The All Purpose Advice Thread

I only have one wall-socket available. Yes, one. What are your solutions? I can't plug my equipment into the wall directly.

I am thinking of getting a Furman M-10X E, but then I've heard power strips take away dynamics and Furman are just glorified power strips, with the same surge protection and basic AC filtering.

Also I have to get C14 to C13 power cords if I were to use this, I am afraid that not carefully choosing them will make the power filter obsolete, if it is useful in the first place.

What are your takes on this?

 

@a44100Hz

Have you heard the Senn 569 in comparison to the 598CS?

The few times I heard the 569 I liked, but have not had a chance to hear the 598cs

 

My Furman PST-8D is fantastic and removed a ground loop hum from my system. This one is more than a glorified power strip.

 

Can someone tell me what tubeamp is on this picture. I can't read the inscription!

https://www.innerfidelity.com/images/Violectric_V281_Photo_TwoV281onDesk.jpg

 

https://www.innerfidelity.com/content/icon-audio-hp8-mk2-tube-headphone-amplifier

 

I have not.

 

How about semi-open? I needed more isolation than Stax, which are like 99% open, but I didn't need a ton so I went with E MU Teaks. Same with all the t50rp variants - they kind of sit in an odd middle ground.

 

right! semi-open is definitely an option. E-mu Teak seem to me to be the same design as the TH-X00 which I had issues with fit/comfort on, for long-time wear. I would be happy if the sound was sort of like the TH-X00 but in a different enclosure, and I think the E-mu Teak seem great sound-wise as well.

actually have been looking at the Fostex T50RP MK3 a bit, they don't measure bad at all, but would prefer different pads to the stock ones- so I need to find some more info about that. maybe I could make my own mod project, have some fun and pretend I saved money...
or just find some LFF Slants used, they seem almost exactly like what I am looking for.

 

FWIW- I reviewed the T50RP MK3 and they are not even in the same zip code as the E-Mu teaks or most of the ZMF stuff, like older Blackwoods. Used Mad Dogs might even be a better cheap choice, if you bump the mids up a bit.

 

ahh okay, I suppose that makes sense, they are much less expensive too
Mad Dogs 3.2 actually seemed fine mids-wise to me stock, definitely an option! not sure if it was the most comfortable though, and AEon might be worth the extra spending over them for that and sound reasons. seems people agree they sound rather open (assuming that means good stage) as well.

 

What would be a good headphone for $500 or less that has the best possible mids and bass emphasis? I'm asking this because I wanted to give my sister a gift and that's what kind of headphones she wants. Also, don't worry too much about if she has the gear to run them, she has a Jotunheim and a Soekris 1321 and she'll be using it at home.

Also, she doesn't exactly care much about treble performance as long as its not fatiguing and doesn't care about soundstage and imaging,

 

Hmmm... ZMF Classics, maybe. Mr. Speakers Aeon Flow, perhaps, but I'm not sure as it's been forever since I heard them.

 

The Aeon Flow's a bit out of my price range, but I'll check the Classics out.

 

LFF Slant's would probably fit that bill too, though I haven't heard them

 

That's a couple of hundred over my budget.

 

So I've made an android tablet (tab xperia z) into my streaming center, connected an optical cd/dvd to it, a rtlsdr for fm and dab+ radios, mhl, and an usb soundcard that outputs toslink to minidsp 4x10. Works flawlessly untill after an hour or two, sound becomes really choppy. Doesn't matter if it's cd, radio or google music. I originally thought it was the fact that android supports adaptive usb only, and my dongle soundcard is async, but the same thing happens with odac that's adaptive. Also, when it happens, whatever I plug in (adaptive/async), sound remains choppy. Only cure is to completely disconnect/reconnect the hub. Any ideas? I've got none (I suspect it's somehow android's fault but no idea where to start).

I didn't bother with usb audio pro that supports async drivers, I have it, but I need system sounds too.

 

Oh that's right, he stopped making the 'starving student' one which was $500. My bad.

 

What do you mean?

 

There used to be 2 versions - the LFF Paradox Slant which was the regular $700 version, and the LFF Starving Student Slant that was the same as the Paradox Slant but without some cosmetic and comfort upgrades - for about $500. With the resurfacing of his brand it looks like the SSS took the place of the Paradox Slant, but at $700 instead of $500

 

I see. I guess so far, the ZMF Classics seem to be my only option for now.