DNA Starlett Impressions

Discussion in 'Headphone Amplifiers and Combo (DAC/Amp) Units' started by ChaChaRealSmooth, Sep 27, 2019.

  1. sphinxvc

    sphinxvc Gear Master (retired)

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    I've a third cheap suggestion, EQ. I didn't realize gear cycling for minor tonal changes was still a thing.

    I'm also perplexed to hear that Jensens are considered corrective for gimping.
     
  2. dncnexus

    dncnexus Friend

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    Just submitted my order for the Starlett! Now the long 6 month wait until I get it, excited to be a part of the club!
     
  3. gaspasser

    gaspasser Flatulence Maestro

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    Out of curiosity, what pads are you using on your VO?
     
  4. YMO

    YMO Chief Fun Officer

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    That LD transport isn't going to last forever. Last thing I want is to have @ColtMrFire have no tunes due to his transport is having mech issues. It is going to happen one day, and it is very very wise to start planning for it now. As we all get older/fatter, it is going to be more of a challenge to get a good CD Transport that isn't built like shit.

    I was also the hardcore CD Transport type of guy, until I realized that we are heading full digital streaming. And like it or not, that's the path people are heading into. Not too many of us are buying new CDs, and more are just doing streaming either with Qobuz/Tidal or hard drive streaming.

    So once again, @ColtMrFire don't have your head in the sand. A PI setup isn't really that hard, and gives you more avenues to get moar music. Also, easier to have stuff on your hard drive then keep burning music onto CD-Rs.
     
  5. lagadu

    lagadu Facebook Friend

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    Be2 pads. Before I had those I preferred the vérité pads over the universe ones. Maybe it's not relevant but my VO is a cocobolo version.
     
  6. RobS

    RobS RobS? More like RobDiarrhea.

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    You can EQ out Yggdrasil A2's amber glowing timbral warmth? Let me know cause that will save me a lot of trouble.
     
  7. gaspasser

    gaspasser Flatulence Maestro

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    This all relevant since Colt has silkwood VO’s. He needs to change pads or headphones or amp to fix the problem.

    Edit: I realize alot of my posts here come off dickish. I would assume since this is the Starlett thread that changing amps is out of the question. However, it is all about matching parts of the chain. Yes, you can throw big $ at the problem with a DAC change. I hope it works, however I suspect he like me has a slowly growing dissatisfaction with VO. I’m trying to be helpful and if someone doesn’t want it that’s cool.

    I previously had Ziricote VO and I needed BE2 pads to fix a similar issue.

    Edited out dickish remark.
     
    Last edited: Jul 2, 2020
  8. ColtMrFire

    ColtMrFire Writes better fan fics than you

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    It's not really about having ones head in the sand. Getting a Pi2 setup is simple enough for me to cross that bridge if/when I come to it. I'm not worried about that right now. Unison/usb is still a fine short term solution if something happens. For now my hundreds of CDs leave me plenty of musical options. Streaming isn't going anywhere.
     
  9. sphinxvc

    sphinxvc Gear Master (retired)

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    Man, you're going to make me break some kind of record. 4 posts in 48 hours is far too much for me. But here goes:

    If you're listening on speakers, EQ isn't going to help you, your equalization won't translate off-axis. But it's completely viable on headphones where you don't have to contend with reflections. You can do it in whatever domain suits your nervosa. Changing your frequency response will affect a number of perceived effects, including "incisiveness", temperature, etc. It's a less expensive alternative than changing out what is a fine, cheap and neutral enough DAC.

    --

    On a sidenote, I find it creepy and unnecessary to ask @ColtMrFire to change his sources. It's his business. What if he has a huge CD collection? Why wouldn't he use a transport, because it's old? Does he have to wear skinny jeans too?

    I've a tuner now with a DIY FM antenna, 15khz response limit. :drunk:
     
    Last edited: Jul 2, 2020
  10. ColtMrFire

    ColtMrFire Writes better fan fics than you

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    Don't me wrong, I appreciate your opinion, but everybody's got one. Give your advice, leave it be, and just move on instead of getting all weirdly passive aggressive if people don't "side with you". This is like school yard silliness man. I'm telling you this because you seem like a good enough poster that probably just needs to get some perspective.
     
  11. RobS

    RobS RobS? More like RobDiarrhea.

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    Yeah if the LD still works, keep using it man. You can cross that bridge when you come to it, like you said.

    Yes I listen on speakers, I just don't see how EQ can fix timbre issues. Tonality related to FR, sure, EQ is an easy fix. I had this problem a few months ago when I'd read other audiophiles say x gear has "warmth", ok does that mean a mid-bass bump or related to timbre?

    What if you have a timbral orange warmth like with Aegir? I don't see how you can fix that via EQ. Just buy a different amp.
     
  12. ColtMrFire

    ColtMrFire Writes better fan fics than you

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    Thanks. Yeah, there is a reason I don't post here as often anymore... it's actually happened on every forum I've ever joined and it sucks. Strawmen start creeping into the place like some kind of zombie takeover and I check out. I still dig sbaf and think there's plenty of good content, but I don't wanna get into these weird passive aggressive spats every time I post what amounts to something so simple.
     
  13. gaspasser

    gaspasser Flatulence Maestro

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    I was editing my above post. Sorry (not sorry) for being a dick. I’ve been where you are and I went through the same problems and I hate to see people make my same dumb mistakes.
     
    Last edited: Jul 2, 2020
  14. YMO

    YMO Chief Fun Officer

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    If you actually read my post, I said do both. I never said ditch your LD Transport. I only said due to the age of your transport it might be wise to get your second option. On my end I get slightly better performance using PI2AES as a transport than Unison USB.

    For example, on my Main Setup I do both. I have this big-ass Pioneer CD/DVD Transport in my shelf.

    I only can say to please reread what I said previously in this thread.
     
  15. ColtMrFire

    ColtMrFire Writes better fan fics than you

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    No, I know what you wrote. And I said I don't need a second option.
     
  16. ChaChaRealSmooth

    ChaChaRealSmooth SBAF's Mr. Bean

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    Let @ColtMrFire run whatever source he wants even if he wants to run a turntable through a ADC and back through a DAC (this is obviously madness and I'd expect SBAF to call him it if this were the case, but it's a CD player, come on guys).

    To add another point to the question about DACs originally asked, @ColtMrFire it might just be worth sticking with the Schiit stuff if you're already familiar and like the timbre of the Bifrost 2. If all you're looking for is a tonal shift after all....
     
  17. crenca

    crenca Friend

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    As someone who has a Starlett on order, and is currently running Roon/JRiver (with EQ) > Gun MB A2 > Asgard 3 > VC in the meantime (and BW2 before that), I have read these responses with interest. As far as EQ, in my opinion the VC and ZMF's in general are somewhat resistant to EQ. Focal's for example take to it much more readily. Not to say it's not helpful, but I can see how @ColtMrFire's goal might be beyond it.

    As far as pads, Verite pads certainly take it in the direction he wants to go, but I agree that they also change the staging character quite a bit, and turn it into a more "normal" HP overall. I think Zac is right when he says that Suede Universe pads push the HP towards neutral, so @ColtMrFire might try them if he has not already.
     
  18. Ntbm3

    Ntbm3 Friend

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    Can't we just all get along? Here is a glamor shot to remind us what a nice looking amp the Starlett is!

    [​IMG]

    Regarding sources I realized that no one DAC will match my mood/music of the day so I have 3 hooked up with the Pi2AES and fed into my Freya S so I can simply bounce around to find my prefered combo at that moment.

    Having options works best for me :)

    But... I spend most of my time listening to my SFD-1 MKII.
     
    Last edited: Sep 24, 2020
  19. YMO

    YMO Chief Fun Officer

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    Interesting. How would having the Freya S would work with that Preamp volume knob. Last thing I need is all that extra gain and quality loss with a Pre in the chain.
     
  20. Ntbm3

    Ntbm3 Friend

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    If anything I am ensuring the 'best' output of each DAC into the Freya S... balanced out on my Gungnir and SFD1 MKII and converted with the Freya to SE for the Starlett.

    I also can also pick whatever volume output on the Starlett and output mode of the Freya S. Currently enjoy 4x on the Freya which gives a bit more dynamics with the Starlett at ~9 volume.

    The amount of tweaking is great! never bored or feeling of being 'stuck' in my setup.

    The Freya S was a game changer for me.
     

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