The All Purpose Advice Thread

How very high?

Meanwell makes some very nice switchers, although ripple is in the 150mV range. 36V @ 1A is eminently achievable with a AMB Sigma11 if you're handy with a soldering iron.

 

The Ananda is the epitome of the planar sound, with all of its advantages and disadvantages. And no of course not all planars sound like that, not even all other HFM headphones. You get less of the sins of commission as you go up in their egg shaped headphones or you can just opt for their round/normal shaped headphones.

But I would just recommend you skipping all HFMs as you're coming from the 650, they all too bright and thin for 650 fans. So maybe get them if you want to change some flavor and not as an upgrade. Maybe look for an Audeze or the new Clear mg for the HD650 upgrade dream...

 

Ok, I have started to spend more time listening as the kids are getting a little older. My office dynamics have changed and I am using AirPod Pros again in one ear at work.

I currently have Asgard 3 and Modius with the Verum Mk2 or SR225X at my desk. For portable I use the Shanling M3X with OG Solaris or SR225X.

I rarely use the Solaris cause I am constantly having to pull them out at home with the kids and they are not convenient or as welcomed in the office.

I guess I am looking for a closed can that can work off my M3X (relatively well) and scale decently off my modest home setup.

I had the Aeon Closed and did not care for it. It was too hot in the upper registers and too much dampening killed the dynamics. I also owned the THX00 from Drop when they first came out.

I have been thinking about Audeze LCD 2 Closed (b-stock on HF) or something from ZMF (Eikon or Atticus).

Thoughts?

 

This is for a phonostage, I'd spend a couple hundred to go linear. Looking for a ready made unit, i'm drowning in DIY projects right now.

 

If size and beauty aren't issues, you could keep your eyes open for something like a used Acopian 36V unit on ebay. @atomicbob provided measurements of the performance of the 28V 2.1A equivalent (and others) with a tube hybrid headphone amp here and here.

 

Massdrop x Focal Elex | Page 13 | Super Best Audio Friends

 

36v is a weird zone where there isn't much available unless you check ebay and consider this

https://www.ebay.com/itm/113648648318?hash=item1a75fcc07e:g:u~4AAOSwBd1bRiEH

 

Acopian L36MC140
36Vdc, 1.4A, 0.25mVrms ripple over 25MHz bandwidth, $340US
Requires external AC and DC side wiring, inline fuse highly recommended.

 

That's a clone/ripoff of AMB's Sigma design. I'd have ethical issues purchasing that.

Ouch, that price, still need to do wiring, and still a fair bit of ripple.

Are linear power supplies in the 1A+ range still that difficult a problem? Has nobody produced anything easily accessible that truly competes with AMB's designs?

 

What's the issue? Isn't it open source? I think the actual PCB design is protected but making a clone based off the schematic doesn't seem to be a problem.

 

Yeah maybe, but there are indeed cloned boards out there. Looking closer, the layout is definitely different, so maybe I'm not being fair.

Yet, I'd say if the Sigma circuit is indeed the best option, a proper build from official boards would be far preferable to my mind. If nothing else, their use of Nichicon KG as filtering/reservoir caps makes no sense; the endurance and ESR are terrible. And I don't think the heatsinking is even remotely adequate for 1A of current at the recommended 7V drop.

 

Careful. You are looking at a <10uV spec AMB provided with the following conditions:
Load: unloaded
Bandwidth: 100KHz due to Fluke 187 used for measurements which is limited to 100KHz.

The Acopian was specified
Load: 1A
Bandwidth 25MHz

The AMB is a good design, but to compare fairly the test conditions must be the same.

Here is the relevant statement on the AMB design:
"The output noise (unloaded) is less than 10µV at ±30VDC output (measured using a Tangent LNMP (low-noise measurement preamplifier) and a Fluke 187 50000-count DMM in ACmV mode)"

Using a Keysight 34465 DMM and Alpha Labs LNA10 (low-noise measurement preamplifier) and test conditions:
Voltage +28V, Acopian A28NT125 (closest I have to 36V in the lab)
Load: unloaded
Bandwidth: 100KHz (set on LNA10, 34465 DMM has 300KHz BW for this AC measurement)
Preamplifier gain: x10

Result: < 13 uV at 28V

Remember to divide all voltages on the display above by 10 due to the preamplifier gain of 10.
The final reading in the top number is actually 2.98051 uVac

Probably a better fit for the request would be Acopian A36NT100 at $260US with the following specifications
36V, 1A, <0.25mVrms ripple with bandwidth of 25 MHz
This unit is physically smaller than the L36MC140 posted earlier.

 

Check check!

 

What's the best Bluetooth over-ear headphone these days?

I'm moving on from iems for convenience. The only Bluetooth headphones I've tried were the Sony xm3 which sucked (tonality was off, bass cannons).

I'm currently on Android, but am planning to switch to iPhone this fall so the Airpods Max are an option for me. I don't really care about price as long as the sound quality is above the cheaper options.

Was looking at:
Bowers PX7
Shure Aonic 50
Airpods Max
Sennheiser Momentum 3
Sony xm4

These five all seem to be rated highly specifically for sound quality, but tech reviewers are not known for their discerning ears. I might be missing a couple as well.

I prefer something with ANC, but might consider otherwise if the sound quality is there. I know the Drop Panda headphones had some decent sound quality reviews, but Drop is having some significant quality control issues with those since they released.

Right now I'm leaning toward the Airpods Max.

Thanks!

 

I have the Sennheiser Momentum 2 and really like them. Dark tilted sound, decent definition, above average noise cancellation, and after maybe 4 years of years of use is when I'm finally starting to notice battery life issues (I'd probably get 6-8 hrs now instead of the original 14 ish). They are super comfortable, but they do get very warm after a while.

 

A little dated so take it for what it's worth: I did a personal shootout a couple years back -- in the days of yore when I traveled constantly for work -- between Sony xm3, B&W PX, and Bose QC35 (yes, I tried them ... for like a minute.)

I actually went with the Sony over B&W because (1) they were more comfortable, (2) better ANC, and (3) that bass boost let me follow a rhythm better over engine drone and train track chatter. But without those practical concerns, I could've easily been swayed by the cleaner SQ of the B&W. That said, while it was better, it was not great. And I wasn't tempted with either pair to listen at my desk where there were better options.

These days, with no need for ANC, I've settled on a BT adapter -- an EarStudio ES100 -- for walking around the neighborhood or light chores around the house. It ain't hifi, but it sounds much better with a Meze 99 or Grado RS2e than either the Sony or B&W ever did. (Honestly, for convenience, I end up using it with Koss Portapros w/Yaxi pads more often.) So that's an option ... though honestly wouldn't blame you if you just got AirPods Max and called it a day.

 

Looking for advice, please.

I want to replace my Darkvoice with another Tube amp that can handle ALLmy headphones and not just the Senns and Beyers.
My considerations have been Lyr 2+, Valhalla 2, Garage 1217 Project Ember and Shortest Way SW51+ (is this the same as SW51)

1. Source - Laptop/Foobar/Equalizer APO/Peace
2. Connection - Supra USB
3. Dac - RME ADI-2 fs
4a. Amp - RME ADI-2 fs
4b. Amp - Darkvoice with Mullard 6080 and Raytheon 6SN7 GT
5. Headphones - Focal Clear Professional, Audeze LCD-2 Fazor, Senn HD650, Beyer DT880 600 Ohm, Philips X2HR

Music - Soundtracks, Vocals, Rock, Classical, Jazz in the order

Budget - US$ 425

Cheers

 

SW51+ and SW51 are 2 different models. SW51+ has better transformer and potentiometer.
Lyr3 is hybrid amp with agreable tuning but sometime too much of a good thing with 650 however will work with all your headphones or get SW51+, it work with all headphones that you have
Valhalla2 will be bright for your headphones so you have to keep that in mind but is better match with 650.

 

We have the on-ear Beyerdynamic Aventho Wireless, which are a total delight. When they were launched the reviews were pretty much all 'great design and sound --- but no NC and too expensive'. They're better priced now.

For what you asked, I'd certainly give the over-ear version "Amiron Wireless" a try.

 

Hifiman R10P with their bluetooth adapter.

... I kid, pls, not the stick.