The All Purpose Advice Thread

Discussion in 'Advice Threads' started by purr1n, Sep 26, 2015.

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  1. Lyniv

    Lyniv New

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    @rhythmdevils J2 and lcd-x owner here. Would love to hear your step up from J2 amp suggestions! Always looking to learn about more stuff. I was hoping to listen to some things at RMAF this year, but oh well…
     
  2. muse

    muse Facebook Friend

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    Thanks all for the Airist DAC recommendation. I had no idea that it has the same form factor as the THX 789.
    I'll try to see if I can a snag a used set for a reasonable price.
     
  3. gixxerwimp

    gixxerwimp Professional tricycle rider

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    I chatted with Dekoni through their website, very helpful. The pads are basically the same, HFM comes with a ring and lip for the ring is a couple mm wider. Ordered sheepskin and hybrid B-stock (that's why I wanted to know if they were the same as they only had stock of each type for different phones), will eventually find out if their pads really "suck" that bad ...
     
  4. uncola

    uncola Friend

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    Anyone have a low budget usb-c to 3.5mm adapter recommendation for my friend I"m trying to turn into an audiophile? I convinced him to get BLON BL03 iems and nicer foam tips
     
  5. Climber

    Climber Facebook Friend

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    I've tried a few and there don't seem to be any hidden budget gems out there. I settled on a Meizu something-or-other and it's ... fine. Better than a phone, for sure. I also had a $10 Venture Odyssey HD that was also ... fine. But losing it didn't make me sad, just grateful I didn't spend more than than $10 on a dongle.
     
  6. Armaegis

    Armaegis Friend

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    Anyone have experience with Antlion Modmic? There's a guy local to me selling one cheap-ish (modmic5). This would be more as a backup kind of thing, because sometimes usb drivers crap out, or discord updates itself and screws up all your settings and you just need something that plugs into the jack on the laptop. Or should I just take that money and grab something like a Senn PX100-II-i or equivalent with the mic built in?
     
  7. Wilewarer

    Wilewarer Almost "Made"

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    I never had the modmic 5, but I had one of their older models (maybe the modmic 2), and I have the current modmic uni now.

    Audio quality on both was okay for conferences, gaming, etc as long as you position the mic well on whatever headphones you're using; the newer one was noticeably better, the modmic 5 is probably fine too. If you're buying used, make sure the clasps and some unused adhesive pads are included, if you have to buy those separately I doubt you come out ahead. And my first one wore out after a few years of admittedly frequent use, so don't expect it to be super durable or anything.
     
  8. aamefford

    aamefford Nothing like chamberpot coffee

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    Bouncing my own post. I just sold off my Headphone rig, and I’m looking for a decent closed monitoring and guitar from Garage Band headphone. My thoughts are the focal listen pro, the ATH50, the Sony 7406 and the old Breyer DT770 250 ohm. Closed so as not to bother the family as I struggle to learn the guitar at age 62. I’m open to other models for sure. I’m trying to stay under $400. I’ve had a good 14 year run up from iPod and grados to cavalli high end and a string of totl-ish headphones. I’m back to good enough gear so to speak.

    Edit - tagging @Psalmanazar - any input from the studio side of things? Thanks!
     
    Last edited: Sep 23, 2021
  9. Armaegis

    Armaegis Friend

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    @aamefford is the closed part actually necessary? sound leaking out is not usually a huge concern if you're in the garage or another room. Are you plugging directly into the guitar amp or a separate headamp/recording/whatever unit?

    edit: if choosing strictly between the M50, 7506, or DT770-250... I'd go with the Beyer and stuff some cotton balls into the cups and maybe upgrade the earpads.
     
  10. aamefford

    aamefford Nothing like chamberpot coffee

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    Closed strongly preferred, not 100% necessary. I want the string twang from the unamped guitar to be the loudest thing my family hears. I’m open to other models as well. Just trying to stay under $400, under $200 is even better. Initial method will be guitar to interface to MacBook Pro or iPad, interface to headphones. If I actually progress on guitar, I’ll expand on this set up.
     
  11. MarcoGV

    MarcoGV Acquaintance

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    The Beyer DT-240 Pro may be a good choice for your application.They are only $69 now at the Beyerdynamic site: https://north-america.beyerdynamic.com/dt-240-pro.html and at amazon.com. See Tyll Hertsens's review at . (He put them on the Wall of Fame.) The cable is noisy, which makes them not ideal for listening while walking.
     
  12. Armaegis

    Armaegis Friend

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    The Beyer DT250 is also a classic for studio type work. Also can't forget about the venerable Fostex T50rp and all of it's modded iterations over the years.
     
  13. señorhifi

    señorhifi Friend

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    Has anybody here ever listened to the Gustard H10 amp? Seems to be an improved Violectric V200 amplifier, with the option of rolling opamps. Gustard seems to be a well regarded chinese brand, so maybe this one doesn't suck like Topping and SMSL stuff?
     
  14. ColdsnapBry

    ColdsnapBry Almost "Made"

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    Is there a way I can connect my Asgard 3 AND SW51+ into my Bifrost 2? Bifrost 2 only has one RCA out..
     
  15. loadexfa

    loadexfa MOT: rhythmdevils audio

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    You'll need either an RCA switch box or an XLR to RCA converter to use the XLR outs from the Bifrost.

    This thread has info on switch boxes and this one is mostly about DIY converters. If you want to go the converter route, the Jensen PI-2XR is a popular non DIY option. The joy of being an audiophile, simple problems often have expensive solutions. :eek:
     
  16. StageOne

    StageOne Friend

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    I've used AudioQuest splitters with good results from a Modi MB.

    https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0009MFRW0/
     
  17. rhythmdevils

    rhythmdevils MOT: rhythmdevils audio

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    My favorite closed back budget electrodynamic is the Beyer DT-250 250 ohm. It really sounds close to a closed back HD600. It even has a little bump in the upper mids in the same place. It's not as refined, or scalable but its has better bass quality and extension. It also sounds much more clear and less dull, though probably less resolving ultimately. It's drivable by an iPod or DAP so any source is ok.

    Only probably is they feel very cheap. I think they're probably plenty durable, they are just made out of very cheap feeling plastic. It's funny how Beyer's best sounding headphone has their worst build quality when build quality is the one thing Beyer consistently gets right.

    I haven't heard more recent closed back headphones so there may be something better now.
     
  18. rhythmdevils

    rhythmdevils MOT: rhythmdevils audio

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    I really like the Monoprice Cavalli Liquid Gold X for the LCD-X. It's much better than the J2 to my ears. I can't think of anything the J2 does better, but the LGX has much better tone and is more resolving and transparent.

    You can read my review of the amp here, and there's a link to shop.com which is selling them for 600$ right now. I can't think of a better amp for the LCD-X that I've heard for that price.

    it's best to use it balanced though, so a balanced Forza Audioworks Claire HPC mk2 cable would be a nice addition.
     
  19. dncnexus

    dncnexus Friend

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    Hey all,

    I have an opportunity to purchase an Eddie Current Electra Electrostatic Amp but was unsure on the general consensus on this. I was wondering if anyone here has heard one or have one and how it might compare with other estat offerings both in its price range and above, as well as if it is worth getting something else. For price, it is around $2k that is the offering price.

    @purr1n I know from the hf thread on the Electra you owned one, would love to see your opinion on this in regards to others like the iESL.

    Thanks all
     
  20. MarcoGV

    MarcoGV Acquaintance

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    I have owned a DT-250 250 since October 2013, when, for a short time, it was selling for less than $30 on amazon, due to an error. You may find a thread on this, called "DT-250 for $27.80 ?" on a very popular headphone site. I also own the Fostex T50 RP, which I modded with a kit from Mayflower. I very rarely use either of them. My favorite closed headphones are the Sennheiser Amperior, which has been my night table headphone for many years, the CAL!, which I recently replaced with the very similar and similar-sounding E-MU Purpleheart from Drop, and the 1 More H1707 ("Triple Driver," of which I have the graphene version). I also like the Beyer DT-235 a lot; it was my recommendation for friends who wanted to step up from the most basic models, but I think that it is no longer sold. I prefer the DT-240 Pro to the DT-250.
     
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