Erroneous

Interesting.

Haven't thought Aeolus characterizes preference. But now starting to think that way as after months of effort I couldn't like it (not meaning it sounds terrible but overall underwhelming relative to what I easily love) with any pads available at the moment. Elimination was an easy decision and I don't miss it to date. Maybe I have to hear it again.

Out of curiosity which pads do you use?

Universe Suede.
Regarding Mg, I just find it kinda bland. I'm still going to listen to it each night I have it, because I want to believe that I just don't "get" it yet and I'm going to have a lightbulb moment.

I too fell for Utopia, many years ago. But I think the headphone is a little wonky - needs specific system configuration to sound best. Not indicative of a "bad" system.

It's hard not to fall for the Utopia, it's a headphone everyone should experience for a bit and a good candidate for long term use. I still maintain Stellaris + Utopia is the best one can get without going full bananas.

It’s a damn amazing headphone. I’d love to go back to it but I fear it’s for reclining couch listening or bed listening. That clamp force though..

I love it, cringe or not. I think this dude needs a hug tho.

What inspired this post?

@DigMe Listened to the album "Still" by NIN, was surprised by the production. Hadn't listened to them in years. Dude's whiny, sad, needs a hug (but I still like it) and you can hear things coming from all around you on the record. I don't go listen to their normal records when I revisit them, it seems. It's the remix records that suck me in.

I wish I thought DAC comparisons are fun ;) Beyond the outliers, they all sound so similiar.

I wouldn't pay more than $1200 for it. the yggdrasil is still better

I love my Theta.

I remember it sounded impressively thick and bold. From the memory, general tone largely resemble Bifrost 2. Maybe I'd describe it BF2 on a steroid. More organic, punchier, but tad less resolving (the unit heard could be a bad one).

Nonetheless, I had to laugh at the asking price.. 1750. lmafo. My maximum willingness to pay is around 800 if it's in a really great shape.

I'm on Edge (Chromium) and haven't noticed anything. Same with my phone (Samsung Internet browser). Could it mayhap be a regional thing? Not sure how that makes sense

Just my personal feeling, but I'd say contributors should not feel bad about ad-blocking. Maybe even a modest contribution is more than SBAF makes from us merely seeing ads as we browse.

Personal experience: I browse SBAF almost entirely on PC, not phone. I don't have my ad-blocker turned on for this site. I'm not seeing intrusive ads.

I got them too since 2-3 days ago but only on my phone using Chrome browser.

Qobuz has it, listening now

Hopefully before I go back to Asia I can invite myself over and listen to your latest setups. I’m vaccinated. :D

@DigMe I should be considered fully vaccinated (2 weeks after 2nd shot) around 5/1. Let's definitely listen to some music!

Happy for you @Erroneous . us old Colorado pyrates can now schedule shots. availability slim at the moment but should increase.

Really it's about what brings the music closer. The answer is Auteur for neutrality but nothing brings details like VC. Aut lags in clarity too, which surprises b/c it's neutral.

I'm a simple man. Feed me music constantly and I'm good.

I got 3 days, 2 nights of freedumb coming up this week ;-)

What are you settling on?

@DigMe I'll let you know when it's settled! Still have some incoming gear for the final battle-to-the-death.

Suuuuure you are;-)

in an ideal world- regular folks would never be forced to suffer due to the inadequacies of leadership. the leaders should suffer. Hold leaders accountable for change.

@jexby Will that number ring in Cancun? Actually I just read that he was guilted into flying back today. The Insurance Council of Texas said this is projected to be the most costly weather event in Texas history, surpassing Hurricane Harvey. So we will definitely be sucking up some more of that sweet, sweet government funding. :|

I just meant that we (citizens) don't go running to the government first.

I do recognise that Texas has had a lot of weather-related impacts in the last 10 years, so yeah FEMA has allocated money for those.

So if I want ultimate clarity and resolution with a nice semi-deep layered stage, it's either a multi-kilobuck tube amp or what else?

So far I've had good results from feeding BHA-1 or Black Amp with Freya+ tube stage. Just got Lyr3 in today and it's better for VC (to my ears in my system) than Jot2.

So far nothing beats Af. But I can't afford 2 of those and I like variety (and need amp#2 for the bedroom). So what else will get me where I want to be without spending $2k?

Oh yea...it is the most tube sounding amp SS I own.

Does this also apply to the Austin Audio Works black amp? Haven't seen any of your impressions of that!

@zonto Waiting to get BW back in the house 1st. I actually think I like Black Amp better than BHA-1. Definitely more than Jot2.

Lizzo is a cut above most modern pop for sure.

too bad the HOT AF mastering murders my ears with treble even with dark headphones / tweeters on low

"Juice" is good for your health.

glad my mod helped(?) a bit :) they're great cans and have survived many of my gear cycling purges

https://critesspeakers.com/

Oh noooo! No No No. It's folks like Bob which make the audio world go round.