1.     Don't be a dotard!
    Read these "rules" AND introduce
    yourself     before your first post
  2. A healthy approach to understanding measurements
    Being true to what the artists intended
  3. After being asked for the 308th time, Merv lists top 5 headphones
    (opinion / entertainment piece)
    Dismiss Notice
  4. $1000 to the first to design a headamp using discrete components with better measurements than Magni 3+
    Dismiss Notice
IMPORTANT: New Members Read This Don't Be a Measurement Fascist Merv's Top 5 Headphones - 2023 Edition $1000 Challenge
ckhirnigs
Last Activity:
Jun 30, 2025 at 4:05 PM
Joined:
Jul 27, 2020
Messages:
186
Trophy Points:
93
Positive ratings received:
943
Neutral ratings received:
0
Negative ratings received:
0

Post Ratings

Received: Given:
Like 849 578
Dislike 0 0
Respectfully Disagree 0 0
heart 24 5
Miss Information 0 0
Epic 30 43
Agreed, ditto, +1 40 45

Following 2

  1. Carlos CPA
  2. ogodei

Followers 1

  1. Darkstar1
Gender:
Male
Location:
Alabama

Share This Page

ckhirnigs

Friend, Male, from Alabama

Pyrate Contributor

Any news on a possible Caldera Closed loaner? I’m very intrigued by this latest creation from Zach. Nov 12, 2024

ckhirnigs was last seen:
Viewing latest content, Jun 30, 2025 at 4:05 PM
    1. ckhirnigs
      ckhirnigs
      Any news on a possible Caldera Closed loaner? I’m very intrigued by this latest creation from Zach.
      Nov 12, 2024
      1. yotacowboy, RestoredSparda, gaspasser and 5 others like this.
    2. ckhirnigs
      ckhirnigs
      Hot take: Atrium Closed sounds better on the SW51+ high-Z out than the MJ3 XLR out. *Both fed from Yggdrasil A2.
      Feb 12, 2024
      1. penguins, ilikebananafudge_, joch and 1 other person like this.
      2. View previous comments...
      3. ckhirnigs
        ckhirnigs
        The Atrium Open comes stock with mesh installed. The Atrium Closed comes stock with no mesh. Only reason to add mesh to the AC is if you want to bring down the treble.
        Feb 13, 2024
      4. ChaChaRealSmooth
        ChaChaRealSmooth
        I see that I completely missed the "Closed" part of the post lol. Anyhow, still didn't realize Atrium Closed didn't come with mesh.
        Feb 13, 2024
        crenca likes this.
      5. crenca
        crenca
        I missed it as well, so you know, great audio friends think alike...
        Feb 13, 2024
        ckhirnigs likes this.
    3. ckhirnigs
      ckhirnigs
      Plugged in my old Mod House Argon MK2 into MJ3 tonight out of curiosity. These things sound great! Didn’t know they could scale like this.
      Feb 10, 2024
      1. atomicbob, gsanger, Simple Tim and 6 others like this.
    4. ckhirnigs
      ckhirnigs
      @zach915m has outdone himself again! I love my new Ash Atrium Closed and will try to post a few pictures and initial impressions soon.
      Jan 3, 2024
      1. Cryptowolf, zach915m, jexby and 11 others like this.
    5. ckhirnigs
      ckhirnigs
      Sold my D8000 Saturday and placed my order for an Ash Atrium Closed Sunday. Hope I made the right decision!
      Dec 11, 2023
      1. RestoredSparda, dubharmonic, abraxas666 and 5 others like this.
    6. ckhirnigs
      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.
    7. Pharmaboy
      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.
    8. ckhirnigs
      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
        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
        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
        ckhirnigs
        $2699.95, yikes! No thanks.
        Sep 7, 2023
        Thad E Ginathom likes this.
    9. ckhirnigs
      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
        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
    10. ckhirnigs
      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
        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
        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.
    11. ckhirnigs
      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
        dubharmonic
        Same here! They sound great, too.
        Jul 22, 2023
        jexby and ckhirnigs like this.
    12. ckhirnigs
      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
        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
        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
      5. ColdsnapBry
        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.
    13. ckhirnigs
      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.
    14. ckhirnigs
      ckhirnigs
      Dec 27, 2022
      1. Jinxy245, Azimuth, nishan99 and 7 others like this.
      2. LetMeBeFrank
        LetMeBeFrank
        Jim Croce is great!
        Dec 27, 2022
        Jinxy245 and ckhirnigs like this.
      3. Azimuth
        Azimuth
        Somebody is pulling on Superman's cape.
        Dec 27, 2022
        Jinxy245, Qildail and ckhirnigs like this.
    15. ckhirnigs
      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
        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
        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
        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.
    16. ckhirnigs
      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
        rhythmdevils
        That sucks man. I hope you can get it fixed soon.
        Nov 3, 2022
      4. ckhirnigs
        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
        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.
    17. ckhirnigs
      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
        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
        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
        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.
    18. ckhirnigs
      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
        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
        rhythmdevils
        Go orthos!
        Jul 7, 2022
        ckhirnigs likes this.
      4. MisterRogers
        MisterRogers
        Jul 7, 2022
        jexby likes this.
    19. ckhirnigs
      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
        loadexfa
        Dang, two were available in the same month?! Haha, wow.
        Nov 18, 2021
        ckhirnigs likes this.
      4. ckhirnigs
        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
        loadexfa
        Yup, I have a couple that I will be selling in the near future. This hobby...
        Nov 18, 2021
        ckhirnigs likes this.
    20. ckhirnigs
      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
        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
        Merrick
        Oops, sorry to hear about the BF2!
        May 20, 2021
      4. ckhirnigs
        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
    Page 1 of 2
  • Loading...
  • Loading...

  • About

    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Alabama
    Gear List:
    DAC:
    Schiit Yggdrasil A2

    Amps:
    Schiit Mjolnir 3
    ZMF Aegis

    Headphones:
    Meze Elite
    ZMF Atrium Closed
    ZMF Auteur
    Mod House Argon MK2

    Interact

    Content: