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IMPORTANT: New Members Read This Don't Be a Measurement Fascist Merv's Top 5 Headphones - 2023 Edition $1000 Challenge

Last Activity:: Dec 1, 2023 at 11:58 AM

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ckhirnigs

Almost "Made", Male, from Alabama

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Not sure how, but Yggdrasil A2 has somehow made the SW51+ a good match with my Meze Elite. With BF2, I wasn’t a fan. DACs do make a difference! Sep 15, 2023

ckhirnigs was last seen:: Viewing thread ZMF Caldera Review and Impressions, Dec 1, 2023 at 11:58 AM

1. ckhirnigs
  Not sure how, but Yggdrasil A2 has somehow made the SW51+ a good match with my Meze Elite. With BF2, I wasn’t a fan. DACs do make a difference!
  
  Sep 15, 2023
  1. Cryptowolf, Jinxy245, gsanger and 6 others like this.
2. Pharmaboy
  Just placed my order for this reissue. I love the V281 and don't want my good thing to ever stop.
  
  Sep 8, 2023
  1. ckhirnigs likes this.
3. ckhirnigs
  Just found out Violectric is going to reissue the V281. Only change is upgraded reed relays for volume control.
  
  Sep 6, 2023
  1. Cryptowolf, Jinxy245, Tchoupitoulas and 2 others like this.
  2. View previous comments...
  3. Tchoupitoulas
    I own the V281 and like it very much with the A2 Yggdrasil & my old Verite open. It wasn’t too warm and it opened up the headstage nicely while providing good resolution, decent (but not outstanding) dynamics, and making for a lighter, more nimble sound than my tube amps. I prefer it to the Phonitor X, it has more character and engagement, but it’s by no means good with all headphones.
    
    Sep 7, 2023
    
    Riotvan and ckhirnigs like this.
  4. Riotvan
    Perhaps my view was jaded too much by my experience of the warmpoo V200. I’ve come to the source, headphones/speakers first camp. My amps need to be neutral, no color of their own so not sterile either. Phonitor is perfect for my tastes with Clear and HD6xx series, also using Yggdrasil OG.
    
    Sep 7, 2023
    
    Tchoupitoulas likes this.
  5. ckhirnigs
    $2699.95, yikes! No thanks.
    
    Sep 7, 2023
    
    Thad E Ginathom likes this.
4. ckhirnigs
  Addition of Yggdrasil A2 has made SW51+/OG Auteur combo very enticing again. Nice contrast to iHA-6/Meze Elite.
  
  Aug 28, 2023
  1. CEE TEE, Jinxy245, Qildail and 9 others like this.
  2. ckhirnigs
    Yep, high-Z out of SW51+ with OG Auteur and Yggdrasil A2 = magical synergy! Not sure if the 2K Copper cable contributes, but it sure looks handsome!
    
    Aug 30, 2023
5. ckhirnigs
  Is it pretty easy to ship internationally using PirateShip? I’d be shipping an amp from the US to New Zealand if that matters.
  
  Jul 26, 2023
  2. CEE TEE
    Should be. I use a similar service. You will need to know the HTS code for customs paperwork. 8518.40.20 00 or 85185000 for amps. PirateShip should ask you declaration questions and then make you forms to print out. 3 copies that you have to sign and put in a ziplock clear envelope + attach in addition to the shipping label.
    
    Jul 27, 2023
    
    ckhirnigs likes this.
  3. ckhirnigs
    Thanks @CEE TEE. I worried about all the customs stuff, but you’ve given me the info I needed. I feel less overwhelmed now.
    
    Jul 27, 2023
    
    CEE TEE likes this.
6. ckhirnigs
  Digging the new Alcantara Angled pads on my Meze Elite. They give my big ears plenty of space.
  
  Jul 22, 2023
  1. Jinxy245, jexby and dubharmonic like this.
  2. dubharmonic
    Same here! They sound great, too.
    
    Jul 22, 2023
    
    jexby and ckhirnigs like this.
7. ckhirnigs
  Took a risk and bought a relatively unknown “high-end” solid-state amp, the Cen.Grand 9i-806 “Little Silver Fox”.
  
  Jul 10, 2023
  1. Cryptowolf, zottel, Sqveak and 3 others like this.
  2. View previous comments...
  3. Ksaurav402
    Get a good tube preamp as well to add some flavor when in that kind of mood
    
    Jul 10, 2023
    
    Jinxy245 and ckhirnigs like this.
  4. ckhirnigs
    I think I may be done with tubes except for my SW51+. I don’t know if I can bring myself to sell that one. I recall reading you can technically use it as a preamp from the low impedance output. Might try that one day.
    
    Jul 10, 2023
    
    ColdsnapBry, Cryptowolf, Jinxy245 and 2 others like this.
  5. ColdsnapBry
    Same, I'm done with tubes - never getting back into it. But I look at my SW51+ and I can't bring myself to get rid of it.
    
    Jul 11, 2023
    
    ckhirnigs likes this.
8. ckhirnigs
  Loaner Auteur Classic finally on my ears. Imaging and soundstage size are the standout improvements vs my OG Auteur so far. Good stuff!
  
  Apr 10, 2023
  1. Cryptowolf, Jinxy245, Philimon and 3 others like this.
9. ckhirnigs
  @Poimandres Sweet avatar! That is all.
  
  Dec 27, 2022
  1. Jinxy245, Azimuth, nishan99 and 7 others like this.
  2. LetMeBeFrank
    Jim Croce is great!
    
    Dec 27, 2022
    
    Jinxy245 and ckhirnigs like this.
  3. Azimuth
    Somebody is pulling on Superman's cape.
    
    Dec 27, 2022
    
    Jinxy245, Qildail and ckhirnigs like this.
10. ckhirnigs
  Saw someone on Head-Fi mention there was an ECP DSHA-4F in the works with more power for driving planars than the 3F. Is this true?
  
  Nov 16, 2022
  2. View previous comments...
  3. Azimuth
    NITSCH is working on a 3F. It is on his website already. Not sure it will have more power.
    
    Nov 17, 2022
    
    Jinxy245 and Cryptowolf like this.
  4. ckhirnigs
    My understanding is that the Nitsch "3FN" circuit should be nearly identical to the original 3F except for the added RCA input. Don't think the power output is changing.
    
    Nov 17, 2022
    
    Cryptowolf and Azimuth like this.
  5. dsavitsk
    3FN is essentially the same as the old 3F. A more powerful amp with a similar-ish topology is something that has been built on breadboard, but moving from experiment to manufacturing is a huge step. It is not something that is specifically in the works as of right now.
    
    Nov 17, 2022
    
    dubharmonic, 9suns, obsiCO and 11 others like this.
11. ckhirnigs
  Finally found my favorite EL84s in my Quicksilver, and within a week one of them blew up and took out the left channel of my amp with it.
  
  Nov 3, 2022
  1. rhythmdevils and Gazny like this.
  2. View previous comments...
  3. rhythmdevils
    That sucks man. I hope you can get it fixed soon.
    
    Nov 3, 2022
    
    Cryptowolf, ckhirnigs and Thad E Ginathom like this.
  4. ckhirnigs
    It’s on the way to Mike at Quicksilver. Hoping for a quick and cheap fix. I’m not sure if it’ll be under warranty since a bad tube is to blame, and it wasn’t the stock tube that came with the amp.
    
    Nov 4, 2022
    
    Cryptowolf, Jinxy245 and rhythmdevils like this.
  5. ckhirnigs
    My Quicksilver is back home and sounding as great as ever. Mike didn’t charge me for the repair or the return shipping. Color me impressed!
    
    Nov 15, 2022
    
    Ksorota likes this.
12. ckhirnigs
  Will tube damper rings help with a long plate 12AX7 that makes a little noise from time to time? A slight tap usually gets rid of the noise.
  
  Aug 6, 2022
  2. View previous comments...
  3. Azimuth
    That might be the pins. Might need to clean and restraighten. And then retention the socket.
    
    Aug 8, 2022
    
    ckhirnigs likes this.
  4. ckhirnigs
    @Azimuth I cleaned the pins with Deoxit before installing them the first time. I'll check for slightly bent pins if I have any more issues. Thanks for the tips.
    
    Aug 8, 2022
  5. Azimuth
    It might be from your tube socket then to tighten up those pins. Just bend them from the sides to the middle.
    
    Aug 8, 2022
    
    ckhirnigs likes this.
13. ckhirnigs
  Did a casual comparison between my new Meze Elite and ZMF Auteur. Hate to say it, but the Auteur got trounced! Not really a fair fight…
  
  Jul 6, 2022
  1. Jinxy245, Gazny and rhythmdevils like this.
  2. ckhirnigs
    $4K planar vs sub-$2K dynamic, but the Auteur has been my favorite for a while now. Didn’t expect to clearly favor the Elite.
    
    Jul 6, 2022
    
    rhythmdevils likes this.
  3. rhythmdevils
    Go orthos!
    
    Jul 7, 2022
    
    ckhirnigs likes this.
  4. MisterRogers
    @jexby :-)
    
    Jul 7, 2022
    
    jexby likes this.
14. ckhirnigs
  I successfully resisted buying @MisterRogers Blackwood Auteur last week but couldn’t survive the second test of my willpower.
  
  Nov 18, 2021
  1. Jinxy245, Vtory, Qildail and 1 other person like this.
  2. View previous comments...
  3. loadexfa
    Dang, two were available in the same month?! Haha, wow.
    
    Nov 18, 2021
    
    ckhirnigs likes this.
  4. ckhirnigs
    Yeah, what are the odds?! I needed another headphone like a hole in the head. Something will have to go after I’ve spent some time comparing them all.
    
    Nov 18, 2021
    
    loadexfa likes this.
  5. loadexfa
    Yup, I have a couple that I will be selling in the near future. This hobby...
    
    Nov 18, 2021
    
    ckhirnigs likes this.
15. ckhirnigs
  I finally have the SW51+ and Quicksilver Headphone amp in the house. As fate would have it, my Bifrost 2 died before I got to listen. Swell.
  
  May 20, 2021
  1. Merrick and Gazny like this.
  2. ckhirnigs
    My Bifrost 2 is currently at Schiit's facility, but they are waiting on parts to complete the repairs.
    
    May 20, 2021
    
    Jinxy245 likes this.
  3. Merrick
    Oops, sorry to hear about the BF2!
    
    May 20, 2021
  4. ckhirnigs
    I thought it would be a quick turnaround, but their site estimates new BF2’s to ship in 4-6 weeks. That doesn’t bode well for a speedy repair.
    
    May 20, 2021
16. ckhirnigs
  Came home after a terrible week to find my new-to-me SW51+ waiting for me to unpack. It doesn’t disappoint hooked up to my Bifrost 2 & VC.
  
  May 3, 2021
  1. obsiCO, Syzygy, Merrick and 10 others like this.
  2. View previous comments...
  3. ckhirnigs
    It's hard to go wrong with a setup composed entirely of Golden Schlong Award winners!
    
    May 4, 2021
  4. Merrick
    You’ve been waiting on that amp for a while! Looking forward to more detailed impressions.
    
    May 4, 2021
  5. ckhirnigs
    @Merrick I have indeed! I’m going to listen for a while before posting more. As you may recall, I’m also waiting on a Quicksilver Headphone Amp. I really want to compare these two and see which one I like more.
    
    May 4, 2021
    
    Merrick likes this.
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About

Gender:

Male

Location:

Alabama

Gear List:

DAC:
Schiit Bifrost 2

Amps:
Quicksilver Headphone Amp
SW51+
Cayin iHA-6

Headphones:
Meze Elite
ZMF Auteur
Mod House Argon MK2
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