Justin S
Last Activity:
Nov 16, 2024
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214
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heart 12 46
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Gender:
Male
Location:
Toronto
Occupation:
Filmmaker

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Justin S

Friend, Male, from Toronto

Pyrate Contributor

Been away working like a maniac. In a tiny pause, that Songs: Ohia Black Album is a beauty piece. Carry on, friends. Oct 25, 2024

Justin S was last seen:
Nov 16, 2024
    1. Justin S
      Justin S
      Been away working like a maniac. In a tiny pause, that Songs: Ohia Black Album is a beauty piece. Carry on, friends.
      1. atomicbob, edd, DigMe and 3 others like this.
      2. DigMe
        DigMe
        Love the earlier stuff. I think Protection Spells is still my fave. Darkness That Strong was the first song I ever heard from him and it floored me. @philipmorgan is also a Songs: Ohia fan.
        Oct 26, 2024
        philipmorgan, Justin S and edd like this.
    2. Justin S
      Justin S
      I have been using BRU and LTFS for tape archives for a decade+: soo fiddly. I just started working with TAR. TAR is easy. TAR is forever :-)
      1. zottel and Kernel Kurtz like this.
      2. View previous comments...
      3. zottel
        zottel
        “No incremental” is also what I love about deduplicated backup solutions like borg. If you backup the same file to the archive as yesterday, it’s only adding index data, but doesn’t use archive space. Every single backup is a full snapshot, but doesn’t take more space than an incremental backup. Deleting old backups only removes the data that isn’t also included in newer backups.
        Jun 7, 2024
        Justin S and Thad E Ginathom like this.
      4. zottel
        zottel
        While it might not be as reliable as tar in this regard, borg is also good at recovering data from corrupted archives. But there’s a trade off there, of course.
        Jun 7, 2024
        Justin S likes this.
      5. Justin S
        Justin S
        Borg definitely looks amazing! I will read more about it. I can see this being very useful for certain projects where I rotate a couple "nearline" backup drives in case of calamity.
        Jun 8, 2024
        zottel likes this.
    3. Justin S
      Justin S
      Added the Custom Cans V3 foam to my DT770s. Now it's massloaded cups, driver weight and foam. They're more even and tighter with the foam.
      1. Cryptowolf and Riotvan like this.
      2. Justin S
        Justin S
        I also have the zmf suede Ori pads on these. These are great walk around and office headohones. For the price they're pretty great with these tweaks.
        May 18, 2024
        Cryptowolf and Lyander like this.
      3. Justin S
        Justin S
        Wow. There is actual texture in the bass. The mids, while a touch thin, are more legible. Well done custom cans!
        May 18, 2024
        Lyander likes this.
      4. Justin S
        Justin S
        Just back from a nice dog walk with them. They're more "audiophile" in that I am drawn into the nuances of the recording and production, but they might be a little less fun. C Cans provides a couple options. I'll try these out.
        May 18, 2024
        Cryptowolf and Lyander like this.
    4. Justin S
      Justin S
      I've had a bunch midfi of SS amps.I have zero experience with "big boy tube amps". The Lyr+ is blowing my mind as I roll some NOS tubes.
      1. crenca
        crenca
        Be sure to listen to its built in MOSFET tubeless circuit. Might not be what your looking for, but it is what I end up using most of the time - though I have a DNA when I'm going for the tooby sound
        May 12, 2024
        Cryptowolf and Justin S like this.
      2. MisterRogers
        MisterRogers
        IMO - there's nothing quite like a big boy tube amp with the right tubes. It's enough to put up with the expense / hassle.
        May 12, 2024
      3. Justin S
        Justin S
        @crenca Yes. I quite like the Mosfet solid state circuit, too. It was a deciding factor in getting rid of my BHA-1. When putting it up against the Bryston, the Lyr+ presents more detail, cleaner bass, and definitely more fun. In tube mode it's really great with the right tubes....and fun even with the wrong ones :-)
        May 13, 2024
        crenca likes this.
    5. Justin S
      Justin S
      I am late to this party. The Metronomy recordings are pretty great.
    6. Justin S
      Justin S
      Why not. I picked up an SFP to RJ45 box to run fiber from my switch to my pi2aes. Moar better, I think. Using an AtomicBobNN with the box.
      1. Cryptowolf, famish99, rlow and 4 others like this.
      2. Justin S
        Justin S
        So it's almost embarrassing how much of a difference this makes for the modest cost. I know all the bits-are-bit folks would be up-in-arms about it but currently, even when I'm not listening to this rig, I'm thinking about listening to this rig.
        May 3, 2024
    7. Justin S
      Justin S
      Sparkos SS2590 opamp stack levels-up the Geshelli J2 4499 a good solid click and a half. This thing sounds more and more like modern R2R.
      1. ilikebananafudge_ likes this.
      2. Merrick
        Merrick
        I hear nothing but great things about the Sparkos opamps.
        Apr 22, 2024
        Justin S likes this.
      3. Justin S
        Justin S
        I don't have a ton of experience other than comparing them to the stock opamps (TI 1656). The difference is there. Between the SS2590 and the 3602 the difference is more subtle, but on longer listening sessions, you get more into things with the 2590. I think it's staging and treble detail without any harshness.
        Apr 24, 2024
    8. Justin S
      Justin S
      Scout Niblet and Steve Albini forever! Greasy AF.
    9. Justin S
      Justin S
      Working on my first big mocap project. It is remarkable technology and the day was so civilized - tiny nerd crew, no resets, or surly DOP.
      1. Lyander, RestoredSparda and Ti_Leo like this.
      2. JK47
        JK47
        I don't understand
        Apr 5, 2024
        gixxerwimp likes this.
      3. Justin S
        Justin S
        Sorry @JK47 . This is a cross-nerd-domain post. I'm working on a film project that uses motion capture. Having a set without lighting, dolly track, or a surly photographer felt super civilized. There were no resets, where you have to reset everything back to the original position after every take and do makeup and hair retouches. The performers can stay in the zone. We finished the day early and stress free.
        Apr 6, 2024
        Case likes this.
    10. Justin S
      Justin S
      Yet another dingdong Bell installer disconnected my fibre in favour of their new install. It is crazy how f**ked we are without internet.
      1. crenca and Thad E Ginathom like this.
    11. Justin S
      Justin S
      Feeling change itchy. Put ZMF suede Ori pads on ye old 250ohm DT770s = super fun upper mids and midbass. Surprising, pleasant and different.
      1. ilikebananafudge_
        ilikebananafudge_
        I love pad rolling, it helps keep impulse buying to a minimum for me.
        Mar 31, 2024
        Justin S likes this.
      2. Justin S
        Justin S
        Ahaha. I hear you..,I love a good surprise. I am eyeballing the ETA Ada right now. I've been holding back on picking up a pair of RS2Xs...ETA is making it hard to resist picking up something quick.
        Mar 31, 2024
        ilikebananafudge_ likes this.
      3. Justin S
        Justin S
        To be clear, when I jump back to the ZMF Auteur Classics, there is no contest here - the ZMFs do sooo much right. Sometime you just need a pallete refresh, though.
        Mar 31, 2024
    12. Justin S
      Justin S
      ZMF Classics are bananas. w Lry+ and a Ken Rad, cable and mesh tweaks, early Massive Attack is glorious... It's all there.
      1. Cryptowolf, Slade01, Riotvan and 12 others like this.
      2. Justin S
        Justin S
        Oh, by classics, I mean Auteur Classics.
        Mar 23, 2024
      3. crenca
        crenca
        Lyr + is underrated. I tend to use its SS (bypassing tube) with Atrium, tube w/ Focals…
        Mar 23, 2024
        rlow and Justin S like this.
      4. Justin S
        Justin S
        I agree. I've had a few things through here. The BHA-1 was my favorite for a long time, but the Lry+ added something special to the chain. I like being able to roll "tube", too. It keeps me from swapping out amps everytime I get itchy.
        Mar 23, 2024
    13. Justin S
      Justin S
      There was talk of calibrated LG TVs being close to "artists intention". Just did one up for post. Pretty unstable. Close but not reference.
      1. View previous comments...
      2. MLegend
        MLegend
        No external software or LUT box, the VT/ZT series has a real 6-axis CMS in the menu that gives you fine control over primaries in the gamut, 2-point & 10-point WB adjustment, and 10-point gamma adjustment.
        Mar 23, 2024
        Justin S likes this.
      3. MLegend
        MLegend
        It's the most difficult display to calibrate that I have ever owned, but it gives you enough control to get average dE scores below 1 in most areas and below 0.5 in others. I wouldn't use it for grading or anything professional, but for watching content, it's fantastic.
        Mar 23, 2024
        Justin S likes this.
      4. Justin S
        Justin S
        After wrestling with this for a month, I finally got a calibration working that tests well and looks "close enough" to my FSI montior. There's metameric failure to account for with the different display technologies, but I am more of a Trust the Scopes kind of guy than a perceptual matching kind of guy. With a ^10 verification cube I'm getting a dE of .5 and an EOTF of 2.39. Not bad.
        Mar 23, 2024
        AdvanTech and MLegend like this.
    14. Justin S
      Justin S
      Been in a work vortex. Wazzzzzaaap? Ahhhhhhhhhlllllll.
      1. Case, rlow and Gazny like this.
      2. Justin S
        Justin S
        And back into the vortex.
        Mar 20, 2024
    15. Justin S
      Justin S
      a 4493 and a 4499 J2, a pair of AB Noise Nukes, and nice tube in the Lyr+. Let the fun begin.
      1. Justin S
        Justin S
        On headphones, the 4499 J2 is a tiny marvel. It's spacious, resolves treble is a strikingly beautiful way and is a party in the bass. A/Bing makes my MOTU Ultralite MK5 sound squished and dull. I preferred the MOTU over the J2 4493 in PCM. Geno programmed these for me to use DSD Direct mode, which I usually prefer for listening time. The J2 4499 makes PCM/DSDD more of a flavour choice now...it's very good.
        Jan 28, 2024
        yotacowboy likes this.
      2. Justin S
        Justin S
        I moved gear around and A/B'd the J2 4499/LIM. The J2 sounds more like modern R2R than DS. The J2 is a bit wider and really resolves treble information better. Slam is very close. The LIM is a tiny bit smoother, fatter and darker. LIM vs J2 preference depended on material. Jon Hopkins and Steve Albini recordings J2 4499 hands down, Brian Blade the LIM puts it together nicely. Kudos to Geshelli.
        Jan 29, 2024
      3. Justin S
        Justin S
        Disclosure: the J2 4499 is a loaner from Geno to test DSDD functionality. I have always preferred DSDD to PCM for focused listening, but the J2 4499 brings another flavour to the mix. DSDD is laser sharp, detailed, and deep sounding, but on the polite side of things. The 4499 in PCM is also sharp, detailed, but a total party at the same time.
        Jan 29, 2024
    16. Justin S
      Justin S
      Digging into a Geshelli J2 set by Geno to DSD Direct (bypassing all conversions). With HQPlayer it's like having dozens of DACs.
      1. ilikebananafudge_ likes this.
      2. Gazny
        Gazny
        Does it do dsd normally?
        Jan 7, 2024
      3. Justin S
        Justin S
        The stock J2 does DSD from any DSD source, but it converts to PCM and back. In DSD Direct, the stream bypasses the conversion. Geno activated the DSDD function of the AKM chip for me on my J2. I had an ADI-2 a while ago. It was meh sounding in PCM, but in DSDD it was glorious. The J2 sounds quite good in PCM, but DSDD rocks. I love being able to tune the filters for the material, my mood, what transducers I'm using.
        Jan 7, 2024
      4. Justin S
        Justin S
        As far as I know, AKM are the only chips that have DSDD capability. And at that, they also need to have that "switch" turned on. It disables any processing of the signal in a DAC...no volume or PEQ, Holo Audio DACs and, I think, Denefrips DACs also do DSDD.
        Jan 7, 2024
    17. Justin S
      Justin S
      Just finished a Duelund 20AWG tin plated copper cable for my ZMF AuCs. Whoh. Very even, deeper stage. I'll put hours in and report back..
      1. View previous comments...
      2. ChaChaRealSmooth
        ChaChaRealSmooth
        You're absolutely right though. The cables and interconnects can absolutely dial in the last couple percent to really tune your system to your preferences
        Jan 2, 2024
      3. Serious
        Serious
        Tinned copper marine cable works for a Duelund DCA type of sound on the cheap. It's sharper, but in some use cases that can be a advantage. It's what I used for my HD600.
        Jan 2, 2024
        Justin S likes this.
      4. Justin S
        Justin S
        So a good 100+hrs in and this cable is, by a long shot, my favourite. Imaging is excellent, it extends very well, and that timbre! I did this cable up on a lark - glad I did. I'll do a comparo when I have a moment.
        Jan 7, 2024
    18. Justin S
      Justin S
      Just received the radial mesh from ZMF. Zach says FR is the same, but I feel it's more "airy", mids come forward and it sounds better to me.
      1. View previous comments...
      2. Justin S
        Justin S
        Totally. They are all around a bit snappier.
        Dec 28, 2023
      3. RestoredSparda
        RestoredSparda
        Atrium sounds like it has a towel over the driver with the solid mesh. The stock mesh is so much more dynamic.

        Personally the Radial mesh on Atrium is a bit too bright for me, but stock is perfect.

        I never played around with the loaner Auteur Classic mesh.
        Dec 28, 2023
        Justin S likes this.
      4. Justin S
        Justin S
        I don't know what other meshes are available - they only had the solid and the "radial" mesh on the site. I definitely prefer the radial mesh.
        Dec 28, 2023
    19. Justin S
      Justin S
      Built a @gixxerwimp Mable silver headphone cable for my ZMF AuCs. Next to my Neotech OCC cable it is more detailed in the treble.
      1. Cryptowolf, gixxerwimp, Gazny and 3 others like this.
      2. View previous comments...
      3. Justin S
        Justin S
        I built both of these myself - they both were less than $100 to build with Neutrik and Rean connectors. I am building another weird one - using Deulund tin plated copper...just to try. I'll do a little writeup on all three when I have had time to sit with each.
        Dec 28, 2023
        Gazny likes this.
      4. gixxerwimp
        gixxerwimp
        Glad it worked out for you. Are you going to post in the Cable Building thread?
        Dec 30, 2023
        Justin S likes this.
      5. Justin S
        Justin S
        @gixxerwimp ,yes. Absolutely. Just taking care of the tail end of the holidays here while + giving the cable some time to settle in. I'll do a comparo with the Neotech OCC build.
        Dec 30, 2023
    20. Justin S
      Justin S
      Everyone is tucked in. Checking out the new ZMF AuCs. The Qobuz "Best of 2023" is pretty spectacular. So much better than the other guys'.
      1. Cryptowolf, ckhirnigs, joch and 5 others like this.
      2. View previous comments...
      3. ckhirnigs
        ckhirnigs
        Still excited for my Atrium Closed though!
        Dec 27, 2023
        Justin S likes this.
      4. Justin S
        Justin S
        Just tried recieved and tried the Suede Eikon pads. Whoha - it's thick and that bass reaches into the mids and just clobbers them. Not for me.
        Dec 28, 2023
      5. ckhirnigs
        ckhirnigs
        I never tried them on the Classic, only on my OG. I felt the same way about the Eikon Lambskins on my OG as you do about the Suedes on your Classic.
        Dec 28, 2023
        Justin S likes this.
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  • About

    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Toronto
    Occupation:
    Filmmaker
    Gear List:
    Home system: PI2AES with SBAF ABNN>AES> Yggdrasil LIM>SE>Heed Obelisk SI III>Harbeth P3ESR XDs + REL t7i.

    Work: USB | S/PDIF (PI2AES Lite) ->MOTU Ultralite MK5/Geshelli J2S -> Monitors: Genelec 8020s + 7040a

    Headphones: USB | S/PDIF (PI2AES Lite) -> MOTU/J2 (SBAF ABNN after SMPS)- > Lyr+. ZMF AUTEUR CLASSIC, HD 6xxM (sbaf kissmod), HD600, Modded DT770s.

    Previous equipment. Harbeth P3ESR Standards, Harbeth C7ES3s, Neumann KH120As, Dynaudio M20s. Project Debut III/Graham Slee pre, Soekris 2541 (2x), RME ADI-2 DACfs, Bifrost 2, Holo Spring1 LV2, Schiit Fulla, BF2 (2x), BF 2/64, Gungnir Multibit Multibit A2, Heed Dactillus, Denafrips Ares, Auralic Aries, AudioLab M-DAC, Rega R-DAC, OG Schiit Freya, Schiit Magni 3, OG Burson Soloist, MassDrop LCX, Burson Fun, ZDT Jr., BHA-1, Lynx Hilo

    Previous Headphones: ZMF Aeolus, HD800S, LCD-X 2021, Focal Clear, Focal Elex, OG Sennheiser 650, Sennheiser 58x Jubilee, OG AKG Sextetts, Nhoord Red custom build, Symphones Magnum V8 custom build, Elleven Acoustica G1 custom build, Elleven Acoustica R1 custom build, Hifiman He400i, AKG K702.
    I am a filmmaker. I have also owned and operated a couple different animation/video-post studios and have been buying and trading gear since the 90s. I am relatively new to hifi.

    Signature

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