The All Purpose Advice Thread

Discussion in 'Advice Threads' started by purr1n, Sep 26, 2015.

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  1. allegro

    allegro Friend

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    IMO any tube or tube hybrid amp under $500 you buy while waiting for the Starlett will get no use once you get that Starlett. If you have plenty of disposable income go for it; there is a lot to be said for just saving money and living with what you have. If you have to scratch that itch pick up something used on HF you can sell for not much of a loss. I keep a Vali 2 with better tube around because it works well with my IEMs.
     
  2. Emojiless

    Emojiless Acquaintance

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    I'm looking for a suitable synergetic DAC to replace SDAC in my setup. I am currently running:
    PC (Tidal) -> SDAC -> MCTH (with LPS) -> HD6XX/Verum 1

    I use this for music and gaming equally. HD6XX for mellow evenings, Verum 1 for all else.

    I also have a KOSS ESP95X under TV hooked on a cheap DAC (FX Audio X6) for some living room console gaming or night movies when everyone's asleep, I may want to use this for desktop in the future as well if I figure out how to cleanly hook up multiple amps from one DAC.

    What I'm looking for in gaming is better soundstage and imaging, to feel more immersed as cliche as that sounds (I tried GSX1000 for VSS but it doesn't sound natural to me).

    What I'm looking for in music - I have no idea, never heard a better system than mine :D So better resolution, I guess? The DAC is the weakest link in my chain as I understand so I'm hoping to be pleasantly surprised.

    I have ~300EUR to spend on this which makes my options limited. Schiit Modi Multibit was suggested in this forum quite a lot to work well with MCTH but I'm waiting hoping for an upgraded Unison version to come out. But maybe it doesn't make sense to wait any longer and I should just grab the Modius - but Im not sure if its a good match for MCTH, and if Schiit's multibit options are better or worse for gaming.

    Suggestions are greatly appreciated : )
     
  3. Gazny

    Gazny MOT: ETA Audio

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    For my experience it seems like tubes are the meaning of life in the hobby. Many feel the need to nullify my experience by claiming their gears are more optimal(of course in person everyone I have enjoyed talking to also loved tubes).

    I was told some "Armchair internet wisdom" from a pseudo-expert. As I can admit I am not an expert with no shame. what does it actually mean?

    What is the importance of acoustic impedance in measurements? What is the importance of any measurement system? Do they also have diminishing returns?
     
  4. BrokeSkoolBoi

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    I'm planning to replace the Bifrost 2 with the modius in another room. It sounds like it would be a perfect match, modius should bring balance being a darker Dac where the MCTH is fairly neutral with plenty of mids and treble.

    You may or may not have seen my post in the MCTH forum, but I highly recommend the 6H23P Reflector tube for this amp. It really lets the amp do it's thing and completely gets out of the way. I'll never put another tube in. $60 Tube with a $220 dac, or just the dac!

    I don't recommend the modi multibit for the MCTH. It's okay, but I wouldn't say it's better than Sdac for overall detail. Also it took a long time to warm up in my experience.
     
  5. Gruss Gott

    Gruss Gott Almost "Made"

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    No idea if this is what you're looking for, but this is what I use to test gear - I like sub-bass, drums, female vocals; so I've found these are the tracks I hear new things in and/or differences the best. If I like these tracks I love the gear, but obvs very personal. Hope it helps!

    Headed for a Fall (Original Acoustic Version) - Firefall - Elan
    Sweet and Sour - Firefall - Elan
    Angry Eyes - Loggins & Messina - The Best: Loggins & Messina Sittin' In Again
    Arlington - The Wailin' Jennys - 40 Days
    Hey Lion - Sofi Tukker - Soft Animals
    A Thousand Kisses Deep - Leonard Cohen - The Essential Leonard Cohen
    Hard Liquor - Thomas Dybdahl - Hard Liquor
    A Thousand Kisses Deep - Till Brˆnner, Dieter Ilg - Nightfall
    What Do You Want (feat. Meshell Ndegeocello) - Miguel Migs, Meshell Ndegeocello - Dim Division
    This Feelin (feat. Andy Allo) - Miguel Migs, Andy Allo - Dim Division
    Izinque - Angelo Ferreri - Izinque (Alessio Cala' Remix)
    Try and You Try - Cleo Sol - Winter Songs
    Guess I'm Doing Fine - Beck - Sea Change
    Chameleon - Trentemoller - The Last Resort
    Program - DJ Krush - Alternative Hip Hop Collection, Vol. 2
    Elements (Orchestral Verison) - Lindsey Stirling - Lindsey Stirling
    Too Damn Low - DJ Snake - Turn?t Up
    Bittersweet Symphony - Escala - Quadrasonic
    Are You Going with Me? - Pat Metheny, Anna Maria Jopek - Upojenie

    There are others I use for specific things like Erykah Badu's On & On from Baduizm - it's got a deep bass line and a knocky instrument that, for example, on the AFC/Mojo is downright painful.

    Anyway, hope it helps!
     
  6. redrich2000

    redrich2000 Facebook Friend

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    They cost $4k new down here so they never get down that low sadly.
     
  7. RedFuneral

    RedFuneral Facebook Friend

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    Quite helpful, thank you.
    There's no lack of dynamics(especially bass punch) with your tracks so I guess I need to look into options for boosting the lows for my music. Maybe some gear with exaggerated dynamics too. What was kind of throwing me off is that I owned some Audio Technica R70x for some time and they're dynamic with everything, I think it imparted some unrealistic expectations of what I'd hear on more accurate phones. Guess there's more that goes into the pursuit of maximizing poor production values than buying chasing forgiving equipment.. hmm
     
  8. NomadicInfluence

    NomadicInfluence New

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    Hello everyone! I’m unhappy with my xDuoo TA-10 (it makes an audible click which is transmitted as a crackly pop through my headphones/speakers whenever it goes active from an idle state or when switching between applications with different playback rates, and I’ve been told by support that’s just how it is).

    I use it both as an amp for a pair of Audeze LCD2 Classics and as a preamp/dac for Kef Q100’s (so I’m looking for something that can easily switch between). Price range is under $300, preferably closer to the $150 to $200 range. Currently use a 1/4” connector for the LCD2’s but I’d like the option of a balanced input because that’s next on my list. Doesn’t have to be a tube amp.

    Thanks!!!
     
  9. Tchoupitoulas

    Tchoupitoulas Friend

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    The LCD2-C can be tricky to pair well with tube and hybrid amps. Keep away from the Drop Cavalli Tube Hybrid, for instance, the sound is soft and mushy and lacking in dynamics. Solid state amps might serve you better. If you can live without being balanced, I'd recommend a Schiit Magni 3+ and Modi stack. I drive my LCD2-C out of the earlier Magni 3 and am perfectly happy with it. The Magni 3+ would be a solid pairing. It's right in your price range and can do double-duty as a preamp.
     
  10. zonto

    zonto Friend

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    Hey all, I'm looking to upgrade my home office setup given that it looks like I'll be working from home for a long while now. My iPhone SE just isn't cutting it. I had a Headamp Pico DAC/amp that I sold pre-COVID because I wasn't ever using it at work... I don't have a ton of desk real estate, but could probably fit something up to Bifrost/Valhalla chassis sized.
    • Source: iPhone SE or work laptop; Tidal; (work admin team won't let me install the Tidal app, so streaming through Chrome)
    • Headphones: Typically Etymotic ER4S and Sennheiser HD600. Maybe occasionally Utopia.
    • Budget: $500ish, lower the better.
    A few options I've been mulling over:
    • Modi Multibit and a Vali 2: Based on what I've read, seems like this would synergize well.
    • Hel: Hadn't really paid much attention to before, but think given my headphone preferences that the Vali may work better.
    • Meridian Explorer 2 in the FS forum. Super budget option. :)
    Thanks for taking a look.
     
  11. rlow

    rlow A happy woofer

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    Ifi Micro BL?

    Edit: I guess the iFi is $600 USD new - buy used then (better value anyhow :))
     
    Last edited: Jul 15, 2020
  12. zonto

    zonto Friend

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    Yeah, seems expensive, though I saw in the thread that there have been sales on Adorama for $380. I don't need a transportable as I don't travel often, just seems they are cheaper on average. Seems like there may be compromises in this type of transportable unit vs. a regular stack. (Saw posts about this from @Torq for instance, especially re: Modi Multibit.) However, I do like that it has a USB decrapifier built-in.
     
  13. BrokeSkoolBoi

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    I would get the Vali 2, and maybe the Modius over Modi Multibit? Modi Multibit without Eitr is lacking imo. Your over-ears will enjoy the tubey goodness.

    Not sure what an ER4S sounds like in the Vali 2 though
     
  14. Gruss Gott

    Gruss Gott Almost "Made"

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  15. Stiletto

    Stiletto New

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    Wishing for some input on this. I'm taking possession of a Koss ESP/95x system for a great price. I recently have been using a Valhalla 2 amp with my DT990 Pro's.

    Would I be a maniac if I used the Valhalla 2 preamp output for the ESP/95x? Has anyone done this for a positive experience? I understand that the exciter doesn't necessarily need an preamp, but I'm guessing it could warm them up the ESP's a bit and I wouldn't have to mess with the two channel pots after I setup my gain stages between the two. I would just use the super satisfying knob on the Valhalla.

    Thanks!
     
  16. Chris45set

    Chris45set New

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    I recently built a Bottlehead S.E.X. amp for use with my ~ 2006 vintage HD650 headphones (fed with a Cowon Plenue D DAP)
    Also ordered a pi2AES hat, a RPi4 and a 4TB USB drive as I plan to replace my aging desktop as a music server (the desktop does not even have USB 3).
    I am looking for a DAC to insert into the mix and have been impressed with what has been written here about Schiit, specifically multi-bit.
    I am an old vinyl (Linn LP12) and SET (Korneff 76/45) guy since 2005 and have zero DAC experience.
    Ideally I would buy a Bifrost 2 and replace the Unison card with an AES card to leverage my amp inputs and the pi2 outputs.
    both the Gungnir MB and Yggdrasil GS would offer better digital in, but the consensus here seems to be that the SE output on both is "gimped" which I take to mean no bueno, while the Bifrost SE output seems as good as its balanced.
    My musical tastes run from Classic Rock to Jazz to Symphonic Classical (no EDM or Hip-Hop so bass needs to be right, not so much overwhelming). I always have used female vocal and grand piano to evaluate gear in the past.
    My audio bias changed in about 1985 when I built a Linn/Naim system and started using musical terms to evaluate Hi-Fi gear.
    Any DAC advice for this old "flat-earther" as I try to build this new system for my home office?
    Thank You in advance for your views and opinions.

    Chris
     
  17. scblock

    scblock Friend

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    That's an interesting idea, but I don't think any such AES input card exists for the BF2. So it might come down to spending a little time with a BF2 over coax to see if it's a good match for your tastes, or looking to other options. I personally use a late revision Bifrost 1 over coax with my S.E.X. amp in my home office.
     
  18. bone_collector

    bone_collector New

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    There any consensus on a big boy version of the EDT Jr/NBM?
    Finally fixed the issues I've lived with in my HD650 [not enough slam, somewhat congested (not enough air/compressed staging), dull sounding highs] for the past 10 years. Thought I'd have to live with these compromises after trying the HD800 and T1 and finding them too bright, too thin. Apparently not. Always heard these scaled but thought I'd be happy enough with an iFi micro and/or some of the Schiit gear. Apparently not. Blown away by how engaging the 650s sound now. How grown up. Much more lively and musical, vaguely like the W5000 I loved years back. Oh- and finally some slam. And sparkly, energetic highs. Bass is a little thick and bloomy, but overall I am happy as a pig in shite.
    Only problem now is that I'm back to where I started 10 years ago: just how far can I go? Mostly looking to add even more air and micro-dynamics. More bass definition (NOT presence). Want to keep the same soul, however.
    Sounds like DNA has a 'wetter' 'thicker' sound. Maybe a Stratus? What about Feliks? Running these through a iFi iDSD and Bifrost Multibit, FWIW.
    Learn me, please.
     
  19. sheldaze

    sheldaze Friend

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    I dislike use of the term consensus. However, from my experience and those of a few people I know and trust, Super 7 (rare, but one currently for sale) is an upgrade. It slams considerably more than the ZDT Jr. and can be tweaked via tubes to have more air or bass character. I do not know if SW51+ is still available, or what the rules are for SBAF purchase - this too would be an upgrade path.
     
  20. bone_collector

    bone_collector New

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    It occurs to me now that using the word 'consensus' in the context of audio is awfully problematic. I know the NBM is pretty popular around these parts, so I thought there might be a number of folks who could offer advice. Many voices, however, doesn't equal consensus.
    I was able to place an order for the SW51 and am looking forward to hearing that. I also reached out to the S7 seller- suppose I'll see what happens there. Feel a little wary about buying something that may not feature manufacturer support...
    Any other suggestions are greatly appreciated.
     
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