The All Purpose Advice Thread

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

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  1. Mortsnets

    Mortsnets New

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    From what I've read about the Schiit Vidar might combine warmth and detail. Or how about anything Nelson Pass has designed.
     
  2. dncnexus

    dncnexus Friend

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    Hey all, I am in the market for a new tube amp, I currently got a DV 336 se with a TungSol and a RCA. I was looking for another tubey type amp, probably around the 1k mark. My current headphones are a ZMF Auteur, HD 6XX, and a DT770. I am looking at the Woo Wa6, EC ZDT Jr. x Massdrop (If I can find it), Bottlehead Crack. I am also open for suggestions, I have heard good things about the La Figaro 339, but they seem rather hard to come by! Thanks for all the help!
     
  3. lagadu

    lagadu Facebook Friend

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    Have you considered the SW51+?
     
  4. dncnexus

    dncnexus Friend

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    I actually haven't even heard of it before! I will read through the thread and see, thanks!
     
  5. Gazny

    Gazny MOT: ETA Audio

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    Hello everyone, I am looking for advice on where I should focus next in my chain. I am looking for more plankton/sonic reproduction.

    I listen to a lot of Beck, Clark(Chris Clark), David Bowie,Rina Sawayama, Frank Zappa, Weather Report, Radiohead, The Knife,Maldita Vecindad, and Stevie Ray Vaughan. I understand no piece of gear can cover all of the music genres here, but if one is done correctly I will be satisfied.

    My current chain looks like this.
    PC -> Eitr ->Modi 3 -> SYS -> Magni 3/Valhalla 2 -> HD 6XX

    Budget is Around $900 USD, but It is flexible.

    Additionally I am wondering what the advantages of a Emotiva CMX-2 is in my chain, it is for dc offset and as I have an OTL it releases some dc and will sometimes cause my eitr to flicker on and off. Will this help with that issue, and if so where is the best place to have it? For my digital side to prevent dc to them, or on my amp to prevent dc from escaping down my chain.
     
    Last edited: May 15, 2020
  6. NomadicInfluence

    NomadicInfluence New

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    Hello, first post here. Thank you to anyone taking a moment to reply. My set up -- xDuoo TA-10, Micca Origain AD250, KEF Q150, Audeze LCD-2 Classics... Two questions:

    (1) What do people recommend for a tube replacement for the TA-10 that's on the warmer end of the spectrum? Would like to cap my budget around $50.

    (2) Assume I'm not listening to DSD quality music. Hell, just assume I spend my days listening to Tool and playing video games. Should I be thinking about replacing the stock cables with ones that can take advantage of the balanced input on my xDuoo? If so any suggestions that's not going to exceed $150?

    Thanks again!
     
  7. fastfwd

    fastfwd Friend

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    No. The XLR output on that amp is not balanced; according to the online review I just read, it's electrically identical to the single-ended 3.5mm output.
     
  8. NomadicInfluence

    NomadicInfluence New

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    I just found what you were referring to and it's quite helpful. Thanks!
     
  9. MichaeLeroy

    MichaeLeroy Almost "Made"

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    I think that you already got a good answer earlier this week. Have a second look at your post in the Valhalla 2 thread:

    And look more carefully at the very nice response from @will_f:

    You just got the Valhalla and seem quite happy with how it pairs with your headphones, so why not stick with those for now and seek improvements earlier in the chain? You could learn a thing or two looking at @will_f's gear. His DAC shows up in many members' gear lists because it is quite good.

    I have a Bifrost 2 and have recently ordered the components for a Pi2AES. That tells you where my money is for source and DAC. I have no Valhalla experience and have only recently begun to listen with HD650s,

    Don't spend $700 (Bifrost only) to $900 (with PI2AES) on my word alone. SBAF has a treasure trove of information on your current components and on components that you might upgrade to. My technique is to read reviews on my current components, to shop for upgrades and then read those reviews, looking at how upgrade candidates work with and are different to my current components.

    Good Luck and Enjoy
     
  10. Jigitz

    Jigitz New

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    Hey Everyone - Long time lurker first time poster :)

    I have been in the hifi headphone game a little but now and am looking to up my speaker game in a big way and have some questions on the gear:

    I am open top opinions! This system will be 70% used for movies and TV and 30% for music...
    • Kef R11 - L/R
    • Kef RC2 - Center
    • No sub - I’ve been reading that the R11’s have very good base response. I think I will add one later but its a the part I can do down the road.
    • Upgrading to Marantz 5014 Receiver
      • Q: I was also looking at the Yamaha 2080 or Dennon x3600h - would these make a big difference? I know some of this is down to personal preference in sound.
    • Adding in one of the following 3 Channel Ampliers:
      • Emotiva XPA - Gen 3 - 275w Per Channel
      • Schiit Vidar Mono Blocks - 400w Per Channel (in mono)
      • Are there other better or equal options? I can’t seem to find many 3 channel amps. Do I even need to amp the R2c?
    Any thoughts on the proper AVR and Amplifier I should be using or suggestions on other tweeks?

    Thanks!
     
  11. Dash

    Dash Friend

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    Ok, I think I have settled into the Hd6x0 and Elex.

    Current chain is Modi 3>Asgard 3>Elex or HD 6x0.

    Would I get more value by upgrading to a bifrost 2 or upgrading the amp. Budget is around 600.
     
  12. Ice-man

    Ice-man Friend

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    If one were looking to get the current edition of the hd650 (with the cosmetic changes/new look) where can these be had for the best price besides Sennheiser USA at $500. Is amazon selling the current version or the older one?
     
  13. scblock

    scblock Friend

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    I bought a pair off Amazon last fall (shipped and sold by) and it was the new version. Of course since it's Amazon nothing is guaranteed. It looks like it’s gone up in price since then though, $370 now.
     
  14. MichaeLeroy

    MichaeLeroy Almost "Made"

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    @Ice-man, strange I bought the new style (Romanian made) HD650s for $370 from B&H a couple of months ago, now the HD650s are back to $500.

    Sweetwater has them for $400. I imagine that one of their sales engineers would be able to tell you which version it is that they have. I'd go Sweetwater over Amazon even at a slight price premium.
     
  15. MichaeLeroy

    MichaeLeroy Almost "Made"

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    If you want me to tell you to get the Bifrost 2, get the Bifrost 2 ;)

    More seriously, I've never heard the Asgard 3, but a quick look at its thread here shows it to be an impressive, high value, amp. This suggests that, unless there is something lacking in your system that you believe is caused by the Asgard, an up to $600 amp might actually be a side- or even a downgrade rather than an upgrade. But you know your current system, listening preferences and expectations better than anyone else. Pick a few alternatives, check out SBAF threads for amps in your price bracket and get a sense of what you can expect from a new amp.
     
  16. crenca

    crenca Friend

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    I wanted to verify that the XLR>RCA out 1:1 Jensen transformer folks are using from their Yggdrasil/GunMB balanced out into their single ended pres/amps is this, the "PI-2XR":


    https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/prod...ers_pi_2xr_line_input_isolator_2_channel.html


    And not the "PC-2XR" :

    https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/prod...o_to_consumer_4_10db_converter_2_channel.html

    Which attenuates the signal, or some other model. Also, is there some other manufacture I should be looking at? I want the best of the best of the best.... without having to sell my firstborn that is ;)

    Edit: missed this thread on my search before posting:

    https://www.superbestaudiofriends.org/index.php?threads/wtb-jensen-isomax-pc-2xr.7336/

    soooo, a "PO-2XR", apparently a custom order, has a bit better linearity in the bass, but less noise rejection (from external RFI and the like) if you use case needs it...
     
    Last edited: May 18, 2020
  17. saint.panda

    saint.panda Friend

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    Would appreciate advice on how to best compare 2 DACs with the DNA Stellaris. I can feed both DACs via AES from the Rednet and switch between them digitally. Is there an elegant solution to taking the balanced signal from both DACs to the one balanced input of the Stellaris without having to switch cables?
     
  18. lagadu

    lagadu Facebook Friend

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  19. gixxerwimp

    gixxerwimp Professional tricycle rider

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  20. gixxerwimp

    gixxerwimp Professional tricycle rider

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    The model numbers printed on the facepate looked the same (without "-IN/OUT"), but I stand corrected.
    So order the "3-IN-1-OUT" model for your purposes, @saint.panda

    Edit: Or there's the fancy w/ pre-amp option that can be seen in @atomicbob's latest synergistic system: Goldpoint SA2X
     
    Last edited: May 23, 2020
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