Mistershine.
Banned
No, sorry. I'm British and have never had a passport, I've never been anywhere not mainland UK.
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Audiophile GAF
- Thread starter Maiden Voyage
- Start date
Maiden Voyage
Gold™ Member
Korranator
Member
Well after lot's of testing. I'm going to RMA the modi/multi - magni stack. It didn't quite perform as well as I would have liked. My current set up is a old Yamaha RXA700, and I was hoping the stack would out perform it. While the stack did IMO beat the RXA700 it was very subtle. Certain sounds were just a bit better and louder, and but over all they nearly sounded the same.
This coming week I will be visiting the Schiit retail store, so I'm looking forward to it. I hope to demo the Asgard and Bifrost. More later.
This coming week I will be visiting the Schiit retail store, so I'm looking forward to it. I hope to demo the Asgard and Bifrost. More later.
Tesseract
Banned
i talk gruff about keeping it simple but deep down care about formatting and compression methods, theory and craft
listen to music at basically every waking moment of my life and value this thread's content tremendously, good recs and assistance
thanks to
Maiden Voyage
for creating and maintaining a haven for the language of g0d
listen to music at basically every waking moment of my life and value this thread's content tremendously, good recs and assistance
thanks to
Maiden Voyage
for creating and maintaining a haven for the language of g0d
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Maiden Voyage
Gold™ Member
regawdless
Banned
Korranator
Member
Made a trip to Schiit Audio, and got to demo many of their shit. Short story, the bigger the unit the wider the sound stage and the better the details.
They had a table with a huge selection of setups, each with a ipad with Tidal to use for the demo. Only problem with Tidal and good DACs is you can really hear poorly recorded music tracks. Low DR rated recordings sound terrible.
More later...
They had a table with a huge selection of setups, each with a ipad with Tidal to use for the demo. Only problem with Tidal and good DACs is you can really hear poorly recorded music tracks. Low DR rated recordings sound terrible.
More later...
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Korranator
Member
Dynamic Range explained for those that don't know what I'm talking about.
Maiden Voyage
Gold™ Member
I do agree with Steve, recording quality matters first and foremost. Interesting vid, if you've got the time:
Enjoying that EP he discussed as well: Bright Bright Bright by Dark Dark Dark
Enjoying that EP he discussed as well: Bright Bright Bright by Dark Dark Dark
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On a whim I picked up a cheap headphone called the Douk u3 mini:
Douk Audio U3 Mini Class A Headphone Amplifier HiFi Desktop Home Stereo Amp DC5V https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08C2MKBGN/?tag=neogaf0e-20
From what I read, you can replace the op amp. Would it be worth getting a high end op amp like a Sparkos Lab or a Muses 02 for this thing? The op amp would be more expensive than the amp.
Douk Audio U3 Mini Class A Headphone Amplifier HiFi Desktop Home Stereo Amp DC5V https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08C2MKBGN/?tag=neogaf0e-20
From what I read, you can replace the op amp. Would it be worth getting a high end op amp like a Sparkos Lab or a Muses 02 for this thing? The op amp would be more expensive than the amp.
Maiden Voyage
Gold™ Member
I can see the appeal from a cheap way to experiment but not sure if that's your goal?
Maiden Voyage
Gold™ Member
Would it be worth putting in a high end op amp like a Muses 02 in this cheap amp, from a sound quality perspective? Or would it be putting a feather cap on a pig?
Maiden Voyage
Gold™ Member
More the latter I would think.
Con-Z-epT
Live from NeoGAF, it's Friday Night!
Not exactly audiophile but i do care for sound quality.
PC: basic midrange Intel Nuc
DAC: RME ADI-2 DAC FS
Headphones: AKG K-872
Speakers: Yamaha HS 8 and HS 8S
Cables: mostly In-Akustik, tried Lavricables recently
Sources: mostly WAV files and a bit vinyl here and there
The RME is the core and i'm super happy with it. The biggest improvment i've ever bought.
I would love to upgrade my speakers to some Dynaudios. Core 47 would be nice.
For headphones i think the market is oversaturated and i have a hard time to decide where to go next.
My music taste is pretty wide spread from solo piano to the depths of cyberneuro.
Overall as far away from the mainstream as possible.
PC: basic midrange Intel Nuc
DAC: RME ADI-2 DAC FS
Headphones: AKG K-872
Speakers: Yamaha HS 8 and HS 8S
Cables: mostly In-Akustik, tried Lavricables recently
Sources: mostly WAV files and a bit vinyl here and there
The RME is the core and i'm super happy with it. The biggest improvment i've ever bought.
I would love to upgrade my speakers to some Dynaudios. Core 47 would be nice.
For headphones i think the market is oversaturated and i have a hard time to decide where to go next.
My music taste is pretty wide spread from solo piano to the depths of cyberneuro.
Overall as far away from the mainstream as possible.
Maiden Voyage
Gold™ Member
You and me both. It's such a hole.
DarkestHour
Banned
Is there a way to demo the expensive equipment to see if it's really worth all that dough?
Korranator
Member
Depends On what business' or manufactures are in your area.
Maiden Voyage
Gold™ Member
Retail is your best bet. Sadly my nearest hifi shop is hours away.
Con-Z-epT
Live from NeoGAF, it's Friday Night!
We are at a point where it is more about personal preference in sound signature than just about quality.
It is also not that easy to just try most of them without buying.
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Con-Z-epT
Live from NeoGAF, it's Friday Night!
Google is your best bet.
I'm always suprised how many special retailers i found over the years that let you come in and test their stuff.
Just call them and ask nicely.
Some even send me equipment to try it out with no additional cost.
As
Maiden Voyage
said sometimes they are far away.Most of them are enthusiasts and you will not read about them in the newspapers.
Maiden Voyage
Gold™ Member
I caved and put in an order for the Schiit Loki Mini+. Not for music reasons, only for audio issues on conference calls. My headphones, the DT 1990 Pros, have a noticeable high treble. Some people's mics have distortions on their set-ups and it's grating. Strangely enough, the high frequencies don't bother me with music, just these conference calls.
Anyway, I will report back when I get a chance to play with it. I suspect the feedback will be good, as everything I've read or seen about the Loki has been really positive.
Anyway, I will report back when I get a chance to play with it. I suspect the feedback will be good, as everything I've read or seen about the Loki has been really positive.
regawdless
Banned
Con-Z-epT
Live from NeoGAF, it's Friday Night!
Moomalade74
Banned
Currently rocking an RME ADI 2 Dac FS, feeding a pair of Beyerdynamic T1's (2nd Gen).
Lovely combination.
Lovely combination.
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Con-Z-epT
Live from NeoGAF, it's Friday Night!
It sooooooooooo gooooooood.
I would buy a second one but haven't figured out for what.
Moomalade74
Banned
It sooooooooooo gooooooood.
I would buy a second one but haven't figured out for what.
Use it as a Dac/Preamp into a Power Amp to drive some floorstanders
Con-Z-epT
Live from NeoGAF, it's Friday Night!
Sure but i would have to buy so much equipment.Use it as a Dac/Preamp into a Power Amp to drive some floorstanders
It is just open end for all of this. Once you start to care about all of this it is so hard to not get swept away.
Moomalade74
Banned
I can really recommend both the Beyer T1's and Sennheiser HD800s for the RME. Both for different reasons. HD800s for rocking out with a few beers, (the big open sound getting boosted by the equaliser) and the T1's for more critical listening or when working.
In the next few months I'm going to upgrade my workspace with a Wyred 4 Sound ST-500 amp driving a set of ATC SCM 11 speakers. The RME will be the dac/preamp.
Will post photos when it's all set up.
Have the Schiit stack (Magni/Modi), was using a DT 770 pro (250 ohm) as a daily driver, but after discovering Peace and AutoEq am now using my Grado SR equalized to Harmon-Target.
Ordered Sennheiser HD6XX from Drop, and is now shipping. Was going to get a HD 560s but per Joshua Valour I went with the HD6XX so that it would “grow” with my system. I have a Hifiman EF2A and enjoy the tubey goodness but the output impedance is 30 ohms (hence the DT 770), so I’m looking at high impedance headphones.
When I’ll get the HD 6XX, I’ll probably use AutoEQ because I like a bit of warmth, but we’ll see. I’m currently going for $200 mark for my equipment to start and move up when the itch happens I suppose. I’m currently using Spotify (fight me) so it should be fine for now.
Ordered Sennheiser HD6XX from Drop, and is now shipping. Was going to get a HD 560s but per Joshua Valour I went with the HD6XX so that it would “grow” with my system. I have a Hifiman EF2A and enjoy the tubey goodness but the output impedance is 30 ohms (hence the DT 770), so I’m looking at high impedance headphones.
When I’ll get the HD 6XX, I’ll probably use AutoEQ because I like a bit of warmth, but we’ll see. I’m currently going for $200 mark for my equipment to start and move up when the itch happens I suppose. I’m currently using Spotify (fight me) so it should be fine for now.
Con-Z-epT
Live from NeoGAF, it's Friday Night!
I have never tried a Beyerdynamic Headphone. I hear just good things about them.
The price-performance ratio seems really good with them.
Will definitely get one in the near future. DT 1770 or DT 1990.
I went away from Sennheiser a few years ago.
I'm not the biggest fan of their build quality.
Sound quality was not a problem however.
regawdless
Banned
I bought the HarmonicDyne Zeus about a month ago and want to share my impressions:
I got them as an addition to my Focal Clear. The Clear are excellent for music. But I found them a bit too analytical for gaming & movies, missing the broad sensation. Therefore I was searching for headphones with a wide soundstage and warm sound. Didn't want to go full on premium again, so they had to be relatively "cheap". After watching the review from DMS, I ordered these for a bit under 300 bucks. Took them three weeks to arrive.
As you can see, packaging is great, but nobody cares about that after 5min.
The built: Thick and "fluffy" earpads, very soft and cushy. They look pretty nice in person with that wood . Those metal grills are rather sharp. The earcups are very flexible, the built quality is overall good. Not totally premium, but fine.
Comfort: As I've said,. they feel very soft. They fit well and dont generate a lot of pressure. I find them to be comfortable, but not incredibly so. They are not bothersome in any way and I can use them for hours. I was pretty surprised though when I switched between these and my Focal Clear. The Clear weigh 450g, while these weigh 380g - 70g less. But the Clear somehow feel way lighter, because of their superior design and weight ditribution. This of course being an unfair comparison as the Clear are way more expensive. Overall comfort of the Zeus is still good.
Sound: I tend to like natural sounding headphones. This still has a well balanced sound, but it's on the warmer side. They are enjoyable to listen to. Good bass response, not overwhelmingly hard slamming, but with a good presence and still strong impact. As to be expected, the details and "structure" in the bass are not that great - that's normal for that price point. Soundstage is wide, which in combination with the warm sound signature, makes them a very good choice for gaming & movies. Very good sense of scale and great positioning of the individual sounds. Especially the city in Cyberjunk sounds great - as DMS has also pointed out. Details are fine, not that pronounced or clear, but competitive in that price segment.
So even if you buy these just for music, they are very good sounding headphones. But I would rather recommend them for entertainment purposes, that's where they really shine.
I'm satisfied, they perform as expected.
I got them as an addition to my Focal Clear. The Clear are excellent for music. But I found them a bit too analytical for gaming & movies, missing the broad sensation. Therefore I was searching for headphones with a wide soundstage and warm sound. Didn't want to go full on premium again, so they had to be relatively "cheap". After watching the review from DMS, I ordered these for a bit under 300 bucks. Took them three weeks to arrive.
As you can see, packaging is great, but nobody cares about that after 5min.
The built: Thick and "fluffy" earpads, very soft and cushy. They look pretty nice in person with that wood . Those metal grills are rather sharp. The earcups are very flexible, the built quality is overall good. Not totally premium, but fine.
Comfort: As I've said,. they feel very soft. They fit well and dont generate a lot of pressure. I find them to be comfortable, but not incredibly so. They are not bothersome in any way and I can use them for hours. I was pretty surprised though when I switched between these and my Focal Clear. The Clear weigh 450g, while these weigh 380g - 70g less. But the Clear somehow feel way lighter, because of their superior design and weight ditribution. This of course being an unfair comparison as the Clear are way more expensive. Overall comfort of the Zeus is still good.
Sound: I tend to like natural sounding headphones. This still has a well balanced sound, but it's on the warmer side. They are enjoyable to listen to. Good bass response, not overwhelmingly hard slamming, but with a good presence and still strong impact. As to be expected, the details and "structure" in the bass are not that great - that's normal for that price point. Soundstage is wide, which in combination with the warm sound signature, makes them a very good choice for gaming & movies. Very good sense of scale and great positioning of the individual sounds. Especially the city in Cyberjunk sounds great - as DMS has also pointed out. Details are fine, not that pronounced or clear, but competitive in that price segment.
So even if you buy these just for music, they are very good sounding headphones. But I would rather recommend them for entertainment purposes, that's where they really shine.
I'm satisfied, they perform as expected.
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Maiden Voyage
Gold™ Member
The 1990s are built like a tank. I love the build quality.
I bought the HarmonicDyne Zeus about a month ago and want to share my impressions:
I got them as an addition to my Focal Clear. The Clear are excellent for music. But I found them a bit too analytical for gaming & movies, missing the broad sensation. Therefore I was searching for headphones with a wide soundstage and warm sound. Didn't want to go full on premium again, so they had to be relatively "cheap". After watching the review from DMS, I ordered these for a bit under 300 bucks. Took them three weeks to arrive.
As you can see, packaging is great, but nobody cares about that after 5min.
The built: Thick and "fluffy" earpads, very soft and cushy. They look pretty nice in person with that wood . Those metal grills are rather sharp. The earcups are very flexible, the built quality is overall good. Not totally premium, but fine.
Comfort: As I've said,. they feel very soft. They fit well and dont generate a lot of pressure. I find them to be comfortable, but not incredibly so. They are not bothersome in any way and I can use them for hours. I was pretty surprised though when I switched between these and my Focal Clear. The Clear weigh 450g, while these weigh 380g - 70g less. But the Clear somehow feel way lighter, because of their superior design and weight ditribution. This of course being an unfair comparison as the Clear are way more expensive. Overall comfort of the Zeus is still good.
Sound: I tend to like natural sounding headphones. This still has a well balanced sound, but it's on the warmer side. They are enjoyable to listen to. Good bass response, not overwhelmingly hard slamming, but with a good presence and still strong impact. As to be expected, the details and "structure" in the bass are not that great - that's normal for that price point. Soundstage is wide, which in combination with the warm sound signature, makes them a very good choice for gaming & movies. Very good sense of scale and great positioning of the individual sounds. Especially the city in Cyberjunk sounds great - as DMS has also pointed out. Details are fine, not that pronounced or clear, but competitive in that price segment.
So even if you buy these just for music, they are very good sounding headphones. But I would rather recommend them for entertainment purposes, that's where they really shine.
I'm satisfied, they perform as expected.
Thanks for the write-up. They sound like a pretty great deal for the price point. Really nice looking as well.
Maiden Voyage
Gold™ Member
Be sure to post your thoughts. I've been on the fence about getting a pair of 6XXs for years now.
Korranator
Member
Good choice. I used the HD560s for years and loved them, but after the molding cracking, falling apart (10years use) and multiple gorilla glues repairs I needed replacements. I finally bought the HD6XXs, and was amazed with the noticeable upgrade. Everything sounded better with more detail, and larger sound stage.
I recommend them, but they are not for everyone. They have a great sound stage, and for me it helps draws me into whatever I'm listening to. Music sounds more live, and games feel more atmospheric. If you are looking for accuracy then look elsewhere.
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Question: don’t they say the 560S has a larger soundstage than the HD 6XX?
Korranator
Member
Thought it was the or way around but its been over a year since I used the 560s, I'll test them later tonight
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regawdless
Banned
I cant crank music in them cause my wife yells at me
I don't need music for that to happen.
Luckily she is only yelling at me cause of the sound cause she def never saw the price
regawdless
Banned
Yeah, my wife seriously wouldn't know that headphones can even cost as much as my Focal Clear.
Ive never heard of this brand but it makes sense at its slightly out of my current price range. How do they sound?
regawdless
Banned
I slowly crawled my way up there over the years after starting with some 30 buck garbage cans.
They are totally incredible and rightfully considered as one of the greatest headphones on the market. Heavenly detailed without being sharp or annoying on the sssss sounds. Very neutrally tuned but still fun, with a delightful midrange that makes the vocals shine. The bass response is incredibly well defined and controlled.
These headphones are like precision tools. Every little sound is perfectly separated, positioned and refined. They 100% nailed it with the naming. Everything is clean and clear.
But there are no perfect headphones. These are designed for a more intimate listening experience, so while having great positioning, the soundstage is average regarding it's size. I love the listening experience but people who are looking for huge spacious sound should look at the Sennheiser HD800 series.
Edit: oh and you better make sure to have well recorded and mixed music. You'll hear every distortion, hiss, bad setup etc.
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Maiden Voyage
Gold™ Member
Pretty sure the MG pros will be my next pair.
Clear MG Professional - Excellent open-back headphones | Focal
Clear MG Professional, Excellent open-back headphones : Our professional monitors are designed from the first stage to reproduce the sound signal without alteration. These monitors will meet the needs of both large studios and small listening rooms.
www.focal.com
$1500 but god damn do they look good. The non-MG look dope as hell too.
Clear | Focal
Clear, Open-air circumaural headphones : enjoy your favorite music wherever you are with Focal headphones. They combine modern, elegant design with high-intensity sound.
www.focal.com
regawdless
Banned
Pretty sure the MG pros will be my next pair.
Clear MG Professional - Excellent open-back headphones | Focal
Clear MG Professional, Excellent open-back headphones : Our professional monitors are designed from the first stage to reproduce the sound signal without alteration. These monitors will meet the needs of both large studios and small listening rooms.
$1500 but god damn do they look good. The non-MG look dope as hell too.
Clear | Focal
Clear, Open-air circumaural headphones : enjoy your favorite music wherever you are with Focal headphones. They combine modern, elegant design with high-intensity sound.
I bought my Clear used on ebay from a guy, 1 month old, perfect condition for 880 Euro. Even new, I see them regularly for around 1k.
I'm sure the MG will also drop to at least 1.2k soon.
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Maiden Voyage
Gold™ Member
What a steal. That's insane. I need to start checking eBay.
regawdless
Banned
The HD660S are very good, I like them a lot. For me, they are the best in that price range.