The All Purpose Advice Thread - Part 2

Just please don't ever, ever try to use a coffee grinder used to grind spices for grinding coffee beans. Or vice versa.

 

What, no flavored coffee?

 

@Lyander, @atomicbob, @Armaegis, @fraggler

Wanted to say thanks again for the webcam and microphone advice. I ended up with the following:

• Insta360 Link 2C ($130 at Microcenter)
• Rode VideoMic Go II ($100 at MC)
• USB-C cable ($15 at MC)
• Rode Tripod 2 ($40 from Amazon)

Total: $285 + tax.

The Rode mic is a solid budget and value option because it can hook up directly via USB. It also has no battery and has a shorter tube than the VideoMic NTG so would be more immune to any indoor phasing issues arising from poorly treated rooms. I really liked the AT mic samples @atomicbob shared, but for now could not justify the cost of that mic plus the separate interface/adapter that would be required. Part of the reason I kept budget lower here is that I’m between jobs. In a year or two I may upgrade the mic depending on how real world usage is with the new job I’ll be starting soon.

I keep the mic tripod just past my keyboard so it’s out of the way, and the mic ends up roughly 20” from my mouth. I did some tests with my wife and daughter of the Rode mic vs. the Insta360 built-in mic, and the Rode was very clearly better to my daughter and me. She said it makes me sound more like myself.

The Insta360 camera is great and has a larger sensor than most webcams. I don’t use any fancy AI tracking or other features, but it looks great with a variety of lighting conditions and seems well-built. It also has a physical privacy screen operable by side switch, which I liked.

No issues setting up the new stuff with Zoom or Teams and both have worked flawlessly so far.

Thanks again!

 

Truly “all-purpose” advice on gear needed.

I’m visiting Shenzhen for work for a few days next week. Have been to Hong Kong before but never across the border. Wondering which stalls / vendors I absolutely should visit if I have an afternoon free?

for what it’s worth / context, I’ve got a Holo Cyan 2 (from Shenzhen Audio of course), a Xduoo TA-66, and several FiiO mini DACs / phone “headphone amps” in addition to a lot of Schiit. I’ve obviously got to fit anything I get in a suitcase back to the US, and I don’t want to get stuck at customs, so getting the Willsenton R8 amp I’ve wanted is not in the cards.

i also will have to trust that anything I get is legit enough that I’m willing to deal with no warranty support so… what would you get? Where would you go? Anyone in particular you would talk to / meet with?

Thanks all

 

Hi, I have begun dabbling in audio things (about 5 years ago rofl) between work and home listening. I am still well over my head, however, and I am growing weary of spending much longer on reading about products for researching purchases, largely because much of the information is lost on me. The compendium I found here from I think 2023 and purr1n's top 5 from I think also 2023 are quite helfpul (I think ).

I formerly had a Schiit Modi and Magni, if I recall correctly. I liked them, but sold after selling my desktop computer setup before a few years on the road. I don't remember why exactly I did not like their low end DAC/Amp combo, but they don't appear to sell it anymore unless I just don't recognize the name now, but probably an older version of what they are calling the Fulla.

I also don't recall why I bought this Topping over something from Schiit when I thought my laptop audio was lacking. I am guessing that was an ill-advised decision based on the opinions of other uninformed people after looking around some. I eventually killed the audio port anyway by leaving cords across a gap my dog thought she would cross. Which seemed fine when she got her front paws over, but less well when she didn't see a reason to get her back legs over.

I have since finally bought a new (2023) laptop to replace my 10 year old one and am wondering about my audio setup.

I have a Topping DX3Pro+ which I have already had to ship back to China once. I had the DT 990 Pro and have the AKG/Harman/Samsung K712 Pro. I eventually sold the DT 990, mostly due to comfort, after trying them with Dekoni's Elite Velour pads or something like that. I own the Micca PB42X and JBL 306p MK II (I think, which I use through a Radial J+4, probably inoptimally). I added Dekoni sheepskin earpads to the K712 Pro, based on some redditor post, but the same redditor's eq for these cans with these earpads sounds terrible (and he has it rated at 104 out of 100 points for neutrality or something).

The PB42X and 306p seem to sound okay with the EQs I found online (noaudiophile for first and no idea on the jbl), but I have been switching between the one uploaded on AutoEQ (accessed through Peace for me) by kuulokenerka for the K712 Pro (doesn't seem like there is a difference between this and K712 unless impedance related and I still don't quite know what that means, but know it is related to sensitivity, and I have some idea of what sensitivity means... I think) and whatever the redditor calls the Harman target eq with stock earpad. Their own "optimum hi-fi" eq also sounds terrible. I have heard the Yaxi pads are a good option but haven't seen eqs on them. Thought I might try one just to compare with these other two.

I have some expensive horseshoe looking speaker wire replacements but can't tell much difference between them and speaker wire on the PB42x. The 306Ps use XLR which I can't do out of the Topping hence the J+4. I am using USB into the topping with an expensive 3.5mm to RCA cable from the Topping for the PB42X, which I think sounds better than 3.5 to 3.5, at least with my 3.5 to 3.5s.

I am looking at switching back to something affordable from Schiit and something under the $400-600 mark for cans and maybe speakers also.

I had seen the Verum 1.0 well-reviewed for the price along with the issues with customer service/QC, but also the recent Verum 2 preview stuff. I haven't yet seen people talk much about their comfort but I especially would like to know how they compare to the k712 with the dekoni sheepskin pads, which feels levels beyond the next most comfortable pair of headphones I have yet worn.

I think it comes out to around $400 for the Verum 1 for me. I don't know what else competes with it, if anything does, or if it only does if you devalue Verum significantly for the various potential risks associated with their products. Or would it be good to look for a used Verum 1 in the sale threads here or on HF, perhaps?

I listen to all kinds of music and this would be a daily driver for all audio-related things podcasts, music, movies, games re: headphone.

If there is a budget speaker option that might improve upon either of my pairs, I would at some point like to produce music on a setup I can eq about as neutral as possible for the (low) price for whichever environment, but mainly indoors in a square room with minimal (thus far) acoustic treatment outside of cheap eggshell looking foam and actual egg cartons.

I was wondering if I could use both pairs together in stereo or if figuring out how to get separate EQs to each pair would cost much more, etc. Or if it would even be worthwhile to do so.

I have also thought of adding a, you guessed it, cheap sub.

Thanks for your time and no worries either way if no more to add any input/correction/clarification/suggestion/criticism/cheap insults.

 

I have the 306 MkIIs in my basement for when weather forces me to run on the dreadmill or ride on the trainer. You can put single-ended jacks directly into them; simpler chain, so might help.

 

@sentientCode ok that's a wall of text but I'm gonna rapid fire a bunch of stuff at ya...

- Schiit stuff is fine, good price/performance ratio and hard to go wrong with their stuff
- personally I like the AKG K612 more than the 7## family and think it is extends better in both ends, but is a bit amp hungrier
- personally I like the Beyer 880 family more than the 990, more neutral
- JBL 306p is a good budget performer, don't really need to chase more expensive options unless you want to spend $$
- you can use a RCA->XLR adapter just fine with the JBL and skip the Radial
- changing earpads is great for comfort, but always messes with sound for better or worse, and EQ for headphones is wild because people's ears are so different so it's super difficult to apply other people's EQ to yourself; best/easiest thing is run a sweep and fiddle until things "feel" flat to you
- buy/sell things on the used market, and if you're careful with it you really don't lose much money on experimenting until you find something that works for you
- if you're gonna produce music, you generally want neutrality; but also it doesn't hurt to have several sets of speakers/headphones to see how things sound on different systems
- Verum is fine, but it's really big for something carry around all day unless you sit at a desk all the time
- cheap subs are fine, get a matching sub with the monitors, or whatever you can get off marketplace/craiglist/etc, turn it up for fun, but for mixing only to supplement what's missing on the low end
- I personally like ATC monitors, but even the small ones might be pushing your budget and then you'd need a separate amp, and likely a sub on top

 

Wasn't there that one really affordable Douk thing that a few folks on here were genuinely impressed by? I vaguely recall that was a nicely done Class D thing that went for about $50 or less (tariffs might have messed with that), leaves a lot of room in the budget for other things.

I personally really like Schiit stuff but at least the things I've gotten to try have had a general sort of sound to them that's very much on the livelier side, might not necessarily suit them (I know there are exceptions). On that note I think the Schiit Syn might be an interesting thing for you though, @sentientCode ?

+1 the DT880, with a serious amp and if bought for cheap enough it's still pretty competitive in modern day-- the bass extension is much better than on the Sennheiser HD6-- line, fun rumble even if it's a fair bit slower-feeling. And yep, buying used for the most part is going to be your best friend when starting out because you can sometimes come into excellent deals

 

Fair.

Is this a kind way of saying, "Get rid of the Topping,"?

It has a few different settings (ed: actually more like 7 or 8) that don't seem to change too much on the sound but all seem better than my 3.5mm laptop output alone, but I have been wrong before.

I have tried a RCA to 1/4" cable without interface or converter of any kind. Noisy, so found the J+4 that I can use at work and such. That was after another passive Radial that didn't work because passive. I thought since the speakers were powered that it would for whatever reason. Maybe if they had thrus. Or maybe I thought they did.

They are reasonably noisy up close. I had used some cheap 3.5mm female with a thing on it to 3.5mm male that is supposed to help with noise and it did seem to work. It isn't needed on the rca to 3.5mm cable, though. I think I had also used it on the RCA to 1/4 (ed: not true obv lmao, but they were even noisier; ed2: also not true rofl, but I did try a 1/4" to XLR before out of a cheap Pyle something that wasn't my favorite but might have been the Pyle and/or cable/cable brand). It does appear to also diminish quality, however, unless I am mistaken, which is easily the case also.

I had an iBasso usb-c to 3.5 DAC that seems to have broken and that they don't seem interesting in even repairing for money. I had an Xduoo link2 bal that walked away from one gig. Wish I still had it to compare the 2. Now I just have some cheap usb c to 3.5mm cable looking not even dongle thing.

In terms of amp hungrier, would the Topping DX3Pro+ be fine? I assume the AKG K612 is as comfortable as the 712 and I may even be able to use my same earpads?

What would be the options at the next significantly noticeable level up and what kind of $$ (new or used) we talking for 2 monitors and maybe a sub?

Do you happen to know of a good baseline EQ for them (306p mkii) somewhere?

Like more than just the cheap cable I mentioned here?

Someone told me to try peqdb and I am not sure what thing to try or do in order to use it, but I did find whomever is behind it making wild toxic videos on YouTube.

How do you go about price checking?

Yes, my intention isn't to replace what I have outside of the Topping so much as add more quality/functionality/value/enjoyment to it. But maybe the Topping doesn't even need replacing or wasn't needed to begin with and I am just confused.

How much bigger we talking than the AKGs? Heavier? Comfort compared to AKG?

Thank you!

Like more than $400-600 total (new or used)?

I was hoping to spend an average of $400 max on each part, if it would significantly upgrade. Like something from Schiit to replace the Topping, monitors/sub (though I suspect I will want to wait outside a sub), cans.

 

Thank you! And the Syn would be a suitable amp for DT880? My worry with the DT880 is the comfort level I experienced with the DT990, although perhaps there are mods or earpads to better suit. It was just very tight and exhausting. I also usually have some kind of hard jewelry in my cartilage and lobes. Notably, tunnel style jewelry of various materials in my inner ear cartilage (now 0g jewelry in something between a 0 and 00 hole) are rather resonant at certain frequencies/angles. Woods are quite enjoyable. I have enjoyed glass for certain things but definitely tend to just have a glass plug (not hollow) instead because of this.

Anyway, I also have one of these if that would be a preferable audio signal to the usb: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08MZNF1N3

I only assume this is also a nice way of saying the Topping could be part of or much of my issue.

I haven't found much info on the laptop, but not guessing there's much substantial powering this 3.5mm port. It's a ASUS Scar 17 7945HX with a 4080 dgpu. I didn't realize before buying that I don't have a dedicated mic port. I haven't tried my splitter yet but I have a little 3.5mm mic in + line out to 3.5mm cable thing.

But if there is a Douk something that improves on the Topping for $50, I am here for it

 

Bit surprised to hear that you had comfort issues with the DT990 as the DT880 has been one of the most comfortable headphones I've ever owned, but my pair are old (made in 2010) so the velour pads are *very* soft now. You could probably stretch the adjustable headband slider out and carefully bend the bands outward for less clamping force. Don't quote me on this but I vaguely remember hearing that the "Pro" beyerdynamics with the coiled cables are supposed to have stronger clamp to keep things secure during production work; the pair I have are DT880 "Premium"s, and I've never had complaints about pressure despite having a slightly wider head than most.

The Douk mentioned (found it the link: https://www.superbestaudiofriends.org/index.php?threads/douk-m100.14401/) may or may not be the best thing ever but lots of picky folks seem to rather enjoy it. It's also apparently sometimes findable for $17 with some luck (but again, recent events may make sourcing one somewhat more bothersome for CONUS folks).

I'm only speaking from my personal experience but I'm not a fan of how the Topping gear that I have tried in the past has sounded, but that's a remarkably small sample size and I'd be remiss not to point out that a few others on here e.g. @Vtory and @robot zombie (I am forgetting others) have found the sound of specific pieces of Topping gear amenable to them, or even good. The main reason I think you might find offhanded disparagement of the brand here is more to do with how they conduct their business-- the sound of the specific pieces of gear that many on SBAF have tried in the past (lacking nuance, sizzly, boring as hell, no impact) just happens to somewhat justify that disdain.

Exercising conscious consumption is one's given right

That said, the DX3 Pro seems to actually be one of the less bad things here, though as always everyone has different ears and preferences and this is one that I've not bothered trying to demo cuz again I generally find their business contemptible: https://www.superbestaudiofriends.org/index.php?threads/topping-dx3-pro.7498/

Not a lot of folks have shared impressions of the Syn on here but purr1n has, and he's one of the pickier ones (although again he like everyone else on this planet has his own specific preferences-- it's worth spending some time trying to learn what works for individuals so you can get a handle on how you might evaluate the same piece of gear [I happen to really like some things that others on here hate, and I fully understand why]): https://www.superbestaudiofriends.o...ew-discussion-impressions-measurements.13335/

I haven't heard the Syn myself but just based on how I'm reading that thread the headphone output ought be rather more than "sufficient" for most anyone who's not well off the deep end. The cool thing about audio gear nowadays is that cheap stuff really is worlds better than it used to be, people are generally spoilt for choice nowadays.

Also, cables do make a difference but don't spend any significant amount of money on that unless you're earning international travel-for-fun levels IMO because the differences will be much more negligible than changing out DAC or amp. World's Best Cables and Blue Jeans Cables are common recommendations on the forum and I hear they're rather good; on my end (Asia) UGreen makes serviceable cables for very cheap. Just get something that's reasonably well made that'll be able to endure wear and tear and has solid contacts. If you want to spend more on something that claims to have 8N cores then hey go for it, that *should* be below $400 for a single 2m strand of cable (I'm kidding, please don't spend more than a few bucks on cables please).

 

Wow kudos for actually putting in the effort to quote everything and making it legible. I'm at work so am going to be lazier/brief, but more responses...

- You mentioned using adapters into the JBLs can be noisy, this is likely ground loops, they are awful to deal with and you can go mad chasing after them. You already have the Radial which is a transformer isolator, which is the best way to deal with them.
- I'm not into the dongle game, but there are several affordable options these days which do have balanced output with the 4.4mm pentaconn, so if you wanted to skip the radial and save some space on the desk/bag/whatever, then a cable adapter to go into dual XLR(m) could be done.
- do you have any need to record? then an actual audio interface would be fine too
- the DX3pro puts out almost 2W into 32 ohms, that's more than enough for nearly every headphone in existence unless you're getting into stupid stuff that's beyond your budget anyways
- Verum cups are huge, Verum headband even bigger than the Beyers
- a step up from the JBL? maybe Kali or Focal, or a Genelec or Mackie HR series but that's creeping above your price point

 

The plan was modi+magni for headphones and powered speakers. In that case, would another amp be a better investment since I would prefer only one device for both, or is that asking too much if I want something better than this Topping (at a similar or cheaper price point)?

Or can I use the Douk M100, ibasso dc0xPro or xduoo link x Bal for similar performance?

I am confused. I would get both to use the ibasso/xduoo for headphones and the modi+magni stack for headphones? Or smaller DAC for each? Or modi+magni for each?

One concern I have is latency. Would this not vary at all between different DACs? Topping conveniently includes the input and output latency in its app to compare sample rates at different digital qualities.

Unless there's a competitor in the $100-150 or less ish price range I should know of, I think I will grab another ibasso or xduoo, perhaps for headphones. And this Douk, at least for work, or perhaps for speakers too.

Is there a particular model a lot of people go for, or just the newest within budget for either of the ibasso or xduoo (had a link 2 bal) brands? I recall being happy with the ibasso (dc04pro) at around 1/2-3/4 the price of the xduoo I had but each were mostly only used in the car outside a few other applications and I don't think either ever on this sound setup.

I went looking for the Douk M100 and have a better idea of what that is and the difference to the ibasso or xduoo dacs, but in finding their website I saw a lot of things that looked like potential improvements at a lower cost than the DX3Pro+ or whatever has replaced it in the Topping line.

Douk appears to have or at least sell many options, perhaps better than the M100 at better quality, including tube amps at what seem like reasonable prices, though the M100 for $52.99 USD + tax and shipping (incl. 12v power adapter, probably 11.5V actually? Unsure on amperage... $42.99 without) seems like a great deal still. The power supply everyone was buying in that M100 thread is going for like $28 on AliExpress and user there who may or may not have been using a frozen/demag M100 their friend sent recommended 11.5V 5A and not 11.5V 11.8A in the same thread they mentioned buying the latter.

I switch between 3.5mm to RCA for fill speakers from the headphone port or headphones there. I would prefer a 4.4 out for headphones and XLR outs, perhaps also speaker wire outs and/or RCA outs for speakers, wherein I can use headphones and speakers at the same time or at least switch between them. Hooking a sub up to the same amp would be nice to. Not sure how all it goes.

You know, I can't recall if it had a headband slider, but probably. I did try bending them outwards a number of times but didn't want to go too far, of course.

The difference between them and my K712 Pros is black::white. Again, though, perhaps my ear jewelry often had something to do with it, but I did use them both without.

Thank you! How might that compare to the ibasso or xduoo DACs?

How they conduct business? Haven't found the general info on this yet. Performance doesn't seem to match price on this one so far, in addition to dependability and things like firmware updates/compatibility, but I haven't had any problem with customer support so far. We shall see after this most recent incompatibility after updating the firmware [I disabled a bunch of windows stuff - using a batch file to reset services to default after restoring my settings from before checking off a bunch of tweaks within w10privacy seems to have fixed issues incl seeing firmware updated DAC and installing driver] from I think whatever it was when I got this unit shipped after sending mine in, probably due to amp circuit blowing. Unsure if same electronics inside as when I purchased or what firmware it was running both before and after.

Yes, my only reason for mentioning it is I doubt it has to do with those specific cables because they are in great condition and I tried to eliminate future maintenance or troubleshooting by buying ones with good connectors from reputable manufacturer type of thing. Not the kind of expensive you mentioned, just braided and such.

Thank you for all your help!

Yes, the radial seems quite nice for things. Probably overkill for this use case as you seem to mention with the other options to replace it in the flow. I did try RCA to XLR cables of some manner at one point. or 1/4" to RCA or XLr or both. It did seem ground related hence trying to make my XLR ins balanced/grounded with the radial.

...Balancing refers to signal vs signal vs ground or signal vs signal or signal+signal vs ground?

I did have 4.4 on my nonworking or stolen DACs. USB C or convert USB A to C to get sound into one of those without the radial does sound preferable.

Would a scarlett something have enough audio things to adequately do that?

I still don't quite understand what wattage, current, volts, amps, ohms all are.

I use a cheapish minimally padded hardish case for the k712 when bringing them around but you are saying the verum case would be much larger? Are they heavy/uncomfortable? Anyone know how they might compare to my k712 (dekoni sheepskin pads +comfort level but guessing stock pads or replacements for Verum would compete) re: comfort, specifically?

Yes, I had seen Focal Alpha and Adam Audio T7V recommended elsewhere. I will have to look into Kali. Sounds familiar.

 

Nothing wrong with using the same piece of gear for both headphone and speaker duty.
Headphone jacks are perfectly serviceable as preamp outputs. Don't worry about anyone telling you "double-amping" is bad blah blah.

You know what, just buy this stuff listed here:
https://www.superbestaudiofriends.o...-modi-3-magni-3-loki-mini-nitsch-piety.15051/
and sell off the pieces you don't want.

All these dongles have amps built-in. It should be enough for most headphones unless you like to go loud or you get headphones that are on the hungrier side of things.

In general, at this point of the game don't go chasing separate power supplies for components. If you're considering that, then look at what the combined budget is and get something with a better built-in. Don't chase power supplies for dongles, that defeats the purpose of a portable dongle.

Again, at this point of the game don't go chasing cables. You're already asking questions on an audio forum which is halfway to crazy town. Avoid the madness while you still can.

Skip the Scarlett and get something in the Clarett range.
Or check out something from MOTU or RME, or maybe Black Lion. Or whatever's on sale or you can find used at a good rate, and/or has the plugins and software you want.

Plenty of resources to learn online. Here's one of the first results on youtube: (I have not watched it)

Verum headband is bigger. Think of the AKG had cat ears. Just look at pics online, you'll see what I mean.

 

Thank you! My first thought is why I might want a Piety and Magni 3+. Just to decide which I prefer and sell off the other if it doesn't seem worth keeping around?

Does the Magni 3+ have the optional DAC card that the Unity does?

I haven't tried to incorporate an EQ device, either. I suppose it would be nice for when I am not using my phone or a computer for audio but I honestly can't think of a time when I would not be using a phone or computer that I would also not have an eq'd signal coming from some other thing or things.

But I wouldn't want to use the small dongles for speakers also?

This would be for the M100, which seems quite well reviewed for the cost. But perhaps risky and I dunno anything about freezing/demagging an amp. Yet.

and lol

TY!

 

I must have deleted it, but I was also curious about the rest of Douk's (or whatever brand's listed on their website) products after looking for the M100 and not finding it on aliexpress, but finding their website.

 

Oh whoops, too many questions and getting them all mixed up.

Correct, you can not* use a headphone amp to drive speakers unless the speakers are powered/active, in which case the headphone amp is simply behaving as a preamp.


*technically doable, but only if you really know what you're doing and not worth pursuing for except for the silliness of pursuit. If you dig around here you can find someone who experimented with exactly that with I believe a Magni.

 

Fair.

I do have powered speakers, at least currently.

I am interested in both the Magni 3+ and the Piety apparently, but now I am curious about just a Magni Unity without a Loki or Modi, using its optional DAC card, unless Magni 3+ or Piety include such a thing.

$120+tx/shipping vs $370+ investment. Not that I think a Piety or Magni 3+ aren't worth $100 a pop.

Which brings me back to the M100 for $52.99 + tx/shipping, or one of the other Douk options.

So I can improve for about $60 USD, improve (slightly? at all?) further with a Magni Unity for another $70-80, or improve even further (maybe?) with a Magni 3+ and/or Magni Piety with a Modi 3+ for $200-300? And potentially further for $270-$350+ with the Loki mini?

Potentially also recouping some of the cost of the DX3PRo+ by attempting to sell it. I probably am not in the area of being able to keep many different devices for testing purposes on recordings yet.

 

I'm seeking advice on which parts of my chain I should take a look at upgrading.

PC (usually Apple Music) -> Audioquest Dragonfly (v1) -> Monoprice Liquid Spark -> HD 650

The Liquid Spark Amp is adequate, but one of the channels starts to fade long before the other at low volume settings, which has been a longstanding annoyance.

I'm currently looking at the Schiit Lyr+, primarily due to the volume control claims. Am I right in assuming that the Lyr should have superior channel balance performance at low volume levels? Besides the channel balance, I do plan to also use it as a preamp, so having a remote is very nice.

Regarding upgrading the DAC, I'm totally open to suggestions. The Schiit Mimir looks like it'll make a nice stack with the Lyr, but beyond that I have no insights.

 

The Lyr+ basically has perfect channel matching owing to its using a relay attenuator and I'm able to get sufficiently low levels (i.e. for background listening) even with something as ridiculously sensitive and efficient as the Campfire Andromeda 2020-- I'm actually able to get fairly clear volume even with the volume all the way anti-clockwise on the Andros (on low gain), just to illustrate their efficiency and how much juice the Lyr has on tap. There are measurements over here: https://www.superbestaudiofriends.o...om-thoughts-about-it.12754/page-2#post-393389.

Seems like your main issue with the Liquid Spark is the usual imbalance that comes from using smaller potentiometers-- happens on basically every potentiometer as far as I can tell and is just exacerbated with smaller diameter ones. Mind though that the amps in question seem rather different: I haven't ever heard a Liquid Spark but based on others' impressions (https://www.superbestaudiofriends.o...lli-liquid-spark-headphone-amp-–-review.6896/) the only thing they might share is a laid-back character to the upper midrange with everything else from the low bass extension to staging/imaging/transient response being remarkably different. That might take a bit of adjusting-to because who even knows if the *ways* they're laid back in the upper mids are similar.

Would be very curious to get your thoughts on it if you do get one though, I'm rather fond of the Lyr and am surprised it hasn't been talked about on here more.