recommend me 660S but I feel its a little out of my price range atm since I would also need the dac/amp to drive it). I would prefer an dac/amp that i could casually carry around in my backpack or easily pack into a suitcase, as I do not have a big desk space and would like to be able to bring the dac/amp as I travel. I also have zero experience with cables so I would love some guidance on that too.

Thanks for reading through all of this!

 

I would get either the he4xx or the hd6xx, and pair that with a modi/magni stack. Boom $400.

Edit - Oh, if you went the hd6xx route, it would be even better to spring for the Vali2 over the magni amp.

 

How is the HE-560 compared to these? I feel like the deal is a steal given that it is like 800+ new but maybe it requires super expensive dac/amp to drive? I'm thinking from a price=better standpoint but is that not the case?

Thanks for the reply! I am curious which headphone do you think would fit my needs better? From what I've scourged on the internet the 4xx seem to be clearer and have more soundstage but is harder to drive to its max, while the 6xx are easier to drive and have great vocals but lacking in upper regions and lower regions.

 

Not bad, but they are harder to pair with affordable amps.

Yes. (Basically) Doesn't matter if it is a steal when you hate how they sound.

It's easy to think so, but my advice is to stop equating price with sound, especially in regards to your preferences. Focus on system synergy. in other words, how well does the complete system sound. Hd650 + Vali 2 + Modi MB would be an amazing place to start in the hobby.

Also, don't forget to tell us a little about yourself in the new member thread, If you have not already.

 

Will do!
I guess the main concern i have right now is regarding the seinheisser veil, I think it must have been overemphasized but i'm sure there must be something there. The problem rn is I am being indecisive i guess since I saw raving reviews of the 4xx and how some people "left their 6xxs to sit on the side" after acquiring it due to how clear the highs are and such, but there is also that universal praise of the 6xx's. What type of sound signature do you think i would like given my current musical preferences??

Another thing bothering me rn is that HE560s are in fact selling at a cheaper price than the 4xx from the person selling it so I guess I am having reservations that may be illogical. (its like cheaper than 100 so I am thinking either the headphones are faulty or i just found myself an insane deal that is like once in a blue moon).

Sorry for all this fuss. Since I am a student I am relatively strapped on cash so I don't think I will be able to acquire multiple pairs to satisfy my curiosity, so I am hoping I will be able to find my "true love"

[EDIT]: Another thing is that I somewhat envision my perfect sound be like a stepping into cool creek on a hot summer day, kinda like its crystalline, cool, and smooth but I might be just crazy haha.

Again thanks for you time!

 

I've owned many of your headphone choices or ones very similar, HE400S, HS560, DT880 and HD6XX. I'm going to recommend a more budget friendly pairing based on your music choices. Since you are in the US, pick up a pair of Massdrop 58X or 6XX and get the Schiit Fulla 2 DAC/AMP. The Fulla 2 has the same DAC chip as the Modi 3 and a solid amp section. Total of $260-320 and you'll have a solid combination to enjoy. Listen to that for a while and start to learn what you like/dislike. Then if needed you can start to upgrade and tell us what you are missing or enjoy and the community can direct you.

I've owned the 560s, they need power beyond budget amps to sound their best. I undertand the "deal" but I'd choose another option.

 

I've only been at this for a year and a half, but I still have not figured out WTH this "Sennheiser veil" is supposed to be about.

Dude, it totally doesn't work like that

You are just going to have to figure this one out, over time on your own by trying different gear. Reading on the internet can only get you so far, you will only learn by jumping in.

 

Thanks for the advice! Sorry about the hassle, but is it possible that you give me some examples of music you enjoy on your headphones so that i can kinda understand where your preference lies, sorry about the intrusiveness of this request.

Can you give me some advice on how should i choose dac/amps? I saw that the Fiio e10 is the best selling amp on amazon rn, how do these compare? Also what would you recommend for potential scaling in the future, maybe not suddenly up a lot but like a litte?
[EDIT] i have little to no understanding of what makes a headphone and a dac/amp combo complement each other so i would love to have some insight on that. Thanks for all the help

 

Sorry! I would love to be able to test different headphones out but sadly i live in the middle of nowhere currently so there are no audioshops nearby. Next year imma live in NY so I guess I'll be able to develop my palate for sound after I moved there with all the shops !

 

Like others have said, get the HD6XX and a Schiit Fulla 2. This is a killer combo. I sold all my other stuff except my 650s and the Fulla 2 and I don't feel like I'm missing out on much.

 

Full stop. Disregard 99% of all reviews that are published. Find a reviewer with the same preferences in sound that you have (which unfortunately may only come after you experience a couple headphones) and then keep finding reviewers that have close to your preferences.

For example, I found that @Hands and @cskippy will hear things fairly close to how I do, but they like things a little more neutral than myself. I know this from the headphones I've experienced and the reviews they've written about them, that our opinions generally align. Whereas if @jexby really likes something, then it's probably only suitable for listening to the Pet Shop Boys. In other words, I can use this as a baseline for determining if a headphone is a candidate to try or purchase or completely avoid (because I hate the pet shop boys).

I guarantee you, the people who found the 4xx treble pleasurable are polar opposites of people like myself who find it piercing, physically painful, and completely unbalanced in the frequency response.