The All Purpose Advice Thread

Lots of used original micro iDSDs for $200+ on Ad-Fi. I haven't heard the GOV2, but IMHO the iDSD (micro, not nano) is a decent full featured portable DAC.

 

Hi friends,
I'm searching for a pair of rewired Sony MH1C to use it on the go cause the flat cable is good only when I'm at the office. Can someone help me?
Obviously if the cost is not higher than buying a better IEM.

Thanks
Lorenzo

 

I am looking to downsize price wise from my current amp. Its just a bit much to have tied up in once piece of gear at the moment. I have a bunch of options in mind, but am curious about the Audio GD amps, specifically the Master 9. Does anyone here have any recent experience with it (I have read all the stuff I could by searching.) Thanks in advance for any help.

 

An excellent point, indeed, @Torq, thank you.

 

I'm in need of a good condition original HD800 cable (in Finland) - are there lots of people selling theirs after upgrading to something balanced or "better"?

Those are seriously expensive as is. Give me a shout if you got one or have ideas where to get one, cheers folks!

 

I would think your ears might thank you by going with another iem. The MH1C sounded way too bassy and a bit prickly in the high end for me. And that flat cable is a pain.

 

Quick question that hopefully doesn't waste someones time too much. What's the best dap that supports Tidal? iBasso DX200?

No Tidal on the Sony's is a crippling deal breaker for me. I joined the audiophile game late and don't have mounds of CDs or Vinyl to rip I've relied on Tidal for quite some time.

Edit: and if any one knows how is the amp2 module regarded around here? Sound sig seems way more up my alley than the stock one.

 

I suspect that the Sony ZX2 might be worth investigating, if you can stand Android 4. Read around, and you'll find lots of folks with good ears and very good IEMs who really enjoyed the sound. It's a bit of an old model, but I think it can still run the current Tidal app. Research, don't take my word for any of this. I'm just giving you search terms, effectively. IANAL, contents may settle in shipping etc..

 

Yes, it's far from being perfect, but for the office is more than enough
I use small tips so the sealing isn't perfect, the bass is reduced and I can hear my colleagues.
What other IEM do you recommend?

 

That is a great idea, allows some leakage so the bass does not become overwhelming.

My favorite at the moment is the RHA MA-350. Price reduced to $30 retail and while a bit bassy is not overblown and mids are very good for so little dinero. Highs are pleasant and not hyped. Very light and comfy.

 

What good external CD drive can you recommend? Purpose is ripping audio. Does EAC have a favorite?

 

I just took a look at these on Amazon and saw that they are $21 with free shipping, ATM. (Seller is RHA.)

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00HD9VN6G/ref=ox_sc_act_title_3?smid=A1MZ1GCGJVT8N6&psc=1

 

I've no idea about externals, but I'm running an Asus Optical internally, I've had it for 5 years and It's never given me any issues... if I were in your shoe's I start with their brand, I imagine your ripping to a smaller laptop or windows based tablet yea

 

I saw that last weekend and ordered another pair. I must say though, it looks like they switched factories or suppliers. Logo printing on the iem is a bit different and one strain is clearly tilted off straight down. Also when taking out for maiden voyage today, noticed quite a bit of driver flex upon inserting. Not sure if I recall it being that bad on my older pair which was ordered from RHA in April 2017. Sounded good though.

I did a bunch of reading when my go to external drive went on the fritz. That was an OWC external. Turns out it was the enclosure not the drive. In the meantime I bought this Asus which has ripped about 25 cd so far with no issues. I still have the older OWC drive if you have a good enclosure. The other person can Pm me if interested, it will be dirt cheap.

https://www.amazon.com/Asus-Serial-...=2025&creative=165953&creativeASIN=B0033Z2BAQ

BTW I use this Anker usb 3 interface for this drive and backup hard drives with solid results.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005B3VO24/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

@k.e. see Torq's recommendation here:

 

@k.e. I use the OWC external as well, I couldn't find much price difference between the sources available to me, but that may be different in Germany. I think it's important to note that it houses a full LG internal optical drive (I think it's this one). If there's ever a failure, it can be serviced more easily than any of the slim external drives out there.

*I couldn't find a German distributor, but they seem to be available in Belgium and the Netherlands:
http://macupgrade.eu/catalog/mercury-pro-usb3-16x-bluray-burner-dvd-burner-p-620.html#.WXuyOojyuUl
https://apple4you.nl/optical/externe-optical

 

I have this same drive in my desktop. It rips wth XLD like a boss. It seems to deal with surface damage on second hand CDs really well too...

 

Thanks, guys! It's around 100 € more than I intended to pay, but if this is SBAF-proof, I better save up.
BTW, it has to be external because current-gen iMacs don't have optical drives anymore.

 

I have been reading a lot about dedicated Clock and audio re-clockers and while I understand the basic concept, would they be beneficial to something like, for example a Schiit Gungnir Multibit or a Schiit Yggdrasil? ANd if they are benificial, what exact purpose do they serve in your headphone audio chain? DO you connect them to the PC or say a Wyrd, then connect the dedicated clock and audio re-clocker to you DAC then to your amp? I am aware that the Gungnir Multibit and Yggdrasil already have outstanding clocks, but some of these Audio clockers and re-clockers are quite a bit of cash. I guess I am just wondering if they are beneficial and what exactly the advantage of having one in your audio headphone set-up.

For example,

PC->Wyrd->Dedicated audio clocker and re-clocker->DAC->Amp->Headphones

Thanks for any input you can give I am just trying to learn about what a USB clock and re-clocker do for your audio setup.

 

Have you read about Eitr at all? It basically outclasses all of Schiit's old USB implementations. All their new multibit dacs just got fitted with the new modules (known as USB 5 boards) and according to some of our resident experts like @Torq it basically removes the need to worry about any other USB reclocking type devices.

They definitely are beneficial. Before the new Eitr the USB input on Yggydrasil was one its worst sounding inputs. Afterwords iirc correctly Torq put it second only to AES (which also needs and expensive board/adapter to use).