The All Purpose Advice Thread

Maybe some of the Audio Technica AD700/900/1000 stuff? very effiecient and with good stage size

 

I would think for VR you would want even less stuff in the way and go for IEMs. In which case the new Audeze iSine might be a good candidate since they are open. I believe Philips has some Fidelio IEMs that are also open backed.

 

Anyone have any experience with AK jr paired with Ety ER4S's? I'm wondering if it has enough power for the ER4S? I picked up a x5ii a few months ago but now that the AK jr's price is dipping down to $300 I'm thinking about selling it and getting the AK based on reports of better SQ.

 

Looking for an affordable dap: Ipod Touch, Plenue D or AK JR. I'm sensitive to hiss w/ the iems. Personally, I'd love to see the Apple UI on another player, but I know the Plenue or AK JR aren't in that league. Based on sound quality w/ iems, do any of you have a favorite?

 

Can't comment on SQ re: X5ii vs. AK Jr, but both will have no problems driving the ER4-S (original or current).

 

Not finding much to dislike with an iPhone 7 into a DragonFly Red feeding either original ER4-S or current SE846. Definitely has me not-bringing-the-Mojo when I travel at this point.

Anxious to try something like the new Sony with the new Vegas through

 

Does anyone know of any portable USB powered DAC/pre amps? Ideally around $200. I'm looking for a one box solution to feed some powered monitors that I sometimes travel with. I just need a DAC and volume controlled pre outs. With the popularity of USB DAC/amps I'm surprised there aren't more DAC/Pre's on the market. All I have been able to come up with is the Fostex PC100USB, but it looks pretty junky.

Up to this point I've been using cheap HifimeDIY DAC + an Emotiva passive volume control (Control Freak). It did the job ok but I really want to streamline if possible the Control Freak is pretty bulky. A better DAC would be nice too.

 

Micca Origen does that well within budget, I had one back when it came out very briefly for that same purpose. Unsure if the updated + model still has the preamp out, so double check. It was underwhelming as a headamp with mid-fi or high end headphones (it's not a schiit stack substitute by any means) but it would totally work well for an all-in-one solution for powdered monitors.

 

That looks interesting, thanks. So far these are the USB powered DACs I've found with pre-outs:
Fostex PC100USB $60
Micca Origen $100
NuForce uDAC5 $150
Audioengine D1 $160
It's not a one box solution but it is compact and USB powered... schiit Modi 2 + SYS $150

I wonder if all these all in ones are going to be similar in terms of SQ. I have a feeling the Schiit stack would wipe the floor with the rest of these? Has anyone heard the uDAC5 yet? Its currently on Massdrop for $150.

I'm also considering the GO2a infinity. It seems like the best DAC and hp amp out of this bunch and I've wanted to hear one of these for long time, but It's not advertised as having pre-out. That said I understand the middle gain setting equals 2v. I'm not sure how this would work with powered monitors since it doesn't have an analog volume control?

I wonder what would be better overall, the GO2A with a great DAC and digital volume control or something like the Micca Origen with mediocre DAC and analog volume control? Doesn't a 64 bit DAC negate the main problem associated with digital volume control i.e. loss of bits?

 

hello,

as it is cited on the SBAF leaderboard, would the Leckerton UHA-6S be a reasonable substitute for a Schiit Fulla or a audioquest DragonFly in a transportable scenario?

MrsForbin has recently applied for a road warrior position and i would like a one box solution for portable use (with her iPod and a LOD) and for use with a laptop when she is out of town.

i am well aware of the disdain for the Leckerton dac, is it really all that horrible in this use case?

thanks.

 

I'm getting an MJ2 to amp up the Chord Mojo relatively soon (2 poor for a Gungnir Multibit atm) and I don't want to rely on expensive tubes all the time. How does it compare to a Jotunheim or a Rag with the LISST?

 

If you search the Jotunheim thread for "Mjolnir" or "Mjo2" you will find a bunch of impressions of Jotunheim vs Mjo2 with tubes. Mjo2 with LISSTs has the same fundamental character as Mjo with tubes, so those impressions remain fairly valid. I can add a few thoughts specifically targeted at Mjo2/LISST vs Jotunheim:
- With LISSTs, Mjo2 has a wide but really flat soundstage. Jotunheim has a flattish soundstage which curves around at the edges and so sounds deeper. Imaging is quite precise with both.
- @KurtSvensson has pointed out, and I agree, that there is something strange and slightly murky about the mids with Mjo2/LISST. The Jotunheim is much clearer in the mids.
- In any configuration Mjo2 is impactful and hard-hitting, but with LISSTs it is also very fast, so the impact is turned up to 11. It can really batter your ears like little else.
- Jotunheim has less slam/sustain, but is faster, clearer with absolutely no overhang. So by comparison it sounds drier.

 

Didn't even realize there was a search thread function but found it now lol...

That is a little disappointing if the soundstage is flat with the LISST although width is more important for me I guess. Thanks for your thoughts

 

Have you tried listening to/wearing them? They're... not great. I'd worry about them getting damaged, if using them with my old Oculus Rift far more than I would my HD-25s.

 

@Kattefjaes - The iSines? No, haven't tried them. It was a suggestion based on them being compact and open. I have heard good things about them from people I trust but I don't doubt what you have to say either.

Still, I would presume that IEMs are a better option for VR.

 

I'm assuming you are on your parents insurance, correct? You might be able to get your primary to refer you to an audiologist for plugs from ear molds. Best part is it might be fully covered. You wont know till you check...

 

Hmm, that would be nice. Alleady bought someghing though

 

Two Points of Clarification:

1. Tubes aren't really that expensive. As long as you don't get into the dangerous land of "tube rolling" the money you spend on will quickly amortize to zero. The schiit stock set is $20 per pair. Conservative lifespan is estimated at 5,000 hours. This works out to .4 cents per hour of listening. Good Amperex tubes can be had in the $30-$100 range per pair (for example). The cost would rise to a whopping 2 cents per hour. In any event, for most people they trade or sell the tube amp long before the tubes expire. I am NOT advocating tube rolling, but I think its also important not to fall into the fallacy of "oh no! tubes! money down the drain on parts that must be replaced!"
2. What headphones are you listening to? Responses will change depending on what your driver is. Most (not all) of the impressions you will read as you lurk here will be through one of the higher impedence Senn's.

 

I don't really use my powered monitors for critical listening, so it's hard for me to compare origen with others in that regard, although as I said it was unimpressive as a DAC/headamp. GO2a inf or whatever iteration (I have the similar GOV2+ inf) does not have any kind of volume knob, it relies on you using the digital volume control on your computer. That said it is superior as a DAC/headamp to the origen by miles