e.schell

I had the previous gen X5 3rd Gen. Warmer sound, does a lot of things but master of none. Buggy software, which is nothing new with Chi-Fi. I would bet a Chinese region ZX300 will blow the M11 out of the water.

It's like this, do you want more features like streaming, youtube, video games which you can play on the M11? Or you just want a pure DAP?

I would like the ability to cache albums from Tidal as I've gotten accustomed to that on my phone, but the sound quality of a zx2/zx300 is probably quite a bit better. Have some time to think on it between now and when the JVC HA-FDX1 is dropped and shipped. Plan on that being my mobile/work system. Thanks for the info!

@k4rstar Of those newer models you listed, will the marantz or cambridge significantly outperform the Onkyo as transports only? Asking since the price difference is significant.

Never compared them directly so couldn’t really say. They all use the same Sanyo mechanism found in most modern CD players. However the Cambridge is designed with a singular function in mind which is to act as a transport and has their own servo tech found in their top of the line player. It’s probably the best on transport duty.

FWIW famish99 has it hooked up to Gungnir Multibit A1/Aficionado and I thought it sounded great, but I have no frame of reference, since I have not heard Af hooked up to any other transport.

These days 90% of my listening is done with Clears, that will be my main focus when comparing these amps.

My Gungnir Multibit/LP/HD650 setup has kept me smiling for months now. No desire to alter anything. At all.

If you're trying to inject a little speed and athleticism into the setup, look elsewhere; the LP is even more laid-back than the Lyr 3. That being said, I think the LP has superior timbre and stage.

I splash?

https://unsplash.com/

Tool and Mars Volta making new music? Imagine that even the Black Eyed Peas made a good album this year. 2019 has been full of pleasant surprises in music.

Gungnir Multibit + Lyr3 (sylvania) + Clears is an addictive combo still for me. ZDT Jr. is great as well but with Clears i feel there is a bit of a bass boost (guessing it's caused by OI even on low output). Depending on mood and what I'm listening to I feel both of these amps fit into my system well. Would still absolutely LOVE to hear a DSHA-3F before saving up to buy one, but thinking that's where I'm headed.

I always knew these things were tiny but until I actually held one it never clicked... really pretty amazing. Looks almost silly sitting between my Gungnir Multibit and Lyr3. hah

I’ve used a Vali 2 on top of a Yggdrasil, that looks ridiculous!

@Elnrik : Vali can only fall so far - as Mrsdegraded's friend told her the other day, the reason old men take Viagra is to stop themselves falling out of bed.

Used Periodic Be (with or without mods)? Modded HSE A2000?

Been using a HifiWalker A2 ever since the cables on the Fostex TE-02n started failing; very solidly built. All of @james444 ‘s budget recommendations are the real deal.

The Pinnacle PX needs quote a bit of power to get sound good.

Look at the two e's.. Hanging out, shootin' the shit

Did you receive an honorable dislike from JK47? If not that is a thing here. Sometimes you earn them, sometimes only he knows.

^correct

Morphine > Clears. Haha

Hope you're feeling okay.

Pretty sure I typed Gungnir Multibit, did it auto correct to Gungnir Multibit when it posts? hah

Okay mystery solved!

If we still lived in the wild west, these same high end cable guys would travel from town to town in wagons, selling an elixir that will " give you the strength of 1000 men!"

Sounds like Viagra.

@skem "I really wish there were a way to punish these scam companies"

It has been done. The UK Trading Standards folks prosecuted a cable company for unsubstantiated claims. But afterwards, they probably went on selling the same thing with different words.

Maybe it's just me being paranoid, but I always let all of my amps warm up for at least a minute before I plug headphones into them. Volume off, unplug headphones, power down amp is the reverse procedure I use. I've been doing that for years.

@jexby : DC coupled amps (any vendor) have always given me pause during power up before servos have stabilized. Formed the habit of waiting several minutes prior to connecting and now it is routine in my lab. There may be no reason to worry, especially with amps employing protection relays. But I'm set in my habits.

I’m also cautious and turn on amps before plugging in my headphones, then unplug my headphones before turning off the amp. It may be unnecessary in most cases, but it’s two seconds out of each listening session and saves me a ton of money if it was useful even just one time.

My only concern is OI. With Utopia, my DSHA-1 created a pretty significant bass boost, too much IMO. Will be similar for Clear if OI of BD is high. DSHA-1 low gain is ~20 Ohm and high gain something like 90 Ohm.

That BD gets not enough respect, it is a great amp. The BD doesn't have that bass bump the DSHA-1 had...

Thanks! Does anyone happen to know the OI of the BD?

This may make me sound clueless but after having a week old pair of Clears have to be replaced I'm trying to figure out why and how to avoid it happening again. Someone more knowledgeable than i says the Lyr 3 could have been the cause...

I do remember reading that somewhere. I don't know if it was validated and it wasn't repeated as far as I know. There was a smoking amp issue in the Loaner program, but I think it finished the tour in one piece (unless it's still ongoing & the thread is dead)

https://www.superbestaudiofriends.org/index.php?threads/lyr-3-discussion-thread.5946/page-48#post-224217

I have the opposite problem. The courier delivers when I'm not expecting stuff (tracking lag) and asks the wife to sign since I'm not there. She has no clue I'm buying stuff :)

@JK47 just a quiet "delivery attempt" in the tracking updates, despite me being home at the time.

Holy Shit 12 days! I'd be ripping my hair out thinking anything that could have gone wrong did... after they ran it over with a delivery truck they just threw what was left in a ditch and i would never see it! Clear arrived this morning and man i am happy..these are going to be around for a long time.will be saving for a big boy amp to pair with them... DSHA-3F on short list