The All Purpose Advice Thread

No prob, it was hard to describe lol

 

Currently have a HD 6XX, with vali 2, and using fulla 2 as dac (usb powered). Ive heard the vali 2 and 6xx have good synergy so I dont see a reason to upgrade, but just wondering if Im going to see a significant different from upgrading my fulla 2 dac to something else? What about using a wall adapter instead of usb power?

 

For an inexpensive all-in-one, Fulla 2 is pretty great. I have listened to mine with external power, but honestly I think if the USB from your source is decent (like a Macbook), you probably won't see much difference. To my ears, the sound is slightly more focused with an external supply, but the difference is well within the placebo margin. (If you're obsessive about eeking out the last 1% from your system, then by all means pick up an Apple USB charger and call it good.) I think to really see a significant improvement, you'd need to move up to something like an Asgard 3 with 4490 card. This would require a big increase in footprint, and may or may not be feasible depending on your setup. As an aside, Schiit is planning to launch Fulla 3 and a related product called Hel sometime in the next few weeks. Might be worth waiting for impressions.

There are also iFi products that may be competitive, but also have a different sound signature than Schiit's offerings. I haven't heard the iFi stuff, but if you search around you will find the impressions threads.

 

Im using the Fulla 2 as DAC only, I use the Vali 2 as the amp. Isnt the AK4490 the same DAC that is in the fulla 2? I guess thinking about it now, more power should only affect the amp part, instead of the dac, no?

 

@monacelli Are you saying there may be a difference in the Fulla 2's dac quality if he uses an external power supply?

 

I didn't catch that @royster was only using the Fulla 2 as a DAC. I probably wouldn't swing that way unless I was in a pinch. Modi 3 makes more sense to me in that application. No idea if you would see that as a big sonic improvement, probably pretty similar.

As I said in my post, even as an AIO, the differences with and without an external supply are small to tiny (in my experience). You might see a difference if the USB quality from the source is super shitty.

 

For just over a year my chain consisted of a Fulla 2 as a DAC -> MCTH (another tube hybrid amp) -> HD 6XX. I upgraded this past summer to the Airist RDAC and noticed an immediate and significant improvement. The headphones became much more lively and dynamic, with more powerful slam, improved bass (by becoming a bit tighter, I think), and perhaps a bit more treble extension, although this last quality may have been something else instead, such as improved resolution. Most apparently and pleasantly, drums became much more energetic. Upgrading the DAC, then, made a big difference in my case.

I can’t comment on the synergy of the RDAC with the Vali 2 but a DAC upgrade might make for a decent, appreciable improvement for you. As @monacelli suggests, a Modi 3 might make for a nice upgrade - it has received a lot of praise here on SBAF - and you can always return it, with a restocking fee, if it doesn’t work out for you. A Modi Multibit might also work well, I remember seeing favorable descriptions of this pairing on the relevant threads here, if memory serves correctly. And if its price is a consideration, you could pick up a used one.

Edit for typos

 

Do you think I’d see a bigger upgrade by replacing the Vali 2 with the Eddie current ZDT JR from mass drop or upgrading my DAC from Fulla 2? For listening to stock 6xx

 

I’m afraid I can only give you a couple of half answers (and I doubt they’ll add up to a whole answer, sorry). The ZDT Jr. is wonderful with the HD 6XX. It took me a while to appreciate how well they work together because there was simply so much to like. But I haven’t compared the Vali 2 with the ZDT Jr., so I’ll defer to others about this.

As you probably know, the issue is that Drop no longer sells the ZDT Jr.. If you choose to get a used ZDT Jr., though, beware of purchasing one that has the problem with the hum. Either be willing to fix the hum yourself (see the ZDT Jr. thread) or buy used from someone you can trust to sell you one without the hum.

I’d suggest that, given their relative scarcity and potentially finite supply, you should figure out whether you’ll try to get a ZDT Jr. before you can weigh up the merits of updating the amp or the DAC. There are several excellent DACs that are still in production. As such, if you can get a ZDT Jr. now, and if you have limited funds, you can always save up to buy a DAC in the future. But the reverse might not be true.

I have very limited experience: with that in mind, and given the common advice here that a budget amp provides a more significant upgrade over a comparatively priced DAC, I should think that you’d enjoy a significant improvement with a hum-free ZDT Jr., great though the Fulla 2 is. But, again, I’d defer to others in answering this question.

 

I would upgrade your amp first then the DAC. ZDT Jr. scales with better DACs so you won't be changing too many variables in your system if you like the sound. Plus, it synergizes wonderfully with the HD650 (modded AND unmodded). 650+ ZDT Jr is still my desert island combo. I told @klyrish about the ZDT Jr. and now he's gotten himself a DNA Starlett. Only downsides I can think of is lacking slight refinement and tightness in the bass along with a smallish soundstage. However it will give you a nice "3D" effect with decent depth and good separation.

 

ZDT Jr is out of stock in Massdrop, however there are few in used market, if you grab them quickly
https://www.head-fi.org/threads/zdt-jr.916603/#post-15238493

https://www.head-fi.org/threads/fs-massdrop-x-ec-zdt-jr-mint-condition-325.917743/

 

Thinking of putting a DEQ2496 into my chain to tame the Stellia's upper midrange. Tried the digital EQ things but given my preference for iTunes/Bitperfect, can't / don't want to use any of the software EQs. Currently Macbook Pro USB > Yggdrasil 2 > Stellaris. Is getting an USB/AES converter the best choice here? Macbook > USB/AES converter > DEQ2496 > Yggdrasil > Stellaris

 

Maybe I am missing something but I wonder why you think that putting a big honking DSP machine like DEQ2496 in your signal path is better than using digital equalizer? In your setup you would be using DEQ2496 as a digital signal processor. So not only you will be doing DSP, lots of it, but you will add a potentially noisy piece into your signal path.

 

+1

 

My current chain is Modi 3 > Asguard 3/Lyr2 into HD6XXK and Aeon Flow Open. The A3 and AFO are new so not looking to upgrade right now. But I'm interested in how much would I need to spend for a readily available amp that would scale those two phones up to a higher level? Would a Jot or used MJ2 take them up a level or would I need to spend more? Or would a DAC upgrade be more useful?

 

Budget?

 

Hi Folks,

I'm thinking of trying the Sennheiser HD 250 Linear. I quickly skimmed through the thread and saw with the mods, it looks pretty good. I was wondering if anyone knew the differences between the Linear I and II? and apparently there are 300 ohm and a 600 ohm versions? Which version would you recommend? Also do they use the same 2 pin connectors as the HD6x0 series?

Thanks

 

I see a couple of sources stating the original Linear was available in 300 and 600 ohm versions. I'd always thought it was 600 and the Linear II was 300, maybe I was wrong or maybe the sources are conflating I and II. My 600 ohm pair is certainly power-hungry - they'd be challenging for a lot of portable sources - but Vali 2 on high gain drove them fine.

HD6x0 connectors will fit. The pin pattern is the same, but the socket for the housings is a bit tight. My HD6XX cable fits without having to get too forceful with it.

The mk II is reportedly a bit bassier. I haven't heard it myself though.

 

No specific budget, just a hypothetical at this stage. It seems to be well established that the 6X0 line scale up, I'm wondering what the steps would be with the requirement that the amp have the flexibility to power planars as well.

The obvious choices would be a Jot or used MJ2. So I was wondering whether they would be considered a genuine step up from Lyr 2/A3 level amps or just marginal? And what would be a clearer step up?

 

You might want to consider the Valhalla 2 if your taste tends to jazz or vocals. If you get a Jot, running it balanced is the way to go.