zottel
Last Activity:
Mar 28, 2024 at 12:41 PM
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Jan 22, 2022
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93
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Negative ratings received:
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Like 1,231 3,354
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heart 4 24
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Epic 24 41
Agreed, ditto, +1 29 68
Gender:
Male
Location:
Franconia, Germany

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zottel

Friend, Male, from Franconia, Germany

Pyrate Contributor

I always wanted to avoid tubes, but Vali 3 really has me tempted to at least try (outside of meet conditions). Gotta resist … Mar 17, 2024

zottel was last seen:
Viewing latest content, Mar 28, 2024 at 12:41 PM
    1. zottel
      zottel
      In bed with 39,5°C (103°F) fever. Not Covid, it seems. Now that the sore throat is gone, the delirium is actually quite nice.
      1. View previous comments...
      2. zottel
        zottel
        After I let the fever do its job for the whole day, I took some Ibuprofen in the evening. Feeling much better now, ate quite a lot, too. :)
        Sep 30, 2023
      3. Thad E Ginathom
        Thad E Ginathom
        103 is touching on "Get Help."

        But if its viral there's probably not much they can do. But do consider it.

        Hope you are well soon
        Sep 30, 2023
        zottel and Tchoupitoulas like this.
      4. zottel
        zottel
        @Thad E Ginathom Yes, I know. If it had stayed that high, a friend who is a doctor would have visited today. But I’m happy to report that since yesterday evening, I didn’t develop fever anymore. Still a bit tired, but that’s it.
        Sep 30, 2023
    2. atomicbob
      atomicbob
      As I get older I find I get downright cranky if I don't get my regular fix of recreational listening each day.
      1. View previous comments...
      2. atomicbob
        atomicbob
        That was meant to be a post on my profile but my eyes are crossing after 6 hrs of lab work each day, mostly iFi Diablo. And I'm very fortunate to have a wife that encourages me to listen to my music while she watches cooking videos.
        Sep 22, 2023
      3. yotacowboy
        yotacowboy
        what amazes me is how effective listening to music for an hour each night is at lowering my blood pressure. literally down 10-15 mm Hg, or more on some nights.
        Sep 23, 2023
        atomicbob likes this.
      4. atomicbob
        atomicbob
        @yotacowboy : when I suffered from afib (before ablations) I found that calming music on stellar systems would help me to spontaneously self convert. Far better than going for a cardioversion. 400J blast to the body.
        Sep 23, 2023
        Cryptowolf and yotacowboy like this.
    3. zottel
      zottel
      The new Hidden Orchestra album (To Dream Is To Forget) is really a treat!
      1. Jinxy245, FlySweep, atomicbob and 2 others like this.
      2. zottel
        zottel
        Just back from the listening party at Bandcamp, bought it right away. Now for some listening on a proper system. :)
        Sep 22, 2023
      3. yotacowboy
        yotacowboy
        playing right now!
        Sep 22, 2023
        zottel likes this.
      4. atomicbob
        atomicbob
        This is most excellent!
        Little Buddy Move has sounds below 10 Hz !!!
        Sep 22, 2023
        zottel likes this.
    4. zottel
      zottel
      Hah, I scored “excellent” at the Mimi hearing test after having my ears cleaned! :-)
      1. View previous comments...
      2. zottel
        zottel
        @Thad E Ginathom Sad to hear about your degrading hearing. Especially in this hobby, that’s not nice. I hope you will be able to enjoy music for a long time, anyway.
        Sep 22, 2023
        Thad E Ginathom likes this.
      3. zottel
        zottel
        As to that Mimi rating: Activating the correction feature still adds lots of treble. So I guess this just means I’ll have no problem with my hearing in daily life. Or it’s relative to my age, but then the texts wouldn’t really make sense.
        Sep 22, 2023
      4. Thad E Ginathom
        Thad E Ginathom
        Thank you @zottel. I have given up on *hi-fi* as such, several years back and only hang around here for the folk --- and the occasional topic that tickles, sometimes controversially. Oh, and the porn, of course! ;)
        Sep 23, 2023
        zottel likes this.
    5. zottel
      zottel
      Hm, with the latest update of the app, Bathys now supports “Mimi”.
      1. rfernand and Qildail like this.
      2. View previous comments...
      3. zottel
        zottel
        Ok, seems as if a firmware update will be required. When Mimi is active, BT works without problems and the difference is easily recognisable. In DAC mode, however, either no sound is played at all, or sound without the adjustments.
        There’s work to do, Focal!
        Sep 16, 2023
      4. rfernand
        rfernand
        This sounds like EQ + per-band volume control to me. I rated “Excellent” but obviously the highs need work. If you move the “intensity” past 70% it may sound like pure EQ to you (it does to me).
        Sep 17, 2023
        zottel likes this.
      5. zottel
        zottel
        I like the sound, too, at 50%, though after a few hours, it became a little fatiguing. It’s of not much use to me, though, if it doesn’t work in DAC mode. In another forum, sb. wrote that it works for him on a MacBook, but not on an Android mobile. Will have to test that, too.
        Sep 17, 2023
    6. zottel
      zottel
      Bathys in DAC mode + Roon ARC = Not missing good audio when away on holiday or a business trip
      1. rfernand, Cryptowolf, Qildail and 6 others like this.
      2. View previous comments...
      3. zottel
        zottel
        They’re better than anything else wireless I heard (which isn’t much), and I use them wireless for podcasts a lot. But for music, I’m just not really satisfied (with AAC from Apple). In DAC mode, though, they’re totally great.
        Sep 5, 2023
        Qildail likes this.
      4. zottel
        zottel
        While my Meier stack + Clear Mg is even better (except sub bass), I don’t miss anything when listening to the Bathys, I don’t keep thinking “Nice, but when can I go back to the great sound of my home rack?” as I did with mobile setups up to now.
        Sep 5, 2023
        Qildail likes this.
      5. rfernand
        rfernand
        And with iPhone supporting USB-C now… :-)
        Sep 17, 2023
        zottel likes this.
    7. zottel
      zottel
      Some notes on Bathys EQ presets:
      1. Cryptowolf likes this.
      2. View previous comments...
      3. Qildail
        Qildail
        I'm definitely with you on the "Dynamic" setting. It takes all the Focal sound out of the headphone and just buries it.
        Aug 3, 2023
        zottel likes this.
      4. loadexfa
        loadexfa
        House reminds me of the Clear MG which wasn't to my taste (I like the Clear OG much better). I did use that as a starting point and boosted the mid treble to wake it up. My head is weird and can't handle any of the thin headbands which are used in most ANC models. The ZMF Copilot is working but it doesn't stay on well, too flat. Looks like I need to buy the ZMF Crescent snap.
        Aug 4, 2023
        zottel and Qildail like this.
      5. zottel
        zottel
        @loadexfa Yes, House reminds me of my Clear Mg, too, just a little bit brighter, which made me think it might be leaning towards Clear OG or Utopia 2022, but I haven’t heard the Clear OG, and the Utopia only shortly under meet conditions. So yes, it might well be that it’s closer to the Clear Mg than to other Focals.
        Aug 5, 2023
        loadexfa likes this.
    8. zottel
      zottel
      Just listened with my HD650 for the first time since I use HQPlayer. Now I understand why people say it has great resolution.
      1. Cryptowolf, Riotvan and Lyander like this.
      2. View previous comments...
      3. Cryptowolf
        Cryptowolf
        FWiW I feed my Holo Spring 3 DSD64 from my HQPlayer. It sounds better to me than even more highly upsampled PCM
        Jul 17, 2023
        zottel likes this.
      4. zottel
        zottel
        My DAC doesn’t support DSD. I tried a bunch of stuff with the RU6, but nothing was even remotely as good as the Daccord at 192 kHz, which maybe is to be expected. I guess I should try with the Helm Bolt, too, but I don’t expect wonders there, either; it seems that a decent DAC is required for HQPlayer to really work its magic.
        Jul 17, 2023
        Cryptowolf likes this.
      5. zottel
        zottel
        Yeah, as expected: Daccord without HQPlayer easily trumps Bolt with HQPlayer by a large margin, much better resolution, heft, precision, detail. With HQPlayer, Daccord becomes another dimension. :)
        Jul 18, 2023
        Cryptowolf likes this.
    9. zottel
      zottel
      Ok, I’m decided now: The Bathys will stay. Great sound for Bluetooth via Bluetooth, great sound via USB, great convenience.
      1. RestoredSparda and Qildail like this.
      2. zottel
        zottel
        Expect an FS post soon for quite a number of stuff that has become obsolete because Bathys.
        Jul 2, 2023
        Joshvar and RestoredSparda like this.
    10. zottel
      zottel
      Bathys is here! \o/
      1. Cryptowolf, Qildail and Walderstorn like this.
      2. View previous comments...
      3. zottel
        zottel
        While it’s not as dark (more low/mid treble) the family relations to the Clear Mg are immediately audible.
        Jun 28, 2023
      4. Qildail
        Qildail
        I've had them for a while and keep meaning to start a thread on them at some point. For Bluetooth, I really liked the end result, even if the implementation needs a touch of work.
        Jun 28, 2023
        zottel likes this.
      5. zottel
        zottel
        After some 8h of use (not only music, also online meetings), resolution in DAC mode has become a lot better, nothing left of the slight smearing I heard at first, and a much more noticeable difference between DAC mode and BT.
        I like the Bathys better and better! :)
        Jun 28, 2023
    11. zottel
      zottel
      I wish I could use IEMs. Could be so easy and practical!
      1. View previous comments...
      2. Gazny
        Gazny
        I just tried the CFA trifecta and I’m brave enough to say I really liked it.
        Jun 25, 2023
      3. zottel
        zottel
        My ears just hurt with IEMs inside, very quickly. I finally accepted now that it is pointless to try new ones again and again.
        Jun 25, 2023
        Gazny likes this.
      4. Claritas
        Claritas
        Jun 27, 2023
        zottel likes this.
    12. zottel
      zottel
      Crazy busy days behind me. Listening for the first time since more than a week. About time.
      1. Jinxy245, Qildail and Cryptowolf like this.
    13. zottel
      zottel
      Listening to very expensive headphone rigs today in Munich, few actually left a wow effect. Which makes me value mine even more.
      1. caute, Cryptowolf, Jinxy245 and 6 others like this.
      2. View previous comments...
      3. zottel
        zottel
        The only ones that really left a “wow” impression were the ZMF Caldera and the Abyss Diana TC, both fed from a Feliks Envy. There were several others that sounded “not bad” to me, among them several ZMF and the Meze 109 pro, but compared to my own rig (Meier Daccord + Jazz + Clear Mg), they seemed like a sidegrade at best.
        May 21, 2023
        Walderstorn likes this.
      4. zottel
        zottel
        Ah, and I forgot the Susvara from a Feliks Envy that left no more than a “meh” impression on me. :-P
        May 21, 2023
        Lyander likes this.
      5. zottel
        zottel
        And a few Stax, which were too bright for my taste, and I was missing bass.
        May 21, 2023
    14. zottel
      zottel
      On my way to Munich. My first audio fair! :-) Very much looking forward to hearing some of the gear I always wanted to hear.
      1. Huhnkopf
        Huhnkopf
        You will have a blast
        May 20, 2023
        zottel likes this.
    15. zottel
      zottel
      Hm, wanted to listen to some R2R DACs in Munich, but no Schiit, no Holo Audio, no Denafrips there. Bummer.
      1. zottel
        zottel
        And no Dynaudio or KEF, either? I wanted to listen to their streaming speakers! :-(
        May 17, 2023
      2. AdvanTech
        AdvanTech
        Rockna's showing off a Wavedream Sig Anniversary and the new Wavelight Server
        May 17, 2023
        zottel likes this.
      3. zottel
        zottel
        Ah, right, Rockna, forgot about them. Thanks!
        May 17, 2023
    16. zottel
      zottel
      I just caught myself examining the details of the sound of a passing train. :D
      1. Cryptowolf, Qildail, caute and 6 others like this.
      2. Claritas
        Claritas
        May 9, 2023
      3. Thad E Ginathom
        Thad E Ginathom
        I used to dance to dot-matrix printers. Crazy rhythms!

        Fifty years ago, a friend wrote a song to the rhythm of the printing machine he was working on.
        May 9, 2023
    17. zottel
      zottel
      There are cargo bikes available for rent in my town now. Today, I went to buy a crate of Club Mate and some beer by bike. Totally cool.
      1. zottel
        zottel
        45 minutes for free, then one Euro per hour. That’s more than ok. Of course, when I brought back the bike, I had 46 minutes on the clock. X-)
        Apr 22, 2023
      2. Deep Funk
        Deep Funk
        In NL the cargo bikes are becoming more popular: both the leg-powered and the battery-powered versions. Very versatile vehicles, just keep in mind that with those reinforced frames every accident at 15 to 20 miles an hour can result in someone breaking bones. Sometimes the cyclists on these cargo bikes forget that their bike is half the size of a small car.
        Apr 22, 2023
        zottel likes this.
    18. zottel
      zottel
      Tried HQPlayer today out of interest. Maybe I shouldn’t have, this is going to cost money again.
      1. View previous comments...
      2. zottel
        zottel
        @Gazny Thanks for the tip, but I want to use it with streaming, and on Linux. Plus, PGGB is even more expensive. :o)
        Apr 22, 2023
        Gazny likes this.
      3. zottel
        zottel
        With RU6 it’s nice, but not as awe-inspiring as with the Daccord by far. To my ears, with 96 kHz source material: RU6 NOS <= RU6 OS < RU6 NOS + Roon linear phase < RU6 NOS + Roon minimum phase < RU6 + HQP poly-sinc-gauss-hires-lp < Daccord = Daccord + Roon minimum phase <= Daccord + Roon linear phase << Daccord + HQP poly-sinc-gauss-hires-lp
        Apr 22, 2023
        RestoredSparda likes this.
      4. zottel
        zottel
        Interesting that, to my ears, linear phase sounds marginally better on the Daccord, while I think that minimum phase sounds quite a bit better on the RU6.
        Apr 22, 2023
        RestoredSparda likes this.
    19. zottel
      zottel
      It’s so strange, sometimes. Didn’t really enjoy the RU6 for quite some time, thought I’d sell it. Now it sounds so great with the Mini C!
      1. zottel
        zottel
        I even quickly tried the two together when I got the Mini C, thought that something sounded off and never used them together since. I might have used the Pi4 as a source for that test, maybe that’s the difference?
        Or I just hear differently today. *shrug*
        Apr 11, 2023
        Lyander likes this.
      2. zottel
        zottel
        It might be 24bit vs. 16bit. To my ears, the RU6 produces great results at 24bit, while most 16bit content sounds like shit.
        Apr 12, 2023
    20. zottel
      zottel
      Man, bad holidays, audio-wise.
      1. View previous comments...
      2. zottel
        zottel
        Actually, I like detail a lot, which is why I love my Meier stuff so much, too: Perfect detail. :) Somehow, the Bolt and the Mini C just don’t seem to like each other, to my ears the top end air is missing completely, separation is meh, everything feels mushed together and muffled.
        Apr 11, 2023
        Cryptowolf likes this.
      3. zottel
        zottel
        I guess it’s the top end. The Mini C doesn’t provide much of that, anyway, and the Bolt is “laid back” in the sense that it doesn’t provide much upper treble, either.
        Apr 11, 2023
        Cryptowolf likes this.
      4. Claritas
        Claritas
        My only issue with the Mini C is that I'm hearing slightly too much elevation between 1 & 2k. It's completely fixed, however, with filters and/or crossfeed from dac2541 and/or Jazz ff. (I always play with those features to get the best out of a given record.) I've been using Jazz ff lately, because I'm too busy to futz around with Lyr+.
        Apr 12, 2023
        zottel and Cryptowolf like this.
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  • About

    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Franconia, Germany
    Gear List:
    Meier Corda Daccord ff, Jazz ff
    HEDDphone Two, Clear Mg, HD650
    Bathys
    Dynaudio Music 5
    Roon, HQPlayer, Zen