Merrick
Last Activity:
Mar 28, 2024 at 8:09 AM
Joined:
Jan 6, 2016
Messages:
3,612
Trophy Points:
113
Positive ratings received:
13,287
Neutral ratings received:
12
Negative ratings received:
15

Post Ratings

Received: Given:
Like 12,569 10,200
Dislike 13 23
Respectfully Disagree 12 8
heart 42 31
Miss Information 2 10
Epic 341 533
Agreed, ditto, +1 335 314
Gender:
Male
Location:
Portland, OR

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Merrick

A lidless ear, Male, from Portland, OR

Pyrate

The design of the Vali 3 is beautiful and I want one, but I’m not sure I have any use for it. Mar 17, 2024

Merrick was last seen:
Mar 28, 2024 at 8:09 AM
    1. Merrick
      Merrick
      After over a year of not being able to easily listen to vinyl, I finally have my table set up in my home office and it's glorious.
      1. View previous comments...
      2. scapeinator1
        scapeinator1
        Also, I like vinyl because I have to commit to listening to something. Rather than being able to click away to another song.
        Sep 10, 2021
        Qildail and Merrick like this.
      3. Merrick
        Merrick
        @scapeinator1 I know what you mean! Although I tend to listen to whole albums digitally anyway, but the temptation is always there.
        Sep 10, 2021
      4. Qildail
        Qildail
        My Gen1 AT-120 is still kicking (it’s a tank) with a cartridge upgrade from a few years back. I keep thinking about upgrading, but I think I’m too vested in digital now to justify the cost just for the sake of upgrading as long as this is still working.
        Sep 10, 2021
    2. Merrick
      Merrick
      Easy come, easy go. Of course on the same day I sell enough to get an Yggdrasil the IRS unexpectedly is asking for about the same amount from us.
      1. Azimuth and Gazny like this.
      2. View previous comments...
      3. shambles
        shambles
        Know how you feel! Was planning to pick up some new gear when I head back to the UK next month, but just got hit with a £4k vets bill... in hindsight pet insurance would have been money well spent
        Sep 9, 2021
        Cryptowolf likes this.
      4. Merrick
        Merrick
        @shambles I’m so sorry! Take it from someone who’s worked in the pet industry, pet insurance is a total scam. Instead better to put aside a small amount each paycheck into a savings account you can dip into for pet emergencies.
        Sep 10, 2021
        shambles and Cryptowolf like this.
      5. shambles
        shambles
        @Merrick Thanks! Also good to know re pet insurance. We were lucky that we could cover it using cash from our house fund - not the end of the world to have to rent for an extra few months to save her. Problem will be if it reoccurs (quite likely) it will be surgery and then it's gonna be twice as much again...
        Sep 10, 2021
        Merrick likes this.
    3. Merrick
      Merrick
      Less is More Yggdrasil ordered. 1-3 days for shipping. I think Tom Petty had a song about this part...
      1. Case, bixby, Qildail and 3 others like this.
      2. Fullalover
        Fullalover
        Mine shipped
        Sep 9, 2021
        Merrick likes this.
      3. Merrick
        Merrick
        @Fullalover Did you order yours right when they were announced?
        Sep 9, 2021
    4. Merrick
      Merrick
      Vali 2+ remains one of the most musically engaging amps I’ve ever heard, regardless of price.
      1. View previous comments...
      2. Merrick
        Merrick
        @Qildail Let us know what you think! And it is worth trying out a few different tubes with it, the sound does change.
        Sep 8, 2021
        Qildail likes this.
      3. Qildail
        Qildail
        @Merrick Will do! I remember seeing a forum post for it here along the way. With only one tube to deal with, I imagine it's probably easier to waddle in for tube-noobs like me.
        Sep 8, 2021
        Merrick likes this.
      4. Merrick
        Merrick
        Yes, and because the amp is so cheap don't bother with ridiculously expensive tubes for it. You can get them, and they'll probably sound good, but keep the original price of the amp in perspective when buying tubes for it. Plus it's a hybrid so the sound will only change so much.
        Sep 8, 2021
    5. Merrick
      Merrick
      RIP Lee “Scratch” Perry. A true music legend.
      1. FlySweep, Case, Cryptowolf and 7 others like this.
      2. dubharmonic
        dubharmonic
        I was fortunate to see him live. One of the best performances I've seen.
        Aug 29, 2021
        Merrick likes this.
      3. rhythmdevils
        rhythmdevils
        damn. :(
        Aug 29, 2021
      4. Erroneous
        Erroneous
        Supposedly buried tapes so he could hear the resulting degradation/audio after a long time. Tbh I gotta respect that.
        Aug 31, 2021
        Merrick likes this.
    6. Merrick
      Merrick
      I hear good budget gear and while it’s playing I like it and I think “Maybe this is all I need” until I switch back to my higher end gear.
      1. Cryptowolf, Jinxy245, crenca and 5 others like this.
      2. View previous comments...
      3. Qildail
        Qildail
        The other side of that coin of not having or never auditioning higher-end gear is I don't know what I'm missing. Literally. So the budget gear that is good is good enough for me.

        That's not to say "woe is poor me" or other such nonsense. I'm just on the slower gear train. I'll budget my upgrades over a longer time; and until then live vicariously through other's adventures.
        Aug 26, 2021
        Cryptowolf likes this.
      4. Thad E Ginathom
        Thad E Ginathom
        I love eating at fry-up caffs. Doesn't mean I can't go for a five-star bash if I get the chance!

        Listening to different sounds is fun. Listening to really good (expensive or not) sound is a great experience, like the five-star food. Don't miss those chances. But don't be sad to go home to the system that you've put the time and money that you can afford into, and don't stop loving it.
        Aug 26, 2021
      5. Thad E Ginathom
        Thad E Ginathom
        ... Everyone knows that but some people need an occasional reminder.
        Aug 26, 2021
        Cryptowolf, Tchoupitoulas and crenca like this.
    7. Merrick
      Merrick
      What are the differences between a Ragnarok 1 and 1.5, and how can one tell if a given Rag is a 1 or a 1.5?
      1. View previous comments...
      2. Merrick
        Merrick
        Thanks @zonto! So the only way to tell which version a Rag would be is to open it up and look at the board?
        Aug 25, 2021
      3. zonto
        zonto
        @Merrick You can just shine a flashlight in and look through the top vents at the correct angle and see if it looks like the picture in @Galm's post linked above, or the v.1 picture that Schiit used to have up on the website for Rag 1 (maybe available still via web archive?). If you do have v.1 and plan to keep the Rag, I'd definitely recommend having it upgraded if you can.
        Aug 25, 2021
        Merrick likes this.
      4. Erroneous
        Erroneous
        Mj1 hypetrain evolves into Rag hypetrain. Mj1 is really good, let's see where this goes. 2016 Rag was too surgical for me, but maybe just bad synergy.
        Aug 27, 2021
    8. Merrick
      Merrick
      Magni 3+ sounds pretty blah when turned on from cold. How long have people found it takes to start sounding good?
      1. View previous comments...
      2. Merrick
        Merrick
        @Azimuth I think the Vali 2+ is one of Schiit’s all time best amps.
        Aug 25, 2021
      3. Azimuth
        Azimuth
        Vali 2 is quite amazing, esp. when you consider the price.
        Aug 26, 2021
        Merrick likes this.
      4. Merrick
        Merrick
        Leaving it on overnight and setting it to low gain did help with the sound, this is more of what I was expecting.
        Aug 26, 2021
        Case and Vtory like this.
    9. Merrick
      Merrick
      HQPlayer is some of the worst designed software I’ve ever used. I wouldn’t pay $25 for this, let alone $250.
      1. View previous comments...
      2. Azteca
        Azteca
        The problem is obviously that you aren't using JPlay!
        Aug 18, 2021
      3. Azteca
        Azteca
        Aug 18, 2021
      4. SoupRKnowva
        SoupRKnowva
        haha @Azteca Ive thought about the idea of using like 100-300 watts of computer power, continuously, just to oversample your music in real time a lot over the past couple weeks, as I read a bit more about hqplayer and the holo may
        Aug 18, 2021
    10. Merrick
      Merrick
      The Rubellan Remasters Oingo Boingo releases sound tremendous! Very worth picking up if you’re a fan.
      1. Merrick
    11. Merrick
      Merrick
      1. View previous comments...
      2. insidious meme
        insidious meme
        Tempting though I have most on cd already. @YMO I see your favorite song is on here. (Only a Lad, track 1)
        Aug 6, 2021
      3. YMO
        YMO
        @insidious meme you are going to pre-order it and sing that song you love so much. You know you wanna get it.
        Aug 6, 2021
      4. crazychile
        crazychile
        Oooh, and Missing Persons, Ric Ocasek….(reaches for credit card)
        Aug 7, 2021
        YMO and Merrick like this.
    12. Merrick
      Merrick
      The remix of All Things Must Pass is…interesting?
      1. Merrick
        Merrick
        No, just bad.
        Jul 27, 2021
        Jinxy245 likes this.
    13. Merrick
      Merrick
      Sometimes you just need to take a deep breath and walk away.
      1. Dandrac42, Case, Jinxy245 and 6 others like this.
      2. View previous comments...
      3. Cryptowolf
        Cryptowolf
        Thankfully I have dogs that demand this at least three times a day. I hope you feel better.
        Jul 16, 2021
        Jinxy245 and Merrick like this.
      4. Merrick
        Merrick
        I’m fine, just have to remind myself things are fine once in a while. :)
        Jul 16, 2021
      5. Kunlun
        Kunlun
        You gotta know when to hold 'em, know when to fold 'em, know when to walk away, know when to run. You never count your money,
        When you're sittin' at the table
        There'll be time enough for countin'
        When the dealin's done.
        Jul 16, 2021
        Cryptowolf and YMO like this.
    14. Merrick
      1. Jinxy245 and ogodei like this.
      2. ogodei
        ogodei
        Jul 9, 2021
        Merrick likes this.
      3. Merrick
        Merrick
        I just went for the digital. Sounds great!
        Jul 9, 2021
        ogodei and Jinxy245 like this.
      4. ogodei
        ogodei
        Purchased Vinyl from amazon, got the 'free' download immediately and realized how many downloads I've forgotten from there :0
        Jul 9, 2021
        Merrick likes this.
    15. Merrick
      Merrick
      Not a great comparison because it’s relying on audio memory, but Gen V USB on Gungnir sounds more natural to me than Unison on BF2 did.
      1. View previous comments...
      2. EagleWings
        EagleWings
        Gotcha. Was just curious because I have been trying to do a Unison USB vs Rockna's USB input in a meaningful way. Also, in case you are referring to the Gungnir A1 here, a couple of folks have told me that the Gungnir A1 is more natural sounding than the Bf2 even when both are fed via SPDIF.
        Jul 3, 2021
      3. Merrick
        Merrick
        @EagleWings It is an A1. I have had both DACs simultaneously and fed with SPDIF via Pi2AES they sound very close.
        Jul 3, 2021
        Michael Kelly likes this.
      4. EagleWings
        EagleWings
        Ah, thanks for this input. I was actually considering replacing my Bf2 with a Gung A1. I guess I’ll just stick with Bf2 for the time being.
        Jul 3, 2021
        Merrick likes this.
    16. Merrick
      Merrick
      Good riddance to bad rubbish.
      1. wbass likes this.
      2. View previous comments...
      3. Rustin Cohle
        Rustin Cohle
        Amen. Wrought incalculable damage.
        Jul 1, 2021
        Merrick likes this.
      4. Azimuth
        Azimuth
        Rummy?
        Jul 1, 2021
        Merrick likes this.
      5. Claritas
        Claritas
        [Deleted.]
        Jul 2, 2021
    17. Merrick
      Merrick
      Do any of the USB DAC/amp dongles offer true line out modes?
      1. Cryptowolf
        Cryptowolf
        I own the Leetoo PAW SW1 and I can confirm it *does not* have a line out.
        Jun 28, 2021
        Merrick likes this.
    18. Merrick
      Merrick
      If I were smart I’d sell everything audio I owned save for a Modi 3+, Vali 2+, and some good headphones. Pity I’m so dumb.
      1. View previous comments...
      2. atomicbob
        atomicbob
        I've had moments thinking I'd just take a Bifrost2 and SW51+ with a few of my favorite headphones and call it good. They ARE good.
        Jun 28, 2021
        Sqveak, Jinxy245 and Merrick like this.
      3. Senorx12562
        Senorx12562
        On the other hand, unlike 40 years ago, I rarely hear gear that sounds outright bad anymore. Much of it is uninspiring though.
        Jun 28, 2021
      4. Woland
        Woland
        All entry level DACs sound the same through a Vali2. So Vali2 + Chromecast Audio.
        Jun 30, 2021
    19. Merrick
      Merrick
      Wired out of a Magni 3+, Bose NC 700 sounds better than decent. Wireless is far less impressive.
    20. Merrick
      Merrick
      UM 3DT doing a tremendous job with The Band’s S/T off the ZX300.
      1. Biodegraded likes this.
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  • About

    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Portland, OR
    Gear List:
    Source: Pi2AES
    DAC: Yggdrasil GS2
    Headphone Amp: Schiit Ragnarok
    Headphones: ZMF Auteur, ETA O2, Sennheiser IE 600, Koss Porta-Pro
    Speakers: NHT SB-3
    Power amp: Schiit Ragnarok
    Portable: iBasso DC06 Pro, Schiit Fulla E
    Turntable: Yamaha PX-3 linear
    Cart: Technics ECP-205C-IIL
    Phono: Schiit Mani 2

    Signature

    HP/IEM: ZMF Auteur Blackwood | Senn IE 600 | PortaPro
    AMP: Schiit Ragnarok (1)
    DAC: Yggdrasil+ GS2
    Turntable: Yamaha PX-3 w/Technics ECP-205C-IIL cart
    Speakers: NHT SB-3