2021 Golden Schlong Nominations

Discussion in 'Leaderboard, Overboard, and Deals' started by purr1n, Nov 27, 2021.

  1. haywood

    haywood Friend

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    @purr1n already said they’re not in consideration so anything after that post is basically just noise.

    This is a thread to talk about products people feel should be nominated and tptb will decide in part based on that but like it says in the first post it’s not a popular vote and adding anecdotal counterpoints to the thread for products you disagree with isn’t really productive as every product likely has a thread more suited to that kind of discussion.
     
  2. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    Not looking for mere good, B+, A-.

    Talking about A+ stuff for Value, Longevity, or Excellence.

    Excellence for the price is not excellence. It's value. Kind of in the mood to be super stringent. Here I choose one for each category.
    1. Donald North Stellaris (GOLD) - this amp blows me away. Excellent. A+.
    2. BottleHead Crack (GOLD) - holy shit longevity. I dislike mentioning kits, and the fact that it's a kit takes away the Value proposition because most people here cannot or don't have the time to DIY.
    3. Vali 2+ (SILVER) - fantastic value. As @YMO says rapes old Vali 2. With most tubes, most probably cannot tell the difference from at Magni 3+ (similar voicing) - but TBH, I prefer this to Magni 3+
    I'm retracting my nomination for SR225X for V because of the $25 price increase to $225.

    Actually, TBH, I think Loki Mini+ (or entire Loki family) should get one for a new category of N - novel. Seriously, 16 years after I get into headphones and no one else can make a simple hardware EQ? What wrong with audio manufacturers? I'd love to have someone do an affordable 10 band EQ.

    Finally, all the other stuff mentioned deserves honorable mention or were already winners in prior years.
     
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    Last edited: Dec 7, 2021
  3. Azimuth

    Azimuth FKA rtaylor76, Friend

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    When you say this, you mean with or without speedball upgrades?

    I'd take a Vali 2+ over a Magni 3+ any day of the week.
     
  4. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    Either one. Different sound and depends upon the build, tweaks and synergies. I've heard very good sounding Cracks with no speedball upgrade.

    Provided one is not allergic to tubes and doesn't have an inefficient planar, Magni 3+ is redundant to Vali 2+.

    Overall, 2021 was not an impressive year. Next year for sure. I sense Dunu Zen Pro is already a 2022 candidate. There is some stuff coming out in 2022 which is like OMG.
     
  5. roshambo123

    roshambo123 Friend

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    I think it was an incredibly impressive year for Schiit. We just can't give them all the awards.
     
  6. JeremiahS

    JeremiahS Almost "Made"

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    Sorry, it's probably a bit late but I am seconding the 7Hz too. I think it's the first "normal" planar IEM that has affordable pricing, normal fitment and fairly neutral and yet slammy and fun tuning.

    I know IEM is not that popular in this forum but this is definitely something interesting to try because of its planar driver.
     
  7. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    I believe @shotgunshane may have this OTW. We don't get to everything first. In fact, we pride ourselves on getting to things last. Getting to things last indicates a level of maturity and wisdom, especially in this hobby and most especially with IEMs.

    I wouldn't say that IEMs are not popular on SBAF. The old school IEM guys like @shotgunshane and @Kunlun are still around. I use IEMs for monitoring when drumming and playing bass. @YMO and @rhythmdevils seem to try IEMs with almost any combo of dedicated headamp. @Rockwell collects all sorts of esoteric models. @CEE TEE and @zerodeefex seem carry an IEM (or two) everywhere they go. @ChaChaRealSmooth and his mom, aunt have TOTL IEMs. And so on.

    I think it's just that we are super selective and don't buy into the morass of overpriced me-too shit with the latest polonium driver in this highly competitive market, most of which sounds like shit.
     
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    Last edited: Dec 8, 2021
  8. Koth Ganesh

    Koth Ganesh Friend

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    Goes to show our varied preferences. For hard rock, IMO Susvara does not compete with the likes of the Abyss 1266TC or Utopia. And I own all three. To top it all, one needs to change the ear pads and certainly those pathetic stock cables.
     
  9. Josh83

    Josh83 Friend

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    I'll second, third, fourth, whatever the Yggdrasil LiM (E) nomination. Also, is it too soon to bring Verite into the (L) category? My enthusiasm for my Open and Closed hasn't waned and, if anything, has grown since the "new toy" period.
     
  10. Psalmanazar

    Psalmanazar Most improved member; A+

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    @purr1n

    Cheap and warm:
    MOTU M2 and M4
    MOTU AVB line for tons of channels

    Unmatched sound for new street price:
    Schiit Modius
    Apogee Duet 3
    Apogee Symphony Desktop

    best drivers:
    RME
    Lynx
    if you want to play digital synths and amp sims on a laptop, save and get an RME Babyface Pro FS.
     
  11. wadec22

    wadec22 Almost "Made"

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    @Psalmanazar certainly not wanting to get off topic but I didn't' see much when I searched.
    have you tried the Symphony Desktop? Very interested in your thoughts on it vs MOTU AVB.

    M2 & M4 are good in that price bracket but man I found the occasional USB lockup/drop annoying AF. Luckily my setup doesn't require that flexibility, I won't use a bus powered unit again.
     
  12. Woland

    Woland Friend

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    In that case, a LV nomination for Chromecast Audio. Still found new in boxes for $50, still an astoundingly effective and high quality streamer with none of the stuffing around associated with DIY solutions. Works great with Roon, Tidal, Spotify, SoundCloud etc. There's nothing else in its class, IMHO.

    I've spent hundreds of hours setting up other streaming solutions, and that's led me to me admire the CCA far more now than when it first arrived all those years ago. We see a lot of consumer-grade gear marketed as audiophile. This is the rare audiophile-grade product that was marketed to consumers.
     
    Last edited: Dec 8, 2021
  13. Armaegis

    Armaegis Friend

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    I legitimately like the Babyface Pro FS more than the ADI-2 Pro (but that was before their black ultra whatever edition updates). For a bus-powered recording interface with rock solid drivers, it's fantastic. For desktop hifi use only, I don't think it's quite enough to deserve any schlonging.
     
  14. penguins

    penguins Friend, formerly known as fp627

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    My biggest issue with HFM product is that it's HFM and a lot of the stuff doesn't last. ~$2-4k for a new Audeze, MrSpeakers/DCA, ZMF, or even Focal with their ridiculous RMA rates, but if dumb stuff happens, you're covered for quite a while. $2-4k for a HFM and their warranty is next to useless if something happens. That and they need to stop gouging the non-Chinese market (i.e. I can go to China or HK and buy HFM for about 1/2 - 2/3 the $). And yes, stock pads could be better but the stock cables are usually... very lacking.

    In terms of sound, the Susvara definitely has the new Soft-fi-man sound and a lack of "push and direction" - i.e. it feels like trying to push something with a cooked noodle. That and the timbre is off for me. On the flip side, I do want to hear their next evolution of the Arya and Susvara as both of these seem to be promising headphones.
     
    Last edited: Dec 8, 2021
  15. wadec22

    wadec22 Almost "Made"

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    This. HFM build, stock cables & warranty are brown star fish worthy.
     
  16. Beefy

    Beefy Friend

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    I would also say Focal stock cables are also brown starfish territory. The feel/handling is atrocious.

    I'm a non-cable-believer, and swore I would never ever buy an aftermarket cable. I broke that rule within a week of receiving my Focal Clear.
     
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  17. dasman66

    dasman66 Self proclaimed lazy ass - friend

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    I know nothing about the product, but to OT a little... maybe this is something @rhythmdevils should look at, given all his problems with Rpi and moode?
     
  18. Psalmanazar

    Psalmanazar Most improved member; A+

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    Motu is colored next to even warm old apogee gear. Very obvious and more drastic warmth imo. Apogee has more detail but drinking the Apple Kool-Aid hard cost them a lot of sales.
     
  19. Azimuth

    Azimuth FKA rtaylor76, Friend

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    Active noise cancelation still works with Android. The only things that don't is the audio sharing and that weird fit feature with the app.

    Audio sharing will start to happen with others as that is mostly from newer Bluetooth 5.0 broadcast feature.
     
  20. JeremiahS

    JeremiahS Almost "Made"

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    I think this is a fair mindset but I also feel that good things are good and worth exploring, even if it's FOTM in other places. I remember Moondrop IEMs were also viewed with skepticism here before members finally warmed up to it.
     

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