Golden Schlong 2020 Nominations

Discussion in 'Leaderboard, Overboard, and Deals' started by purr1n, Nov 18, 2020.

?

What should we name our "this is bad" award

  1. Poopy Butthole

    14 vote(s)
    9.0%
  2. Brown Starfish

    55 vote(s)
    35.5%
  3. Limp Dick

    41 vote(s)
    26.5%
  4. Floating Turd

    35 vote(s)
    22.6%
  5. POS

    21 vote(s)
    13.5%
  6. Award for Nasty Unflushable Scheisse

    26 vote(s)
    16.8%
  7. Homelander

    14 vote(s)
    9.0%
Multiple votes are allowed.
  1. E_Schaaf

    E_Schaaf MOT: E.T.A Headphones

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    I feel like there should be a golden schlong for DIY and community projects that aren't mass-marketed and sold at quite the same scale. Different playbook vs bigger companies. @Bill-P's efforts with the HD800 driver was a highlight of my year in terms of how excited I was reading the thread, for example. Or @atomicbob BAL to SE converter. Or Borealis. Or @sorrodje 's SDR mod. Or TTVJ flat pads. Mods improve both value and longevity of the products they're related to. These are the types of things that keep me coming back to SBAF to read and learn more. Some of the most active threads too.
     
  2. Superexchanger

    Superexchanger Friend

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    Three things really impressed me this year:

    1. https://www.superbestaudiofriends.org/index.php?threads/fs-ampocalypse.9758/
    The sheer amount of good shit a single FS ad distributed to the community is noteworthy. I was a beneficiary. End of post Alien nod puts it over the top for me.

    2. SW51+ (E/V, from the above ad!)
    This hit my desk and it's never leaving. Has been good-to-great with everything I've thrown at it, IEM's included.

    3. Elex (L, per @E_Schaaf suggestion)
    Still have some issues with the minor sibilance but for what I listen to it gets almost everything else extremely right. For someone who appreciates but just doesn't love the HD6XX series I feel grateful to have this as a over-ear standard. Easily have 1,000 hours on these this year.

    OG Solaris is still my favorite sounding headphone and I use it a ton, but I think it's been recognized multiple years going now?
     
  3. penguins

    penguins Friend, formerly known as fp627

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    Completely agree with @dematted about the Aeolus. I recant my earlier statement / post where I think nothing should get a nomination this year - I too nominate Aeolus.

    When I heard the different ZMFs back to back (no Verite closed at the time, which I heard at a later date) - the Auteur was closer to what I was looking for in my lineup / needs, but I had minor issues with aspects of the sound before swapping wood. However, the Aeolus, while not as technically adept, was much more fun and is what I wanted to buy and walk out with. Very good FR tune and enjoyable tonality + timbre. Not fatiguing. Adept enough at pretty much everything I threw at it. Was never annoying even with different woods for me. Also complements many other headphones very well while also being good on it's own. Too much overlap with my existing headphones and doesn't quite synergize in my setup per my tastes for my to justify one right now though.
    -----------------------------------------------


    W/ regards to BHA1 - I think the biggest question is what do we use as the market price / reference? I definitely think BHA1 is honorable mention or silver worthy for L or V but GS depends too heavily on what market you're in. I know most members here are in the US, but I would by no means call this an American forum. To further complicate things, many of us seem to travel or go between multiple countries regularly enough. But if we open this can of worms, it can get really messy really fast.

    EX: Schiit costs much more outside of the US and despite a lot of their stuff being good value in the US, IMO it is not nearly as good value for EU, Asia, and other members - do we have to put a * after all of Schiit's awards saying *USA pricing only? HFM, despite everything negative associated with HFM, I think would win more awards if the rest of the world got Chinese level pricing (~40-60% cheaper for new items, at dealers, vs US prices). So on so forth. If BHA1 is expensive in the US but cheap overseas - then we are looking at the same issue.

    In terms of BHA1's actual merits in terms of the sound, in the little bit of time I've spent with it, I would say it's not technically at the same level as other stuff we have nominated in the same $2k price range, but there were no glaring flaws when I listened. Much like the SPL Phonitor series is but with a different sound. But is the BHA1 a very good amp for $1k USD new or $500 used? Absolutely yes.
    (For those who wonder, HKD is pegged to USD at ~7.8:1, so exchange rate isn't a huge factor).
     
    Last edited: Dec 2, 2020
  4. penguins

    penguins Friend, formerly known as fp627

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    W/ regards to what @E_Schaaf is saying about DIY / community stuff, I strongly agree in concept. We definitely need to recognize this other side of audio too and encourage it. Kind of like how there are the grammys/emmys/commerical-probably-pay-to-win awards for movies and then there are things like Sundance or other more indie awards.

    However, from a practical perspective, IDK if we release and listen to "enough stuff" from a DIY perspective for this to work out - I can't in in good conscious nominate awards for DIY projects that go on small scale loaners that the community at large most likely hasn't heard and doesn't have access to, regardless of if I get to hear it myself.
     
  5. YtseJammer

    YtseJammer Almost "Made"

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    ZMF Aeolus with the Universe Suede pads

    My favorite pair of headphones ever and the best $1200 that I have spent in this hobby.
     
  6. jnak00

    jnak00 Friend

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    I am a lowly Padawan's assistant but I agree with the Aeolus. The flip side of @penguins comment that it overlaps too many other headphones in his collection, is that it fills many needs for someone who only has one or two pairs. It's just damn good without necessarily being class leading in any single aspect.
     
  7. Rockwell

    Rockwell Friend

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    IEM: CFA Andromeda 2020, Unique Melody MEST
    Source: Lotoo PAW S1 mini-DAC

    I see the Ara was nominated a couple times...I haven't heard that yet but hope to soon.
     
  8. Hands

    Hands Overzealous Auto Flusher - Measurbator

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    If enough nominations for Aeolus, can it get Golden Nips instead of Schlong?
     
  9. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    BHA-1 deserves mention for sure. I don't think it gets a schlong because BHA-1 seems to be a stopgap among the members before they move on to better stuff. I am happy for its resurgence. I am NOT happy about the money grab massive price increase to $2300. That itself deserves a Cersei Shame award where we fling shit at the manufacturer. The Rag 2 is far more deserving as was the Rag 1.5 given pricepoints.
     
    Last edited: Dec 3, 2020
  10. rhythmdevils

    rhythmdevils MOT: rhythmdevils audio

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    I nominate the 64 Audio u18t for the pinched loaf/limp dick/brown starfish award. A $3,000 iem with 18 drivers that sounds looks and feels like a $50-$100 iem.

    review coming soon.
     
    Last edited: Dec 24, 2020
  11. Accrued

    Accrued Friend

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    I know this is out of place, sorry for that, but I’m really excited to see what gets the gold for this year in source gear!
     
  12. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    I am partial to the more affordable stuff:

    B2 Burl EL
    DAC2541 EV
    Modius V
     
  13. zerodeefex

    zerodeefex SBAF's Imelda Marcos

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    @ChaChaRealSmooth started pushing us. I'll work on finalizing the list with everyone soon.
     
  14. rhythmdevils

    rhythmdevils MOT: rhythmdevils audio

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    Can you wait on the limp dick award until @purr1n gets to hear the U18t? He’s coming up soon on the list. Maybe I could jump him ahead.
     
  15. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    Need a paragraph writeup...
     
  16. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    Borealis is interesting enough - I think it deserves an honorable mention?
     
  17. dematted

    dematted Friend

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    Yes, I certainly believe that it does. Though it ultimately is not for me, I do think it is the best dynamic driver under 1,000 new besides the 6x0 stuff. In that, it fills an important niche.
     

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