Inoculator

@Woland I didn't know the Pi4 could could take USB input. Are there any writeups for setting this up? Also can you comment on sound quality?

@kee7a The input is via the "Raspberry Pi 4 USB Gadget" so you'll find writeups by googling for that. Sound was as good as any other cabled connection and it was an easy way to upsample the regular sources (flac, tidal) with the addition of less friendly sources (spotify, youtube, games..)

By friendly, I mostly mean compatible with DSP on Roon, Audirvana etc.

What does "first" mean? Does it mean spend the most money on it, be the most "stable" on it, or be the least "stable" putting most energy into finding the "one".

@purr1n I suppose I was getting at what overall can have the largest impact on how your chain sounds and its overall character, and in turns what it makes sense to invest in and build around. That being said, obviously synergy of the chain is actually what matters most.

That's both easy and hard to answer, and it depends upon where you are at.

Indeed congrats and best of luck!

Mazel tov!

Congratulations! Have fun with it.

Marv does not think so, and I read most others agreeing on the comparison thread(s).

@crenca Thanks! I need to re-read those threads. Guess Sys it is

@rhythmdevils I will try to check it out. F7 is no tone slouch, and technically very proficient, but with the LS3/5A it just lacks the heft/body of the Sugden.

Ahh, yeah I don't know about that and if it would be better than the F7 but I much preferred the Aleph J to the F7 I heard. Both DIY versions, but still. The Aleph J is maybe the best solid state amp I've ever heard, just gorgeous in every way.

I think the official versions are quite rare, even the DIY versions are hard to come by, but if you can find a good build they're not too expensive.

@Boops Caught the prices in this article, $3950 a pair for the micr/o, ouch: https://www.hifipig.com/devore-fidelity-orangutan-o-baby-and-micr-o/

Wow. I guess I am not buying a pair of these just to try out on a lark. That price puts them in kind of a no-mans-land for what they are and who they are for no?

JBL L19 is a really good sounding cheap smallish bookshelf, but maybe wouldn't fit into a shelf

I did this, costs about $400 and I put a surge protector at my power box so I can go straight into the outlets. Well worth the cash.

@ColdsnapBry good call. I scored and because there is a subpanel right nearby, so dude said no problem, throwing it in for free. Granted, spending quite a bit with him for backyard remodel circuits.

Throw in a big isolation transformer while you are at it.

So what's the wait on the Stratus?

@insidious meme 12-15 months, so I figured I better jump in line. Have lots more time to enjoy the Starlett.

Want a starlett still bad. Best thing I ever heard with just my moldy HD6xx stock. That 120 ohm output is magic stuff.

HD580 (this one being a black paper/flat plate) is quickly becoming a very special headphone to me, and has replaced HD 600 marble/silver screen as my reference. Paired with the Starlett it is truly remarkable. I look forward to listening to this pairing more than just about any of my other gear.

Look at DG recordings. There will be some lovely renditions.

@SoupRKnowva I had wanted the Lenovo P44w or Y44w, but seems everything is 49" these days. At one point lenovo/samsung/Asus all had some out (probably all variations of the same samsung panel). Will have to settle for a used one I guess.

There is an acer (aopen?) 43" uw and a spectre one on amazon idk about others ;/ 43XV1C PWMIIPHX or E448B-FSN168 both 3840x1080 samsung C43J890 is 3840x1280

I ran a 34” but switched over to a 38” and am very happy. If this is for work, the 38” is nice because the extra vertical resolution really matters with documents up side by side (1600px vs 1440px). I use a Dell U3818DW.

What’s the price of it? Doesn’t seem to be listed on the website…

@rlow I think the Starlett is still $2k, I bought used for a bit less than that. Current wait time is a year for a new one.

One of the best amps I've demoed. Maybe best

The Senn bros club is growing every day!

I got to hear this amp for a while still my plan to own one. Loved every second of it.

The flesh is weak but the ears are happy.

Yeah, they're my current favorite.

I've bought OCC copper cables from every non rip off artist I can think of and his Claire HPC mk2 is the best sounding cable on the market IMO. Actually better than his Noir and with better ergonomics too (no big splitter). You should try a Claire! I've got so many of them around, one for every Audeze...

I appreciate the tip on the Claire @rhythmdevils! I will give that a try for the next cable purchase. Was just about to get an order going for a recently acquired HD 800.

Haha that mirrors my exp with SP200. Indeed quite consistent throughout all THX-moduled amps even up to Bench hpa4. I may not hate them that much tho, maybe because I secretly enjoy some such characters..

@Vtory I for sure see how with a different DAC (I am using Yggdrasil LIM) and cans could bring something together here that works. As is I could not wait to stop listening.

Try it with IEM’s.

I have to admit was a bit nervous to put the suit on with a few extra pandemic lbs on me, but it still fit and I felt like a million bucks once it was on. Maybe getting back to normal won't be too bad.

A suit? weird! Not for over twenty years.

Went to an elder relative's funeral in England three years ago. I made myself decent, in jacket and smart trousers, and abstained from my usual open sandals but... All the guys were wearing ties! I'd completely forgotten about ties!

Good luck with the work. :)

I don't blame Schiit, they need to be sure they have enough to keep selling the Freya+. More kicking myself I cheaped out on the $100 difference when ordering my Freya+. Would have been nice to have a new production backup to my NOS stuff.

holy moses' sandals. word on the street is that WE has first production article 6SN7s out for beta testing. supposedly $650-ish/pair. Sure, painful, but a quad from Schiit plus backup = quad from WE (assuming they sound good) + 5 year warranty? Pick your poison.

Buy now. And wait. This is the way.

Get one now now now

Supply chains for electronics are very fluid right now. If you can get your hands on something today, do it.

@Boops the nubs have it virtually floating at floor level, so these do stick out a bit since the pedestal is just a frame barely wide enough to fit these. Raises it a half inch. Here is a photo. https://photos.app.goo.gl/6jbRSQQGcpa4UJKM6

I do think the changes these gave was a bit extra dramatic because I have engineered/fake wood floors. Really cleaned up the sound of these a ton though. All makes me wonder how these could sound removing the afterthought pedestal and putting on stands. Upscale recommended isoacoustics which I suppose you could get big huge threaded feet and unscrew the pedestal, would be super ugly though.

I've thought about the possibility of replacing the stock "stand" with something much more isolating. But I wouldn't want it to be ugly ;-) Thanks for the pic!