Justin S

I don't understand

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.

I love pad rolling, it helps keep impulse buying to a minimum for me.

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.

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.

Oh, by classics, I mean Auteur Classics.

Lyr + is underrated. I tend to use its SS (bypassing tube) with Atrium, tube w/ Focals…

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.

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.

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.

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.

And back into the vortex.

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.

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.

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.

Does it do dsd normally?

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

Totally. They are all around a bit snappier.

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.

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.

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.

Glad it worked out for you. Are you going to post in the Cable Building thread?

@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.

Still excited for my Atrium Closed though!

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.

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.

This is what I had in my review here “ Treble is where Auteur lags behind some TOTL. I mean only thing that is missing in treble is some sparkle and bite.”

Yes. That's what I am experiencing. I am used to the 600s. The Auteur Cs have been responding well to tube changes and pad rolling, so I think I'll be able to get there. I would rather not change out the mesh if possible. And really, these have 24hrs on them so I should likely wait until I have 100hrs before making any big changes.

Pad rolling really really really changes the Auteur. Don't go by the published compendiums. I LOVE the Universe Suede with these. Everyone else hated these with the AuCs. For me they bring the treble bite, forward mids I like, and big clean bass.

Take them more as unboxing and reaction video then serious review

Watching video of these guys performing with their "listening to music face" while they read their review text is like watching someone j---king off with the sound track of them reading a journal about their feelings. Bleh.

I can't stand youtube audio reviews. Usually, they're stretched to make the algo happy and the visuals aren't exciting - just product shots and a talking head. Also I can't skim or search the text.

Early days, but we're getting along pretty good.

Upgraded from original Auteur? Interested to hear your impressions if so, I grabbed that used blackwood auteur that was available the other day to do an Auteur revisit and am curious on the classic upgrades.

@Inoculator , I bought a new Aeolus a couple months ago. It rocked (incredibly) but was not quite my scene. They were within the 14 days and ZMF was kind enough to accept them back for credit towards a new Auteur Classic build. I'll do a writeup once I have a chance to spend some time with them.

I actually picked up a pair of KenRad 6SN7GTs from @Inoculator . They are glorious and like them better than the blackplate clear glass VT-231 I have here.

My absolute favorite 6SN7 by a long shot. Enjoy!

All kind of things that were prickly with other tubes present as even and clear with these. They;re really great.

I am talking about a black glass 6sn7 for a Lyr+. Not sure how lucky I feel :-)

Say yes and gamble:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xDFqRFODiMg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u5NmYhjMwiI

Say no and support businesses like Brent Jesse’s. Just saying.