E_Schaaf
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Sonic Optimizer

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E_Schaaf

MOT: E.T.A Headphones, from Staten Island, NY

Pyrate BWC

What are some of your earliest memories regarding noticing good or bad sound quality? Jan 16, 2024

    1. E_Schaaf
      E_Schaaf
      Upscale is considering making a TH-900 derivative (I would do all R&D). Just received OEM parts. Funny thing is - no headband or drivers!
      1. Augmentin, 9suns, captkirk and 7 others like this.
      2. View previous comments...
      3. E_Schaaf
        E_Schaaf
        I'm literally trying to get as much bass as possible so long as it doesn't get in the way of the mids... but that zingy treble just has to go. I don't think stock bass is as boosted as the reviews led me to think - not nearly as boosted as a lot of the commercial IEMs I've heard.

        IME a lot of guys coming from 2-channel tend to like a more forward bass presentation, emulates some of that tactility / room response.
        Feb 5, 2020
        Lyander likes this.
      4. netforce
        netforce
        The bass is the selling point of the TH-900, a v-shaped signature is fine to me. Most times I hear the TH-900 the treble wears me down and I can't listen long with my bright weeb music at least.
        Feb 5, 2020
      5. E_Schaaf
        E_Schaaf
        Findings so far are that switching to the X00 pads will help with the mids and treble quite a bit, but I hate them because they're too small and too shallow, and the material is blah. The provided supplies only really helped with changing bass +- about 4dB. Waiting for the OK to tear them apart and start working on the back side of the baffle.
        Feb 5, 2020
    2. E_Schaaf
      E_Schaaf
      Trapped in a 60+ hour work week and slowly burning out. I miss my life but can't afford to work less. Student loans feel like debt bondage.
      1. FlySweep, Case, Deep Funk and 2 others like this.
      2. View previous comments...
      3. Mithrandir41
        Mithrandir41
        how I long for the days when college was affordable, because there was no government student loans. I'm not talking about you, per se, but more people should get into trades instead of getting borderline useless degrees.
        Jan 6, 2020
        penguins, E_Schaaf and LetMeBeFrank like this.
      4. Deep Funk
        Deep Funk
        Take care, mind your sleep and relations.
        Jan 6, 2020
        SoupRKnowva likes this.
      5. Case
        Case
        Sad to read this. Don't let the sleep loss distort the big picture.
        Jan 6, 2020
    3. E_Schaaf
      E_Schaaf
      Bought a few games for Steam's Winter Sale. Katana Zero has an amazing soundtrack, visual style, and gameplay. Perfectly challenging too.
      1. View previous comments...
      2. gaspasser
        gaspasser
        I hit up the Steam sale too. Starting with classics like Portal and Half Life. Any recommendations for a newb?
        Dec 27, 2019
      3. DigMe
        DigMe
        Not sure how newb.. Have you played Donkey Kong?
        Dec 27, 2019
      4. gaspasser
        gaspasser
        Sorry, computer gaming newb, no PS4 or Xbox One experience. I own all the Nintendo systems tho.
        Dec 27, 2019
    4. E_Schaaf
      E_Schaaf
      MGMT decided just now that we'll be closed tomorrow. Wish I had known before so I could've traveled to see my family. Alone this holiday...
      1. View previous comments...
      2. gaspasser
        gaspasser
        Uncle Kevvy didn’t invite you for Christmas dinner!?
        Dec 23, 2019
        PTS likes this.
      3. Superexchanger
        Superexchanger
        I haven't done this myself on Christmas but the others I talk to who also occasionally volunteer say this is time where that is really needed. Might be a good antidote to isolation!
        Dec 23, 2019
      4. BillOhio
        BillOhio
        Lone Wolfing for Christmas also. Will probably spend the day at a work space I've been renting and working on a project.
        Dec 23, 2019
        E_Schaaf likes this.
    5. E_Schaaf
      E_Schaaf
      Dropped off my Nak RX-505 for service. Sometimes I feel more attached to my decks than my headphones. Maybe I'll share some rips here soon.
      1. gaspasser
        gaspasser
        Please share some rips. I didn’t think of cassette tapes as being a good format for fancy audiophile listening.
        Dec 20, 2019
        E_Schaaf likes this.
      2. E_Schaaf
        E_Schaaf
        That's the thing - it's not. There's just something about how the saturation and compression/pumping is reproduced on a hi-fi system when you turn it up, really satisfies an aural itch that uber-clean playback can't touch. It's very much a music-phile thing and not an audiophile thing. Homemade tape recordings on chrome actually can sound remarkably close to the source though. I'll do some comparisons.
        Dec 20, 2019
        Jinxy245 and gaspasser like this.
      3. Azimuth
        Azimuth
        Tape is awesome. No doubt. A good player like a Nak is about the best you can get out of the format. R2R is stil in the home standard for me, even over vinyl. Quarter track stereo at 7.5 ips is way closer in SQ to 1/4" at 15 ips than you would think with twice the real estate and twice the speed.
        Dec 20, 2019
        E_Schaaf likes this.
    6. E_Schaaf
      E_Schaaf
      Really wishing EARS was better for CSDs. Or maybe I just can't get the settings right on ARTA.
      1. Josh83 likes this.
      2. Biodegraded
        Dec 19, 2019
        Lyander and E_Schaaf like this.
      3. Lyander
        Lyander
        Bringing the mic flush with the opening helps a fair bit, but yeah the pinnae still influence results. probably best to just invest in a decent affordable mic and put a flat plate coupler together, as per purr1n's advice. I'm still tempted to convert the one side of my EARS rig into flat plate for CSD, IR, distortion, and test for channel balance and keep the one silicone pinna purely for FR.
        Dec 19, 2019
        E_Schaaf likes this.
    7. E_Schaaf
      E_Schaaf
      Just had a customer come in with an A&K player and HD700 - tried most of what we have (ZMF / Focal) and said he liked what he had better.
      1. View previous comments...
      2. neogeosnk
        neogeosnk
        He probably thought your showroom is shit compared to the Bose setup at the mall.
        Dec 13, 2019
        obsiCO, Elnrik, BenjaminBore and 2 others like this.
      3. ChaChaRealSmooth
        ChaChaRealSmooth
        With the ZMFs, I'm not surprised. The ZMFs I've listened to don't wow in show conditions. With the Focals, maybe he's just used to what he has and doesn't want to change.
        Dec 13, 2019
      4. JK47
        JK47
        At least they know what they want...
        Dec 14, 2019
        E_Schaaf likes this.
    8. E_Schaaf
      E_Schaaf
      Now that the subs are set up (yes, SYS fixed the issue I was having earlier), figured it was time for a new avatar pic. Bass cannons FTW!
      1. View previous comments...
      2. E_Schaaf
        E_Schaaf
        I do have upstairs neighbors. Generally they're not concerned with noise level until we hit about 9PM, at which point I normally turn it down to ~80dB or less. Really dense walls and ceilings though (might even be concrete - can't hang anything from them), so doesn't penetrate too much. I do always have to resist the urge to crank it though...
        Dec 12, 2019
        dubharmonic likes this.
      3. RobS
        RobS
        Damn bro that is a killer setup.
        Dec 12, 2019
        E_Schaaf likes this.
      4. DigMe
        DigMe
        Man I want to hear that.
        Dec 12, 2019
        E_Schaaf likes this.
    9. E_Schaaf
      E_Schaaf
      Apologies to anyone who's waiting to hear from me about a mod. Factoring in commuting and work, 65+ hours of every week are occupied time.
      1. E_Schaaf
        E_Schaaf
        Expecting for things to lighten up late this month and onward. Thanks for your patience!
        Dec 9, 2019
    10. E_Schaaf
      E_Schaaf
      Added Monoprice SWA400 + passive 15" subs to my system. Problem is - too much gain on the sub amp! Even at the maximum trim of -9dB. Hmm...
      1. View previous comments...
      2. zerodeefex
        zerodeefex
        use a sys to control sub volume. The monoprice amp is assuming you have some DRC that will adjust sub level or you'll do it in your receiver controls.
        Dec 5, 2019
        monacelli, PTS and E_Schaaf like this.
      3. E_Schaaf
        E_Schaaf
        That's what I was thinking. Also wondering if SWA400 is capable of running two 4-ohm subs in parallel (which I suppose present a 2-ohm load) if at fairly low listening levels.
        Dec 5, 2019
      4. PTS
        PTS
        Dec 5, 2019
        E_Schaaf likes this.
    11. E_Schaaf
      E_Schaaf
      DSP 9000 is much cleaner and leaner than my M22B, but the M22B is way heavier sounding with fatter bass. Both PCM63, but opposing synergies.
      1. E_Schaaf
        E_Schaaf
        Wondering how using a transport other than Eitr might change things...
        Nov 17, 2019
      2. JK47
        JK47
        Probably a noticeable improvement.
        Nov 19, 2019
    12. E_Schaaf
      E_Schaaf
      Made a mixtape on an actual cassette as an anniversary gift. Curating a variety of styles in short tracks is a joy. Wanting to do this more.
      1. FlySweep, Lyander, tommytakis and 7 others like this.
    13. E_Schaaf
      E_Schaaf
      After modding uber-tweaky headphones, the screwless disassembly of the HD580 is a breath of fresh air. Ordered new materials for experiments
      1. rendyG
        rendyG
        interested to see what you come up with - I´m using my HD580 with custom more open grills + mass loaded
        Nov 16, 2019
    14. E_Schaaf
      E_Schaaf
      Re-tuned my HE4 for a more 'fun' signature and finally got the treble how I wanted. Hours well spent. Will bring to the SoCal meet.
      1. E_Schaaf
        E_Schaaf
        TP, woven cotton from a t-shirt (never finalized a mod with this one before!), melamine, rug liner,and some secret-formula acoustic paper. Asymmetrical cuts. FR looks wonky on the graph but sounds like I wanted - smooth, expansive, and somehow both zippy and thicc. Like how I wanted all of my past Audezes to sound (though they never did).
        Nov 8, 2019
        RobS, Lyander, DigMe and 1 other person like this.
      2. Lyander
        Lyander
        Would be curious to get squiggles of it just as a reference point. IME some jaggedness in plain FR isn't necessarily audible since a Paradox I heard some time ago was just as "level" sounding, if not as "smooth", as an HD650.

        I gave up putting around with HP-3 mesh when one of the screws on the outer ring immediately died (same happened with @Eudis Fernandes iirc). So much for being mod friendly.
        Nov 8, 2019
    15. E_Schaaf
      E_Schaaf
      Found a solid deal on EAD DSP 9000 III. Can't wait to see how it compares to M22B and my memory of Theta Gen V. PCM63 madness!
      1. crazychile, 9suns and RobS like this.
    16. E_Schaaf
      E_Schaaf
      Over the weekend picked up a few cheapo 80s speakers (with big woofers) from a flea market for my partners. Now I need a few Loki's...
      1. hikergrl likes this.
      2. View previous comments...
      3. JK47
        JK47
        The Mormons beat you to it by a couple of centuries, and the harams of the middle east by more than that.
        Oct 15, 2019
        MrTeaRex likes this.
      4. E_Schaaf
        E_Schaaf
        difference is that nobody intends to marry or reproduce, and all of my partners also have other partners as well.
        Oct 16, 2019
      5. E_Schaaf
    17. E_Schaaf
      E_Schaaf
      Been diving deep into SP-404 music. J Dilla is just the beginning. I'm liking mono tracks more - depth and dynamics are better delineated.
      1. yotacowboy, Deep Funk, DigMe and 4 others like this.
      2. Deep Funk
        Deep Funk
        J-Dilla made music with production values many artists in Pop and Rap can only dream of. Only Kanye matched him on 808. Now I feel the urge to play Burial...
        Oct 9, 2019
        yotacowboy likes this.
      3. E_Schaaf
        E_Schaaf
        What always struck me about Dilla is how he made a simple kick, snare, and sample or two feel like such a personal and distinctive statement - he was one of the first to have a clear voice on the 404. Not everything felt locked to a grid - he embraced the inherent looseness of sampling existing content.
        Oct 9, 2019
        Deep Funk and yotacowboy like this.
    18. E_Schaaf
      E_Schaaf
      We're now dealing Campfire Audio! Call up and ask for Evan - I'll take care of you. Thinking about Equinox for myself...
      1. hikergrl, Sqveak, elguapo and 13 others like this.
    19. E_Schaaf
      E_Schaaf
      Finalizing mods on ADX5000. Ended up with something inspired by HD800 and HD650 KISS mods and a pad swap. Big dynamic drivers FTW! SLAMMING
      1. hikergrl, 9suns, Boops and 6 others like this.
      2. E_Schaaf
        E_Schaaf
        Never heard an open DD with deep bass this solid and articulate. Measurements coming soon! Might send to a few buddies after I find a 4-pin cable.
        Oct 4, 2019
      3. JK47
        JK47
        STOP THE PRESSSSSSSS!!!!!
        Oct 4, 2019
    20. E_Schaaf
      E_Schaaf
      After working with two customers designing full systems for many hours spanning weeks, both ghosted. So much time and $30k in sales... gone.
      1. Lyander and Ash1412 like this.
      2. Ash1412
        Ash1412
        People are always quick to flame the dealership model for driving prices up but you guys do a huge bulk of the work for uninformed customers. Better luck next time.
        Oct 2, 2019
        E_Schaaf and Lyander like this.
      3. Mithrandir41
        Mithrandir41
        Ungrateful bitches.
        Oct 2, 2019
        Ash1412, tommytakis and Jinxy245 like this.
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  • About

    Home Page:
    https://www.etaheadphones.com/
    Location:
    Staten Island, NY
    Occupation:
    Sonic Optimizer

    Signature

    skunkworks headphone enthusiast - discovering new sounds